Day 21: June 04

First things first: happy birthday to my youngest brother! I’ve spent years insisting I’d never date anyone younger than him — turns out I mentally froze his age at 25, and he hasn’t been 25 in a while. Haha

Birthday shoutouts aside, today we officially said goodbye to Banff and hello to Vancouver, where my cousin Ate Maybz was waiting for us.

Breakfast was a very glamorous combination of leftover instant noodles from the store, plus mini donuts and coffee from Tim Hortons. Fun fact: Tim Hortons has actually pulled back significantly in Manila over the years, so getting it here felt a little nostalgic — and honestly, the donuts and coffee tasted exactly like the ones back home. Some things really do travel well.

We hit the road and stopped in Chilliwack for a late lunch at Wooly Dog Alley, a stretch lined with restaurants and cafés that had a genuinely cozy, browse-around kind of energy. We went with Japanese — Ramen House — where I ordered the tonkotsu original ramen for 15 CAD (~₱655). Creamy broth, perfectly al dente noodles, thoroughly appetizing. A great stop.

From there, we continued on to Surrey, our home base for the next two nights. We booked an Airbnb with two bedrooms, one bathroom, and a living room — heads up if you’re traveling with heavy luggage, there’s a staircase up to the unit, so pack light or bring patience. We ended up in a bunk bed setup, which was cozy in the best way. 228 CAD per night (~₱10,000), TV included (didn’t touch it, no regrets), and a gorgeous view of a maple tree right outside — very on-brand for a country whose flag literally has one on it.

After settling in, we headed to Walmart for pasalubong-hunting (came up empty-handed) and then to the nearby Guildford Town Centre mall for Starbucks and dinner at the food hall. I got the Edo Japan teriyaki bowl with rice for 14 CAD (~₱611) — decent if you’re hungry, nothing to write home about. I did get to chat with a fellow Filipina working there, which was a genuinely sweet moment. Ended up staying until the mall closed — it was a big one.

Day 22 — June 5

Today was all about exploring Vancouver’s downtown core and it was really cold like 15 degree Celsius cold.

Breakfast was donuts at the beloved Lee’s Donuts — 4 CAD (~₱174) per donut, 2 CAD (~₱87) for a large coffee. Small heads-up: not every shop downtown has a public restroom, including this one, but the al fresco seating overlooking the Steam Clock more than made up for it.

The Gastown Steam Clock is a Vancouver icon — a steam-powered clock built in the 1970s that whistles out a little tune every 15 minutes. It’s touristy, sure, but also genuinely fun to watch, and it made for a perfect photo stop.

We picked up souvenirs at Hudson’s Bay nearby — I’m not usually a souvenir person, but I grabbed a Vancouver t-shirt. (They were also very heavily stocked on FIFA World Cup merch, which tracks — Vancouver is one of the host cities for 2026.)

By lunchtime, we made our way to Canada Place, the iconic sail-roofed convention center and cruise terminal on the waterfront — nothing much to expect here. Afterward, I stopped at Mink Chocolate Café, where I ordered a chocolate waffle (7 CAD / ~₱305) and an iced chocolate (7 CAD / ~₱305). Our server was Filipina, so naturally, I tipped extra. I loved that so many spots near the waterfront have plenty of seating just to sit, relax, and take in the view.

In the afternoon, we headed to Stanley Park — nearly 1,000 acres of forest and coastline wrapped almost entirely by a seawall. The weather was perfect for it: people biking, a horse-drawn carriage clopping by, and views over the water from every angle. The park is also home to a cluster of totem poles at Brockton Point, carved by Indigenous artists and one of the most photographed spots in the city. Souvenir shops, restrooms, and ample parking nearby made it an easy, low-stress visit.

From there, we made our way to the Lions Gate Bridge — often compared to a smaller, less famous cousin of the Golden Gate Bridge, thanks to its similar suspension design (though it’s painted green, not that iconic orange-red). There are cafés scattered around the area, and I couldn’t resist a pistachio ice cream cone — 4 CAD (~₱174), free taste included before you commit, and genuinely lovely service.

