Everyone knows McDonald’s golden arches, big macs, and Ronald McDonald. McDonald’s is the world’s largest restaurant chain by revenue has restaurants in over 100 countries. Whether you love it or hate it, you cannot dispute the impact it has on the world. During my travels in Thailand, I got to see what’s different in McDonald’s Thailand compared to Canada & USA.

Pad Krapow. 7/10

This stir fry dish with meat and basil is one of the most popular Thai dishes and it makes sense that McDonald’s has their own version of it. They use their fried chicken and added the spicy basil sauce and serve it with rice. I got this dish for 69 THB ($2.74 CAD). While the ones you get from street vendors and restaurants are tastier and cheaper, this is not a bad option for a meal.

Fried Chicken. 8/10

It is a little odd thinking that McDonald’s sells fried chicken, but they do in Southeast Asia! And its actually pretty good! The skin on the fried chicken is one of the best from a fast food joint. It is crunchy, spicy and flavourful! Their meat is a little dry compared other fast food joints. You can get two pieces for just 37 THB ($1.37 CAD)

Thailand is the first country I’ve been to where there are pork burgers in McDonald’s. I got the chance to try the two pork burgers they have, the Samurai Pork Burger and Spicy Namtok Kurobuta Burger.

Samurai Pork Burger. 5/10

The Samurai Pork Burger is the smaller of the two and the one that belongs in the value menu. For 119 THB ($4.72 CAD), you can get the burger, fries and a drink. It is a smaller burger and seasoned with a sweet teriyaki like (hence the Japanese name) sauce. I did not enjoy it and would not get it again as I felt the sauce was too sweet.

Spicy Namtok Kurobuta Burger. 7/10

The more premium Spicy Namtok Kurobuta Burger is a lot bigger and is in the same class as the Big Mac and Quarter Pounder. And at 129 THB ($5.12 CAD) for the burger 199 THB ($7.90 CAD) for the set, it’s not cheap either. The sauce they used is better than the Samurai Pork Burger, and is actually spicy. You get a thicker pork patty along with what taste like fresher lettuce and tomatoes. Unfortunately the taste of the burger doesn’t justify the price of this burger.

Thailand likes their McDonald’s pies as they have a variety of different kinds of pies. I tried two kinds, the Pineapple Pie and the Chicken Ham Carbonara Pie. There is also the Corn Pie, that I decided not to get as I don’t like the taste of processed corn.

Pineapple Pie. 7.5/10

One taste I do like is pineapples, so I went ahead and tried the Pineapple Pie. At 26 THB ($1.03 CAD), it makes for a great snack or dessert for your meal. The outer shell tastes exactly what you get back in Canada or the United States. Inside is warm sweet pineapple filling that I found pretty good. There are even large chunks of pineapples inside!

Chicken Ham Carbonara Pie. 6/10

I think the Chicken Ham Carbonara Pie was a promotional item so it might not be available anymore. McDonald’s Thailand tried to recreate a taste of Italy in this pie. They didn’t do a good job as it tasted more like creamy chicken ham rather than carbonara. The texture also threw me off as it felt like mush. It was a bit more expensive compared to the other pies at 29 THB ($1.15 CAD).

If you are curious to see what else I ate in Thailand and what were my top 5 favourite, click here!

During my travels in South America, I had the chance to fly business class with South America’s largest airline, LATAM Airlines. Flying on the Boeing 767, I flew from Bogota, Colombia to Sao Paulo, Brazil where I would continue my mini round the world trip with Aeroplan. Here is my reviewContinue 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

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: Budget Breakdown, Latin America & Carribean

Argentina offers a wide array of options for different types of travellers. For urban explorers, there is the bustling metropolitan capital of Buenos Aires. For nature lovers, national parks such as Tierra del Fuego and Los Glaciares in Patagonia are a must for hiking, and desert canyons can be reachedContinue 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

In: Budget Breakdown, Latin America & Carribean

Famous for football and the annual Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil also has a negative reputation of being an unsafe travel destination. While a bit of that might be true as you do have to be aware and extra cautious, I found this aspect to be wildly exaggerated. InContinue Reading

In: Budget Breakdown, Latin America & Carribean

Often overlooked between its bigger neighbours of Brazil and Argentina, Uruguay offers great beaches in Punta del Este and Punta del Diablo to charming colonial towns of Colonia del Sacramento. The country might not have big name sights and attractions but is more known for its good vibes and highContinue Reading

In: Asia, Budget Breakdown

Cambodia is part of the common Southeast Asia backpacking route. Temples such as Angkor Wat, the museums in Phnom Penh, and the beautiful beaches of Koh Rong attracts thousands of backpackers. And like its neighbouring countries, your money stretches far here and in this blog post I will show youContinue Reading

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 my budget and hopefully that will give you an insight to the cost of travelling in Japan.

Here is our route in Japan: we started Tokyo and made our way west to Fukuoka as we were heading to South Korea after.

Currency Info: In July/August 2019, the exchange of the Japanese Yen to the Canadian Dollar was around 82.6 JPY to $1 CAD.

I did not include my flights into and out of Japan because this is going to vary significantly based on where you’ll be arriving from. In case you are interested, I paid $1,064.86 CAD for a business class flight on Ethiopian Airlines from Johannesburg to Tokyo.

Aside from my flight in and out of Japan, we did not take any other flights within the country itself.

Japanese food doesn’t need any introduction. I’m sure you have had a taste of sushi, ramen or teriyaki wherever you live. But what sets the food apart in Japan is that the quality of food is absolutely amazing. Restaurants here often specialize in just one dish. Generations of chefs have perfected each stage of the cooking process.

I am quite comfortable in saying that food in Japan is not as expensive as people think. You can definitely spend crazy amounts of money (as you will see below) but it is cheaper to eat a meal here in an average restaurant compared to Australia, Canada and most Western European countries.

To save money, I recommend getting ready-made food at the grocery store. Especially if you go in the evenings, they will have sales to clear out the food they made that day. We were able to get sushi, roast pork, salad, katsu with rice, and fruits (see below) for two for just 1800 JPY ($22 CAD)! There are also budget restaurant chains that provide delicious eats for great value. Go to Coco Ichiban for curry rice, and Yoshinoya or Sukiya for gyudon (beef on rice).

