Loves
Anime+Chocolates
Eating+Sleeping+Playing
Kelly.Poon+Han.Ji.Hye+Younha
Seattle, Washington, US
Being its birthplace, we could find Starbucks at almost every turn. The Pike Place Market is a can-go-if-you-have-time. The view from the top of the Space Needle was worth the USD 17.85 (with taxes) and braving the cold.
Vancouver, BC, Canada
Not much variety for food, just lots of pizza joints. We cycled around Stanley Park and the scenery was really wallpaper-worthy.
Victoria, BC, Canada
Good food, lots of old but beautiful buildings. The Butchart Gardens was definitely worth the USD 27.50 (with taxes). You'll learn what 花香 is when you're there.
Food
Do try:
The Cheesecake Factory
Red Fish Blue Fish
The Tapa Bar
Central Bistro
Lodging and transport
Kudos to my colleagues for planning the trip! We stayed at Sixth Avenue Inn, Coast Plaza Hotel & Suites, Coast Victoria Harbourside, and SpringHill Suites by Marriott. Only thing I didn't like about the second hotel was them having the mirror in front of the bed. Service by the third hotel was commendable, perhaps aided by the fact that I enjoyed Victoria the most.
Having three travel companions made taking the taxi a good option. The Amtrak train to Vancouver was comfortable, although I lost quite some money playing daidee (haven't paid up yet). Ferry rides aren't my favourite, but the one with Pacific Coach Lines was bearable and interesting, 'cause it was my first time boarding a ferry on a coach. We took the free hotel shuttle in Victoria and Seattle, and also the bus in the Seattle Ride Free Area.
Plane rides and airports
EVA Air food was quite tasty, except that they served us a meal too many on the Taiwan-US flights. I can't stand people who have no respect for my personal space sitting beside me! *%@#@^*!
Airport security was the strictest when we were departing from Sea-Tac Airport, strangely, not when we were arriving. Manual check-in at Sea-Tac Airport, complete with handwritten boarding passes, as the system was down. Ha.
Expenses
Exchange rate: SGD 1.405 = USD 1
Lodging and transport: SGD 769.60 + USD/CAD 50.25
Food: USD/CAD 190.24
Souvenirs: USD/CAD 141.85
Shopping: USD 22.72
Admission fees and bicycle rental: USD/CAD 57.60
Total: SGD 769.60 + USD/CAD 462.66 = SGD 1419.6373