I think this is my third time in Seattle and my first time actually venturing outside of the city itself and into the suburbs. I tried the RapidRide busses and I was surprised to find them actually on time and reliable! haha!

I was in Renton at Washington Lake for one morning. It was fun to get dressed up and dance ballroom at a hotel so close to such a beautiful lake.

Close by was The Landing, and we got dumplings for lunch. Afterwards by myself I got Snowy Village and did a small shopping spree at Ulta. All the things I can’t do in Victoria. I didn’t mind lugging my suitcase with my big dress around because I was just so happy to get food and carbs.

Back downtown Seattle, I checked out some touristy spots and I only had a few hours before the sun set.

I found some pretty flowers at the Pike Place Market but I had no way to carry them with me. Unfortunate. Around golden hour, I met up with friends for dinner and absolutely loved the view of the water and the Ferris wheel.

I was blessed with good weather the whole weekend and because I took a fast ferry, I wasn’t stuck in car traffic like I was like time. Everything just felt much easier and I had more freedom to roam around. Staying right at Pike Place was a huge bonus, and hostel life reminds me so much of my early 20s backpacking through Europe! I can still do it!

Night time Seattle is quite pretty. Other than the huge skyscrapers, they still have older style buildings that reminds me a bit of Montreal.

Living downtown Seattle sounds like a dream! Surrounded by water, buildings (Amazon) and everything you ever need, good transit and lots of ferries, I didn’t really appreciate its connectivity until now.

Till next time!

I’ve lived in Victoria for more than a year now and I haven’t found the time to appreciate this city. Some days I feel like this is the closest to heaven on earth, and some days I feel like I’m not ready to die here yet. So deep in my heart I’m torn and I’m not sure I will be here for the long term, so I want to make sure I have all the fondest memories in this small city.

A lot of businesses close fairly early. Bakeries close at 4.30-5.00 pm, so I usually would rush to them after work to get what I need. The good news though is downtown is never too crowded for too long into the night. There are so many hidden spots that one can enjoy on their own.

Golden hour in the late summer is the best time to wander around and not be burned by the heat. So often I find random stores that I never bothered to explore in Vancouver. There’s a small Italian deli with the best truffle pesto, a Filipino market with kickass halo halo, a South American store with my favourite Brazilian mate, and Japanese stores with that citrus-y paste that Mika and Dave introduced to me.

The Inner Harbour is the most popular spot for photos, but I find the streets in the outskirts of downtown or Chinatown to be the most charming. The city definitely tries to retain some of the older architecture.

On a holiday afternoon, the city feels calm and relaxed, yet not completely empty. It feels just the right vibe to enjoy time off and still feel surrounded by people.

Ever since I discovered the Victoria Library I have been making use of the proximity to my apartment and saving on buying books. It’s nothing like the Toronto Library but it tries to do something different.

I also spend a fair bit of time at the ferries going back and forth between Vancouver and Victoria. The tranquility of the water and nature really soothes the length of the journey, and it’s nowhere nearly as crammed and annoying like airports. Even when things aren’t running on schedule, I have something to enjoy.

I guess that sums up Victoria quite well. It’s nowhere nearly as good as any of the big cities in terms of art, culture, food. But because of the weather, the pace of life, one is more inclined to forgive its lack of substance and just let the city be what it is, not think about what it isn’t.

Wow it’s been over a year since I last travelled internationally! I didn’t realize how much I missed it until I started travelling again in October, albeit a short trip to Toronto. This trip to Sweden was so exciting and packed with uncertainty – not just with the Covid cases and regulations changing every week, but also with holiday schedules of my friends. I tried to see as many people as I could, and I was happy that I managed to catch most of them before I had to fly back to Canada again. I also made some new friends during the journey that helped me a lot!

I landed in Stockholm first and had one night there before going to Malmo the next day. Christmas spirits were up in the air, and because I stayed right next to Centralstation, there were tons of shops of stores open for holiday shopping. I was quite lucky that it was dry when I arrived, and I settled nicely into my hotel room that was very welcoming and soothing after a long flight. I forgot how tiring those flights could be! The next morning, the sun came out and made a beautiful sight.

