Top 10 Neighbourhoods of Vancouver, British Columbia - Canada

Whenever I travel somewhere, I always try & get out of the city to see the neighbourhoods and see how people actually live.

Here is a quick run-down of the top ten neighbourhoods in Vancouver:

1. Granville Island - once home to factories and sawmills, it is now home to a great public market, art studios and funky shops. It is within walking distance of downtown or you can catch a ferry.
2. Kerrisdale - known as the ‘village’ it is about 10 minutes from downtown and has lots of shops and tree-lined streets. There are some nice houses here too.
3. Yaletown - I used to live here and I loved it. Short walk from downtown, it is home to some super funky shops that used to be old warehouses and make sure you go for a walk along the seawall.
4. West End -Another former living place of mine,right next to Stanley Park, the West End is home to English Bay and Denman Street. This area is mostly residential with lots of apartment buildings but go for a walk towards the city centre and you will find some great houses.
5. South Granville - Lots of shops, theatres, cafes, antique stores and interior design shops.
6. Gastown - the historic part of the city with cobblestone streets and Victorian buildings. It is nice, but super touristy! Lots of souvenir shops.
7. Chinatown - what city doesn’t have a Chinatown! But this one is the 2nd largest in North America (after San Francisco), so it is definitely worth a look.
8. Commerial Drive - also known as ‘the drive’ it is the place to go for the young & hip. There are lots of students, artists, designers etc and lots of places to eat!
9. Graville Street - the place to party if you are in downtown Vancouver. There are tons of restaurants, bars and shops.
10. Kitsilano - once Vancouver’s trendy hippy hangout, it is now home to young professionals and the beach. There are lots of book stores, restaurants and cafes.

Anyone else got any suggestions?

Top 10 things to do in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

As I am currently staying in Victoria I thought I would put together a top ten list of the things I recommend people do when they are visitings.

1. Whale Watching - there are plenty of companies in Victoria that specialise in whale tours, whether they are by a cruise, a yacht or by a zodiac speedboat, you will find one that works for you. The best time for whale watching is between May & October.
2. Irish Times Pub - a good pub to sit back & relax and listen to live music every night. The food is great & atmosphere is awesome.
3. Bastion Square Market - if you want to pick up a really good souvenir from Victoria, stop by the Bastion Square Market. There are local artists and crafters selling their goods every day (unless it rains).
4. Inner Harbour - take walk along the harbour and see the Parliament Building and the Fairmont Empress Hotel. It is gorgeous during the day but even better at night with all the lights!
5. Cadboro Bay - this is just a short drive or bus trip from downtown and it is a great little community with shops and cafes, but make sure you talk a walk down to the water. There is a really nice park & the view is beautiful.
6. BC Museum - I have yet to visit it, but I have been assured that it is a must-see for anyone visiting the city. It is located right downtown next to the Parliament Building.
7. Fishermans Wharf - the little wharf is tiny compared to the Fishermans Wharf of San Francisco, but I find it to be more interesting. There aren't any tourist shops, just a good fish'n'chip shop and a floating home (houseboat) community. Each home is different and some of them should be classified as artwork. I was there a couple of weeks ago and saw a seal popping its head up next to the wharf!
8. Butchart Gardens - another must-see that I haven't done yet, but I will one day. It was once a quarry but now it has been turned into a beautiful garden.
9. Craigdarroch Castle - built in 1890 it is one of Victoria's legendary landmarks.  You can walk to it from downtown and it is a beautiful historic Victorian-era Mansion that was built by Robert Dunsmuir, a wealthy BC coal baron. It has 39 rooms and over 20,000 square feet of space.
10. Mount Douglas - go for a drive up to the top & climb to the lookout, it is definately worth it.

If you have any other suggestion, please feel free to let me know!

Top 10 things to do in Bangkok, Thailand

I was in Bangkok, Thailand a few years ago now and I loved it…the people were so friendly and even thought it was super hot and I got sick, I still enjoyed my time there. Here are some of the things that I did or wish I did when I was travelling in Bangkok.