• Conveyor belt sushi at Genki Sushi 1088 JPY ($13.17 CAD)
• Ramen at famed Ichiran Ramen 890 JPY ($10.77 CAD)
• Ramen at Kyoto’s Ramen street 915 JPY ($11.15 CAD)
• One of the best soft serve I’ve ever had, Cremia 275 JPY ($3.33 CAD)
• Katsu curry rice at Coco Curry 547 JPY ($6.62 CAD)
• Kushikatsu at Kushikatsu Daruma. This is a dish of deep-fried skewered meat and vegetables which originated in Osaka. 1512 JPY ($18.42 CAD) for two
• The less famous but just as good cousin of Kobe beef, Matsusaka beef meal at Matsusakagyu Yakiniku 16,848 JPY ($205.21 CAD) for two. For more detail, click here.
• Hiroshima style okonomiyaki (savoury pancake) 972 JPY ($11.84 CAD) for two
• Five-course seafood meal at Kaikaya by the sea 3800 JPY ($45.98 CAD) per person
• The best yakitori (grilled skewered meat) I’ve had and drinks at Tayutayu Namba-sennichimae for 1430 JPY ($17.30 CAD) per person
• A bottle of beer in one of the many bars in Golden Gai 750 JPY ($9.08 CAD)

Want more Japanese food? Check out Shelly’s Top 5 Eats in Japan and My Top 5 Eats in Japan for the last time I was in Japan.

Genki Sushi. 8.5/10 Ichiran ramen. 9.5/10 Grocery store haul. All this for 1800 JPY ($22 CAD)! Matsusaka Beef. 9.5/10 Kushikatsu. 8.5/10

Japan has often been considered the best country for public transportation. You can get to pretty much any popular destination without a car. They are efficient, timely, clean, quiet, and comfortable. There is really nothing you can find to complain aside from the costs.

Here are the trains we took:

• Tokyo to Kyoto 13,080 JYP ($158.27 CAD). We took the Shinkansen, the famous Japanese bullet train which can reach speeds of 240–320 km/h (150–200 mph). The train ride was comfortable, quiet, and super fast, but it comes at an expensive cost!
• Kyoto to Osaka on the JR Tokaido line 560 JPY ($6.78 CAD).

Look into getting the JR Rail Pass. It covers travel on all Shinkansen trains except for the fastest ones (the one we took). We decided not to get one as we had not planned to go all the way to Fukuoka. Our original route of Tokyo to Osaka was not enough to justify the cost. Learn from our mistake and carefully plan your trip, if you can. Check out this Japan Rail Pass Calculator to see if your itinerary calls for a JR Rail Pass! Note that buying the pass online ahead of time can be 10-20% cheaper than getting it on arrival.

Buses are a great alternative to the train system in Japan. They are cheaper and also just as comfortable. As Japan is not a huge country, the travel time between cities is not too long. Drivers will often make stops at rest stations for bathroom/snack breaks. I recommend booking with Willer Express. Their rates are pretty competitive and are geared towards foreign tourists with their easy-to-use website and English-speaking staff.

Here are the buses that we took:

• a 5.5 hour ride from Osaka to Hiroshima 4700 JPY ($56.87 CAD)
• a 4.5 hour ride from Hiroshima to Fukuoka 4150 JPY ($50.22 CAD)

Unfortunately for the Osaka to Hiroshima journey, I originally booked the tickets for the wrong date and could only get 50% back 3700 JPY ($44.77 CAD).

When you first arrive in the airport, I highly recommend getting an IC card (Suica, PASMO, ICOCA)! IC cards are reloadable cards that can be used to pay fares on public transportation, vending machines, convenience stores, and some restaurants. What’s more important is that all IC cards are made compatible with each other, meaning that paying for the public transportation in most of Japan’s cities is possible with just one card! No need to get one every time you go to another city in the country! There is a 500 JPY deposit which you can get back along with any unused credit at the end of your trip, however most companies will charge a 220 JPY handling fee.

We also rented bikes from our hostels in Kyoto and Hiroshima for 500 JPY ($6.05 CAD) and 700 JPY ($8.47 CAD) respectively. Renting bikes is a great way to get around a city. Most of the bigger cities in Japan are flat and very easy to bike around. You can cover great distances and get to stop anywhere that you think is interesting.

Japan is filled with different kinds of accommodations. From fancy five star hotels to budget hostels to love hotels… there’s something for everyone! Within the hostel category, they are also diverse as there are modern, quirky hostels infused with stylish twists. And then there are the capsule hotels if you fancy sleeping in a stacked bed-sized room.

If you are looking for a more unique experience, consider staying at a ryokan, a traditional Japanese bed and breakfast. While they will be more expensive than a standard hotel, it is definitely a unique and memorable experience as you’ll get to sleep on tatami mats, eat traditional breakfasts, and the like.

For our accommodation in Japan, we decided to stay in combination of dorm beds and private rooms.

bnbplus Toranomon 5 nights 2083 JPY ($25.22 CAD) per night for a dorm bed

Don’t really have much complaints about this place. Everything is clean and well maintained. The dorms are capsule styled so you get some privacy. The location is excellent, as you are walking distance to Roppongi and Ginza. The Tokyo metro and a JR station is also quite close. However with that said, there is not much space in the hostel. The common area is quite small; located in the hallway where it can only fit a maximum of four people. It is a more quiet place, so don’t expect a social atmosphere. But all in all, for the price that you are paying, it is a great place to stay in Tokyo.

OYO 666 Guest House One More Heart Nijojo 1 three nights 2162 JPY ($26.16 CAD) per night for a private room with ensuite

The price is what makes it an amazing place to stay here. The rooms were quite clean and well maintained. The location was not too bad with buses and a JR station not too far from the guesthouse. The only problem was that there is no WiFi in the room. Everybody would converge in the common area at the evenings to get their internet fix.

