Top 27 of 2022

By Celine -

Unlike the past couple of years when I wrote the year-end post on the last day of the year, this time, I started writing as early as October and kept reviewing and revising until December.

The theme of 2022 is #travelrevenge. It is a term I heard from our tour guide as more people felt safe to travel again. We all know the risk and attempt to find a comfortable balance between staying safe and enjoying life.

With that said, below is a list of the top 27 places or activities we did this year in no particular order.


1. Beaty Biodiversity Museum

Winter is a depressing time. The sun rises late and sets early. I had travel blues in the first month of the year, and to fight it, I decided to search for museums in Metro Vancouver that Jomar and I could visit. The first one on the list is the Beaty Biodiversity Museum.


The blue whale skeleton is inside the lobby of the Beaty Biodiversity Museum.

2. H.R. MacMillan Space Centre

To celebrate Jomar's birthday, we visited the H.R. MacMillan Space Center, which is in the same building as the Museum of Vancouver.


Mars Odyssey Section

3. BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum

It was our third museum in a week last February! We got into BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum for free because it was Family Day Long Weekend.


BC Sports Hall of Fame and Museum Entrance

4. Vancouver Whitecaps FC, Canada Women's National Team, and Canada Men's National Team in BC Place

We went all-in with the Vancouver Whitecaps FC this year. We were inside BC Place 16 times in the last 12 months! I have too many pictures, but I'll share this one when the Whitecaps won the Canadian Championship finals.

Below is the official count of matches we've watched:

  • 12 MLS Whitecaps games
  • 2 Canadian Championship Whitecaps games (including the Finals against Toronto FC!)
  • 1 Canada Women's National Team friendly
  • 1 Canada Men's National Team Concacaf National League Match

Celebration after the Whitecaps FC won the Canadian Championship Finals match against Toronto FC.

5. The Big Picnic at David Lam Park

One of the reasons I decided to stay in Canada is the seasons and attending The Big Picnic at David Lam Park to enjoy the cherry blossoms on a clear day with lots of people was amazing. I couldn't decide what picture to upload, so here is a video I took while walking around the park.



6. RBC Race for the Kids at Queen Elizabeth Park

Jomar ran a half-marathon twice this year. Because I am obese, running usually hurts my knees. We started slowly changing our diet, and I lost 20 pounds from my heaviest weight, so I felt courageous to do a 5-kilometre jog and fundraise for BC Children's Hospital.


Proudly wearing my hero cape :)

7. Greek Day on Broadway

It's our first time attending Greek Day on Broadway. We enjoyed the delicious food from the different organizations and vendors participating in the event.


We went to Greek Day on Broadway after Sunday mass, and it was a hot and humid day.

8. Canada Day celebration: Canada Together at Canada Place

It's our first time celebrating Canada Day in Downtown Vancouver, and we absolutely love the energy! Of course, I enjoyed the food, views, and summer heat!


Canada Day Celebration in Downtown Vancouver 

9. Khatsahlano Street Party 2022

Our busy summer continues! This time we enjoyed the Khatsahlano Street Party 2022 along West 4th Avenue. From the vendors, food, and live music on every corner, this is the ultimate street party in Vancouver!


View from Burrard Avenue

10. Stargazer: An Immersive Experience in Outer Space at Tsawwassen Mills

This is one date Jomar planned for the year. It was also our first time at Tsawwassen Mills!


Beautiful Earth

11. Long Weekend at Squamish, BC and Dad's Birthday

Last year, we went to Victoria, BC, for my mom's birthday. This year we went to Squamish, BC, to celebrate dad's birthday. One of his birthday wishes is to grill meat outdoors.

During the trip, we visited Shannon Falls, Sea to Sky Gondola, Whistler, and Alice Lake. We also experienced a bonfire, roasting marshmallows, and enjoyed sticky s'mores. Check my detailed blog post here.


Happy birthday, Pa!

12. Celebration of Lights

One of the events we look forward to every summer is the Honda Celebration of Light, an annual musical fireworks competition. We enjoy taking a 30-minute walk to Vanier Park and finding a good spot to enjoy the fireworks.

Maybe next time we should attempt to watch it from the best spot in English Bay Beach.



13. Beaches in Vancouver

In the middle of August (after most of the summer parties and events were finished), we visited three beaches in Vancouver for the first time.

I can't believe this quiet spot is only a 10-minute bus ride and a 20-minute walk from our place. Now, I know where to go when I get stressed from work to relax, calm down, and connect with nature.


