North America

The Canadian West Coast is a fusion of high mountain low seas. Just above the calm Pacific waters, lies a city modern and sleek. The tranquil landscape is in stark contrast to the bustling streets housing the hustle of some 5 million people. It is in this urban layout that over 400,000 ethnic Chinese have decided to establish their home.

Victoria, British Columbia, located on beautiful Vancouver Island , is a popular tourist destination in Canada. However, as so many tourist destinations tend to be, Victoria is not exactly known for its affordability. As someone who’s lived in the city for the past few years, I can attest to the high costs both of living in and touring around Victoria, but if you know where to look, you can still find breath-taking and exciting activities for just a few dollars, or less.

Los Angeles did not fail to amuse. Within a day of my arrival, I’ve witnessed the transaction between a movie scout and an aspiring actress in downtown Hollywood, the attempted suicide of a man atop a 40-story building, the numerous homeless folks along the tourist-filled blvds and the massive celebrity mansions in the secured streets of Beverly Hills.

I was completely smitten by the province. Although I only had one day (10 hours) in Quebec city, I managed to see a handful of tourist attractions by foot.