See Dave Do

Category: Travel

  • We hit up Copenhagen and Stockholm [MDVPHoliday19]

    We hit up Copenhagen and Stockholm [MDVPHoliday19]

    So it is MDVP Holiday 19 time! This year the crew and I decided to go visit the Christmas markets and beautiful countries of Denmark and Sweden. I have never been before Scandinavian country sounded like a cool idea so off we went. Right off the bat, the first thing I realized after getting there; It’s not going to be a cheap trip -_-. Copenhagen in particular was mad expensive, but manageable. Stockholm was a better off but in the end still pretty damn expensive for the day to day. Keep in mind we don’t stay at lavish hotels and stuff like that so high five for AirBNB bringing our costs down a bit.

    What to pack, what to pack? Always the million dollar question! well for this trip it was basically all hoodies, sweaters, jeans, and of course LONGJOHNS [absolute must have]. A pair of boots, and two pairs of sneakers! One thing that I tend to forget from time to time is proper hair Product so I made a point of packing some American Crew Firm hold gel and to go with that American Crew Hydrating shampoo.

    I always hate using the shampoo and body washes typically left at airbnb for the guests so I always make a point of bringing shampoo and a bar of soap with me anytime I travel. I also brought along something I have NEVER tried before. The Silk’n Revit Prestige Microdermabrasion unit, which i never really knew anything about as I would only see it on female insta stories. I’ve been using it pretty regularly since, and have noticed some improvements in my skin. Specifically my wonderful forehead lines! I’m starting to get an age where I have come to the conclusion that I really need to start looking into my skincare routine and pay more attention and care to it overall! I’m going to continue using the unit and post back on my progress :).

    We started our trip off arriving in Copenhagen hopped on a train and went straight to Stockholm. Another beautiful city with a similar vibe to Amsterdam [which we visited earlier this year] but a feel all it’s own. My absolute favourite thing being a creator/photographer was the subway stations. THEY ARE AMAZEBALLS! Each station being partnered up with an artist who transformed the space itself that makes you enjoy walking and exploring the tunnels, platforms and stations themselves! Here are some of my Favourites:

    • Solna Centrum Station
    • Odenplan Station
    • Tensta station
    • Solna Strand Station
    • Tekniska Högskolan Station
    • T-Centralen Station

    After spending a few days in Stockholm, we headed back to Copenhagen to finish off the second half of our trip. Now one thing that I did notice with both cities is that there are not a lot of AirBNB available at least not in the price range we were looking at. So we ended up with what we could find and were pretty disappointed. Hands down one of the worst AirBNB I have ever been to, but due to the fact there was nothing else available nearby we sucked it up and just stayed and pushed through. Other than that, Copenhagen was a really nice city, lots of history and museums to visit [if you’re into stuff like that]. Below I’ve listed some really cool points of interest we went to that I enjoyed!

    I almost forgot, considering it was the holidays we figured we would bring gifts for Vic and Peter. Mel and I decided to get their gifts from Etsty.ca. We wanted something different and personal, and we also wanted to give some love back to the small local shops and take a step away from shopping at a big box store for these gifts. The sheer amount of potential gifts that can be personalized is insane, so many choices and you can literally find something for anyone! We settled on a custom cutting board for @thedunklistt and a custom cake topper for @thelustlistt considering they both enjoy eating and cooking, AND of course they are getting married next year! Needless to say they seemed pretty happy with our choices for them #greatsuccess!

    I’m all about exploring new places that I’ve never been to and I really think both Copenhagen and Stockholm are great cities [to live in]. Overall the food is average. However, as you would expect there are a lot of fresh seafood options which is nice. But for your average person travelling I feel like the costs involved might be a deterrent as well [this is based off CDN exchange]. If you’ve never been, GO! I’m a huge believer in visiting everywhere once, and seeing it for yourself. My experience might not be your experience and you may love [or hate] a place much more than I do. So get out there and explore this big blue marble, you never know what you’ll find!

    Have you ever been to Stockholm or Copenhagen??

  • Lost In Japan

    Lost In Japan

    And we are back, to Japan that is! Spending at least one or two weeks there for the past 11 years as most of you know Japan has become somewhat of a second home to me. So this year I headed over there with two friends of mine (as this is typically my annual Boys Trip) one of which had never been. So we experienced many of the places we have already visited as well as some that we hadn’t. We began our trip in Toronto to Osaka going up to Kyoto and finally Tokyo where we spent the end of our trip before heading back home.