Locarno Beach

14. PNE Fair

This is our second time visiting the PNE Fair, and it reminds me of my high school fair. The food, the rides, and the corn.


PNE Fair

15. Richmond Night Market

Labour Day weekend always feels like the last weekend of summer, even though it only applies to kids returning to school. So we spontaneously went to the Richmond Night Market Friday evening after work because we wanted to maximize the last bit of warmth and sunshine before Fall and Winter get here.


The market at full swing after 9:00 PM.

16. Taiwanfest

Before the pandemic, Jomar and I always go to Taiwanfest to eat delicious Taiwanese food. However, this year they ran out of rice!


Taiwanfest Vancouver

17. Car Free Day: Commercial Drive, Main Street, and West End

We attended Car Free Day Main Street in 2019 and fell in love with being able to walk the streets, enjoy the summer heat, and support local vendors.

This year we went to all three Car Free Days in Vancouver!


Car Free Day Main Street

18. Vancouver Canucks at Rogers Arena

It's our first time inside Rogers Arena, and I love the colours and lighting display they do before the game. Unfortunately, the Vancouver Canucks lost the preseason game against the Seattle Kraken.


Rogers Arena is home to the Vancouver Canucks and Vancouver Warriors.

19. Trip to Toronto, ON

It's our first flight since our wedding in the Philippines last 2019. It's also our first time outside of BC in Canada. We visited a lot of places in Toronto, and here are the links to each post:

We also met with our dear friend Mitch who was visiting. She's the reason why we took the vacation to the biggest city in Canada.

We managed to take this photo with a tripod and my Google Pixel 6Pro.

20. Niagara Falls

During our trip to Toronto, we joined a Niagara Falls Day Tour, and I am glad we did. Seeing the falls from afar and being up close is a surreal experience. I am delighted to experience it with my best travel buddy, Jomar! More pictures of our adventure are here.


We're so close to the Horseshoe Falls, and as you can see are getting wet from the mist.

21. Vancouver Christmas Market

I thought November and December would be slower months for us, but our weekends are booked with activities! The rain and snow can't stop us and our desire to enjoy life and what Vancouver has to offer.

We got season tickets for the Vancouver Christmas Market, where we enjoyed the lights and food! We even tried European snacks (Stollen and Knedla) for the first time!


Vancouver Christmas Market Date Night with Jomar

22. St. Paul's Lights of Hope

We were invited to a Donor Celebration Reception for St. Paul's Lights of Hope and joined the lighting event.


St. Paul's Hospital Lights of Hope

23. Downtown Vancouver Christmas Tree Lighting

Christmas "officially" started in Vancouver last December 2 when the mayor and city councillors pressed the button to turn on the Christmas Tree Lights in Downtown Vancouver.


Downtown Vancouver Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony


24. Christmas Party at Vancouver Aquarium

Jomar's employer organized a Christmas Party at Vancouver Aquarium. I just learned how challenging it is to wear heels and a dress while trying to walk on the snowy/icy sidewalk until December 8. It was a lot of fun, and we ate a lot. #whatdiet


Jomar and Me

25. PNE Winter Fair

It's our first time visiting the PNE Winter Fair. There are so many beautiful displays. Drinking hot chocolate while walking around the fairgrounds is incredible.


Winter Lights by BC Hydro

26. Christmas Celebration

I didn't plan to include our Christmas celebration, but it's always something special and needs to be included. We celebrated with Ukrainian food to support a Ukrainian restaurant in Vancouver this year. Delicious food and game night with the family are always fun. Plus, we enjoyed karaoke night on Boxing Day.


Merry Christmas from me and Jomar!

Ukrainian Feast from Ukrainian Village Restaurant

Mama and Papa at Millenium Karaoke

27. New Year's Eve dinner at St. Augustine's Church

I love the community we found at St. Augustine's Church. Jomar and I usually spend New Year's just the two of us at home, but this evening we decided to attend the New Year's Eve dinner at our parish, St. Augustine's Church. We found a table where we were seated with two Filipino couples, a Filipino artist and a Polish woman. We had a wonderful time discussing faith, life, travel, and family. We're blessed to have this community here.

New Year's Evening Dinner

The side of St. Augustine's Church when it was snowing a couple of weeks ago.

Thank God for such a wonderfully blessed 2022. I pray for more peace, joy, hope, and love in 2023!



For fun, below is a list of my previous year-end summary.

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