There was a mix-up, so today I ended up visiting the Biodome, followed by the Botanical Gardens of Montreal—an absolute must-see in Montreal! I woke up around 9 am to begin the day, took a shower, and headed downstairs. As usual, Gopal (someone I befriended back in Malaysia) was already up. He made me some toast, which I slathered with peanut butter. I poured myself a glass of milk and drank it eagerly, as it had been ages since I last had some.

Evening Plans

Today, Gopal had to go to work since he had been away for two days. His job was flexible due to his situation with his father, but today he really needed to show up and take care of some things. He mentioned that he could leave early, around 6 pm.

Yesterday, I messaged Kim, a girl I had met in Fiji, and she replied this morning. We quickly made a plan. Once Gopal was ready, he would pick me up at the Guy-Concordia subway station, right in front of Tim Hortons, a popular coffee and donut chain.

The Fly Problem

Before heading to work, Gopal and I first stopped by his apartment. He had been dealing with a fly problem and wanted to check if they were all gone after using some insecticide. His cousin, along with some friends, was going to stay at the apartment for a few days, so Gopal wanted to make sure everything was clean and in order.

Gopal’s apartment was quite simple. There were no pictures on the walls, and the overall decor was very basic—something I hadn’t expected at all. (The last three pictures below show his apartment, and the first picture is of the street outside Gopal’s parents’ house.)

It was interesting to see where he lived. Afterward, Gopal took me to Côte Vertu subway station. He needed to wait for a plumber at his apartment due to a problem. Once that was sorted, he planned to check in at work for a few hours.

Helping Out a Stranger

After being dropped off at the Côte Vertu subway station, I studied the subway map. I knew I needed to get to Jean Drapeau station, which was on the far end of the map along the green line (Côte Vertu was on the orange line). A girl was standing nearby, looking at the map as well. I wasn’t entirely sure where I needed to go, but it seemed straightforward. She asked me for directions, and I asked her if she was from Montreal. Turns out, she was an exchange student from India. I asked where she needed to go, and she told me. “Just come with me; I’m heading in the same direction, I need the green line too,” I said.

In the end, she got off at either McGill or Guy-Concordia, I’m not sure which. Regardless, I felt good about it. I helped someone out on public transport, haha.e

At Lionel-Groulx, I had to switch to the green line, and after that, it was just a matter of waiting. In total, it took about 30-40 minutes to reach my destination of the Biodome and the Botanical Gardens of Montreal. I got off at Pie-IX.

The Missing Dome

As I walked toward the exit of the subway station, excitement built up. I was about to see the iconic dome from the pictures I’d admired. My passion for photography made it even more thrilling. I headed in the direction of the biodome, which was at the end of the street, passing by the Olympic Stadium along the way. I really liked it. Just the night before, while driving away from Old Montreal in Gopal’s car, we had seen it lit up in the distance.

I walked to the end of the street, but the large dome I had been expecting wasn’t there. “I must have fallen for a marketing gimmick,” I thought, feeling frustrated. I found the biodome, but it wasn’t the impressive architectural structure I had envisioned. The building I was looking for turned out to be somewhere else, and the next day, Gopal and I realized we had a misunderstanding about the attraction I was seeking. It was a funny mix-up in the end!

The Biodome

I stood in line, surrounded by children everywhere. I sighed, realizing I was about to visit an attraction I probably wasn’t even that interested in. When it was my turn, I showed the girl my ISIC youth pass, hoping for a student discount. After some back and forth, I managed to get it. I really disliked the pass, as it rarely worked for discounts. In the end, I paid $24 for both the biodome and the Botanical Gardens of Montreal. I hoped the gardens would be better—at least, I prayed they wouldn’t be as misleading as the pictures for the biodome.

As I entered the biodome, I immediately recognized the same exhibits I’d seen in Singapore and Sydney. It was all very similar—touristy stuff. It was nice, but nothing new. The children and photobombers only made it more frustrating, and I found myself getting irritated.

A Quick Run Through the Biodome

Before heading into the attraction, I decided to grab some lunch. The line wasn’t long—just ten people—but it still took 20 minutes to get served. I didn’t mind, though; I had all the time in the world. The prices were ridiculous, as expected, just like at airports and bus stations. It’s always the same story.

In just 30 minutes, I had seen everything the biodome had to offer. There were penguins too, but I didn’t include the photos—they didn’t turn out well due to the glare from the glass. At the end of the biodome, there was a sloth exhibit. They had set it up beautifully, with an artistic touch, and I found a spot to relax on some comfortable pillows. It was a great place to unwind. While there, I ended up chatting with one of the employees. She was studying English and asked me to correct her if she made any mistakes, though her English was already quite good. I couldn’t help but be surprised that some people in Quebec didn’t know English at all.

She shared a lot of fascinating facts about the sloth and even showed me some pictures before heading off. Unfortunately, the sloth stayed tucked away in its nest, sound asleep. Too bad—I would’ve loved to see it up close.

