Backpacker Buzz

I've been in Vancouver for 2 month for an internship offered through my university in South Korea. I love travelling around, and I've been trying to visit and see as much as I can while I stay here. With work and school, there was not enough time to see and experience Vancouver and B.C., though I've been to quite a few places.

I strongly recommend you go and see the Rocky Mountains if you visit Canada. That's just what you can't miss. I booked one seat in a tour by myself the evening before the tour started, because all my friends hesitated and told me that they were not going at the last minute. To me, it's hard to understand anyone who visits Canada and doesn't want to go to see the Rocky Mountains. I mean, it's just what you can do only here and nowhere else. How can you miss it?

Yet I went there alone, I met a few people and enjoyed the whole trip altogether. The mountains were more than superb and the lakes were so impressive and I had to be grateful that I could be there and see what I can't even explain to my family and friends. It's not easy to tell you in words what I saw and experienced there, so just go there and experience it yourself! I'll just say if I have to choose only one trip to go in Canada, it's the one.

My trip to Victoria in Vancouver Island was a memorable trip as well. Victoria was the first choice on my first weekend in Vancouver. I just loved the 90 minutes of sailing on the ferry. It's one of the things I'd love to do again during the rest of my time here. Victoria has a slightly different atmosphere from Vancouver, more similar to Britain as some people say. 

I stayed in Victoria to see the night view of the Parliament Building which my housemate recommended as a must-see. Since I felt 1 and a half days isn't enough to see lots of things in Victoria, I recommend you to spend at least 2 days. You can take Pacific Coach Lines at the bus depot (at 1150 Station Street) which will take you from Vancouver to downtown Victoria (via the ferry) or you can go straight to Tsawwassen Bay and take a ferry to Swartz Bay, and then bus to Victoria as I did.

Also you can do and see many interesting things in Vancouver. I like to go to Stanley Park and rest, read, picnic, walk and bike there. It's so amazing to have great ocean-views so close to where you live and for that reason I'm jealous of friends live who in Vancouver. Lonsdale Quay and Horseshoe Bay are also my favourite spots. If you are in to museums and exhibitions, check out Vancouver Art Gallery and Museum of Anthropology at UBC. Both offer special entrance fees every Tuesday after 5pm. The opportunity to experience diverse cultures is another attraction of Vancouver. Since enjoying exotic dishes from other cultures is one of my hobbies, Vancouver is perfect place for me.

2 months of my stay have past so quickly and I'll leave Vancouver and go back to school and home in a couple of days. Summer 2009 in Vancouver is something that I'll not forget for a long time. I don't feel that bad for leaving Vancouver this time because I'm sure someday I'll come back to travel the east part of Canada and to visit my friends here. Thanks Vancouver!

Jung Sun was studying English in Vancouver and recently completed a 4 week internship with Hostelling International - Canada - Pacific Mountain Region.  She is returning to South Korea to finish her University degree in Political Science and International Relations.