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Mont Olympia is only a 40-minute drive from Montreal. Check out their website for the latest weather reports and to get a look at their trails: Mont Olympia.

I had never gone snowboarding before, so I'm not an expert on what slopes are good and which ones aren't but, from what I could see, Mont Olympia seemed like a perfect place to ski/snowboard for all levels. The resort has several different slopes that you can see here. Most of the resort is made up of beginner trails, so this is probably a resort for beginner/intermediate people. The mountain is situated in a beautiful location and was not too crowded--perfect for a beginner like me who is worried about running over little kids. The full-day lift ticket costs around C$29; it's lowered to $20 after 2pm. Rentals are also very cheap, at about C$25.

Overall, this place is wonderful and fun for a beginner. In fact, I went twice and I took a lesson from their snowboarding school. The lesson was very helpful and saved me a couple of bruises. Unfortunately, the lesson did not prevent my body from aching the next day.

Dress in black! Everyone seemed to be dressed in black. Drinks range from $4-$15 depending on what you get. There was live music until 11pm. Their website: www.jello-bar.com. Sorry, about this short entry . . . there will be more to come.

If you’re planning a short trip to Japan, a one-night stay in the ryokan, also known as the Japanese traditional bathhouse, is an absolute must. Although most of the major cities in Japan have neighborhood bathhouses that the locals go to for an afternoon soak, consider ditching these and try taking a two-day trip to Hakone instead. Located just an hour and a half outside of Tokyo on the train (or what the locals call the romance car), you are offered the most authentic and relaxing Japanese experience at the Musashino-be inn: http://www.musasino.net/hougei.html

The moment you step onto the premises, employees dressed in kimonos immediately offer their exquisite service as you settle into your room. You may be a bit startled at first to see a bedroom without beds, but there’s no need to worry because the staff comes in after dinner to set up the traditional floor bedding for you. To maximize comfort and cleanliness, guests are required to walk around barefoot on the tatami (straw) mats and to wear yukatas (Japanese-style robes) when traveling from room to hot tub.

The highlight of the trip is using the steaming hot tubs (onsen) situated both indoors and outdoors in picture perfect scenery. I would recommend booking a trip in the winter so that you can sit in a sizzling tub while surrounded by snow-dusted trees and a brisk wind. This particular ryokan boasts of three different sections of bathtubs that are available 24 hours. Although men and women are separated in the main bathing areas, couples are given the opportunity to reserve a private outdoor bath for half an hour. There is also an indoor bath for families located on a different floor that may be used without reservation for however long you wish.

Make sure to arrive at the ryokan with an empty stomach. Your designated hostess serves a hefty dinner and breakfast in your room. Don’t expect any pork katsus or ramen noodles, because this meal is as traditional (and at times, a bit exotic) as it gets. Round after round of platters are delivered to you as your eyes widen with amazement at how artistically and delicately placed each piece of food is.
Although the majority of the employees do not speak English, the staff was informed that American tourists were visiting for the night. We somehow lucked out and got a hostess who spoke minimal English, so it may help to let the inn know.
Though not an excursion for the penny pinchers, (expect to pay around 250 dollars per person), I say it’s definitely worth splurging for this uniquely tranquil experience.

Probably not the healthiest of all choices, but this is a must for pork and shrimp-katsu lovers. Conveniently located in the Roppongi Hills shopping mall, Katsukara boasts of a swanky décor with its long polished wooden tables, but despite its lavish appearance, the food will not disappoint your budget or your taste buds. The dishes range from 1250 to 2500 yen depending on which meal you choose.

The pork katsus vary in price depending on the quality of meat, or basically the fat content of the meat. Interestingly, the more marbled the pork, the better quality it is. I recommend indulging a bit and getting the highest quality – I promise you the tenderest piece of pork you will ever bite into. You can also choose between the giant ebi(shrimp) or the four prawn katsus, which are also high on my list of dining experiences in Japan.