    Osaka has quickly become one of my favourite cities besides Tokyo, mostly because it’s like Tokyo without some of the pretentiousness that comes with it. The feeling in Osaka is real! The city has a bit of that Tokyo vibe but all its own, a bit grungier, a bit more soul. It’s really quite refreshing if you’ve ever spent any time in Tokyo you will understand a bit better. Your first time in Osaka? You will be spending most of your time in Dotonburi, its the major hub for shopping, eating, and partying! If you are in the market for anything, you can basically find it there. it’s most lively at night, but like Shibuya in Tokyo, it’s busy any given time of day. The biggest attraction being the Glico Man who has been shining in all its neon greatness for the past 84 years….yes 84 YEARS! It was originally set up in 1935 and has since become the mascot of Osaka pretty much! I recommend to literally go into Dotonburi and just get lost, go up and down each street systematically and explore everything it has to offer. Osaka is very well known for it’s fried foods so be sure to stop in literally anywhere and pick something up to eat!

    Notable places to get those tasty Instagram shots:

    • Osaka T-Site
    • Umeda Sky Building
    • America Mura
    • Shitennoji Temple
    • Glico Man
    • Dotonburi
    • Osaka Station
    • Shinsekai
    • Osaka Castle

    This is THE SPOT! If you want “Japan” in all its glory, Kyoto is the place to be. from it’s countless temples and shrines to Kinkakiju and Arashiyama, I could easily spend 2 months shooting Kyoto itself and it’s surrounding areas. where else can you find a walk through a bamboo forest, hike up a mountain through hundreds of Tori gates, visit a palace completely covered in gold leaf? Kyoto is my FAVOURITE city out of the big 3 to enjoy the culture and sightsee without all the hustle and bustle that goes on in Tokyo or Osaka.

    Notable places to get those tasty Instagram shots:

    • Kinkaku-ji
    • Katsuoji Temple
    • Shimogamo Jinja Shrine
    • Fushimi Inari Taisha
    • Gion District
    • Philosophers Path
    • Arashiyama Bamboo Forest
    • Arashiyama Kimono Forest
    • Yoshida Shrine
    • Otagi Nenbutsu-ji Temple
    • Kifune Shrine
    • Yasaka Pagoda
    • Kiyomizu-dera

    What can I say about Tokyo I haven’t already said in other posts? Tokyo is and will probably always be like my second home. The only thing that seems to change is that I keep getting older and there are more tourists every year I visit. Some places shut down, new ones pop up in their place. but the vibe of Tokyo really hasn’t changed that much over the past 11 years. More and more Tokyo is catering to tourists now with English menus and signage.

    Notable places to get those tasty Instagram shots:

    • Teamlab Planets
    • Teamlab Borderless
    • Tokyo Tower
    • Sensoji Temple
    • Meiji Jinumae Shrine
    • Kabukicho
    • Shibuya Scramble
    • Piss Alley (Shinjuku)
    • Drunkards Alley (Shibuya)
    • Anata No Warehouse (Kawasaki) [NOW CLOSED!!]
    • Harajuku/Omotesando

    For me Footwear is always a hot topic when discussing travel and Japan is no different. For me it’s absolutely essential to take a good pair of walking shoes, as I spend most of my time exploring and discovering new places. I’ve been on board with Merrell for some time now, from solid hiking shoes for more tropical destinations to water shoes they’ve got you covered. I’ve been rocking my Merrell Primer Leather shoes. I spent a good majority of my walking days with them and they held up, were comfortable and didn’t tire out my feet even after 20km+ walking days!

    With all the travel I do, trying to save a buck wherever I can goes a long way in the long run. For those of you that don’t know, you can get Cash back every month on the purchases you make online using Rakuten.ca! Everything from my Amazon purchases, clothes, and electronics, getting cash back on my purchases has never been easier! Like this outfit I was rocking from H&M, and of course my workout gear I always pack when i travel!