Osaka Namba Hostel Miyabi 2 night 1469 JPY ($17.77 CAD) per night for a dorm bed

The price and location is enough for you stay here. It is an amazing value for a great stay in Osaka. Not only are the beds are comfy, they have privacy curtains. The rooms are clean and well maintained. There is a rooftop to lounge around. It’s located only in the Namba district, walking distance to the Dotonbori. My only problem with the hostel is that the showers are all on the main floor, meaning that you might have to go down and up three floors of stairs just to take a shower.

K’s House Hiroshima Backpackers Hostel for 3 nights at 4208 JPY ($50.92 CAD) per night for a private room with an ensuite

Probably my favourite hostel I stayed in my trip in Japan! K’s House is actually a chain hostel with locations all over the country. This was recommended by Shelly, who previously stayed at their Kawaguchiko branch. The hostel is close to Hiroshima JR station. There is a also tram stop at the end of the street to head into town. Another option is to rent bikes to get around. Facilities were quite clean and there is also a full kitchen for any cooking.

Fukuoka Backpackers Hostel for 2 nights at 3144 JPY ($38.06 CAD) per night for a private room

This hostel is quite close to Hakata train station (main JR station in Fukuoka) and the airport if you are planning to fly to Korea like us. It has a big kitchen where you can cook. Overall a very good value. Things to note: the showers were rundown and the social atmosphere was lacking.

Having visited a lot of the cities in Japan before i.e. Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, I decided to do the things I missed out on the first time and some stuff I think is worth doing again (most of them were free haha). Here are some examples of how we spent our time in each city:

• Tokyo National Museum. Considered the largest museum in Japan, it is filled with thousands of Japanese and Asian artifacts. 410 JPY ($4.96 CAD)
• teamLab Planets. This immersive art museum is all the craze on Instagram. 2400 JPY ($29.04 CAD)
• Batting cages at Asakusa Batting Stadium. Did you know that baseball is Japan’s most popular sport?! 500 JPY ($6.05 CAD)
• Mori Art Museum and Tokyo city view at Roppongi Hills. The Mori Art Museum is Tokyo’s largest museum of contemporary art and is located at the top of the central Mori Tower, with views across the city and has amazing photo ops from the Tokyo City View deck. 1200 JPY ($14.52 CAD) for the student price.
• One of the best views of Tokyo at the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building. This is a great alternative to the expensive Tokyo Skytree or Tokyo Tower. FREE
• Learn the past, present, and future of Japanese advertising in the Advertising Museum Tokyo. FREE
• Join the scramble at Shibuya Crossing. This crossing is the busiest pedestrian crossing in the world in terms of foot traffic. Head up to the nearby Starbucks for a view from above! FREE
• Window shopping at Akihabara, the epicentre of all things Japanese (think of anime, technology, kawaii stuff). FREE if you can resist buying random things
• Explore the artificial island of Odaiba. The area was created for entertainment purposes and over time has become a playground for the futuristic and unique things in Tokyo. We got to check out the mini Statue of Liberty, 19m Gundam statue and Megaweb TOYOTA City Showcase where you get experience Toyota’s next-generation technologies. FREE
• Take in the Japanese religions at the many temples and shrines such as Sensōji, Meiji Shrine, and Zojoji. FREE
• We wanted to try out the infamous Mario Kart course on the streets. But unfortunately we found out too late that you in fact need an international driver’s license. So get one before you go, if you plan on doing this activity!

TeamLabs Planets View from the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building at Sensōji At the Batting Cages

• Kinkaku-ji also known as the Golden Pavilion. This Zen Buddhist temple’s top two floors are completely covered in gold leaf making it stand out against the lush green background. 400 JPY ($4.84 CAD)
• Ryoanji. The standout feature in this temple complex is the rock garden. The gravel and sand are carefully raked into patterns that represent rippling water. 500 JPY ($6.05 CAD)
• Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine. This is perhaps the most instagrammable place in Kyoto known for its thousands of red torii gates. The gates wind their way up Mount Inari. Since this place is open 24 hours, I suggest going in the early morning and hike all the way to the top of the mountain to avoid the group tours. FREE
• Arashiyama Bamboo Forest. FREE
• Gion Matsuri. It is considered to be one of the top three festivals in Japan. Huge, elaborate floats are paraded through the streets. FREE
• Shelly rented a yukata, or summer kimono for the day and I reluctantly took on the role of IG boyfriend. She says that it was a fun experience, despite the sweltering heat. 3694 JPY ($45 CAD) for the outfit and hair styling.

Kinkaku-ji Gion Matsuri Festival Arashiyama Bamboo Forest Being an IG BF

• See over 30,000 animals at the Kaiyukan Aquarium, one of the largest aquariums in the world. We got a package with the Osaka Metro which included a 1 day unlimited metro pass for 2600 JPY ($31.26 CAD)
• Learn more about instant noodles and make your own at the Cup Noodles Museum. The museum will let you know how instant noodles came to life and the workshop inside will give you a chance to create and customize your own noodle cup. 300 JPY ($3.63 CAD) for the noodle cup and FREE for the museum.
• Space Station Bar
• Learn more about the history and culture of the city with Osaka Free Walking Tour. Highlights of the tour include the Kuromon market, Nipponbashi DenDen town, and Shinsekai.
• Gaze at the massive neon signs at Dotonbori, the site of Osaka’s entertainment district. FREE
• Day trip to Nara, the ancient capital city of Japan, an even older capital than Kyoto. Nara is famous for its polite bowing deers and the many historical sites such as the Tōdai-ji. There you can find the the largest bronze Buddha statue in the world, housed in the largest wooden building in the world. Entrance is 600 JPY ($7.26 CAD) and there is a free English guided tour that will teach you more about the history of Nara and the temple.

at Kaiyukan Aquarium with the Nara bowing deers Posing the Glico Man Our Osaka Free Walking Tour Group

