744. Day 1 in Azores | COVID Travel

Hello from Azores! We have finally arrived at our home for the next month..after a whirlwind trip to Lisbon, Madrid and back (all within a 24 hour time frame). The COVID situation in mainland Europe is pretty bad at the moment and I can understand why. Unlike what I've experienced so far in Toronto (a drastic decrease in usual crowds and lots of social distancing precautions everywhere), in Europe it seems a bit more relaxed and there were still a lot of people at the airports. In the Toronto airport it was empty when we departed and most people I've encountered anywhere (on the streets and indoors) stay a safe distance away. Here in Europe, there is no distancing when lining up or walking and as you can see from these floor stickers from the airport bus, people are not required to stand at least 6 feet apart like we do in Toronto. At the airport people were walking super close to me too.

However, Azores is pretty strict which I will explain below.



Some travellers take it pretty seriously though (they are from China so I guess they are used to this)


To enter Azores, ALL travellers (even their own residents), must either:
- Have a negative COVID test taken in a foreign country signed by an official within the past 3 days. Then take another test here after 6 days.
- Or take a COVID test immediately upon arrival, and another one after 6 days if staying for long.
- Of course the third option is to leave and return to where you came from.

We took a test in Toronto before leaving but wasn't aware the results would be posted up 1 day after. So we ended up having our test results 4 days prior to arriving in Azores (which was just past the cutoff), so we had to take it today upon arrival.

We lined up almost an hour I think (same as in Toronto). I wasn't too nervous since I already did it once and didn't feel it was that bad. It was uncomfortable but I was able to handle it.

This time, it was wayyyy worse. It was super painful when they stuck the nasal swab up by nose. It went so deep I think it came out with some blood. & it was almost to the point where I wanted to push his hand away to stop going in further lol. In addition to that, they also stick one down your throat which was also super uncomfortable and makes you gag.

Unfortunately we have to take another test in 6 days since we will be here long. I guess it's a good thing they have these precautions in place though..so we can be a bit more relaxed and safe in public.


Finally arrived! This is the street we are staying at. The streets here kind of remind me of Cusco in Peru. They are pretty narrow with a small sidewalk on each side..lined with small houses and a lot of cobblestone.


Our first meal at this cute restaurant


We got octopus and smoked Azorean sausages. It was delicious! Can't wait to try more local dishes.



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743. Goodbye Toronto!

Hi everyone! I'm currently sitting at the airport waiting to board my flight. I have been too busy these days to update about it. But I will be going away for an indefinite number of months..first to Europe and hopefully will make it to Asia at some point too (when they open up their borders). I will definitely be updating more often during my travels! I am a bit nervous to be travelling during COVID but we will just be going to safer destinations (where there are not a lot of cases and with adequate healthcare). I guess it will also be quite interesting to experience the world during these times. The airport right now is pretty empty which I like.

So the first place we are going is Azores and will be there for a month. Can't wait to arrive and relax a bit!

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742. Recent Life | bambeau

These past few weeks I have been super busy with my new store - bambeau! It's an online store selling Korean skincare products which I started over a year ago. The name is pronounced similar to "bamboo" but the "-beau" is pronounced as in "beauty".

It was always a side project/hobby so I took a loooong (slow) time setting it up. I didn't really get any sales at first because I wasn't really promoting it. & to be honest I didn't think it could be really successful lol. I became busy with other things and lost interest in it for a few months..then in May for some weird reason, I started getting a lot of sales. Well, I started getting some sales which was "a lot" compared to none hahah. At that point I started putting a lot more work into it to keep the momentum. Then in June I got 3x more sales than in May..and now more than halfway through July I think I will at least double June's sales. I am really happy now it's a sustainable business and now I will keep it going. I've invested quite a bit so far.

I still work my usual job so this is a side thing for now. It feels really rewarding to grow something from nothing. Plus I'm really obsessed with skincare products so it's fun doing it. My rationale before was that if I wasn't able to sell anything, at least I would use everything myself eventually lol. Now I also have an excuse to buy a lot of skincare.

Please follow me there on Instagram! & message me if you'd like to purchase anything..I can offer a friends/Leftbanked followers discount ;)

One of the brands I stock is Laneige. I realize that the packaging is different for their North American market. The products I get are all with the Korea/Asian market packaging.


I don't know why it look me so long to discover Pangaia. They sell basic clothing which are made sustainably using methods and materials that are not harmful to the environment; recyclable materials, environmentally-friendly dye, material from recycled plastic bottles, and they plant one mangrove tree per item sold. I ordered my first set from them and have been living in it every day hahah. I ordered a second set already which is on the way (red/orange coral shade)..I plan to get more in the other shades of blue too. They are super comfortable and I love the colours!





A few weeks ago, restaurants were finally allowed to open for patio seating. This was the first restaurant meal I had in months with my mom and sister.





Another restaurant meal at Chotto Matte!


Their fluorescent washroom hallway


Yesterday we went on a day trip to Algonquin Park. We went on a long hike to reach Mizzy Lake while getting eaten by mosquitoes. I think I got at least 50 bites on me (my record was 80+ in one night in Hong Kong a few years ago lol).


Hennessy watching the drone


I guess I should have worn other shoes lol (they did get a bit muddier after this photo was taken). There was a severe thunderstorm on our drive there though so everything was wet. Luckily the sun came out when we arrived though.


So exhausted from the long hike!


& passed out on the way back.

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