    Speaking of outfits, you can bet I always tend to pack one suit when I travel, mostly because I tend to take one night and go to either a find dining joint or a higher end party places that requires one. Plus it never hurts to look good fresh! I have a plethora of choices in my closet but opted to go with a nice lightweight cream coloured suit from Le Chateau, pretty happy with it, their styles have been evolving and the colours available are quite nice. Not to mention I’ve been buying dress shirts from Le Chateau for the last 15 years, maybe I’m a little biased but I do like the quality of their stuff!

    For those that have Japan on your bucket list, it is still my top destination after visiting 20+ times I always find myself going back. It has literally something for everyone and 100000000% lives up to the hype! Let me know your experiences and how you feel after visiting!

  • #MDVPSUMMER19: Everything you need for a Portuguese adventure!

    #MDVPSUMMER19: Everything you need for a Portuguese adventure!

    What is up, all you wonderful humans?! The gang and I are back with another instalment of our #MDVP adventures, this time we hit up Portugal and all it has to offer. Together with some old and new partners, we got to explore all there is to do in the Algarves in the South to the beautiful vistas of Lisboa. A little backstory about myself, I am half Portuguese half Angolan, born in Canada! I hadn’t been back to Portugal since I was a kid and was super stoked to get back and experience it again considering I don’t remember much. So without further ado, let’s get right into it.

    Mel and I met up with Vic and Peter in Lisbon for a night, then got ourselves a rental and drove the scenic route to the city of Lagos in the Algarve. An extremely popular area at the southernmost part of Portugal. Here you can find Vacationers from all around Europe, beautiful beaches, scenic vistas, and cool refreshing waters that will most definitely wake you up after taking a dip. That being said, If there are beaches on the menu I always like to have some good reading material to fill my downtime when I’m hanging out on the beach. This trip I teamed up with Chapters Indigo and got my hands on one of my summer reads I’ve been looking forward to.

    A copy of Fire & Blood: 300 Years Before A Game of Thrones (A Targaryen History). Now that the TV series is sadly over it was time to get into the prequel and see what the next iteration may look like. Having a good book with the backdrop of cliffside engulfed beaches and the sounds of the waves crashing on the beach, few things make me happy. You can find all of Chapters Indigo summer must-reads ->HERE<-! Don’t want to carry around a 400+ page book? No problem, Get a Kobo! I have one for those trips I’m not in the mood to bring a physical copy. And I can bring my whole library along with me!

    So you’re want to check out Algarve but don’t know where to go? Here are a few places that WILL NOT DISAPPOINT!

    1. PONTA DA PIEDADE
      With one of the most beautiful vistas on the southern coast, Ponta Da Piedade will take your breath away. Standing on barrier-free cliffsides overlooking the ocean. It is definitely not for people that are afraid of heights though!
    2. GRUTAS DE BENEGIL
      For me, this is should be number 1, but won’t be accessible by everybody due to the fact that you literally have to swim and or kayak from the beach next door to this beautiful cave roughly 5 minutes away. With a perfectly placed hole up top giving you possibly the most epic photo you will get on your trip.
    3. PALACIO DE ESTOI
      A boutique hotel in the small town of Estoi. This Palace was built in 1840, and has all the charm you would expect from a small town in Algarve. Although it is a hotel, it is open to the public, however, you may run into it being closed to private events as it is a hot spot for weddings and swanky gatherings. On the grounds, you will find beautiful blue azulejo adorned walls, perfectly manicured hedges, as well as two sculptures of real-sized women imported from Italy in 2006. the Pink main building complimenting all the different colours is very pleasing to the eye.

    We made Lagos our home base while we explored the many beachside towns with our rental car. Lagos is a beauty in itself and I highly recommend it to anyone planning on staying in Algarve. Summertime weather calls for one thing when it comes to my wardrobe. Linen shirts and shorts! I found a perfect pair of cream-coloured shorts from the gap as well and a salmon coloured linen button-up that went perfectly for a stroll along the beach at dusk.

    Gap has really stepped up their game recently and I’ve really started to dig a lot of their pieces! But definitely get yourself some well-structured shorts that can be both dressed down for a casual afternoon or dressed up with a pair of loafers for a night out on the town. Pair that with a few linen button-ups and you are set! everything you need for a summer trip.