• Peace Memorial Park. There are a number of memorials in this park, such as the infamous Atomic Bomb Dome, one of the few surviving buildings from the Atomic bomb blast. It has been the symbol for Hiroshima. Another highlight is the Flame of Peace, which has been lit since August 1964 until the abolishment of all nuclear weapons. FREE
• From there we visited the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum, where we learned more about the devastating effects of the bomb on the people of Hiroshima. Entrance was 200 JPY ($2.42 CAD)
• Hiroshima Castle grounds. Although you have to pay to enter the castle, we biked around the grounds in the evening after the castle was closed. You get spectacular views of the castle and the surrounding greenery in the golden sun with no crowds! FREE
• Visit Miyajima Island. This island is located less than an hour away from Hiroshima. It is home to the Itsukushima Shrine, famous for its floating torii gate in the middle of the sea. There are two different views depending on the tides. Low tides means that you can walk up right beside it. During high tide, it will look like the gate is floating on the water. Unfortunately, when we visited, the gate was under renovations (what can you do 🙁 ). However the rest of the shrine was still beautiful with large bright red pathways on stilts. Entrance was 300 JPY ($3.63 CAD)

Hiroshima’s Atomic Bomb Dome The Under Renovation Itsukushima Shrine Sunset at Miyajima Island

• Karaoke for 2 hours 800 JPY ($9.68 CAD) per person. We did our karaoke during the day as it tends to be cheaper than going in the evenings and nights.
• Lookout and Urban Forest Climb. Head to the rooftop of the ACROS Building for a view of the city. It does require climbing a lot of floors (over 800 steps). However, the staircase is almost entirely covered in greenery, making the climb pretty nice one. FREE

View of Fukuoka

• ATM Fee 216 JPY ($2.63 CAD). Make sure you use a debit card that doesn’t charge you for any foreign transaction fees. If you are from Canada, I recommend getting STACK!
• I had a water blockage in one of my ears and basically couldn’t hear from one side of my ear. I went to a clinic to get referred to an ENT clinic where I got it taken cared of. Together it was 10,750 JPY ($129.71 CAD)
• Purikura, or Japanese photo booth. 400 JPY ($4.84 CAD)
• Japanese Football team jersey 2912 JPY ($35.24 CAD)
• We got a pocket wifi with Wifi Rental Store for 20GB per month 8370 JPY ($101.33 CAD). We researched and found that this was the cheapest for the duration of our travels.

I am not going to sugar coat it; I am sure you know that Japan is not cheap. This country is one of the more expensive countries to travel in the world but it is also unlike any other country in the world. In total, I spent 173,500 JPY or $2,099.35 CAD for the three weeks we were there. That equates to 8,262 JPY or $99.97 CAD per day.

Our food budget was the highest category. It wasn’t that food in Japan was expensive (aside from the Matsusaka beef), it was that we both loved Japanese food and wanted to try as much Japanese food as possible. You can easily spent less on food than we did, but as we were big foodies, we did not want to cheap out.

Transportation can get quite expensive. If you are stretched for money, skip out on the Shinkansen and take buses to get between cities. A great alternative is flying. There are special fares and air passes for foreign visitors with JAL (Japan Explorer Pass) and ANA (Experience Japan Fare). There are also budget carriers such as Peach Aviation and Jetstar Japan that have reduced the prices of domestic flights.

Most of Japan’s cultural attractions are either free or really cheap (couple hundred yens). However, if you are planning on going to Tokyo Disney or Universal Studios in Osaka, or some of the paid observation decks (Tokyo Skytree), you will see your activities budget skyrocket. We didn’t go to any of these type of attractions which helped keep our costs down.

Keep in mind that my costs of travelling Japan included a 10,750 JPY ($129.71 CAD) ear clinic expense that hopefully that you will not have to pay.

• If your accommodation doesn’t include breakfasts, get your breakfast at the convenience stores (7-Eleven, Family Mart, Lawson). Not only do they have quality foods, they are also relatively cheap.
• Eat your biggest meal at lunch. This is when restaurants have their promotions or “lunch sets”.
• If you want to drink and party, consider pre-drinking on the way to the bar/club by buying drinks at the convenience stores. It is 100% legal to drink on the streets.
• As most people will be coming in through Narita International Airport just outside of Tokyo (like I did), I suggest taking the slower train to and from the airport. An extra 30 minutes will save you around 1500 JPY ($18 CAD)!
• Skip out on getting a SIM card or a pocket WiFi as they are quite expensive. I was able to get by without one last time I was travelling in Japan. The availability of public WiFi is getting better due to the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. Most convenience stores will have free public WiFi.

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 of Canada offers red sand beaches, amazing seafood, breathtaking scenery, and the friendliest folks in the country. In this post, I will go over my budget breakdown of my Atlantic Canada road trip!

Below is the route that we took in our Atlantic Canada road trip. We started in St. John’s, Newfoundland and finished in Nova Scotia’s capital, Halifax.

We booked flights with Air Canada from Toronto Pearson to St. John’s and returning from Halifax. In total, the tickets cost $392.95 CAD per person. Travelling in other parts of the world made me realize just how much expensive it is flying within Canada (insert Arthur’s fist meme here).

For all you non-Canadians, flights to and within Canada are generally not cheap. We have a lack of budget airlines, and airline taxes make tickets expensive compared to other countries.

Seafood is quintessential for this region. Dishes like lobster rolls, fish and chips, or seafood chowder are found in most menus. But aside from seafood, each province is known for their own specialty. PEI is renowned around the world for their potatoes, which is said to have a unique flavour due to the rich red soil. Berries such as partridgeberry (similar to cranberry) are grown all over Newfoundland and makes great pies! Nova Scotia has the donair which is a variation of the doner kebab consisting of spiced ground beef, vegetables, and a distinctive sweet sauce, wrapped in flatbread. With a strong french community, traditional Acadian cuisine can be found all over New Brunswick.

In this region of Canada, you will find smaller mom and pop restaurants. The prices are not cheap but reasonable for the quality and service that you get. Apart from cooking your own food, there is not much option to eating on a budget. Usually you will have to resort to fast food chains. Chains like Tim Horton’s, Robins, and McDonald’s are your best bet.

• A seafood feast of lobsters, a lobster roll, fried clams at Lobster Deck in Shediac, the “Lobster capital of the world”. $83.91 CAD
• Fish & Chips at around $13 CAD for 2 pieces
• Seafood Chowder Poutine for $15 CAD and small Steamed Blue Mussels Jardiniere for $10 CAD at The Blue Mussel Cafe in PEI.
• Donair at Johnny K’s Authentic Donairs. $11.15 CAD
• Donair pizza $24.60 CAD
• Fried chicken at Mary Brown’s, a fried chicken chain based out of St. John’s, Newfoundland. $15.86 CAD
• Partridgeberry pie with ice cream. $4 CAD
• Two scoops of ice cream at Shediac, NB $6.64 CAD
• Beer in the many bars in St. Johns $5.99 CAD

I have made a separate post on my Top 5 Eats in Atlantic Canada!

