TTC vs Translink BC: First Impressions

One of the things I was most worried about when I decided to move back to Vancouver was getting around on public transportation. I rarely used public transit when I was in Vancouver and when I did, I was always very confused.

Yesterday was my first real day of attempting to figure out how to get around in Vancouver, which is why I wanted to do a first impressions of Translink compared to the TTC in Toronto.

I don't drive so I've been using public transit in Toronto to get around in Toronto so obviously, I have to learn my way around public transit in Vancouver as well.

First of all, I have always found Translink to be very confusing. I don't really know why but it just seems confusing to me, so I might be slightly biased.

Let's start off with fares.

In Toronto, you pay once to get on and if you grab a transfer, you can go one way till the transfer's no longer valid.

In Vancouver, there are 3 different zones, so you either pay for one zone, two zone or three zone if you are going between these zones. Once you pay, you can use that fare for up to 90 minutes within the zones you paid for.

This is definitely, one of the things I find most confusing since I have no idea where one zone begins and one zone ends. So every time I want to go somewhere, I have to punch it into translink's website to figure out a)how to get there and b)how much I have to pay. I'm hoping with time, I will learn where the zones begins and ends. Hopefully!

Now the actual buses seemed the same-ish till I saw one number being used with two different names and that confused me. I am not sure what it means and I haven't had to use a bus with two different names, so I'm really not sure.

Subway vs Skytrain

I definitely prefer the subways in Toronto over the Skytrain. First of all, the Skytrain is like one big loop while the subway goes north and south and east and west. The subway is a lot easier to understand in my opinion than the skytrain. I also couldn't figure out, which side I was supposed to be on because the instructions only told me to go towards say Waterfront but the platform doesn't say that anywhere till the skytrain actually comes into the station. Again, so weird and confused me.

Those are just some of the things that really stuck out to me and made me miss the ttc. I know that not a lot of people are a big fan of the ttc in Toronto but I like it because of it's simplicity and how easy it is to just get around.

Here in Vancouver, things just seem more confusing and I am seriously hoping that once I get use to it that I won't feel that way however I highly doubt it.

In Toronto, I use to just google map where I wanted to go. In Vancouver, I have to google map it and go on the translink site to see how much I need to pay. It's an unnecessary extra step.

Where have you travelled to that had the most confusing public transportation you have ever used?

Cosmo's reading my mind

I always pick up a magazine or two when I fly, it's become a habit of mine that I just can't shake.

This time, I picked up a copy of Cosmopolitan Magazine because Rachel Bilson was on the cover and I love her. I didn't really look at what was actually in the magazine so I was pleasantly surprised when I started reading it on the plane. I was surprised because they had an article called "The Crazy Path that Made My Career" and another article called "How To Throw an Awesome Bachelorette Party".

Both of those topics are what I have been thinking about a lot lately. I have been thinking about my career since that was one of the main reason's I moved back even though I am not sure how the job market for my career choice will be like but this is where I would want to work. And, the other topic was all I have been thinking about since my friend made me her Maid of Honour. I really want her Bachelorette to be just the perfect bit of fun, laughter, and drunkenness.

It's funny how things just randomly seem to be meant for you, isn't it?

Have you ever felt that way about something you picked up randomly?

My move and my flight and Blog a day in May?

My Move

OMG!! I have moved a lot in the past but damn, this one was a tough one. Who knew I had THIS much stuff?? I sure didn't! I probably would have hired movers had I known that I would have as much stuff as I did but I didn't and ended up shipping 5 big boxes and 3 smaller boxes. CRAZINESS! I have to admit, I procrastinated a lot on packing because I just couldn't think of a good way to pack everything in an organized fashion. I tried to organize everything as best as I could so that unpacking would be easier but I just had an overwhelming amount of stuff. It's all done now but this move definitely reminds me why moving is one of the biggest stressors in a persons life. All I can say is No Kidding!

My flight

My flight was ok. I might have drank too many liquids before I boarded though. I had had a booster juice around 4pm and then when I got to the airport and saw David's Tea, that I just had to go get myself a tea as well. I went to the washroom before I boarded but once the plane was ready to take off, I REALLY needed to pee again =S Such a bad idea to have that many liquids before a flight and I had chosen a window seat because typically I either don't pee on a flight back to Vancouver or I only pee once. I felt kind of bad but what can you do, when you gotta go, you gotta go. Other than that, it was ok. I ended up being kind of productive on the plane. I wrote a post for my main blog and started this one as well.

The only place I found that sort of said where I was.

If you want to see more about the day of my move, you can go check out my vlog below.

Anyways, I am thinking about doing a blog a day in May (#BADIM), and I know this isn't even going up on the first of May but I am having some technical difficulties, ie. I was having trouble editing my vlog. LOL. It's still May 1st somewhere in the world I think.

Ta ta for now,

Sarah

to: me - train and plane ticket advice that you should take next time

To: Me

You took a gamble this time around and lost. The gamble you took was with the train tickets, who knew that at the end of the month, EVERYONE seems to like to take the train. What is up with that? Anyways, since you lost, maybe it's time for you to remember some tips you have collected.