    Lagos is set right on the beach, and on low tide, you can take an amazing walk on the beach and through natural grottos and caves that you normally wouldn’t be able to access during the day. Staying at Airbnb would be the best option in my opinion as there is nothing like having a full kitchen and feeling like you live there during your stay. This also gives you access to rooftops, spacious rooms, and possibilities of meeting locals and other travels along your day. It’s a cheap alternative to staying in a hotel and I honestly couldn’t tell you the last time I booked a hotel when I travelled somewhere.

    Speaking about saving money, I would highly recommend signing up for Ebates.ca to earn Cash Back on your everyday purchases (including your flight and accommodations!) It’s really simple, create an account (use THIS link for a $5 bonus after your first purchase) and then search their extensive list of retailers where you can get Cash Back on everything from that hot summer outfit you’re looking for to that camera you needed to pick up to get those beautiful travel shots. I love shopping at H&M and they just so happen to be on of Ebates retailers, getting me 1.5% cashback on my order. Be sure to signup for their email list so you can be notified when they are having their flash deals that can score you rates up to 30% Cash Back! I’ve only started using them recently but finding myself always checking out what special offers they have so I can save that money and travel more!

    After spending 5 days in Algarve we headed back to Lisbon to take on the Capitol. We happened to be there during Portugal Day (Month really). We stayed in the Alfama district which is the birthplace of Fado, basically the music of Portugal, known for being expressive in its nature and soulful in its delivery.  Alfama is “old lisbon” with its cobbled streets, steep hills, nightly street parties, and open flame barbecues. Be sure to have yourself a bifana no pão, some freshly grilled sardines, and grilled choriço. You can thank me later! The soul of Lisbon comes out at dusk and can be experienced in the month of June until the early hours of the morning. There is no shortage of places to eat, drink, and meet new friends! Spending all day in the sun and all night around BBQ smoke my skin wasn’t loving me for a minute.

     

    Enter some solid skincare! Underrated by most guys but for me it’s a big proponent people think I’m 10 years younger than I actually am lol. First off is always always ALWAYS a good cleansing bar! I’ve always been partial to bars vs other forms of cleansers and the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser Bar was exactly what I needed every night when I hit the shower! With 5% of the bar being CeraVe Moisturizing Cream, I am all over this. after drying off the first thing iI reach for is my CeraVe Moisturizing Cream! My skin is normally dried out and having a non-greasy hydrating cream is super important. I throw it in my checked luggage after locking the pump and I’m all set to go. I’ve been using CereVe on an off for a little while now and I’m pretty happy with how it feels on my skin. It’s easy to use, doesn’t look fancy, and gets the job done!

    Lisbon and Portugal generally isn’t known for shopping so you will find yourself spending more time actually enjoying the city and eating A LOT OF DELICIOUS FOOD!

    PRO TIP: stay away from anyone trying to get you to teat at their establishment. If the joint needs a promoter to get you in, generally it is overpriced and the food will most likely suck! Find yourself a little hole in the wall or a spot that has a fair amount of people already eating there. 

    Must visit places to visit around Lisbon:

    1. Pasteis de Belem
      if you want what is probably the most iconic pastry to come out of Portugal find this bakery sit down and spend an hour ordering freshly made pasteis de nata, bolas de berlim, and a galão to bring it all together.
    2. LX Factory
      An artists paradise is probably the best way to describe this place, with a huge library housed in an old printing factory. With a local inventor giving free tours of the interesting creations he’s put together on the second floor. Artisans selling their wares, live music, and fusion foods and strong drinks! This place is a fantastic day or night out.
    3. Jeronimos Monastery
      A gothic monastery, that is on such a grand scale that you would be kicking yourself for not visiting!
    4.  Praça do Comerćio
      An area in Lisbon that you will probably end up in without even looking for it, it’s essentially the court of commerce where you will find basically all the shopping you will do while you are there.

     

    So, my thoughts on Portugal? I will definitely be going back sooner than later. Having been to a few other European cities this year, Portugal is cheap in comparison, the food is excellent, the people are funny, accommodating and always friendly. The ENTIRE country is beautiful and there is always something to eat, see, do at any hour of the day/night! I highly recommend it to anyone that is looking to go to Europe without breaking the bank and want to have a great time!

    Hit me up if you’re looking for stuff to do or places to visit!