Seafood feast at Lobster Deck. 8.5/10 Donair at Johnny K’s. 8/10 Donair Pizza and Mary Brown’s Partridgeberry pie. 8.5/10

With a lack of public transportation available, Atlantic Canada is best explored by car. It’s the best way to find yourself in quaint villages, deserted beaches, amazing viewpoints, and plenty off-the-beaten-track places.

As in the name of this blog post, we rented a car for the entirety of our trip. We rented a full size vehicle (Ford Fusion) with Hertz for $1,275.76 CAD. It was quite expensive as we picked it up from St. John’s and dropped it off at Halifax. For the 3,936 km that we drove, we filled up the gas/petrol 7 times amounting a total of $294.72 CAD.

I booked the car using Rentalcars.com. I find it the best for finding the best deals in Canada. I found that they show more rental companies and better prices compared to other sites like Expedia and Kayak.

Another big chunk of expense was the overnight ferry that we took from Port-aux-Basques, Newfoundland to Sydney, Nova Scotia. The 8 hour ferry with Marine Atlantic cost $255.99 CAD.

Also, if you are planning to drive in and out of Prince Edward Island, there will be a toll for using the Confederation Bridge. Driving from PEI to New Brunswick on Canada’s longest bridge will set you back $47.75 CAD.

Confederation Bridge

As I was travelling with two other people, my share was only a third of each of the listed price.

When it comes to budget travel, Canada isn’t really a big hostel destination. Especially in Atlantic Canada, hostels are few and far in between with at most only one hostel in each city. Dorm beds are somewhat comparable to Western Europe or Australia starting at around $35 CAD per bed. Camping is a great alternative to sleep on a budget, and a great way to immerse yourself in our country’s natural beauty.

Travelling with others, I find Airbnb to provide the best bang for your buck for accommodation.

Here are the accommodations that we paid:

• St. John’s, NL $55.45 CAD per night for a 3 bed in a basement
• Gros Morne National Park, NL $158.03 CAD per night for small 4 bed chalet
• Ferry from Newfoundland to Nova Scotia $145.48 CAD per night for a 4 bed cabin
• Cape Breton, NS $37.26 CAD per night (per person) for a dorm bed in HI Cabot Trail Hostel
• Moncton, NB $69.87 CAD per night for a 2 bed in a basement
• Halifax, NS $45.16 CAD per night for a 1 bedroom in shared apartment

For those who have not tried Airbnb yet, sign up with my referral link and you will get $45 CAD off your home booking! You will also be supporting this website, win-win!

Tiny chalet in Gros Morne Ferry cabin from Newfoundland to Nova Scotia

The best thing about Canada is its amazing landscapes. Atlantic Canada is no different with breathtaking views of the ocean, beautiful national parks, and luscious forests. Best of all, most of these scenes can be viewed for FREE or for minimal costs. Here are the activities that we saw in our Atlantic Canada road trip:

• Signal Hill National Historic Site – This site offers sweeping views overlooking St. John’s and the Atlantic Ocean. It was also the site where Guglielmo Marconi received the world’s first transatlantic wireless signal in 1901.
• Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site – The lighthouse sits at the most easterly point in North America!
• Skerwink Trail – This 5.3-km loop coastal trail offers breathtaking views from cliff tops overlooking the ocean where you can see whales, icebergs and sea stacks. Unfortunately for us, it was really foggy and we didn’t see much.
• Cape Bonavista Lighthouse Provincial Historic Site – One of the best places to see icebergs and whales in Newfoundland. There were also amazing landscapes to be seen in this area.

View from Signal Hill Chasing icebergs!

One of Newfoundland’s most spectacular nature spots has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987 due to its unique natural and geological features. We spent three days here exploring the many sights found in this park such as:

• Gros Morne Discovery Centre – Here is a great place to start off your visit in the park. They have great displays teaching visitors the history and the significance of the park along with suggestions on what to see during your stay.
• Tablelands – Hike at the site where two ancient continents collided, exposing Earth’s mantle. This is also the site were scientists proved the theory of plate tectonics, making it a big reason why this park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site!
• Green Gardens – One of the more popular hikes at the Gros Morne National Park. This 9 km return trail takes you through a number of diverse landscapes from green forest to volcanic sea coast.
• Western Brook Pond- This fjord was carved out billions of years ago by receding glaciers. You can either hike around or take a boat tour. We did the latter and definitely recommend it! On board, we were able to get better views of the spectacular fjords, waterfalls, towering cliffs, and even some wildlife sightings (black bear). The boat tour is $65 CAD per person.

Walking on Earth’s Mantle! Western Brook Pond

• The Cabot Trail – This is one of Canada’s (or perhaps the world’s) most impressive drives. The trail loops around Cape Breton Island and goes through Cape Breton National Park, alternating between oceanside stretches and forest covered hills.
• Cape Breton Highlands National Park – We hiked the Skyline Trail on the North East side of the park. This 7 km (return) hike leads to a boardwalk on steep cliffs giving panoramic views of the winding Cabot Trail and the Gulf of Saint Lawrence. Entrance fee to the park was $15.27 CAD for our group.
• Lunenburg – Walk around this beautiful and historic town. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, visitors to Lunenburg can have a great idea of what towns looked like under British colonial times.
• Tour the deck of Bluenose II – This is the replica of the original fishing schooner Bluenose, which is on the Canadian dime (10 cent coin). The ship spends most of its time in the harbours of either Lunenburg or Halifax harbour. You can find the schedule of the boat here!
• Peggy’s Cove – The lighthouse at Peggy’s Cove is famous for being one of the most picturesque in the world.
• Stroll the Halifax Waterfront – One of the best waterfronts in the country, there are endless amounts of boutique shops, street vendors, sand some of the city’s best restaurants. Go here for sunset for beautiful colours shimmering on the water.

