Euro Travel & More

Many years ago before I migrated to Canada – I used to do a lot of traveling for work – little did I know that when the spouse came to visit me in Asia – he too was not really having a vacation – he was traveling to find distributors and suppliers for his business.  Looking for gadgets, bearings , games and any electronic suppliers in Asia wasn’t easy at all, but we did walked the factory streets and went to the more remote factory distributors looking for them – not with a lot of success though.  I wasn’t prepared for all the walking that’s for sure – I was in heels, but if we were to travel for work now – it would be different altogether – for I would be wearing the best flats I can find.   So if we ever go on vacation with the spouse, you can be sure his interest is only to find distributors and suppliers for his work and not for pleasure.

So you are thinking of bringing your kids for a vacation this Christmas – but of course – you need a hotel that is kid friendly and have certain amenities for kids as well.  But you also don’t want to pay top dollars for just accommodation alone for you want to leave some spending money so that you and your kids can buy some souvenirs home right?   I can understand it completely – but do you want to just choose a hotel with a pool and pool safety fence or do you want also restaurants for them to eat in – as well as an amusement park nearby for convenience reason?  What about the rooms?  do you want a hotel to provide those free roll-in bed or a sofa bed?  yes you have to take all these into consideration.

The Westin Chosun is one of my favorite hotel when I am in Asia – not only is it reasonable in prices – it is kid’s friendly as well as very near a shopping market.

The Myeong dong market is like a cluster of shopping center together – they have loads of high end shops here – and you can shop till you drop.  I loved the street food on the Myeong Dong Market – and everything is just so cheap there.

The interior of the Westin Chosun is pretty luxurious as you can view from this picture – very much like a Japanese hotel but much bigger rooms.  The pool is an olympic size pool and you can see children playing at the children’s pool and although they do not have safety fences like the B & B’s in the West – you also will be in awe of the Olympic size pool that most western hotels do not have but definitely kid’s friendly.

My in-laws will travel to as far as USA for the bluegrass festival in their motorhome – and now that they are both retired – it’s a great opportunity for them to travel as much as they want.  With a good motorhome insurance they can go just about anywhere in the world – without worrying about anything.   I told the spouse that when our kid is grown up – we should be like his parents and travel around in a motorhome – it’s a great way to travel – but i don’t want a huge motorhome   – a medium size one is great for us and with all the comfort of home and not having to stay in crappy hotels – i loved it.  I think my in-laws like their motorhome when they travel is because they can travel the way they like and freely.

I think most of my vacations are for shopping and it’s specific shopping needs for different places – like my eyelash growth products , I need to get it at a specific country and a specific mall.   And usually when I am on a shopping vacation – I try not to bring too much in my luggage with me – that way – I have lots of space to buy new stuff – to bring home with me.  My shopping spree can sometimes be quite adventurous and if I needed something badly – and I can’t get it from one mall – I would hunt it down – from place to place.  But like every woman who goes on a shopping vacation, we usually come home with more than we had planned to buy but we can’t help it – we love looking pretty right?  and eyelashes, beauty products  – like Kose – where I can’t get it here – I just have to get it when I go on vacation.

I have so many friends who’ve migrated to United States and Canada for a better life and a better job and you cannot imagine how many Asians are here in the West.  I’m in this group of mixed marriages and there I’ve met many wonderful people who have moved their entire family for work, for love and for a better tomorrow.  I think for those who’ve migrated – you and I know that we have so much more opportunities here if we work hard – and looking for jobs – and changing a career is not hard if you are in the West.  If you are already in the health industry – and wants to specialise in something and look for Dietetic Technician Jobs you can go back to school for that.   I have seen friends online and offline do that – and I really envy that they have this opportunity to do that because the government here encourages people to go back to school – where else back home – once you don’t do well in school – academically speaking – that’s it  for you – not much hope.  But here in the West – I know that my kid will have the opportunity that I never had in Asia.  So when people asked me if it is good to migrate – I have to say yes – not only because of jobs – but because of the standard of living and the opportunities I never had.