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • 10 Days In Amsterdam! What You Need To Know (#MDVPSpring19 Edition)

    10 Days In Amsterdam! What You Need To Know (#MDVPSpring19 Edition)

    MDVP Spring 19 has wrapped and here are some tips to maximize your time in Amsterdam and the Netherlands. First things first are travel essentials that I never leave home without:

    Grooming Goodness:

    My toiletry bag changes all the time as I like to try new products but still like to make sure that I have my bases covered. This trip I got to try out a few new Estee Lauder products including:
    Estee Lauder Nutritious Micro-Algae ,Pore Purifying Cleansing Jelly, Pore Purifying Shake Tonic, and Pore Minimizing Hydra Lotion. Keeping my skin fresh and clean and looking good has become more and more of a focus for me as I get older. Especially when travelling I find my skin can get a bit tired when spending extended time in airplanes and with increased sun exposure. Gents if I have one piece of advice is take care of your skin, it’s so easy to overlook but worth the time to invest in.

    Comfy Kicks:

    Every time I have a trip planned, one of the first things that comes to mind is footwear! having an extensive collection of shoes, It can sometimes be hard to decide what to take. The single most important pair that I take are my day to day kicks. Walking 15-25km per day, the last thing I want are sore feet and blisters. Not having proper footwear is hands down one of the fastest ways to ruin a trip! Basically the entire Amsterdam trip you could find me rocking my Merrell MQM Flex Gore-Tex hiking shoes. Weighing just 648 grams, breathable, includes a waterproof membrane, it’s honestly the perfect travel shoe.

    Solid Timepiece:

    As you may know I’m a huge fan of a good watch! More recently I have been really into Citizen pieces. Specifically any of the Eco-Drive pieces, I have been in the market for a good dive watch as I tend to visit a lot of beach destinations so getting a jump on it I picked up the Citizen Promaster Aqualand it’s a clean piece that goes with a variety of outfits. But above that, functionality is key for me. Being Eco-Drive, it’s a solar face which means i never have to worry about replacing batteries just go about your day and it will charge automatically with the power of the sun! Water resistant to 200m which is perfect for when i’m snorkeling or just diving for shells.

    So now that you have a few essentials time to get on the road and start exploring Amsterdam!

    Amsterdam is a city of cyclists! It’s much faster, cheaper, and much more convenient to get around the moderately sized city of Amsterdam. With a population of just over 800,000 people, you can essentially get to anywhere you want to get to via a 20 min bike ride. Bike rental stores are in abundance as it’s the most used form of transportation. It’s also the best way to see any city in my opinion. you get to experience all the sights, sounds, and smells with the ability to stop whenever you want and you won’t have to waste your time looking for parking and things like that. If you want to take a break from all the biking you’ve been doing, I would highly recommend taking an afternoon, renting a small canal boat and explore the vast canal system that Amsterdam has to offer. You don’t need a license for the boat and will cost you roughly 40 Euros.

    As the Netherlands is part of the European Union you will be using the Euro as currency, so depending where you are coming from you can find that the city might feel a bit expensive as is most of Europe. However you can always find cheaper eats on the street, famous for their frites and mayo as well as their pickled herring. You can’t go wrong eating most places. Amsterdam has a huge southeast asian influence, so the city is rich in authentic Indonesian, and Thai food that can be found in most neighbourhoods.

    Museums can be around all over Amsterdam and the art scene is amazing! I would highly recommend the Moco Museum for modern pop art which includes Banksy, Kaws, Kieth Herring, Yayoi Kusama, as well as a Lichtenstein room which is not to be missed!

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    If traditional art is more your speed I would definitely tell you to visit the Rijksmuseum where they showcase well known as well as not so well known Dutch artists. You can find pieces by Rembrandt such as the famous The Night Watch painted in 1642. You can lose yourself in history just walking around the museum.

    Now the real reason to go is tulips, hands down! A short drive outside the city you can find yourself in what seems like never ending fields of tulips. In every imaginable colour the tulips fields are a wonder to look as and experience. Just standing in one of the gigantic fields can make you feel lost and so small, it’s truly humbling.

     

    Everything from Keukenhof where you can view huge fields of tulips from a top a old renovated windmill, to a random field off the side of the road. It’s breathtaking to see and I 100% recommend to experience if you are there during tulip season.

    These are just some of the things that you can see and do while in Amsterdam! Just remember when you travel anywhere, always be safe and try to explore off the beaten path to truly experience what your destination has to offer!

    What’s your favourite place in Amsterdam?