Cabot Trail Skyline Trail Onboard the Bluenose II Peggy’s Cove Halifax Waterfront

• Charlottetown – Walk around this quaint provincial capital, the birthplace of Canada. There is the beautiful Victoria Row, a street filled with many boutique shops and delicious restaurants.
• Cavendish Beach – The province is known for its red sandy beaches, and this is one of the best beaches to check out.
• Basin Head Provincial Park – best known for the “Singing Sands”, in which the white sand “sings” as you walk through it, due to a high silica content.
• Canada’s Smallest Library – Fitting that the country’s smallest province is home to its smallest library. This fun sized shack houses about 1,800 books.

Red sand at Cavendish Beach Canada’s Smallest Library

• Hopewell Rocks – Walk on the ocean floor thanks to the Bay of Fundy’s low tides. The Bay of Fundy is home to the world’s highest change of tide – up to 17 m (56 ft) tidal change takes place here. If you have some more time, check out the difference between high tide and low tide. Entrance is $10 CAD.
• Shediac – This French-Acadian community is known for two things: warm beaches and lobster. The saltwater beaches are some of the warmest water north of Virginia. The town claims itself as The Lobster Capital of the World for its lobster fishing and processing plants.

Between a rock and a hard place

If you have some time for shopping, head to the Halifax Shopping Centre, where they have a free $5 gift card promotion for visitors. Just follow these steps!

• Step 1: Head to guest services.
• Step 2: Present an out of town ID.
• Step 3: Profit.

The Sum of the Atlantic Canada Road Trip

Our Atlantic Canada road trip lasted 11 days, and I spent a total of $1,946.37 CAD. That amounts to $176.94 CAD per day.

The tourist season here is remarkably short. Summer’s compact high season runs from early July to early September. When we went in June, we were surprised to find that many attractions were not open for the season yet.

As you can see, transportation costs made up the biggest chunk of my spend–this was mostly due to the car rental. Due to the lack of public transportation and having the flexibility to go wherever (for the most part) you want, renting a car is a must for this region in Canada… especially as the best sights are the natural landscapes.

Something that took getting used to while travelling back home was that the stated price is not the price that you will pay. The additional sales tax (15%) and sometimes tip (15-18%) in restaurants add a significant $$$ to your overall spend.

My food and drinks spend was quite higher than average as we mostly ate out at restaurants and eating the local delicacies. Seafood is more expensive than other kinds of meat.

• Prepping your own food is always cheapest, whether that means packing simple eats for breakfast e.g. fruit, granola bars, or tortilla wraps with your simple choice of filling such as tuna or peanut butter. Farmers markets exist in most major cities, and can be great for stocking up on fresh produce and locally farmed eats.
• If your route and schedule permits, have the same pick up and drop off point when renting a car. This saves you from paying a one-way fee.

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: 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: 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: Australia & Pacific, Top 5 Eats

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After my first experience on a business class flight with LATAM Airlines, I was looking for my next opportunity to fly another business class flight. I didn’t have to wait long as I went aboard Ethiopian Airlines’ Cloud Nine a couple of months after. Here is my review of EthiopianContinue Reading

During my travels in South America, I had the chance to fly business class with South America’s largest airline, LATAM Airlines. Flying on the Boeing 767, I flew from Bogota, Colombia to Sao Paulo, Brazil where I would continue my mini round the world trip with Aeroplan. Here is my reviewContinue 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

On my trip to Boston in May 2018, I got to eat a fair share of what the Boston food scene has to offer. In this list, I will share you my Top 5 Eats in Boston!

In the city filled with seafood, the best I had was from Neptune Oyster. It looks like I wasn’t the only one feeling this way. Lines were already forming before they even opened. We had to wait another 30 minutes after the restaurant opened to get a seat.

We ordered their infamous lobster roll and oysters. There is an option of ordering lobster rolls two ways; hot with butter or cold with mayonnaise. I went with the former as I have never tried lobster rolls hot and was interested on how they would be. The lobster roll tasted amazing. They use meaty chunks of lobster and covered it with a good amount of butter. The lobster roll came to $29 USD but I think it was definitely worth it.  The oysters were also super fresh, sweet and buttery! The oysters range around $2.50 USD to $5 USD per piece in price.

Hot Lobster Roll. 9/10 Fresh Oysters 9/10

Situated in Boston’s Seaport, Yankee Lobster is another place with a long lineup! This time, we saved time and ordered take out and planned to eat right in front of the water. We got the 1 1/4 lb. Lobster, Combo One seafood platter (fish, shrimp, calamari), and the lobster mac and cheese. It was pretty cool experience eating all the seafood with the sea right in front of you. I’m usually not a big fan of mac and cheese, but the lobster mac and cheese was really good. I found the food to be pricey as all of the food came to $67.38 USD with tax and tip

Steamed Lobster, Fried Seafood Platter (Calamari, fish, shrimp) and Lobster Mac and Cheese. 9/10

This gem in Cambridge is like if Chipotle served of Mediterranean food. They have a variety of flavored hummus such as Beet, Sriracha, and Cilantro-Jalapeño. Along with the hummus, you can add brown rice, a protein, and different kinds of vegetables. This tasty, healthy, well-rounded meal full of flavor can be had for a reasonable $9.90 USD. We luckily stumbled upon this restaurant due to its proximity with our AirBnb location.

Hummus Bowl. 9/10

You can find their take out boxes being carried around all over the city. We went to Mike’s Pastry original store located in Boston’s Italian North End. They are known for their cannolis and other baked goods. Their cannolis come in different flavours, ranging from chocolate chip to amaretto. We got the original and it was decadent with a nice crunchy shell. The Boston Cream pie (more like cake) was pretty good as the chocolate ganache mixed well with the pastry cream. Both the cannoli and the pie came to $6.50 USD.

