43.Why r u in JAPAN?

My travel memory

HI! I’m Youme.
I love going abroad! 
I have been to three countries for now and I will compare Canada and Australia here.

First, I had stayed in Canada for studying for 7 months 2 years ago. The place I went to is Nova Scotia and it is east island of Canada. Average of temperature is -8 degrees to -15 degrees there. It was too cold… Then, I was memorized by Canadian culture and that temperature. Even now, I sometimes am aware of that culture.

Second, I visited to Sydney by small tour of Seikyo from 高知トラベル.
Just for a week though, it was very FUN! 
I enjoyed sightseeing with friends. Brick streets are beautiful. We can see that beautiful view on the Harbor Bridge.

Each two countries belong to different continents. Therefore, I compared these three two by food, sights, and price.

Famous Food

In Nova Scotia, Scallops and Lobsters are famous. You can eat fried scallops if you go to Canada. Particularly interesting are scalloped potatoes and lobsters such as crab sticks.

Canadian people have scalloped potatoes for supper and I love it! 
It is not strong taste, so it is like potato with stew. I mean it is creamy. Moreover, you can buy it at grocery store.
If you don’t have much time, you can cook it easily because it is instant food is “Scalloped potatoes”.

Therefore, they have lobsters like crab sticks for lunch. However, its lobsters are stinky and not good in my opinion. People may put lobsters with mayonnaise on bread to deceive smell, but it does not work. Even though, it is still stinky 

In Australia, Kangaroo meat and Vegemite are very famous. You can eat kangaroo steak at restaurants, and the taste is a bit similar to beef but leaner and healthier. Australians often eat it grilled with some herbs or barbecue sauce. I was surprised that kangaroo meat is not so expensive and is sold even in supermarkets.

Another unique food is Vegemite. It is a dark brown paste made from yeast extract, and people usually spread it on toast for breakfast. At first, I thought it smelled strange and tasted too salty, but many Australians love it. They told me the key is to spread only a very small amount with butter. After trying it a few times, I got used to the taste and now I think it is not bad.

Also, Australians enjoy meat pies and fish and chips. You can find them everywhere, from restaurants to convenience stores. I especially liked meat pies because they were warm and filling.

Source: Ed’s Take Out | Kingston NS | Facebook

Sights

In Nova Scotia, the ocean is very beautiful. I often went to the seaside after school, and the view made me feel relaxed. The water was clear and calm, and I could see seagulls flying over the waves.

There are also many famous lighthouses in Nova Scotia. Especially, Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. The red and white lighthouse stands on big gray rocks, and it looks amazing at sunset.

In Australia, I visited Sydney Opera House, Taronga Zoo, and Sydney Aquarium.
The Opera House was very unique with its white shell-like shape. At night, it was lit up beautifully and looked even more wonderful.

Taronga Zoo was also fun because we could see koalas and kangaroos very close. I was excited to see animals that I can’t see in Japan.

Sydney Aquarium was another great place. I saw big sharks and colorful fish swimming in a huge tank, and it felt like I was under the sea.

Price

When I traveled to Nova Scotia, I found that it was not too expensive compared to other parts of Canada. If you stay there for about one week, the average cost for one person is around 1,100 to 1,400 US dollars (about 160,000 to 200,000 yen). This includes meals, accommodation, and local transportation. I think this is a reasonable price for such a beautiful place with peaceful nature and friendly people.

On the other hand, a one-week trip to Sydney, Australia, usually costs about 1,400 Australian dollars (around 150,000 to 200,000 yen). This also includes basic expenses such as hotels, food, and transportation inside the city. However, if you add the airplane ticket from Japan, it will cost more. I recommend preparing around 250,000 yen in total if you want to enjoy sightseeing comfortably without worrying about money.

In both countries, prices can change depending on the season and where you stay, but I think both Nova Scotia and Sydney are worth visiting at least once in your life.

Conclusion

Both Canada and Australia gave me unforgettable memories. 
In Nova Scotia, I could feel the calm atmosphere and enjoy the beautiful ocean and lighthouses.
Btw, don’t close to ocean when it is Typhoon.  I felt like I was a paper…
Otoh, Sydney was full of energy, with many exciting places to visit such as Sydney aquarium and Taronga Zoo.

Each country has its own charm — Canada’s peaceful nature and friendly people, and Australia’s lively city life and unique culture. Although the food, sights, and prices are different, both countries taught me how wonderful it is to experience new cultures and meet people from around the world.

If I have a chance in the future, I would love to visit them again and discover more about their cultures and daily lives.