     

     

     

     

  • Away In Belize For The Holidays With #MDVP

    Away In Belize For The Holidays With #MDVP

    *** This post was made in generous partnership with: NEUTROGENA Canada and GAP. All thoughts and opinions are exclusively my own.

    As some of you may know, every year @Melhwang @Thelustlistt and @Thedunklistt and I get together and enjoy the holidays together. This year, we decided to split it up an do a two-part holiday, which included “Stay and Away.” Mostly because we are all very indecisive people that can’t make up our minds haha. We found an amazing deal online for a flight to Belize and that’s all we needed to help make-up our minds on where to go. All we knew is that we wanted to get out of the cold for a bit and enjoy some sunshine and warm weather before the snow began at home!

    I hadn’t heard much about Belize leading up to our trip, so I did what I do every time I travel somewhere new. RESEARCH! First off, the one thing that still sticks with me about our trip has to be how amazing Belizian people are. Always extremely friendly and accommodating and genuinely HAPPY people!

    So, what is there to do in Belize and why should you go? Well, there are a few reasons for both and it all depends on what you’re looking for in a destination. So I’m just going to let you know what we did and let you make your own decisions based on my experiences. We spent 10 days in Belize, specifically Sand Pedro Island, it wasn’t the beach vacation I had originally anticipated, however, Belize proved to have so much more to offer.

    Things to experience while in Belize:

     

    Catamaran Excursion

    Any time I go down south to the Caribbean specifically any beach destinations, the excursion I ALWAYS recommend to everyone is the Catamaran! If you have never been, you are missing out. This catamaran was a little different than others I have experienced but still fun none the less, especially considering that Belize is home to the second largest barrier reef in the world (after the Great Barrier Reef in Australia). As you would assume, diving here is extraordinary, as is snorkelling (which is what we got to do). We got onto a medium-sized catamaran with roughly 12 others, and set off to Hol Chan Marine Reserve to spend some time snorkelling and taking in the abundance of marine life that Belize has to offer. A word of advice: don’t forget sunscreen! I can’t stress that enough. Nothing will ruin your vacation and time abroad faster than a sunburn. Enter my sunscreen plan for a successful day in the sun!


    NEUTROGENA HYDRO BOOST Water Gel Sunscreen SPF 50

    This was my go-to during my stay in Belize. This sunscreen layers invisibly for a clean and non-greasy finish. Not only that, but it’s infused with hyaluronic acid, glycerin and Vitamin E to keep skin hydrated! Best part is that it’s water-resistant for up to 80 minutes!

    NEUTROGENA ULTRA SHEER Face & Body Stick Sunscreen SPF 50+

    This was my first time trying a sunscreen like this, and it’s the best thing ever! It’s formulated with HELIOPLEX technology, which provides effective protection from aging UVA and burning UVB rays and Dry-Touch technology for a non-greasy finish. This sunscreen comes in a stick form, making it ideal for both face and body. It’s super convenient-and AMAZING for travel!

    Back to the catamaran adventure! After arriving at Hol Chan and anchoring in, we got our snorkelling gear and were ready to go. We spent the better part of an hour checking out coral reefs where we got to see some stuff you would only see on the discovery channel. Marine life included nurse sharks, stingrays, octopus (octopi?), an abundance of different fish including a GIANT grouper, and we had the pleasure of encountering an eagle ray as well (they look like they are flying through the ocean). Getting back to the catamaran we had a chance to go to shark ray alley, where James (our guide) put out some chum, and we were quickly surrounded by what seemed like 20 nurse sharks. We all jumped into the water to get a closer look! It was an amazing experience, truly. After spending some time there, we all got back on the catamaran and got dropped off at Caye Caulker a small island just northeast of Belize City (roughly one hour away by an express ferry). They also gave us two hours to go explore the island and get some lunch.

    [Not so] Secret Beach

     

    It may be called the Secret Beach, but it’s more like a not so secret an hour away from San Pedro by golf cart kind of beach. It’s a great day trip, off the beaten path and you can spend the entire day there lounging on the beach, snorkelling for seashells, hanging out at the beach bar, or just lounging on one of the two piers they have to take it all in. Do be sure to stay until dusk, the sunsets there are absolutely beautiful!