When I arrived in Malmo it was already close to midnight and the only thing open was McDonalds, so I took a short stroll through the city center to find food. In all my time at Lund I never explored Malmo, so this was a good chance to be somewhere new. Malmo has a bigger city vibe, but with Christmas lights, it feels as cozy as ever. The rain came down during my stay here and made the days extra dark, but I went to a wedding, met some lovely people there who got me home at 2 am, and had ramen for lunch with an old friend who still remembers me. That’s all I’m grateful for.

After spending two days in Berlin for Christmas, I came back to Stockholm but also didn’t stay long before I moved onto to Gothenburg for a day. I also had never been to this city and I enjoyed the train ride thoroughly. Swedish countryside was covered in snow at this point, so it looked like a winter wonderland that people sing about and paint. I was used to being spoiled in Lund, Malmo and Stockholm with lots of English for foreigners, so I was caught off guard in Goteborgs where there wasn’t much English around. But I eventually found my way and found warmth in the rainy days here too, staying with friends and their two fluffy dogs. I joke that I’ll never get a photo of Sweden in the summer.

Then I was back in Stockholm for a night before heading back. Despite the cold, rain and dark, I still enjoyed every bit of Sweden like I did almost 7 years ago. My friends have grown up, moved, entered different stages of their lives, but still we remember our school days and each other.

Back in Canada I got hit by the Covid virus and was knocked out for a few days. I am still recovering, and perhaps I won’t step foot on a plane in a long time, but it was good time to rest after a long busy year, full of bus rides, ferry trips, planes, trains.

One more time in Toronto?! I had a dance competition during the Thanksgiving weekend, so I decided to make it a small trip. Now that restrictions are starting to lift, I felt more comfortable being in the sky again.

This time in Toronto, I decided to take my time and just walk around the city a little bit. That soon proved to be mission impossible because the city is so big. I walked down Queen Street and thought, ‘I’ll keep walking until the street ends’ but it seems to never end, so I had to give up and take the bus back into downtown. But I felt good again to explore, and not have to worry about my daily chores. I ate wherever I felt like, and didn’t adhere to any schedules or appointments.

So I took some more time to go down the lanes and alleys, away from the noise. I found some areas that I’ve never been to before in the last few visits, and I was happy that the weather was accommodating. Some moments, I thought maybe I could move here… and then I remember it’s a winter city, and well, it’s not winter yet.

Because I took it slower this time, I realized something I never appreciated about Toronto. It’s big, sprawling, scary, but the people don’t lose their friendliness, and the streets are safe. People, young and old, night and day, are on the streets chatting, playing tennis, biking, roller skating, walking… It’s a liveable city in that sense (despite the cost of living), because most people feel safe to enjoy their public spaces.

Till next time!

There was no travelling for me in 2020, and I was almost sick of plane rides by the end of the 2019, but now here I am wishing I was on a flight out of the country during Christmas. It’s boxing day, so I spent some time reminiscing on some of the best shopping trips that I can remember.

5. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

They have some very cheap fast-fashion brands, so I enjoyed indulging myself just once in a few years on some low-durability stuff. I remember buying almost 10 pairs of shoes (some of which I did wear until they fell apart so terribly it was impossible to keep wearing), a Crumpler bag (that is still holding up very well), tons of Miniso cute stuff (one of the stuffed animals I still sleep with every day), Cotton on basics etc. The malls in KL were also made to be entertainment centers. I could walk around for ages, eat food, go to an arcade of catch a movie… all in the same building.

4. Stockholm, Sweden

I bought some very high quality goods here. The leather Vagabonds boots that I bought is the most pampered item of footwear in my entire closet. I would clean it carefully every year and polish before wearing once or twice for the fall season. The Åhléns near Central Station is the largest I found in Sweden, and at Christmas time was so beautifully lit. I also went to the Mall of Scandinavia, which was brand new at that time, and marveled at the fancy food court. It was out of my budget at the time, but I definitely spent a good chunk of my money on Hunkemoller and followed up with Joe and the Juice – neither are Swedish brands – oops! I think I spent like $200 on a button up shirt (it wasn’t even Filippa K, and I have not worn it this year due to working from home. What a waste.) The Designtorget was also addictive! I bought so many gifts and souvenirs for friends and family there.