Boston Cream Pie and Original Cannoli. 8/10

I didn’t expect anything when we bought banana pudding from a bakery in Quincy Market. But Wow! This banana pudding was amazingly good. It had chunks of fresh banana, with loads of bread and pudding. It tasted very fluffy and creamy. They also offer a Boston cream pie version which we unfortunately didn’t get to try. You can expect long lines at this bakery just like many places in Quincy Market and it is pretty expensive at $4.25 USD for a small (pictured below)

Banana Pudding. 8/10

• Clam Chowder and Lobster Roll at Luke’s Lobster
• Hand Pulled Noodles at Gene’s Chinese Flatbread Cafe
• Boston Cream Pie Donut at Union Square Donuts
• Boston Cream Pie at Union Oyster House

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 to their teas until the British came. In Macau, local food is seasoned with various spices and flavours Portuguese sailors brought into the area such as turmeric, coconut milk, cinnamon. Without further ado, here is the top 5 eats in Hong Kong & Macau.

Roast Goose at Yat Lok. 9/10

There are countless restaurants that offer roast goose in Hong Kong but only two places posses a Michelin star. Guess who tried both of them? Of course, I did!

Yat Lok Restaurant is not what you picture a Michelin star restaurant with its cramped and shared tables. The service also didn’t give the restaurant it’s star. The star solely belongs to the roast goose that they make. From my first bites, I remember the meat being so tender and flavourful. I felt the goose just melting away. The skin also had a very nice crisp. The goose complements well with the sweet sauce they serve it with. You can get half roast goose for $310 HKD ($52.54 CAD) which you can share with friends.

Even though we didn’t have a chance to sit in them, Kam’s Roast Goose is a cleaner and nicer-looking restaurant than Yat Lok. When we got there and there was a long line to eat in. Therefore we decided to get the half goose and some rice for take away. Maybe it was because I had Yat Lok first, but I was disappointed as the goose wasn’t as flavorful and tender as Yat Lok’s. It felt more like a normal roast duck I have back in Toronto, and I could not justify the Michelin star that they have. A half roast goose over here is $280 HKD ($47.46 CAD)

Eating Michelin Star take out in a hostel Pineapple Bun at Kai Kee. 8.5/10

When I bit into the bun, I was thinking where’s the pineapple? Then I learned that despite the name, it does not contain any pineapple. It is named accordingly as the topping (made of sugar cookies) resembles the texture of a pineapple. The one that you need to get is the one with the butter in the middle of the bun. It brings out a lot of the warm soft bun and the sugary crust. I got mine at Kai Kee Restaurant for $11 HKD ($1.86 CAD).

Scrambled Eggs. 8.5/10

I didn’t expect to eat the best scrambled eggs in Hong Kong, but that is what happened at Australia Dairy Company. These eggs were so creamy and silky, like no other scrambled eggs I’ve ever tasted. I got the breakfast set which was $32 HKD ($5.42 CAD) in which you get fried eggs or scrambled eggs with toast, macaroni ham soup, and milk tea or coffee. The Macaroni soup was average, nothing special. The Hong Kong milk tea was really good. It had a strong rich flavour, and was probably the best one I’ve had in Hong Kong.

Dim Sum at Tim Ho Wan. 8/10

Dim Sum is probably the most famous Hong Kong food export. For those that don’t know, dim sum is small bite-sized portions of food served in small steamer baskets or on small plate and served with tea. The one I recommend on going is to Tim Ho Wan, one of the world’s cheapest Michelin-star restaurant.

What we got at Tim Ho Wan

• Baked bun with BBQ pork
• Pan fried turnip cake
• Vermicelli roll with shrimp
• Prawn dumplings
• Pork dumpling with shrimp
• Glutinous rice with lotus leaf
• Braised chicken feet with abalone sauce
• Wontons with chili oil
• Oolong tea

Baked bun with BBQ pork. 8.5/10

All the foods that we got were of great quality. Special mention to the baked bun with BBQ pork which was delicious with its sweet and salty BBQ pork inside a warm buttery bun. This is also something that I have never seen at other dim sum restaurants back in Canada. All of this shared with four people came out to $60 HKD ($10.17 CAD).

Portuguese Egg Tarts at Lord Stow’s Bakery. 8/10

As Macau was a Portuguese colony for over 400 years, its influence can be found all over, including its food. While in China and Hong Kong, you can find egg tarts, in Macau you get Portuguese egg tarts, or pastel de nata. The most famous version is ones from Lord Stow’s Bakery. The custard is sweet and creamy, while the pastry is flaky and crisp. You can find one conveniently in the Venetian Macao in which you can buy it for $12 HKD/MOP ($2.03 CAD) each.

• Char Siu
• Mango iced sweet dessert at Chung Kee Dessert (I dont know the dessert name in English)
• Beef brisket noodles
• Spam and egg sandwich
• Szechuan beef and egg sandwich
• Condensed milk and peanut butter toast
• Tsui Wah Restaurant
  • Shredded Pork & Mushroom w/ Fried Noodles (w/ Abalone Taste)
  • Malaysian Beef Brisket Curry
  • Baked pork chop with rice
• Macau’s pork chop bun
• Macau’s Portuguese chicken
• Michelin recommended steamed rice rolls at Hop Yik Tai
• Traditional Dim Sum where its served on traditional trolleys at Lin Heung Tea House

Malaysia is my first true taste of solo backpacking in Southeast Asia. I spent three weeks in the country spending time in Penang, Cameron Highlands, Kuala Lumpur, and Malacca. Below, I will give you my budget breakdown to show you how to spend less than $30 CAD per day in Malaysia!

I started my trip in Penang, flying from Medan, Indonesia. I slowly made my way down the peninsula stopping in the hilly Cameron Highlands, the largest city, Kuala Lumpur and the cultural city of Malacca. After Malacca, I made my way to Singapore to visit my cousin before I flew to Thailand.

Currency Info: In October 2018, the exchange of the Malaysian Ringgit to the Canadian Dollar was around 3.19 MYR to $1 CAD.

Flights

I flew across the Strait of Malacca from Medan, Indonesia to Penang on Air Asia. The flight was a short 50 minute ride on the cheapest flight I have ever booked at $28.17 CAD! The flight was comfortable for a 50 minute ride, there was no delays, so there was really nothing to complain about.