    Baboon Sanctuary and Horseback Riding

    Want to potentially meet some wild howler monkeys? Belize is home to an amazing Baboon Sanctuary. Now I say potentially because they are wild, so they might not be around when you visit. Luckily, our guide for the day was a man named Robert who has been part of the conservation efforts in Belize to protect the habitat of the native howler monkeys in the region. We took a walk through a nearby trail where Robert gave us the low down on all that nature has to offer, from the different plants available and uses they have for them. All while using his perfected howler monkey call to lure wild monkeys in. It might seem a little strange at first (I know it was for me) but it worked and a troop of howler monkey came by to hang out with us, mainly because we came bearing gifts….cocoa leaves! We got to take some photos with them as they got quite close trying to getting those tasty cocoa leaves they love so much. A wonderful experience for sure! And when you are done playing with the monkeys (or they get bored of you), you can head next door and go horseback riding! For me, it was my first time riding a horse. I had a blast the entire time-from my horse jumping up and trying to back kick Mel’s horse, to it taking off on me as I held on for dear life. I didn’t get hurt so it was fun, haha. A little sore afterwards but definitely wasn’t complaining; will for sure ride again! After it was all said and done, I picked up some local beet juice being sold by a local at the side of the road and we headed back to San Pedro.

    Cave Tubing

    Do you like short hikes and learning about fruit-bearing trees? You will pass a wide variety of these (which are all conveniently marked) on your hike up to the mouth of a cave system, where your tubes will be clipped into the rest of the people in your group. You can marvel at nature’s work while floating through dark caves, semi-fast rapids, and lazy river sections. You may encounter a few bat varieties along the way but worry not, they are generally sleeping and won’t bother you. Enjoy the fresh cool river water and the formations nature created in the caves (which resemble objects and animals), and once you’re done, grab a bite to eat and enjoy the rest of your day!

    Where to stay:

    We stayed at two places while we were there; -we wanted to make this trip affordable but enjoyable at the same time. So, we opted to stay at a mediocre spot for the first 5 nights, which I won’t get into because they are tearing it down in early 2019. The second half of our stay in San Pedro was at the Mahogany Bay Resort – now this place, I will def talk about! It’s brand spanking new and is basically one of the more luxurious places you can stay on San Pedro Island. The property itself still has some growing to do, as they do have lots for sale for people that are interested in buying a vacation property. The main lobby house is big and beautiful and home to the pool, as well as the 24 hour gym and restaurant. The rooms range from cozy cabins to not-so-cozy lofts, which is really cool. It has a lot of wood accents, rainfall showers, all in all, a really great place to stay if it falls within your budget. I had great nights of sleep on their comfortable beds and soft poofy comforters! But then again, I was rocking some of my comfy Gap sleepwear. There is nothing better I enjoy more than a solid pair of sweats, the cotton bottoms are super comfortable and they have a nice touch with varsity style branding on the hip. Raglan shirts are the most comfortable shirts ever, super soft and breathable too! all of which you can find below:

    OUTFIT ALL GAP:

    Shirt: Double-Face Long Sleeve Raglan T-Shirt

    Pants: Stencil Logo Fleece Joggers

     

    But the best part about Mahogany Bay Resort is that they own their own island beach! With a free shuttle going to the island every hour, IT IS A MUST VISIT! Considering Belize is known for its diving, you will be hard pressed to find any good beaches that are readily available.

     

    How to get around:

    San Pedro and Caye Caulker are both amazingly small beautiful islands, and the best way to get around is by golf cart. You can rent one for the duration of your stay literally on every block. That being said, there is a lot of competition and you can get the best prices if you shop around a bit. If you are staying in the city of Belize, I would say just taxi anywhere you need to go. I would recommend hitting up our driver we met at the airport when we arrived. We ended up booking him for everything we needed. As most drivers have partnerships with different excursions, he kind of became our fixer from the time we were there. He booked, picked us up, dropped us off, and took us back to the port for each excursion. And he was able to save us some money since we packaged a bunch of excursions together. You can find his details below:

    Norval Flowers
    +501.604.2948

    The best way to get a hold of him is on WhatsApp, give him a ring and he’ll take care of you!

