I’m Brazilian, born and raised. I was about to finish my pharmacy degree when I decided to come to Canada to improve my English and travel. I wanted to do this before life got too damn serious. Nothing could keep me from doing this!

Everything was awesome in Toronto, where I spent the last 9 months, but was time to put on my backpack and see what the rest of this amazing country had to show me! But there was problem haunting me: would I be able to travel by myself? Cause one thing is easy when you know you have school and you’re going to look for a job; it will solve the problems about making friends. Another totally different adventure is putting some summer clothes in your luggage, saying goodbye to all the awesome people I had just met and leaving again into the unknown. Then I thought, “come on, I’m 24, I love talking and having a couple of beers.

It can’t be that hard, can it?”.

After a while all the planning came along. At first the tickets, then saving up, and last, but not least, a place to stay. I was almost booking a well known international hostel, just cause it seemed like my safest option, when one of my customers at the restaurant in Toronto told me: “no, if you want to meet people and have fun, you should definitely consider SameSun Backpackers”. I got home, checked online for the pics, the location and decided “this is the place for me!”.

Ferrying to Granville Island with my new friends

Time to pack, I was kind of nervous. When I got here, exhausted after a long night at the airport (another long story!), the gentlemen at the reception offered to bring up my luggage. Happiness was just starting.The moment I got to my room, I started talking to this amazing girl, from England. She invited me to go eat with her and showed me around. We walked and talked a lot. She was an amazing person who worked in Thailand for a while working with elephants and other big animals. Then we went for a couple of beers in The Beaver, the Canucks were playing on the big screen, and the excitement around was a relief, I felt like home right away! The next day, Kim, the English girl was leaving. So I sat at a table during the free breakfast with 6 random people. It was so easy to start talking, and before I realize, I invited myself to go out with 2 German girls. We went biking on Stanley park, then walked around Gastown, Chinatown and came back to a fun wine girls night at the pub next door. The day after we went to Granville island, a lovely place! After this 2 days, I just ended up meeting more and more people from different nationalities. Genna, from Australia, a girl with a bad ass scar that she got doing snowboard. A Canadian girl, from Nova Scotia, that was a tree planter (what the heck is that?), a girl who ran a half marathon just for fun, a French guy who told me that nowadays things are kind of hard back home, and so it goes!

Visiting the totem poles in Stanley Park

The thing is, even not being crazy adventure stories; I found out that traveling by yourself, doesn’t mean AT ALL that you’re traveling alone. As long as you have an open mind and you’re willing to try new stuff without prejudices, you’ll do just fine. Also, it’s an amazing opportunity of leaving your fears behind you and being free to do whatever you like, whenever you like. You’re not attached to any group, if you want to read, you read, if you want to go to the beach, you go to the beach. We just have one life to live, I don’t want to be the kind that regret just because I wasn’t courageous enough to try new things. Do you? Now I’m on my way to Quebec and Montreal. Can’t wait to see what is to come!

Ps: There’s just one problem about my story, I broke my phone this week, and it costs me 250 dollars to fix it. But while, sh** happens – the good memories remain!

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Thank you to Fernanda for telling us about her experiences backpacking through Canada. We are always happy to see people making friends & planning adventures with new friends! That is the way to keep the world connected and create a big happy family. 

If you would like to win a free night’s accommodation, tell us your story & get published on Samesun’s Backpacker Blogs.

The post Solo but never alone – backpacking through Canada appeared first on Backpacker Hostels | Vancouver Hostel | Banff Accommodations | Kelowna.

Come dressed to represent any country.

The post International Party in The Beaver Banff appeared first on Backpacker Hostels | Vancouver Hostel | Banff Accommodations | Kelowna.

You are asking, what is up with that smell? - It’s  a little bit of vinyl & a whole lot of Marry-Jane!

4/20 – Marijuana Activism & Decriminalization Festival

While the term 4/20 was coined in California in the 70’s, the festival began in Vancouver in 1995, which makes it one of the best places in the world to experience this unique international celebration of cannabis culture. Head on down to Vancouver Art Gallery and join in the activities as thousands of people gather to light up, listen to some free bands and have fun! If you are wondering, there is police presence, however they uphold a non-enforcement policy on this event. The law enforcers are there actually to direct traffic around hazzy people stumbling into the streets whilst the food trucks gather round and make a killer profit from the afternoon munchy crowd.