1. Attend the Thai Village Show & Rose Garden - You will get a glimpse into the traditions of Thai Culture by seeing examples of a Buddhist Ordination Ceremony, the Fingernail Dance, Hill Tribe Dance, Thai Sword Fighting, Folk Dance and a Traditional wedding ceremony. I arranged this tour through my hotel and it cost approx 600 Baht per person.
2. Visit the Emerald Buddah & Wat Traimit (gold Buddha weighing 5.5 tonnes)
3. Take a day tour to the Bridge Over the River Kwai and the Jeath War Museum. This museum is not for the faint hearted as there are a lot of pictures that are 'shocking'. If you take a day tour, you will also visit the cemetary of the Allied Prisoners of WW2 and take a train ride along the unforgettable death railway.
4. Chinatown - even though you are in Thailand, it is always interesting to see Chinatown.
5. Get a traditional thai massage (but make sure you don't get a full body on body massage by accident)
6. Go to the weekend market - it is huge and you will be able to find everything from souvenirs, to dried squid and a whole lot more!
7. Go to the floating market - an experience not to miss…you will see traders doing business on the canal system, but be carefull and try not to get ripped off if you do buy something.
8. Go on a day trip to the Ancient City of Ayutthaya - it is absolutely worth the trip. It is also named as a UNESCO world heritage site.
9. Go shopping - the quality is good and it is cheap. The various markets around the city are also good fun.
10. Sit back at a restaurant or cafe and watch the world go by. You never know what you might see.

Feel free to add a comment or suggestion if you have other things that you think should be included in the top 10 list!

Top 10 things to do in San Francisco, California - USA

I have been to San Francisco once and I still have fond memories of the places that I travelled to and that was in 1999. Now in about 3 weeks time I will be heading to San Francisco for my second time and I can't wait!

So I thought that I would put together a Top Ten list for San Francisco.

1. Harbour Cruise - this is a good way of seeing the city from a different perspective. 
2. Take a city tour - make sure the tour visits places such as the Civic Center, Main Library,  Opera House, Davies Symphony Hall, Old Mission Delores, Twin Peaks, Japanese Tea Garden (& the Botanical Gardens), Cliff House and the Presidio Army Base (part of the Golden Gate National recreation area).
3. Alcatraz Island - take the ferry over to the famous maximum-security prison located on an island. It once housed Al Capone, 'Creepy' Karpis and Robert Stroud "The Birdman of Alcatraz". When I was there, they were filming a former prisoner of the island and he was going through the isolation cells. Alcatraz was definately a must see on my first visit and I can't wait to go back again.
4. Helicopter Ride - this is a great way of seeing the city and all of the different neighbourhoods!
5. Pier 39 & Fishermans Wharf - This is quite touristy, but it is something that you should do…just go for a walk, see the seals and the Underwater World.
6. Japantown & Chinatown - a must in any city…just a different way of life.
7. Dinner at the Tonga Room & Hurricane Bar - This is a really unique place to have dinner. The room is decorated to be a tropical island with a band and bar. During the evening there is a 'fake' storm with rain, thunder and lightning - it is a once in a lifetime thing (lucky me I plan on doing it a again)
8. Hire a scooter and discover the city at your own pace…you never know where you might end up.
9. Go on a day trip - there are lots of destinations
   1. Yosemite National Park (approx 15 hours return)
   2. Napa Valley Wine Train (approx 9.5 hours return)
   3. Sonoma Valley (approx 7 hours return)
   4. Monterey, Bay Aquarium, Carmel & 17 Mile Drive (approx 11 hours return)
10. Go for a walk - the best way to discover a city is to go for a walk and talk to the locals for their opinion of the best places to eat and undiscovered areas.

Please check back as I am sure that I will be adding more to this list when I am in San Francisco.

Top 10 things to do in Singapore

I have been to Singapore a few times and here is a list of things I would suggest to anyone travelling there:

Night Safari - you can get a taxi there and go on the guided tour to see what the animals do at night…they also have a really good show with some Servals that were amazing. Also there are some fire dancers to keep you entertained as you eat at the food court. It is open from 7.30pm to 11pm.

Jurong Bird Park - there are over 9,000 birds from over 600 species and it is known to be one of Asia Pacific’s most impressive bird park.

Merlion Park - a must for a tourist…everyone has atleast one photo of them standing infront of it!

Singapore River - take a walk around the river…it is really nice & a good way to see the city.

Massage - get a massage!! You will always need one after a long flight and they have really good deals everywhere! Check out the numerous shopping malls or ask at your hotel.

