December 2024

In: Budget Breakdown, Europe

When my friend asked me if I would like to join her to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Games in Russia, I didn’t hesitate in saying yes! Attending the FIFA World Cup has been a bucket list item on mine. I was also able to visit a country that I hadContinue Reading

In July 2018, I had the experience of attending the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. I have never really had the experience of eating Russian food, so everything that I ate was new and different for my taste buds. With some research and with my Russian friend’s knowledge, IContinue Reading

In: Budget Breakdown, Europe

I will give you a brief review of my Europe Grad Trip (only brief review, as this trip was over 4 years ago). Having planned this trip since my first year of university, I saved a lot through my numerous part time jobs. I felt like being able to do thisContinue Reading

In: Australia & Pacific, Budget Breakdown

The Australian east coast trip from Sydney to Cairns is the most popular route for travellers heading to the country. It’s a backpacker’s dream with stunning beaches, great cities, diverse landscapes and endless activities. Australia is known to be an expensive country to visit. However I will show you howContinue Reading

In September 2018, I quit my job as a financial analyst in Toronto and decided to travel the world. It was by far the most life-changing decision I have ever made.  My original plan was to travel around Asia for six months before heading to Australia to do the workingContinue Reading

In: Australia & Pacific, Budget Breakdown

Consistently ranked as one of the world’s most liveable city, Melbourne is brimming with attractions that appeal to visitors and locals alike. A great destination for sports enthusiasts with the Australian Open (tennis), the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix (car racing), the Melbourne Cup (horse racing) and the AFL GrandContinue Reading

In: Asia, Budget Breakdown

South Korea is often overlooked by backpackers who are either drawn to the cheap Southeast Asia or the more popular Japan. But this country offers so much for a great value. Below I will provide you my budget breakdown so that you can go backpacking South Korea on the cheap.Continue Reading

In: Asia, Budget Breakdown

There is no place in the world like Japan. It’s a country where ancient traditions are fused with modern life. This is actually my second time visiting this country. I last visited in 2017 and I’m back two years later, this time with Shelly! Here is the breakdown of myContinue Reading

In: Africa, Budget Breakdown

South Africa has a bad reputation with its high levels of corruption and crime but the country’s rich history, natural beauty, and culture is what made me visit. It certainly did not disappoint! South Africa has it all–from vibrant cities to white sand beaches to breathtaking landscapes. As part ofContinue Reading

In: Budget Breakdown, Canada & USA

After having travelled abroad for over 8 months, I was excited about the prospect of exploring more of my own country. Atlantic Canada is the most easterly region of Canada, comprising the four provinces of New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island (PEI), Nova Scotia and Newfoundland & Labrador. This part ofContinue Reading

In: Budget Breakdown, Latin America & Carribean

Today’s Colombia is unlike the one of which your parents once imagined. Gone for the most part are the violence from drug cartels and rebel factions. Because of this, tourism has skyrocketed over the past years and has shown visitors the country’s immense diversity of landscapes and cultures. There areContinue Reading

In: Budget Breakdown, Latin America & Carribean

This country in South America is often overshadowed by more popular destinations such as Peru or Argentina. However, you will still encounter many backpackers, as Bolivia’s Andean region is a part of the well-travelled South American backpacker circuit (Colombia to Chile/Argentina or vice versa). While I only had time toContinue Reading

In: Budget Breakdown, Latin America & Carribean

From Mendoza, Argentina, I entered into Chile, the world’s narrowest and longest country. Like Argentina, I did not go to Patagonia as I felt that it deserves a trip on its own (and also Shelly wants to go too!) Other than that, I felt like I got a great insightContinue Reading

So you just made it to Chicago, and are thinking of what to do? These are my top 5 things to do in Chicago based on my experiences. Make sure you check out our trip to Chicago here.

1. Art Institute of Chicago

The second-largest art museum in the United States, after the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago houses nearly 300,000 works of art. This was my highlight of my recent trip to Chicago. The place is humongous and there is so many to see. For those that have watched the movie “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”, you can see a lot of the scenes within the movie that were filmed in the museum.