We ended the day at Granville Island Public Market. I’ll admit, “public market” usually makes me picture a wet market — chaotic, a little grimy. This was the total opposite: spotless, full of tidy kiosks, with harbor-side seating and even the occasional street musician performing. I wish we’d had more time, since most stalls close by 6 PM, but it was a lovely way to close out the day.

Dinner at Tap & Barrel — Bridges (Granville Island)

We met up with Ate Maybz for dinner, and she treated us to a spread we won’t forget. Seeing her again after years apart was such a warm, grounding moment — this is exactly why I love traveling, not just for the sights, but for the people, especially family, scattered across the world. She gifted us a cap and a tumbler I’m still using to this day.

I ordered the miso sablefish — often called “the wagyu of the ocean” for its rich, buttery texture — for 39 CAD (~₱1,703). It did not disappoint: appetizing, flavorful, almost melt-in-your-mouth creamy, with the miso glaze adding just the right amount of sweetness and depth. Dining al fresco was lovely, service was solid, and they had heaters going once the evening chill set in. A genuinely great night.

We capped things off with coffee at Tim Hortons (again — we have a type) before saying our goodbyes to Ate for the night.

Day 23 — June 6

We left Surrey and, because apparently one goodbye wasn’t enough, went back to see Ate Maybz one more time for a late lunch at White Spot — a Vancouver institution and one of BC’s oldest restaurant chains, known for its classic Canadian comfort food. I had the sirloin steak, medium rare, for 33 CAD (~₱1,440) — appetizing down to the last bite.

After lunch, it was time for the real goodbye. Thank you for everything, Ate — until next time.

We swung back by the Steam Clock, where — starting around 2 PM — a street photographer named Van Press sets up an old-school photo booth and prints your portrait on what looks like actual newspaper, pay-what-you-like style. Very charming, very old-world, and a fun little memento to take home.

Then it was time to head to the airport. After dropping off the rental car at around 6:20 PM, we made our way to the gate. YVR (Vancouver International Airport) is huge and impressively efficient. Our flight wasn’t until around 1 AM, so we had hours to kill, but thankfully there was plenty to do (airline gates typically open 3 hours before departure, for reference).

Once checked in, I rushed to use my Priority Pass. First stop, the SkyTeam Lounge, was a bust — they couldn’t accommodate us and, frankly, gave us the runaround without much explanation. So I pivoted to the Plaza Premium Lounge, where a lovely Filipina staff member got us onto the waitlist — they provide an email link where you can check if it’s your turn for the lounge. It wasn’t as expansive as, say, the lounges at Taipei’s Taoyuan Airport, but the food held up — the spaghetti and roasted chicken were both solid, and the soda was unlimited. Can’t complain.

We boarded around 1:15 AM Vancouver time. The EVA Air meal service was fine — I’ll be honest, I’m not a person who enjoys plane food, I eat it mostly out of boredom, hunger, or the simple fact that I already paid for it.

Day 24 (in transit) — Taipei & Manila

We landed at Taoyuan International Airport at 4:58 AM Taiwan time. Taoyuan remains one of my favorite airports — massive, modern, even the boarding gates feel design-conscious. Genuinely efficient, genuinely pleasant to wait in. It had been a while since I’d been back in Taiwan, and I missed it more than I realized.

We made our way to the Oriental Club Lounge, where I went straight for my go-to: beef noodles. There was a long queue, but they still squeezed us in. Before our next flight, I grabbed Taiwanese milk tea and wheel pies from Mizu Village — USD accepted, for anyone wondering. I prefer Ximending’s milk tea though.

Our connecting flight had no delays. Time to say goodbye to my sister-in-law and her sister, who were heading onward to Singapore. The flight back to Manila was smooth and just under two hours.

We landed at NAIA Terminal 1 safely, back on Philippine soil, and were picked up by Tito and Tita — with our dogs waiting eagerly at home.

And That’s a Wrap

Six days, two provinces, two time zones, more mountains than my camera roll can handle, and one very memorable stretch of turquoise lakes, glacier drives, and reunions with family I hadn’t seen in years. Canada gave us bucket-list views and quiet, unplanned moments in equal measure — sometimes both on the same afternoon.

Until the next adventure — thanks for following along. 😊

Love,

Maria