Singapore Ducktour - a half-boat / half-truck sightseeing vehicle that takes you for a city drive and a harbour cruise.

Sentosa Island - You can swim with the dolphins or visit Underwater World.

Shopping - go shopping at Suntec City…make sure have a look at the world’s largest fountain. Or you can go to the 24hour mall called Mustafa Centre.

Raffles Hotel - if you haven’t got the money to spend the night, go and have a look anyway. This is the most expensive hotel in Singapore and it even has its own drink - the “Singapore Sling”.

Boat Quay & Clarke Quay - lots of restaurants and nightlife all right on the river. It is a major area for locals, expatriates, and tourists!

If you have any more or would like to comment, please feel free!!

Top 10 things to do in Vancouver, British Columbia - Canada

I lived in Vancouver for just over a year and I thought that it was time I put together a top 10 list of things to do there, so enjoy… (and feel free to add to the list!)

1 - Go for a walk on the sea wall. You will see the ocean, the mountains, the city and lots of fit people no matter what time of year it is.

2 - Visit Stanley Park (picture is of a restaurant in the park) and go to the aquarium. See the Beluga Whales!

3 - Visit Robson Street, the major shopping road and keep an eye out for the two Starbucks that are directly opposite from each other…also a great place to people watch.

4 - Go to Granville Island, a haven for artists and boaters. There are lots of galleries, a theatre, boat shops and also a fresh food market (very popular).

5 - Take a trip to Capilano Suspension Bridge and Grouse Mountain…if you go to Grouse Mountain make sure you go for a walk and discover the bears, hidden lake and some great views!

6 - Get out of the city…as beautiful as it is, try and hire a car and drive around the suburbs of Vancouver such as Shaughnessy to see all the nice houses & tree covered streets.

7 - Have dinner at a restaurant along English Bay (or better yet, get take out and sit on the beach!)

8 - Go to Gastown and see the Steam Clock…this is the old area of the city with cobblestone roads…nice but lots of tourist shops.

9 - Yaletown is the place to go if you want to see what is happening to urban development in Vancouver. It has an awesome supermarket called Urban Fare (worth the trip alone) and there are a lot of cafes / restaurants etc that are really good…a recommendation for a restaurant is Cactus Club - extremely yummy and one of my fav. restaurants in the world!

10 - Do a harbour cruise…have dinner on a boat & watch the sunset…beautiful plus you get to see the rich peoples homes (eg. Barbara Streisand) from the water! Plus it is a great way to see the city.

So there you have my top 10 list of things to do…when I am back there later this year, I’ll probably add a few more!

Top 10 things to do in Sydney, Australia

Well I figured that while I am back living in Sydney that I would write a ‘top 10′ list of things to do while you are visiting…here they are:

1. Bridgeclimb - climb the harbour bridge for beautiful views at sunrise, midday or sunset!
2. Opera House - at least try & see one show or take the guided tour! It is amazing… 
3. Take a Ferry - for a different view of the city, catch a ferry from Manly to Circular Quay. When at Manly, go to the beach & relax.
4. Paddington Markets - for a great insight into the lives of local living and markets…check out the Paddington Markets held every Saturday. There are lots of artists and local produce. Definately a great day out!
5. Sydney Tower - (also known as AMP Tower) - for a birds-eye view of Sydney, this is one that you have to do! Grab a bite to eat in the restaurant - the view is amazing.
6. Pitt Street Mall - a great place to go shopping!
7. QVB - another shopping destination but check out the building and not just the shops! It is gorgeous & make sure you see it at night too as it is lit up in different colours. Just across the road are the Town Hall Steps - a great meeting place!
8. Cockle Bay & Darling Harbour - This is a great example of what harbours should all be like. Lots of restaurants, bars, shops and great views…this is the perfect place to sit back and ‘have a beer’ as you watch the world go by. Cockle Bay is also a great night spot!
9. Luna Park - a historical amusement park located in Milsons Point just under the north side of the Harbour Bridge…you can get some great photos of the harbour from here!
10. Walk the city - look up and around, check out the parks, wander on foot through the back alleys of the Rocks or perhaps you can take a walking tour or simply just get lost in the city - you never know what you might come across.

So this is my top-ten list but feel free to add on to my list if you have any suggestions!