Train Ticket Tips for Getting the Best Deal:

1. Don't take the train at the end of the month especially coming from Toronto - Vancouver.
2. The best deals for the train (VIA Rail) is the express deals for economy.
3. The best deal for a sleeper car is when they have their sales.

Plane Ticket Tips for Getting the Best Deal:

1. Know which days are cheaper to travel. Tuesday is usually a good bet for anywhere. There are usually other days but those can sometimes depend on the location I think.
2. Know when companies have seat sales.
3. Don't just check sites that list them all, sometimes they don't have all the available times for that price. So, check the airlines site as well (especially AirCanada for those in Canada, sometimes AirCanada's cheapest price doesn't even show up on those sites that search all the airlines).

General Guideline:

• STALK the sites at the very least, 1 month prior to purchasing/travelling.
• Take note of which days during the week are typically cheaper. (For trains, take note of the time of the month that certain fares sell out or doesn't have express deals.)
• Take note of the prices you typically see, so that if there is a "sale" that you won't be duped because it could very well be a sale for that particular travelling day but not in general.
• Remember not to take a gamble unless you are prepared to lose. I took a gamble in waiting to see if I can get train tickets for cheaper, I lost. So instead, I will be flying.
• Also, if you aren't just purchasing tickets and you are looking more for a package (flight and hotel) kind of thing, make sure to check out the travel sites and see if those sites are on cashback sites like ebates.

Hope these tips don't just help me but help all of you out there looking to get a deal on plane and train tickets. If you have any further questions, feel free to ask me =) I'm always happy to help.

Updates and why I've been MIA

Well hello again internet, sorry I've been MIA. I just have a lot going on in my life, so I'm sorry but you will have to put up with a bit of a sporadic posting schedule for the next couple of months.

I have already written a short post on my main blog but in case you don't follow that one, I just wanted to let you guys know as well.

I am moving to Vancouver soon and have been busy trying to figure out school and job situations.

When I say soon, I mean like in a month and a half. So, I do have time but I am also kind of doing this cross-country move by myself and well, I just don't quite know how I'm going to do it just yet but I'll figure it out eventually.

That being said, you have now been updated on what's going on in my life. Now, I'm sure you are also wondering where the rest of my Vegas series is coming but it will come shortly. Hopefully sooner rather than later. I really want to get that out of the way before I start my next travelling/moving series. Honestly, I am procrastinating watching the videos to edit them and include them in my blog posts. There aren't many but... did I mention I drank at every meal in Vegas? (I swear I'm not an alcoholic.)

Also, since I am in the process of getting prepared for my move, I have noticed some products I have used up that I might review. So, there might be more posts coming on this blog however it might be very far and few in between and I hope you all understand.

I am planning on making a lot of changes in my life when I move because well, I can. One of the main goals will be to blog more regularly and other goals include being healthier and more organized and less of a procrastinator (I don't know if I will ever stop being a procrastinator but I can try right?)

Anyways, I hope everyone is doing well and be on the look out for some posts coming from me in a bit.

Slacking and thinking of ways to be more consistent

Ok, so last week I posted three reviews in a row and then stopped. I realized I really need to be more consistent with my blogs. So, I am trying to think of ways to do that.

I find that with such an inconsistent work schedule, it makes this very difficult to maintain a consistent blog posting schedule but it might just be me. I like to do things on my own time, and there is nothing wrong with that.

I just wanted to let my readers know that I am working on becoming more consistent. In the meantime, please bear with me.

My goal for now, is to at least post once every week here.

I have a lot of things I am working on and trying to do all at once, so this is all I can do for now. Hopefully you will see a more consistent posting schedule up soon.

For all those bloggers out there, how often do you post? Do you post consistently or just whenever you can? What helps you keep that consistency?

Lots of love and well wishes,
Sarah

Getting a little personal

Lately I have had a lot of thoughts on my mind just weighing down on me. Originally I thought about posting this on my main blog but its not really about psychology as much as it is about my own psyche.

Do you ever ask yourself "am I really a bad person?"?

No? Well that's what I have been thinking about lately and it's not the first time I have thought this way.

I constantly question why people leave my life. I know why sometimes I leave other people's lives but at least I explain it to them or we just naturally grow apart. But why do people just leave without an explanation?

I guess I have just felt really lonely lately.

I am not one to settle or one for relationships or anything like that but I really just want someone right now. Someone I can trust to always be there for me no matter what. Maybe it's because I see so many of my close friends moving on with their lives or have things going for them. I just have been feeling really lonely lately.

Last year my motto was "alone doesn't have to be lonely".

This year I just don't want to be alone I think.

Sorry if this was a bit depressing but I just wasn't up for writing a review today.

I'm going to leave this blog post with a song I recently heard randomly that I really like... it's called Mr.Wrong by Mary J. Blige (feat Drake)

I guess I've been liking this song because I've been feeling like maybe I'm Ms.Wrong...