Not every year do these two events clash, but it seems to be a pretty good fit! Vancouver will be a smiley, boppin place today – so let’s all do a sun dance & make it shine down.
International Record Store Day – The Music Nerd’s Wet Dream

A day set aside purely to celebrate the art of music. Ever since 2008 that’s what Record Store Day has set out to do on the third saturday of April each year. This is a great opportunity to head to your local record store, see some free live music, party with like minded fans and just appreciate music for what it is. So join us in the lobby at 1pm and we’ll head down to Neptoons, Vancouver’s oldest independent record store. Don’t forget to pick up one of the limited edition vinyls, only released on Record Store Day, while you’re there!

Enjoy FREE live music at the Art Gallery & on Main St all afternoon!

We came prepared – and have double stocked The Beaver Vancouver’s kitchen ready for music filled, red-eyed, hungry backpackers so jump in for a $4.95 dinner special from 4pm.

The post 4/20 & Record Day – Vancouver appeared first on Backpacker Hostels | Vancouver Hostel | Banff Accommodations | Kelowna.

Our Banff location is looking for some new staff to join our team!

We are hiring Part Time Housekeepers to start immediately.

If you’re interested drop off a resume to our front desk in Banff or email it through to banff@samesun.com

Applicants must have a valid Canadian work visa and be planning to stay in Banff for at least 6 months.

Onsite staff accommodation is available.

The post Samesun Banff is Hiring appeared first on Backpacker Hostels | Vancouver Hostel | Banff Accommodations | Kelowna.

Spring has sprung & we are searching out Vancouver’s best parks & locations to soak in the sun’s rays. We are all in need of a little vitamin D after a long winter so join our weekly Park Days activity to beckon in more long summer days.

Meet in the Vancouver hostel’s lobby at 4pm.

We will supply balls for various sports games, a picnic rug or show you the way to some of our favorite green spaces in downtown Vancouver.

Make friend, catch some sun & maybe even a little exercise.

Then back to The Beaver for cheap drinks and a tasty meal.

The post Park Days Vancouver appeared first on Backpacker Hostels | Vancouver Hostel | Banff Accommodations | Kelowna.

Some rivalries will go down in history. Ali vs Frazier; Flames vs Oilers; Jedi vs Sith; Pirates vs Ninjas; Wile E Coyote vs Road Runner. But few have come together in such an epic battle as will befall the Banff Centre this February 14th as the Legendary Samesun vs HI Dodgeball Smackdown Part II.
Reigning winners Samesun have a title to defend, while the HI has something left to prove.

Are you ready to represent Samesun and become part of Banff history?

Losers buy the first round on our post-game pub crawl.

The post Dodgeball Smackdown – HI vs Samesun Banff appeared first on Backpacker Hostels | Vancouver Hostel | Banff Accommodations | Kelowna.

Biggest screen, cheapest drinks, great crowd, great prizes!!

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Watch the Vancouver Canucks on the biggest screen on Granville Street, as well as another 5 huge flat screens, you wont miss any of the action. We have over 100 seats all with great viewing, from bar stool in the center of the action to 10 person booths with a private TV, there is always a spot for you and some friends. The Beaver Lounge & Restaurant & Russell Brewery have some great Canucks specials to make our Vancouver fans very happy!

Now that hockey is back, we want every game to be a party. We’ve got prizes galore & great specials to get you involved & in on the action. When the Canucks WIN, so do you!!!

Here’s three reasons to watch the Canucks kick butt at the Beaver Lounge on Granville & 4 ways you can get some prizes:

1. $4 Beaver Pints every game day, we have the best value drinks around!

2. Play “Guess the score” and WIN - get your prediction in by the first period & you could be celebrating with some big beers at the final buzzer!

3.Win a FREE SPIN when the player on your table scores. Each table has a different Canucks player in the tablestand, & when they score you get a free spin of the SHOT WHEEL!!

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The number of travellers heading off on seasonal gap years and volunteer programs has become a growing trend. In November, I embarked on a short-term work-travel visa to Canada, to experience this growing trend first hand.

After a whirlwind trip and what felt like a stint on The Amazing Race, I had covered 7 cities, 5 Countries, 4 Continents, 6 Flights and 31 hrs flying time, transiting through 7 Airports in only 5 Days and a drop in temperature from 32 to – 4 degrees, before touching down in Vancouver.

This was not my end point – I hoped to follow in the foot steps of many other travellers who flock to Canada for the winter ski-season in the Rockies; exposed to endless rolling landscapes of white powdery peaks, shredding up the slopes and engrossing oneself in the absolute beauty of the wilderness.

Rather than finding myself on one of the more renowned resorts like Whistler or Banff, an opportunity arose to head out to the backcountry working on a ranch and hunting lodge. I jumped at the chance with little thought and was on a shuttle bound for the ranch located in the South Chilcotin Mountain Ranges, joined by 2 beackpackers from Germany and Ireland.