The Show I Didn’t Want to Attend

In another room, I noticed a sign advertising a show scheduled for 2:30 pm. Since it was already 2:20 pm, I decided to stick around and check it out. Big mistake.

Unsure of what kind of show it would be, I found a seat and settled in. The stage was flanked by two large staircases, one on the left and one on the right, and I chose a spot somewhere in the middle. Once the room filled up, the doors closed, and the show began. It turned out to be a light and music performance all about the sloth—clearly designed for children. The host had the audience participate by clapping when she pointed to one side and stomping when she pointed to ours.

About three minutes into the performance, a family seated in the front row decided they’d had enough and attempted to leave, which was oddly amusing. They made their way to the door, only to find it locked. After an awkward 10 seconds of trying to open it, they sheepishly returned to their seats. Meanwhile, I sat through the whole thing, facepalming most of the time. Thoughts like, “Next time, ask what the show is about,” and, “How can you be so clueless?” ran through my mind as I endured the experience.

After enduring 15 minutes, the show finally ended. Without hesitation, I made my way out as quickly as possible.

Arrival at the Most Beautiful Gardens of Montreal

Once outside, I followed the signs leading to the Botanical Gardens of Montreal. The route was straightforward, though the walk took longer than I anticipated. As I made my way around the stadium, I enjoyed the lovely views it offered, though visiting the lookout wasn’t on my agenda—Gopal had mentioned it wasn’t worth the effort. After about 10 minutes, I finally reached the Botanical Gardens of Montreal. The heat from the intense sun was palpable, but I didn’t mind; in fact, I quite enjoyed it.

I presented my ticket at the entrance of the Botanical Gardens of Montreal and was quickly admitted. The gardens had a decent number of visitors, but it didn’t feel crowded. As I began exploring, I decided to skip the insectarium for now, planning to return to it later.

The first thing I did was grab a drink at the restaurant. As expected, the prices were outrageous—$4 for a small organic beverage. There was no Coca-Cola in sight, which made me chuckle. At least the drink turned out to be refreshing.

The Japanese Gardens

I sat down and studied the map, thinking I had about an hour to spare at the Botanical Gardens of Montreal. I was supposed to meet Gopal at Guy-Concordia around 5:30, so I planned to be at the subway station by 5:00. It turned out I actually needed to be there by 6:30, but more on that later.

I decided to start with the Japanese gardens. The small house was charming, filled with traditional Japanese items like kimonos and other artifacts. Stepping outside, I came across a collection of bonsais. Right then, I made up my mind—I definitely wanted one of these cool plants for myself!

Another Fountain

Next, I tried to find the Arctic Gardens, but ended up heading in the wrong direction. Along the way, I spotted the insectarium nearby and thought, “Why not check that out first?” As I walked, I passed by a rose garden and a water lily garden. The water lily garden was stunning, and I was pleasantly surprised to find it completely free of tourists, giving me the place all to myself. I took the opportunity to relax and snap some photos without any photobombers. The fountains also caught my attention, as a friend from the Netherlands had asked me to capture any fountains I came across during my travels.

The Insectarium

Afterward, I made my way to the insectarium, hoping to enjoy it. They had some fascinating exhibits, though there weren’t many live insects on display. The only ones that caught my interest were the leaf-cutter ants. I snapped a few pictures and, after about 30 minutes, decided to head out.

In Search of the Artic Gardens

It was time to visit the Arctic Gardens. I made my way back through the Japanese Gardens and stumbled upon a large lake. However, it was too crowded for my liking, so I decided to bypass it and continue on my path to the Arctic Gardens.

I passed a few more lakes and flower gardens before reaching the Arctic Gardens of the Botanical Gardens of Montreal. There, I settled onto one of the benches. It was peaceful, with few tourists around, and once again, I had the space all to myself, which I really appreciated.

After five minutes, I continued my walk and came across a beautiful waterfall. I took some great photos and found myself really enjoying the gardens, mostly for the peaceful silence they offered.

I decided it was time to head toward the exit, so I checked the map and took the quickest route through the Chinese Gardens. Upon entering, I found myself in a courtyard filled with bonsai plants once again. For a moment, I thought I had ended up in the Japanese Gardens by mistake, but soon realized this was a different collection of bonsai.

The Must-See Highlight of the Botanical Gardens

As I explored further, I came across a stunning Chinese portal. Curious, I stepped through it and was immediately astonished. It was completely unexpected and impressive!

A stunning blue lake came into view, with two traditional Chinese buildings standing by its shores. I took a picture for a Chinese family before making my way to the large building on my right. From there, I captured more photos of the lake and the Chinese tower on the opposite side.

I spent about 30 minutes enjoying the Botanical Gardens of Montreal before leaving and heading towards the park’s exit. I thought I needed to be at the station by 5:30 pm, and it was already 4:45 pm. The subway ride to Guy-Concordia wouldn’t take long.