Food & Drinks

I found food in Malaysia to be pretty cheap. You can get a variety of awesome Chinese, Indian, and Malay food everywhere. Even restaurants and food courts in malls, I found the prices to be reasonable. Alcohol on the other hand, is expensive especially compared to how much food and non-alcoholic drinks you can get from the price of a beer or a cocktail at a bar. In Malaysia, I spent a total of $311.68 CAD on food & drinks, which included:

• Watermelon fruit juice 2.80 MYR ($0.88 CAD)
• Wantan Mee 8 MYR ($2.50 CAD)
• Honey Char Siew noodles 11.55 MYR ($3.61 CAD)
• Char Kway Teow 5 MYR ($1.56 CAD)
• Roasted pork and spring roll with rice 5.5 MYR ($1.72 CAD)
• Asam laksa 6 MYR ($1.88 CAD)
• Banana leaf set with Chicken Tandoori 12.60 MYR ($3.94 CAD)
• High tea (shared with two others) 17 MYR ($5.32 CAD) per person
• Rum and Coke (Happy Hour Promo) 17 MYR ($5.32 CAD)
• Teh tarik (pulled tea, a must in Malaysia!) 2 MYR ($0.63 CAD)

Make sure you check out what I think are the Top 5 Eats in Malaysia!

Banana leaf set with Chicken Tandoori. 7.5/10 Jonker Walk Night Market in Malacca High Tea

Transportation

The best way to get from city to city within Malaysia is using coach buses. They are comfortable, cheap and most routes run pretty often each day. A website I found useful in booking buses is www.easybook.com. It is very easy to use and you get the ticket sent right to your email.

Here are the bus journeys I took in Malaysia.

• Penang to Cameron Highlands for 40 MYR ($12.52 CAD)
• Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur for 35 MYR ($10.94 CAD)
• Kuala Lumpur to Malacca for 12.20 MYR ($3.81 CAD)

South East Asia’s answer to Uber is the ride sharing app, Grab. It is super popular in Malaysia as it first started there. Where as Uber gives you an estimate of how much your fare will be, Grab will give you the exact price you will pay. You can also choose to pay with cash or with credit card. It is so convenient, cuts down any language barriers between you and the driver, and is super cheap!

Here is some examples of rides I took with Grab:

• 17 km ride in Penang for 24 MYR ($7.47 CAD)
• 14 km ride in Kuala Lumpur for 27 MYR ($8.44 CAD)
• 4 km ride in Malacca for 4 MYR ($1.26 CAD)

In Kuala Lumpur, they have an extensive metro system which will take you to most places in the city. It is convenient, clean and cheap. Fares depend on the distance and but they start around 1.30 MYR ($0.43 CAD).

Accommodation

I was more or less pleased with the accommodations I chose in Malaysia. They were clean and great amenities whether a bar or a common area where you can meet other backpackers.

Activities

You can find many affordable and even free activities within Malaysia. Here are some of the activities I paid for in Malaysia.

• Taking the cable car up to Penang Hill 30 MYR ($9.41 CAD)
• Full day tour of Cameron Highlands (strawberry farms, tea plantations & factory, museum, butterfly farm, mossy forest) 90 MYR ($28.14 CAD)
• Malaysian National Museum  5 MYR ($1.56 CAD)
• Watching First Man in cinema 10 MYR ($3.13 CAD)
• Karaoke jam 27 MYR ($8.44 CAD)
• Lounging and drinking at a helipad in Kuala Lumpur 31 MYR ($9.69 CAD)

and did FREE activities such as:

• Taking in the many street art in Penang
• Hiking the many trails in Cameron Highlands
• Walking on charcoal as part of the Nine Emperor Gods Festival
• Walking in the jungle within the city at KL Eco Forest Park
• Exploring the Batu Caves
• Being in awe of the Petronas Towers and fountain show at night
• Exploring the many historic buildings in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Malacca

Penang Street Art Within the tea plantations in Cameron Highlands Walking on charcoal KL Eco Forest Park Helipad Lounge in Kuala Lumpur

Other

I got a data package from Maxis, under the brand of Hotlink. I got the 8 GB of data for 54 MYR ($16.88 CAD) which included the SIM card. I was satisfied with the speeds and coverage. Also by downloading their RED app, you can also choose unlimited usage between either the Chat pack (WhatsApp, WeChat, Line, QQ, IMO) or Social pack (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, Snapchat). In Malaysia, I encountered NO ATM FEES! I primarily used the national bank, Maybank! Make sure you don’t get any additional fees from your bank by using a debit card that doesn’t charge you for any foreign transaction fees. If you are from Canada, I recommend using STACK!

The other budget also includes:

• a travel adapter as my travel adapter didn’t work in the hostel in Penang for 3.30 MYR ($1.03 CAD)
• tried out laughing gas for the first time 15 MYR ($4.69 CAD)
• a hair cut for 10 MYR ($3.13 CAD)
• a fee for losing my hostel key, 30 MYR ($9.38 CAD)
• a Mi band 3 to replace the one I lost for 129 MYR ($40.37 CAD)
• a shirt from Uniqlo for 39.90 MYR ($12.58 CAD)
• a stamp to send a postcard that will hopefully make to Canada, 0.50 MYR ($0.16 CAD)

Being in Malaysia for three weeks, I spent a total $631.56 CAD. That amounts to a very affordable $28.71 CAD per day. Big part I was able to spend so little was my Workaway experience in Cameron Highlands. Not only did have free accommodation there, it was also the Nine Emperor Gods Festival and the local Chinese temple gave out FREE vegetarian food!

I can see why Malaysia is not as popular among backpackers as other Southeast Asian destinations such as Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. Alcohol and it’s nightlife are significantly more expensive, but this country offers many other great things such as great food, wonderful people, and amazing sights.

Hopefully I have shown you how to spend less than $30 per day in Malaysia!

Hello! I’m Shelly :–)

I met Adi about two years ago and we bonded over our mutual love for food and travel. Since then, we’ve taken a number of trips together including Mexico, Vietnam, and Japan.  

My interests include film photography, hiking, buying cute stickers, and ghost-editing this blog for Adi. It’s about time he gave me my own section — maybe I will start writing regularly too.

In June 2019, I left my job and moved to Australia under a Working Holiday Visa. Well actually, we’re both moving there. Feeling nervous but excited for what’s to come!