The landscape morphed with each passing hour as we edged our way deeper into the remote mountains, further away from any semblance of urban life, only rugged valley’s, craggy cliffs, skeletal trees and winding mountain passes blanketed under a foot of snow.

My companions and I glanced at each other with uncertainty as to where exactly we were heading, neither of us having experienced such pure wilderness. California Big Horn Sheep prance majestically on the steep cliff faces. The mountain passes plunge deep into icy valleys and the driver plays a constant game of dodge avoiding rocks which have fallen from the hills above.

As we near the ranch a number of bright red “DANGER-Hunting” signs jump out against the bleak landscape and this is only testament to our final destination. A remote wilderness, 2hrs from the nearest country town with cougar, grizzly’s, bob cats, wolves, moose and deer.

After arriving one can only admire the sheer beauty that surrounds you; the crisp air, the mist which eerily makes its way through the fir trees, the loud shriek of a hawk above and the neigh of the horses from their snow covered paddocks, to the cry of a lonesome wolf which echoes across the hills. The myriad of footprints that criss-cross the snow is beautiful but also sends an eerie chill down your spine knowing what might be watching you from a rocky outcrop.

It all just seems a little surreal, like the page of an adventure novel or a scene from a western movie, the setting brings alive everything I had heard about the Canadian Wilderness.

Life back at the ranch has opened my eyes and broadened my mind to the different lifestyles and places that people choose to live. It is moments like this that makes travel all the more rewarding and to test yourself in new situations, environments and lifestyles.

As H. C. Andersen wrote so poetically, “To travel is to live” and I was certainly getting my taste of the Canadian backcountry and wilderness.

copywrite

by Terence Eder
Freelance Travel Journalist & Avid Backpacker

The post Backpacker Blog – Back at the ranch appeared first on Backpacker Hostels | Vancouver Hostel | Banff Accommodations | Kelowna.

We’ve put together a checklist for your evening out in Vancouver  – and luckily they all happened to be located at 1018 Granville Street. Welcome to the Samesun!

1. GET A PHOTO WITH MOOSEY!

Introducing Moosey! This giant moose has been Samesun’s welcoming committee & security for over 5 years thanks to Moose Travel Network, who gave him the front and center spot on Granville Street. Vancouverites & travelers flock from all over the globe to get a picture of a Canadian moose! Well here it is!

There are two sides to Moosey – with his big nose, big horns & furry dewlap you’ll need a picture of his front! (Some even say it is good luck to rub his nose on the way out the door). But equally enticing is his posterior!  Those wandering down Granville St are often startled and delighted by the sight of a giant moose bum in the window! Don’t be shy to take a photo and fill in the blanks: “Get your _ on a Moose bus”.

2. SPIN THE SHOT WHEEL!

Welcome to Vancouver’s Beaver Lounge & Restaurant, a favorite with both locals and backpackers for cheap & tasty local craft brew and food….. and to spin the SHOT WHEEL!! Only at The Beaver do we give you an interactive menu: Step up to the plate, spin the wheel, and taste lady luck! From ABC’s to Kamikazes to Polar Bear shots, it’s a great way to choose the shot of choice for your next celebration!

3. TRY AN AGWA BOMB!

Anyone who has had, drank, lived, breathed, swam, loved the AGWA BOMB will claim it is the BEST SHOT IN THE WORLD!!!! Thousands of backpackers have come through Samesun’s doors in the past 3 years from Banff to Vancouver & tried the famous AGWA!

AGWA is a cocoa leaf & guarana liqueur using cocoa leaves from the Bolivian & Peruvian highlands. They are then sent to Amsterdam under armed guard where it is pressed & distilled into the energetic & mind tingling beauty that is AGWA de Bolivia! Here at the Beaver we have AGWA drinks & cocktails, but the most famous is the AGWA BOMB – an ounce of AGWA liqueur floating on top of energy drink in a sexy quaffer glass. Try its tropical flavor & get a jet-pack start to your night!

And The Beaver Banff & The Beaver Vancouver are the ONLY 2 bars in Canada to serve this heavenly liquid!

4. WATCH SPORT & SPECIAL EVENTS ON THE BIG SCREEN

Locals have come to love The Beaver’s BIG SCREEN TV. Whether it’s the Vancouver Olympics, playoff hockey, Champions League football, Superbowl & the best snowboarding films around, you will find there is always something interesting to watch on the biggest screen with the cheapest beers! We also have another 5 flat screens so you always have great views of the action.