All the meals are accompanied with a sesame seed dipping sauce, where you grind the seeds yourself to a desired consistency. A waiter will then add a thick sauce to the grounded seeds to create a rich nutty flavor to go along with your katsus. All meals also include a bed of cabbage, which many might mistake as simple garnish. The cabbage, however, acts to help digest the heavy meal.

Hidden in a small street of the Azabujuban district of Tokyo is a quaint noodle shop that offers the best udon I have ever tasted. If you are a big fan of noodles in tasty soup stocks, like I am, this is definitely the place to go. The restaurant is conveniently located near the Roppongi Hills subway stop, but you should expect to wait in a line for 10 to 15 minutes before being seated.

Kurosawa serves a variety of udon dishes ranging from the simplest noodle and beef broth to a more flavorful black pork and curry udon dish. The noodles are freshly made on the premises to provide the best texture and taste. Make sure to gobble up the minute you get your meal, because the noodles will get soggy! My personal favorite was the beef tendon and udon noodle soup. The steaming broth was perfect to balance out the chilly weather, and the flavor wasn’t overpowering at all. If you’re in the mood for something heavier, then I highly recommend the curry soups, but it might get a little messy as you slurp up the noodles.

Prices range from 650 yen for the plain soup with udon noodles to 1,650 yen for the curry soup with pork and udon noodles. I promise that you will not be disappointed.

If you are a fan of water sports and activities then I highly recommend taking a day trip out on the FunCat catamaran for high quality snorkeling off the coast of Fajardo, Puerto Rico. Just an hour away from San Juan, the boat dock is easily accessible by rental car or by tour bus (i.e. Rico Sun Tours), which may be the preferable mode of transportation since rum punch and beers conclude the boat ride.

We were taken out to two locations approximately 45 minutes and an hour respectively out of Fajardo. Both areas were rich with marine life, although the second location thrived a bit more due to the abundance of coral. The boat provided all snorkeling equipment as well as flotation devices for the water averse. The majority of the fish boasted brilliant purple, orange, and yellow colors, while others were difficult to spot with their suitably camouflaged bodies. We also had the chance to swim close to the shore where remains of a past shipwreck were strewn on the ocean floor. As expected, the Caribbean waters were crystal clear and warm despite the intermittent rainstorms that passed by.

Even if you aren’t a fan of water sports, sailing and sunbathing on top of the two trampolines on board are enjoyable experiences. The captain and deck crew never failed to entertain as they set up lunch and passed around plates of freshly cut fruit. If you’re lucky, the boat will turn into a musical booze cruise on the ride back while you shake the FunCat tambourines and maracas to the beat of local salsa music.

I’m often reluctant to try restaurants that seem to be swarmed with tourists, because most often than not, I will be paying the highest premium for dishes that don’t really reflect the native cuisine. But, if you were in my situation, smack in the middle of San Juan’s hotel row, it’d be a bit difficult to find anything supremely authentic. I was pleasantly surprised, however, with Mi Casita restaurant, just steps away from the Embassy Suites Hotel and El San Juan Hotel and Casino on Isla Verde Avenue. Though the prices are still above average, this restaurant will serve one of the better meals you will have in an area replete with fast-food chains.

The lunch started with a simple yet satisfying toasted garlic-and-butter bread washed down with a refreshing pitcher of sangria. For the main entrée, I highly recommend the mofongo dishes. Mofongo is a Puerto Rican specialty of mashed tostones (or fried plantains) molded into a dome filled with your choice of meat. My personal favorite was the beef mofongo with creole sauce, although you can choose from other sauces. The combination of the plantains and mild sauce was excellent, and it quickly filled my appetite. Another crowd favorite was the seafood paella, but come prepared with an empty stomach or two, because the amount of food is massive.

Along Isla Verde Avenue is the Metropol restaurant and bar packed with locals dining on the best of Puerto Rican and Cuban cuisine. Despite the fact that it is located next to a cockfighting arena, the restaurant displays a very clean and pleasant atmosphere. Average prices range from $10 to $20, and the portions will satiate your hunger for the next 2 days. The waiters are very welcoming and are always willing to recommend their favorite dishes.