3. San Francisco, USA

This gets a high ranking because there are brands here that I cannot find outside of the USA. Trader Joe’s has an enormous store near Hyde street and I never bought so many snacks I didn’t need. My bad. I also have lovely memories of shopping on Valencia street: overpriced candles, second hand books, super fancy and ethical chocolate… all to follow up with cheese, wine, tacos etc. I also found Mission Bicycles – which I am still hoping to spend a lot of money on one day to get the the super special custom bike I desire – as soon as they recover from their fire.

2. Singapore, Singapore

In the period of more than a decade since I last lived there, it feels like shopping malls in Singapore had grown by 2 times! I’ve been back to Singapore multiple times since I left, and each time I could spend an entire day and my entire paycheque at one mall. The latest spree was at Bugis Junction, the one before that was at VivoCity. The time before that was probably at Plaza Singapura and the rest of Orchard street. It has a really good mix of fast-fashion choices like Charles & Keith, and middle-class brands like GG<5 and G2000. The last time, I also noticed the influx of Korean fashion brands around. If I wanted something cheaper I think I would just spend more time in Kuala Lumpur, but I liked the mix of lesser known stores that I didn’t find in other cities, and whose names I already forgot – oops!

1. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

(I have not visited Sao Paulo, so this is a temporary #1 spot – based on what I heard about the extravagance of that city.) I honestly had so much fun shopping in this city. I loved the soaps from Granado and the beautiful textile of Farm Rio. I also loved cookies, chocolates and pastries at Confeitaria Colombo. The chocolate-covered nuts from Dengo in Village Mall was so good (and expensive)! I also got hooked on Havaianas flip flops and still wear them to this day (surprisingly they never caught my attention when I was in Singapore). I also bought some extravagant costume jewelry for my dance competitions and I have had so many compliments from the stuff I bought. I would have bought more if I didn’t insist on a small suitcase. Thankfully my friend came in 2019 with some goodies that I treasure so much!

Honorary mentions:

• Tokyo, Japan: I did some shopping for souvenirs in this city and really enjoyed the large malls, but I only remember the international brands like Uniqlo and Audio Technica.
• Seoul, South Korea: There so many cute fashions stores here, and I did spend an significant amount of money on stuff like overcoat, dress, lingerie, jewelry… But at that time I was not entirely into the Korean entertainment industry as I am now, so I missed out.
• Ha Noi, Viet Nam: there are a lot of good quality fashion and jewelry brands now, but it’s still hard to tell if the products are authentic, so I would rather stick to cheaper things.
• Barcelona, Spain: there’s shopping everywhere. No kidding. But I didn’t find one large destination mall that I could spend a day sheltered from the rain, wind, or whatever else…

I had a jam packed 4 days in Mexico City. It was a public holiday, Mexico’s Independence Day, and people flooded the streets with patriotic symbols and high spirits. We stayed in the historical center in the city and got to see the city at a very special time. It was the first Independence Day with President Obrador in power, and I was amazed at how charismatic and well-loved he is.

My first impression of Mexico City is it is a bit of Barcelona, a bit of Rio, a bit of Chicago, and a bit of Kuala Lumpur. The Spanish colonial influence is evident. Further outside the city, the expansive neighbourhoods leaning on the mountains look like colourful Lego blocks. The glass skyscrappers in the affluent neighbourhoods remind us that we’re still in North America. And the wide, multi-lane highways lined with tropical trees gave me flashback to Kuala Lumpur.

I was amazed at how the City designed their big Avenue, Paseo de la Reforma. It is a large, wide road designed for cars, but they created green space and smaller pockets of public space where pedestrians can enjoy the shade, sit on public benches and still enjoy the city’s landmarks.