I spent a whole day inside and got to see some notable works of art such as:

A Sunday on La Grande Jatte by Georges Seurat American Gothic by Grant Wood Self Portrait by Vincent Van Gogh

Tickets starts at $25 USD for travelers (lower prices if you are from Chicago and Illinois). I suggest purchasing tickets in advance through their website as the lines there do get long.

BONUS: Check out the public art all over Chicago! The Loop itself is a museum full of sculptures by the world’s most famous modern artists (Picasso, Calder, etc.). The best part of it, its FREE!

Flamingo by Alexander Calder at Adams and Dearborn Chagall’s Four Seasons at Monroe and Dearborn

2. Check out the Chicago Skyline

A mixture of notable skyscrapers such as Sears Tower (Willis Tower), John Hancock Center, Trump International Tower, Chicago’s world famous architecture, the Chicago River, and Lake Michigan makes Chicago have one of the more picturesque skylines in the world. There are a lot of places to check out the skyline and my favourite place is at:

The Signature Lounge Bar at the John Hancock Center

An iconic tower, The John Hancock Center, was once the tallest building in Chicago reaching 1,128 ft (343.7 m). Because it is located outside the Loop, you will get a better view of the Chicago skyline. Your view will also include the Sears Tower (Willis Tower), which you will not get if you are in the Sears Tower. Head to the Signature Lounge Bar, where you can check out the views from the 96th floor. It is FREE to enter, but you will have to purchase a drink once you are there.

BONUS: If you’re a woman, check out the restroom, as it has an awesome view making a great bathroom experience.

3. The Second City

The Second City is an improv comedy theatre based in Chicago. It opened in 1959, and has since become one of the most influential comedy theatres in the world. Notable alumni include John Belushi, John Candy, Steve Carrel, Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, Mike Myers, and many more.

I have been to their shows three times (1 in Toronto, 1 in a Norwegian Cruise, and 1 in Chicago) and had a blast each time I went. If you like to laugh like me, I highly recommend going!

Tickets start around $19 USD depending on times and the show.

4. Millennium Park and Grant Park

Both public parks are major tourist attractions located within the Loop and with good reasons. Both are amazing urban parks that showcase Chicago’s smart urban design and its modern architecture. The park is also home for Chicago’s most famous attraction, “The Bean”. This attractions is a good guess as the most Instagram-ed place in Chicago.

The parks offers many other famous public art such as the:

• Crown Fountain- a unique work of art that displays digital videos of people’s faces onto the skyscraper like fountain.
• Buckingham Fountain – one of the largest fountains in the world with regular water shows and evening color-light shows.
• The Pritzker Pavilion- designed by world famous Frank Gehry which hosts free concerts in the summer that visitors can enjoy.

Cloud Gate (a.k.a The Bean) Crown Fountain Buckingham Fountain Pritzker Pavilion

They are also great places to walk around, people watch, and enjoy the greenery in Chicago. In the winter time, you can enjoy the ice skating rink open to the public. Millennium Park also houses the city’s annual Christmas tree.

5. Riding the Chicago “L”

More specifically riding the “L” within the Loop. The Chicago Transit Authority’s train system is known as the “L” (short for “elevated”) and serves over 700,000 people on a daily basis. The brown, pink, green, and orange lines (shown below) within the Loop are elevated. The great thing about that is the views you can get from riding these trains. You get to ride over the Chicago River, in between skyscrapers, and get to see the hustle and bustle of the city from above!

Not only is taking the L is a great way to get around Chicago, it is also a great way to see the city from another perspective. To ride the train, it only cost $2.25 USD

CTA provides a tour the ‘L’ system with these full-length videos shot from the head of a train.

This list only scratches the surface on the many things to do in Chicago. Let me know what your top 5  things to do in Chicago is!