Although not the healthiest of all meals, you will not be disappointed with dishes like the chuletas can can (pork chops), churrasco 10 oz. (skirt steak), and the pollo frito (fried chicken). All dishes are served with rice and beans; maduros, or sweet fried plantains, can be ordered separately on the side, which I highly recommend, to accompany the dishes. All the meats were cooked to perfection as they slid right off the bones. The restaurant’s fruit smoothies and cocktails are also highly enjoyable, specifically the passion fruit smoothie and the mojito.

If you have enough room left to squeeze in dessert and coffee, then order their café con leche (espresso with steamed milk) paired with the tres leches (three milk cake). The cake is extremely moist, packed with sweet flavors coming from the vanilla and condensed milk. The dessert was an excellent end to a very satisfying meal.

Although the Embassy Suites Hotel is not the classiest of them all along hotel row, you’ll definitely get the bang for your buck. Given its close proximity to the airport, this hotel is convenient for those on a short stay in San Juan. The rooms are quite spacious with a separate bedroom and living room area equipped with a coffeemaker, microwave and refrigerator. The living room couch pulls out for extra overnight guests. The pool area is nice, but nothing you wouldn’t expect at a large hotel chain in the Caribbean.
The interior of the hotel lobby gives off a rainforest-like atmosphere with large plumed trees and mini waterfalls placed around the atrium. The hotel does not have a large nightclub like the El San Juan Hotel and Casino, but there is a dance floor where a live band plays salsa and merengue. The perks of the hotel include complimentary breakfast every morning from 6 am-10am and a daily free happy hour from 5-7 pm, serving ice-cold pina coladas, daiquiris, and stiff long island iced teas.

The staff is very helpful and welcoming and is always willing to provide suggestions on where to eat and where to enjoy San Juan’s nightlife. The front desk will often have copies of local maps and driving directions to the main sites of the island if you decide to take a day trip. All in all, it was an enjoyable and comfortable stay at the Embassy Suites for a budget traveler.




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The Waikiki Circle is located right across the street from Waikiki beach. It is in a prime location and is in walking distance of almost anything you'd want to see.

The rooms are a bit small. Each room consists of 2 full size beds. This is not changeable, they only offer 2 full size beds and do not offer 1 queen or 1 king size bed. The room is equipped with a safe, LCD TV and a balcony. I'd suggest getting a beach side view as the view is quite beautiful.

The bathroom is extremely small and they only have a shower stall and no bathtub. The shower stall is small and narrow, I'm 6" tall and I had trouble washing my feet because there wasn't much room to maneuver.

The hotel also offers parking for $10 a night and it also has free beach towels.

Note: Apparently, the Islander has recently under gone renovation and is much nicer than before.

The Islander is located about 20 mins away from the Kauai airport. Basically anything in Kauai is located on the 1 main road, so location is not so important as long as you have a car.

As far as the accommodations, I got a beach side view room and the view was only ok. The Islander faces the east side of the Island where the waves are very rough. You won't get beautiful sunsets there either since it faces east. You will get plenty of morning sun though.

The rooms were very clean and spacious. The floors were all in marble and the bathroom was pretty large. The room is equipped with a small refrigerator and kitchen sink. They also provide a small cupboard of kitchen utensils, cups and plates.

Right across the street from the Islander there is a small market where you can do some shopping or get some food. It's very small and quiet but it's very convenient if you don't feel like driving.

We went to Hamura's Saimin after reading rave reviews about the noodle soups there. The place is run by 3 Hawaiian ladies and they try and service over 50 people. When I went at 8pm at night it was crowded and we had to wait over 30 minutes to get a seat. You basically seat yourself, there is no hostess. The menu is pretty simple, you can order 1 of 3 different types of soups and you can add some chicken or beef skewers.

I ordered the regular Saimin soup and it was average at best. The flavoring was a bit bland the the noodles were only ok. They did not seem to be home made or anything. After eating, I'm left wondering what all the hype is about.