I was in Peru – traveling for work when we met some people on the same trip – they were from United States – and we shared a few glasses of wine together and chatted and became friends – but that was like 20 years ago.  We kept in contact after the trip and updated each other yearly of our adventures, our lives and work and though we never did travel again to the same places again – they have visited Asia and I had gone to the States to visit them.  Traveling don’t only bring you more insight on the culture of different places but for me – it allows me to meet more interesting people – who became friends.   And when a long time traveling friend – has a new born baby – what do you do?  send a delicious baby gift of course!!   We are so lucky – because some 20 years ago – we can just go on the internet to get gifts for your oversea friends – you have to mail them thru’ snail mail – now with emails and online gift store and flower stores – there is no excuse not to celebrate life !

While in Asia – I would definitely advised travelers or those going on family vacations to be careful of pickpocketing because there are many professional pickpockets there.  They are so good and quick – I tell you – you don’t know who or what happened – because it only takes them seconds.  I know so – because it happened to me when I was in Hong Kong on vacation with some girlfriends – I was happy, they were happy – we were laughing and entering a department store – and the next thing I knew my purse was lifted and I turned around and there was no one.  So if you are traveling anywhere in Asia – be careful – don’t say it would never happen to you. But if you are in the West – or in Europe – then you have to be careful of electronic pickpocketing , after watching the below video – I was quite stunned – with what technology can do these days.   Identity theft is huge in the West and Europe – so if you are on vacation around here – be careful and check out the video below.

Every now and then friends asked me what I pack for my vacations – and I highly recommend that they bring at least a few womens hoodies with them – even if it is to the south they are going to.   Why?  because it can get windy and a woman’s hoodies is great for anywhere – from a bar to outdoors in the sun.  Plus a women’s hoodies never go out of fashion – and can be shared with your kids – that I soon found out when she didn’t bring hers.   Of course, if you are going to Whistler or Switzerland for skiing than you have to bring some other warmer clothing – but pack the basics like some hoodies and then layer them up wherever and whenever necessary- one can never go wrong bring them along.  Anything with a hoodie is great because when it rains – a hoodie can be used to protect your head, hair and face from the rain and I highly recommend a yoga pants too – because it’s so easy to wash and dry and lightweight. I never bring anything I won’t wear – because that would mean I won’t have space in my luggage for my shopping.  So don’t forget to pack wisely.

During the summer – a few girlfriends and myself with our kids were up in Shelburne, Nova Scotia for a visit – we’ve heard a lot about the pre-historical war re-enactment in the area and know that it is a loyalist settlement in Shelburne – so together with our kids – we headed up for a great afternoon of history lesson.

Shelburne, is but a little town in Nova Scotia – but it’s a charming little town with lots of scenery and historical charm and many historical building as well.  The people are very friendly – we soon found out and welcome us with open arms.

Everyone were dressed up like they were in the 1700s and they were even cooking like it was back those times – you can see children all dressed up and playing or snoozing.

We were invited for supper – which we politely declined – while watched how they prepare their food in the olden days.

And yes – they do sleep in those tents in the night – and camp out during the re-enaction period.

The children had fun playing with hay.

And this tent is their common area where they hang out after supper or for just resting.

All their clothes were sewn by themselves and the shoes were specially ordered.

They had real guns as well.

Roasting of meat here.

Showing how the gun works and cleaning it.

A very friendly lady all dressed up and doing kitchen duty for the day.

And a game of  tomahawk  – throwing a small axe.

Another little boy giving the axe a throw – we had a lot of  fun and would have stayed longer if not for the rain – that started pouring.

While some people  from the States loved to shop in Canada because of the rate exchange – I loved to shop in Canada because I want to keep the money within Canada if possible – and now that the exchange rate is so low for US Dollars – the more I want the Canadian economy to thrive and to do that I need to shop at home.  The spouse buys all his electronics from within Canada – and orders his rca video cables from our local store at home.   So Canadians – please support the local economy and buy locally – whenever and wherever possible.   And shipping is a lot cheaper too – if you buy locally and some places in Canada offer free shipping – anything free is good in my opinion.