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In the neighbouring city of Richmond, just across a bridge, what was once an expanse of farms and wetland has in the last decade seen a massive urbanization due to a large influx of Chinese immigrants. It is now a bustling cityscape, and visiting for the first time one would be excused for doing a double take as the trappings of Western civilization are suddenly transposed with what is now locally referred to as "Hong Couver"
It's a fantastic place to find restaurants, out of the way bizarre gift shops, vast arcades, and even massage parlours...
But perhaps the best kept "secret" of Richmond is the so-called "Chinese Night Market". During the summer months, deep in the industrial district, in a large empty parking lot behind several factories along the river, the Night Market's tents, booths, and carts set up around 9 pm and lasts until the wee hours. Think a combination of a traveling circus commissary and Eastern bazaar and you won't be far off.
The main reason for going is the food. For $10 you can eat like a king. Some of the most unique and delicious dishes unknown to the West, as well as more traditional fairground entries like funnel cake, twst potatoes on a stick, and freshly made corn dogs, dipped in batter right before your eyes. But that stuff is for the rubes. Go with someone who is from China and knows what they are ordering, and it is a culinary extravaganza.
But besides the food there are also the vendors. So many vendors, all of duplicitous legality. There's the booth with swords and weaponry of any description. Places to get cell phones unlocked (ahem). Massive amounts of DVDs. Places to buy genuine "Rollecks" watches, etc. You get the idea.
It was here, a few years back, that I discovered perhaps the most amazing toy I've ever seen in my life. Ostensibly it was Spider-man. Riding a remote control dune buggy with the '89 Batman symbol on the hood. Wearing a superman cape. And when the vehicle moved it played a tinny rendition of "La Cucaracha".
5 bucks later it was mine. This began in me a love of really bad knock-off toys. And that is what this thread is about. The best of the worste. Often audacious, imminently bizarre, always entertaining, and cheap as chips.
It's a fantastic place to find restaurants, out of the way bizarre gift shops, vast arcades, and even massage parlours...
But perhaps the best kept "secret" of Richmond is the so-called "Chinese Night Market". During the summer months, deep in the industrial district, in a large empty parking lot behind several factories along the river, the Night Market's tents, booths, and carts set up around 9 pm and lasts until the wee hours. Think a combination of a traveling circus commissary and Eastern bazaar and you won't be far off.
The main reason for going is the food. For $10 you can eat like a king. Some of the most unique and delicious dishes unknown to the West, as well as more traditional fairground entries like funnel cake, twst potatoes on a stick, and freshly made corn dogs, dipped in batter right before your eyes. But that stuff is for the rubes. Go with someone who is from China and knows what they are ordering, and it is a culinary extravaganza.
But besides the food there are also the vendors. So many vendors, all of duplicitous legality. There's the booth with swords and weaponry of any description. Places to get cell phones unlocked (ahem). Massive amounts of DVDs. Places to buy genuine "Rollecks" watches, etc. You get the idea.
It was here, a few years back, that I discovered perhaps the most amazing toy I've ever seen in my life. Ostensibly it was Spider-man. Riding a remote control dune buggy with the '89 Batman symbol on the hood. Wearing a superman cape. And when the vehicle moved it played a tinny rendition of "La Cucaracha".
5 bucks later it was mine. This began in me a love of really bad knock-off toys. And that is what this thread is about. The best of the worste. Often audacious, imminently bizarre, always entertaining, and cheap as chips.