(Vancouver) Science World, aka, Telus World of Science
1455 Quebec Street
Vancouver, BC

Amato Gelato Café
78 E 1st Ave
Vancouver, BC

Feel free to consider it a confession: I am geeky and nerdy in more than one way. Back in high school, I focused myself in science courses (in my school, when you get to the equivalent here of grade 10, instead of random courses, you choose, between Accounting, Liberal Arts or Science). Yup, I had biology, physics, calculus and chemistry among other classes. So, it really surprised me I haven’t been to Science World (formally, Telus World of Science), a science museum in Vancouver (there are others in Calgary and Edmonton).

(Before you click the link below, caveat emptor, this is a really image heavy post with over 40 pictures, totalling something close to 8MB of images!)

What is Science World about? Well, it is a place dedicated to different aspect of science in a really fun environment. How so? Well, they have “games” like the ones below:

The infamous Tower of Hanoi.

To those who are not in mood for puzzles, they also have some more “visual” exercises. For example…

Is the box outside-in or inside-out?

Fraser Spirals. No, they are NOT a series of curves leading to the centre…

Rotating Snake illusion.

Spinning stick, aka, how to draw a curve using a straight line…

Of course, to make things more interesting, there are live presentations 20 minutes after the hour. For example, this one is about electricity:

Luke… I AM your father! Oh, wait, no this is about electricity.

A demo of static electricity via a Van de Graaff generator, in this case, how static electricity make some corn kernels “fly away” from the hand.

On the second floor, there are additional exhibits:

A demonstration of how your body does not stand really “still”, as your pulse makes you shake slightly. Here, the demo is via a shooting target: it will “draw” a line while it waits for you to pull the trigger.

An exhibit about Recycling.

The human body.

Did I mention interactive exhibits? To the right, the hippo is a demo of how a lever works and, depending on where you are “pulling” it, how much force you need.

Pixelpins – on the other side, there is a similar layout. The note says: Push gently. Do not use your face!

Bernoulli basketball, aka, how a flow of air can make this beach ball go through the hoops.

Water in motion! There were cannons shooting some plastic balls to the top and these would flow back, including a section with a damn.

Electric hands, which demonstrate how the human body can conduct electricity! You put your hands on each palm and it will close the circuit by emitting a buzz.

This is a favourite picture subject, a plasma ball!

Now, here is the REAL reason why that day I went to Science World… When I was a small kid, I loved to play with LEGO! And, when I knew there was an exhibit, I knew I had to drop by! While not as large as one of the LEGO parks, it brought back memories, hehehehe. (This exhibit ends May 4th).

According to an interview in Mythbusters (Supersized Myths episode), ever since a certain movie, this is something a lot of people have attempted to replicate…

A replica of the soon to be opened YVR – Vancouver Airport Canada Line Skytrain station.

And guess who is passing by YVR!

And a replica of King Edward Skytrain station.

And, in this station, look who we have as security guards, hehehehe.

Next time you wonder what are under the cities…

Why does this scene reminds me of South Park, specifically of Chef?

Not necessarily a replica of Vancouver, OK? ^_^

Since this is a food blog, a post won’t be really a post unless there is some food right? So, after my visit to Science World, I went to Amato Gelato Café, a nearby ice cream shop, owned/ran by Mario’s Gelati.

When I arrived, it was packed, which ought to mean it would be good. After paying, for a two scoop, I decided to browse the flavours. While it did not have 200+ flavours, like La Casa Gelato, it had the basic ones.

The ones I ended up ordering were pistachio on the top and “tartufo” on the bottom. In the case of the pistachio, it had some initial pistachio taste but it faded away really fast. As for the “tartufo”, it was just the name, not the real dessert. It had some slight chocolate-y, coffee-ish taste. Not really crazy about it despite I like chocolate. However, what really disappointed me was the fact the consistency wasn’t there. To me, ice cream is “soft”, while gelato ought to be thick. Regardless, it did not “wowed” me…

Well, this is the end of this long post. I hope you enjoyed it!