    All in all, I would recommend Belize if you like adventure travel! It’s not a beach destination in itself and requires a few long boat rides to get to a beach I would call relaxing. But if you want to play with monkeys, visit Mayan ruins, go frolic in the rainforest, cave tube, and experience the second largest barrier reef, then I would 100% recommend Belize to you! One thing I almost forgot…make sure to enjoy a couple of Belikan beers for me if you decide to go!

     

     

  • Tokyo On A Budget? NO PROBLEM!

    Tokyo On A Budget? NO PROBLEM!

    So I’ve been to Tokyo a bunch of times, I think the number is up to 18 now and one question that I still get to this day is “Dave, isn’t Tokyo crazy expensive?!!”. The sweet and short is yes and no. Truth is that any large metropolis you visit in the world CAN be expensive, and Tokyo is no exception. That doesn’t mean it has to be!

    So to help you all out that are hoping to go to Tokyo or Japan in general and are on a budget or don’t want to spend a bajillion dollars to experience my favourite place, lets break down travel costs from low end to high end and break it into categories.

    TRANSPORTATION

    Getting around major cities is Japan is a breeze thanks to the amazing subway systems they have built, for all the times I’ve been there the subway has been my primary source of transportation. So what will that cost you? well it depends on how often and how far you  plan on using it. Fares are based on distance from the origin station. The further you go the more you pay. So what are your options?

    Option 1: Get yourself a Pasmo or Suica card. These are refillable transit cards good for the subway, buses, as well as vending machines, purchases at the convenience store, etc. You load up how much ever you want and just use it as you go.

    Option 2: You can also get an unlimited day pass for use on both the Yamanote Line as well as all Tokyo Metro lines. This will set you back about $16/day and I would only recommend it if you plan on going to a lot of places in one day.

    How to save money: Plan your days ahead of time and choose areas of interest that are close to each other, take the subway to the first location and walk to the next! Rinse and repeat!!

    When it comes to travel expenses YMMV, also if you ware doing other cities other than just Tokyo I would highly recommend getting the JR rail pass. It costs a couple hundred bucks, but you will get your monies worth if you plan on visiting Osaka, Kyoto, and anything in between. It also gives you access to JR lines within the city, so the Yamanote line in Tokyo is included (you can literally visit all of Tokyo off the Yamanote Loop)

    How Much I spend: Roughly $10/day

    FOOD

    This one is entirely up to you. If you want to eat high end food, you can most definitely expect high end prices!
    Tokyo has the most Michelin star restaurants in the world, so yes if you plan on eating at them everyday, it’s going to add up. Thats not to say you should stay away from them. The food scene is incredible there, you can eat somewhere like Torikizoku which is a restaurant chain Izakaya that charges about $3 for everything on the menu including drinks and alcohol. If you are looking for other cheap eats, you have Yoshinoya, 7-11, Lawsons, and other budget chains that wont break the bank. On average I spend anywhere from $10-$30 depending what i’m in the mood for. You can find a good bowl of ramen for under $10. If you are looking for sushi, you can find places that don’t charge much per piece, keep in mind that most places don’t do ACE like they do here. So again with everything in this guide, YMMV.

    I will say beware buying drinks from vending machines, they are everywhere are super accessible. They only cost $1-$2 but can quickly add up if you’re buying drinks regularly. Grape Fanta and Boss Coffee get me every time lol.

    How much I spend: Roughly $30-$60/day

    SIGHTSEEING

    So sightseeing for the most part is FREE! Any shrines and temples that I’ve been to in Tokyo have been free, My favourite price for things! But a lot of museums, temples, castles and gardens charge an admission of at least a few hundred yen.

    Being that I have been so many times, I don’t really do very much sightseeing. However new museums and exhibits do pop up and are most def worth the fees. Most notably are the 2 TEAMLAB exhibits BORDERLESS and PLANETS, with a price tag of around $40 they are worth every penny. Spending up to 4-5 hours in each of them it was one experience I may have to do a second time, next time I’m in town.

    Here are some FREE options in Tokyo:

    Meiji Shrine
    Imperial Palace and East Gardens
    Sensoji Temple
    Observation deck of the Tokyo Government Office
    Hachiko & Shibuya Scramble
    Takeshita Dori
    Yoyogi Park

    There are so many things you can do on a budget while you are in Tokyo! if you are planning on taking a trip and want some help with your itinerary, feel free to drop me an email. I would be more than happy to give suggestions and recommendations for any type of trip.

    Have you ever been to Japan?