We seemed to have visited on a day where the Avenue was closed off except for bikes, but it’s not one of those bike races I often see in Vancouver. There were kids and runners and people on scooters all making use of the wide lanes normally occupied by cars. I haven’t seen that many casual bikers since Copenhagen!

We also explored Colonia Roma, most recently made famous by director’s Alfonso Cuaron’s Oscar win. I liked the quiet and slow streets, despite them also being very wide. We caught the touch of hipster vibes through the elusive bars, restaurants, bookstores… I spotted a street vendor selling poetry books near Pushkin Garden. Such an unexpected element in a city so big.

Mexico City is also such a great place for museum lovers. I could spend days visiting all the cool museums, art galleries and random hidden street art. I think the citizens of this city has really made a beautiful, unique space that is unlike any other European or North American city I’ve been to.

I’m definitely biased towards west coast cities, and I expected San Francisco to be a hipster heaven. So many movies had been filmed here, and coincidentally a week before the trip I watched “Woman on the Run” (1950) and saw that Fisherman’s Wharf was featured. I definitely did not find as many sailors there as the movie depicted, but I did get a visual warning of the hills.

I was actually more charmed by the quieter streets and buildings on every block. It is a different colour, style, vibe and décor on each street, and I am fascinated by how cozy it feels, even with the wide streets and abundance of grey concrete and asphalt. It seems to lack the parklets, cul-de-sacs and green bike route wayfinding signs (on local streets) that Vancouver has, but still manages to feel comfortable and slow.

Such a contrast with the downtown financial district. The tall glass buildings are immense, drowning, clean. I enjoyed the bike scrambles too, even though I didn’t get to see the intersections at a really busy time. We hunted around for a Joe & the Juice, but wasn’t hungry enough to sit down, so we checked out the Autodesk showroom. Such a smart idea to promote a product!

Although disappointed by the bike lanes, I really liked that transit was well used by seemingly the locals. Public transportation was clean and easy to use too, which makes me hopeful that this city is more sustainable than others. It certainly made my trip easier as a tourist, especially after I gave up on biking up hills around here. The city started to feel familiar to me on the 2nd day. Vancouver has the same busses and pedestrian push buttons. Vancouver also has a hipster street like Valencia, a huge bridge like Golden Gate and a touristy car-free path along the water like Land’s End. And yet San Francisco is still distinct like an alternative universe. The hipsters are cooler, chiller. The water is more vast and engulfed in the fog like a dream. The roads and bridges are bigger and domineering. The bikers insist on fixed gear and work their way up the hills without a sweat.

I don’t remember being this impressed by food anywhere else in North America. Within a weekend, we had beignets, cheese platters, sausage flights, super tacos at the famous taqueria in Mission, the Danish smoothie that I missed so much, kosher diner food, ramen that isn’t too salty, and a ton of Trader Joe’s snacks. I was lucky that I was able to burn the calories on the hills.

At this moment I could say that San Francisco is at the top of my list for American cities!

I went south to visit my dear friend who is attending the University of Tennessee. It took a few days to realize when people ask me “Do you go to UT”, they don’t mean University of Toronto.

For the first few days, I thought Knoxville was boring and uneventful. Students shuffling to class, loud parties in the student dorms, junk food places crowded at night. I thoroughly enjoyed visiting undergraduate lectures, sitting in on Phd seminar and camping out at the library until 7 pm, re-living my student days. Minus the stress and anxiety. School is really fun (but only after school).

People were very friendly to me! I guess I’m used to living in big cities where no one really cares if you look out of place. People in Knoxville look quite happy! I think the sunny skies did help.

One afternoon, my friend and I went Downtown Knoxville, away from the students. I liked the pedestrianized plaza and the free trolley bus!There are also free movies on Fridays, but we had already made plans for that evening.

I visited McKay’s books, which was enormous! I only had time to browse the Philosophy and Fiction sections. On our way back, we found Insomnia Cookies! Best surprise ever.

This is not a typical urban environment I would usually spend my vacation in, but I still enjoyed the thrill of being on vacation at a school where everyone is working way too hard. I do sympathize!