In: Australia & Pacific, Top 5 Eats

We’ve heard nothing but good things about the diverse and vibrant food scene in Melbs, so it was imperative that we hit up as many spots as we could… you know, for science! And the conclusion was that some places were over hyped while others completely blew us out ofContinue Reading

If you love strong flavours and spicy foods, then you either already like Korean food or you should give it a go! For myself, Korean food is one of my favourite cuisines. From Korean BBQ, to boiling hot stews, to pickled vegetables, to fried chicken, to shaved ice, there willContinue Reading

For as long as I can remember, Japan has always been at the top of my travel bucket list. As a lover of Japanese cuisine, I was prepared to bring my stretchy pants and eat to my heart’s desire. Believe me, I had great difficulty narrowing down this list, becauseContinue Reading

In: Canada & USA, Top 5 Eats

Due to its proximity to the ocean, Atlantic Canada is home to the most delicious seafood, wild fruits and fresh vegetables in the country. But this doesn’t mean there aren’t other things to eat. Game meat, such as moose and deer, are also commonly consumed. Cities like Halifax, St. John’s,Continue Reading

In: Latin America & Carribean, Top 5 Eats

With a country so diverse as Brazil, their food will be heavily influenced by its people and its geography. In Southern Brazil, the flatter cooler land makes it ideal for cattle ranching and along with the heavy German immigration in the area, red meat and churrasco (Brazilian BBQ) is veryContinue Reading

As Hong Kong and Macau were both colonies of Great Britain and Portugal, the native Cantonese cuisine was mixed with British and Portuguese influences, creating a unique cuisine of their own. A big example in Hong Kong is the Hong Kong milk tea. The Cantonese have never added milk toContinue Reading

During my travels in Vietnam, I got to see that Vietnamese cuisine is more than just Phở and Bánh mì. I had the chance of trying so many kinds of dishes, as the foods were generally cheap and delicious! What helps is that Vietnamese cuisine is considered one to beContinue Reading

Lao cuisine is not well known in the western world, but did you know that there are more ethnic Lao living in Thailand than in Laos. A majority of the people living in Northeastern Thailand are ethnically Lao, and Lao cuisine played a pivotal role in making Thai food an internationalContinue Reading

Thailand has an abundance of yummy eats. From Southern Thailand’s curries to Northern Thailand’s papaya salads, you can find many different tastes that will cater to any foodie. Having been in Thailand for over a month, I got a good grasp of the cuisine and in this list I willContinue Reading

The country of Malaysia has three distinct people group: the Malay, the Chinese, and the Indians. Due to this, food in Malaysia has strong influences from the three ethnicities. You can get a variety of yummy eats no matter where you go in the country and in this post, I willContinue Reading

In: Australia & Pacific, Personal Finance

Moving to Sydney, Australia in August 2019, I was quite eager to check out what financial products/services they had to offer. My first taste is the cashback websites offered in Australia. As covered earlier in my post on how to earn cashback in Canada, I decided to write one onContinue Reading

In: Canada & USA, Personal Finance

Did you know you can get cash back for almost everything you purchase online? Online shopping is convenient, easy, and cheaper than ever. One advantage that many people do not know about: you can earn cashback for buying things using these websites (as discussed below)! I have been using theseContinue Reading

In: Personal Finance, Reviews

In August 2018, I came across a new financial institution in Canada called STACK. As I am nearing the end of my year long travel, let me start off by saying the STACK Prepaid MasterCard has saved me hundreds of dollars in fees! STACK is a FinTech (financial technology) startupContinue Reading

In: Canada & USA, Personal Finance

With Chase pulling out of Canada, the beloved Amazon Rewards and Marriott Rewards credit cards went along with it. The Amazon Rewards Visa was my go to credit card while travelling abroad and making purchases in foreign currency. For those that do not know, most credit cards in Canada charge an additionalContinue Reading

While you might now know on how to shop around for the cheapest flights, there are further resources on getting even better deals on flights. These flight alert sites specialize in finding cheap prices. Whether be it last minute tickets, special promotions or mistake fares, these websites will find themContinue Reading

Just like you would look around for shopping your next iPhone or TV, flights are also something that you should price shop for. A little effort in shopping around can go a long way in finding the best deals on flights. In this post, the best websites for finding cheapContinue Reading

The cost of accommodation can be an expensive part of your travels, especially if like to stay in hotels. But of all the travel categories, the cost of accommodation is the one that is the easiest to reduce. This is due to the wide array of options of accommodation andContinue Reading