With pints from only $4.50 & pitchers starting at $10.50 there is no better place to grab some mates & watch your favorite sports.

New Years Eve we’ll be showing the celebrations from around the world as we welcome in the new year!

5. MEET SOME AMAZING TRAVELERS

If you’ve never visited a fun backpacker’s hostel – do yourself a favor – get in here quick! With nightly events such as trivia, open mic, poker & costume parties we are a great place to meet new & interesting people. The Beaver Lounge is at the base of Samesun Backpacker’s Lodge & in the middle of Vancouver’s entertainment district. We have locals that have strolled this city for years, chatting with incoming Germans, Russians, Brazilians & Brits, making it a great, diverse mix of people! And of course, if you want to learn how to drink – grab a bar stool in between an Aussie & an Irish and your night will be set.

On the quieter evenings, conversations in a multitude of accents can be heard discussing past adventures & planning future expeditions. You never know if you’ll sit next to your new best friend or possible next lover, as the story has gone many times before.

Once you’ve ticked off all 5 from this list and you’re feeling the AGWA buzz, grab your new friends and head off for an adventure down Granville St with plenty of late night clubs to dance away the rest of the morning.

The post 5 things to do on Granville St appeared first on Backpacker Hostels | Vancouver Hostel | Banff Accommodations | Kelowna.

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Four years ago, I finished my first year of university. I had been hopeful of getting an internship during the summer like some of my friends did and I was to be within the two-thirds of the 1st year students not to get an internship that year. What would a student do in this case? Take off, of course! But I had no money, so instead I did the other thing students do in this case: catch summer classes and work, yay!

The plan was to take off with a friend early August, we’d both have enough money to travel for a month. As August was approaching, my friend decided he couldn’t go, I was out on my own and I was 19. That week I quit my job and left few days later on an epic journey through the states all the way to California.

My parents would have freaked out if I had told them I was leaving for California by myself, so instead, I told them I was going to Spain by my-self. They freaked out, I told them I’d go to California then. I worked like a charm. The fact that I had an uncle in California apparently reassured them. I never got to meet him, as was planned…
The day before I left, I was packing my life into 3 bags, plus a tent, plus a bike. I wasn’t much of a biker then and I thought the 30-year-old bike my father gave me would do just fine to get me around for cheap. A friend of mine suggested I bike from L.A to San Francisco. I checked it out. It was over 700km, no way that I’ll bike that. I’ll just tour around L.A., get to see the good spots.

On August 10th 2008, I was leaving by bus on a three-and-a-half-day ride were a guy with no home (I was to discover that later) would be my first-ever CouchSurfing host. We ended up at a drag queen show in a bar on some Los Angeles Beach with two other couchsurfers, one of which was also under-age and ended the night ”surfing” the couch of this friend of a friend. Over the few days I stayed in Los Angeles, I also ended up in a house in a slummy district and decided I was due for something better.

By that point, the only thing I was thinking was to bike along the beach shore, enjoy the shows put on by the street artists and ultimately camp when night falls. So I packed up my bike, bought a map of California and headed north, towards Malibu Beach. I’m not really good at reading tourist guides so I knew very little of that state other than “Surf & Sun”. Malibu Beach seamed to be a good deal but the shoreline was completely bought off, only big private properties could be seen, blocking the view to the sand, the waves and the horizon. The sun was about to set and I had to find camping. But clearly all campsites on the map were out of reach before sunset. I’m thinking “This will be a hell of a start if I can figure out my first camping spot!”. I took the first right off the famous Pacific Highway 1 and started going up a steep hill. I was about to give up and U-turn when I saw this large high school. Schools are closed in early August, aren’t they? So I sneak in past the school gate, then past the football field, and then on top of the hill where I find this perfect spot overlooking the field and the school. A table was left unattended, on the empty hill covered with thigh-high yellow grass, probably for the score-keeper at the football games. I used it as a shield against the strong winds picking up as the evening progressed. I remember wondering if there were any wild beast in South West California, how safe would my tent be against a poisonous snake? Oh well, probably better not to know anyways.

When the campsite was finally done, I paused and looked around. I had the best view, first place, front row: The Pacific Ocean, with the Highway disappearing past the shoreline hills, just as the sun was setting. That night, I decided that I was not going back to L.A. I decided that biking was the best way to be a tourist. I decided I’d make it to San Francisco…

To be continued…..

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Thanks Remi for sharing your exciting adventures through California, and look forward to a night on us!

If you would like to contribute to our backpacker blogs, you could be staying with us for FREE! Submit your story through our Facebook page.

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