Some Messaging

When I arrived at the biodome, I sat down and turned on my phone, connecting to the Wi-Fi to check if Kim had replied. She mentioned that she was tired and wanted to meet around 5 pm. Both Gopal and I were flexible. I told Kim I couldn’t reach Gopal since I didn’t have a SIM card and could only contact him via Facebook. Gopal only used Facebook when he was at work, as he didn’t have a smartphone. As I was texting that to Kim, I realized he was working at the moment. I messaged Gopal to let him know we needed to adjust our plans. My texting back and forth was a bit chaotic, but in the end, the solution was simple: I would meet up with Kim, and Gopal would join us later.

Kim sent me her address along with a screenshot from Google Maps. I cursed myself for not having a SIM card and access to the internet, something that would’ve made traveling so much easier. I walked to the Viau Subway station next to the biodome, took the green line, and got off at Lionel-Groulx.

Kim’s Apartment

Kim’s place was nearby, and I had no trouble finding it. Her apartment was spacious, with beautiful furniture—definitely not what I expected when I first stood outside. The building had a bit of a dodgy exterior, but inside was a pleasant surprise.

While Gopal was more into the typical tourist attractions, Kim was all about the food. When I left Fiji, she had given me a list of must-try food experiences in San Francisco and New York—things I would have loved to do if there had been more time.

I laughed when she asked if I hadn’t tried Montreal’s food number 7 on her list. “Didn’t he let you taste that? Who is this guy?” Kim asked. I explained who Gopal was and shared a lot of cool things about him.

Another Bar and More Alcohol

Kim decided to take me to a cool bar in the neighborhood. But before we headed there, she first showed me the Farmer’s Market, I think it was named Atwater Market.

Once we got to the bar, I found myself peer-pressured into having another beer, haha. It felt like way too much alcohol for me after the past few weeks. Most of the time, one beer never seemed to stay just one. We sat at the bar, and Kim ordered some tasty snacks—sausages with bread. She kindly paid the bill, though she didn’t have to. I told her I’d cover the drinks we’d buy at the store later.

The atmosphere at the bar was perfect. We had some great conversations about life and travel. It felt so good to catch up with an old friend. The original plan was to buy drinks and sit by the canal, but that didn’t quite happen.

Waiting for Gopal with More Drinks

At the liquor store, I picked up a bottle of wine for Kim. She mentioned that the beers at the mini market would be cheaper, so a couple of blocks from her apartment, I grabbed a six-pack of Heineken and some batteries for my camera.

Kim had two balconies, one at the front and one at the back of her apartment. The back one was larger, but since we were waiting for Gopal, we decided to stay on the front one. It would be fun to watch him walk down the street, a great idea from Kim.

As soon as we had set down the drinks and the sweet mini tomatoes, Gopal arrived. He spotted us first and shouted, “Ohhhhmygodddddddddddd ohmygoddddddddd!” I laughed and cheered, happy that he had finally made it. Gopal was a bit late because he had helped a colleague whose car had broken down, giving him a lift home.

The Other Balcony

Once Gopal stepped inside, we moved everything to the back balcony (third picture above). I absolutely loved it. This was life—the kind of atmosphere I wanted for my future home. Drinking on a balcony with friends, snacking on sweet mini tomatoes. That night, I couldn’t help but envy Kim’s apartment.

It was great chatting with these two fascinating people. After a while, the conversation turned more serious, delving into life and personal experiences. I shared my disappointment about the biodome and how I’d expected something different.

“Oh, you mean the Biosphere!” Gopal corrected me. “That’s something different. We have two things here in Montreal—the Biodome and the Biosphere.”

“Ah, now I get it! I always wondered why you wanted to go to the Biodome,” Gopal said, realizing the mix-up.

“Why the heck would he want to go to the stupid Biodome? Maarten’s already seen the real deal, with the real animals,” Kim joked.

So true, haha! I couldn’t help but laugh at my mistake.

Trying Out Poutine

Around midnight, Gopal and Kim insisted that I try poutine, a local specialty in Montreal. It was a dish made of fries topped with gravy and cheese. It sounded pretty unappealing, but I figured it might be just what I needed at that moment.

As time went on, I started to feel a slight headache coming on. It wasn’t severe or painful, just a bit annoying. I figured some greasy food might do the trick to ease it.

We drove around the city, but most stores were closed. Plan B was to get poutine from McDonald’s, though Kim and Gopal mentioned it wasn’t quite the same as the one from the restaurants. Eventually, they both remembered there was a place called Angela’s that stayed open late.

We ordered poutine and a small pizza, sharing everything. The gravy wasn’t as awful as I had expected—it actually seemed somewhat decent (as decent as it could be). I ended up eating most of the poutine and surprisingly enjoyed it. I’d recommend it as one of the best dishes after a night of heavy drinking. Definitely the ultimate hangover food.

The Night Ending

After that, Gopal dropped Kim off at her apartment, and we said our goodbyes. It had been a lovely evening, and I hadn’t expected it to get so late. Around 1:30 am, we finally made our way back to Gopal’s parents’ house.

I brushed my teeth and went to bed. On the drive back, Gopal had come up with a day plan for tomorrow in just 10 seconds. His planning skills were as superb as ever. As I lay in bed, I couldn’t stop reflecting on how incredible the day had been—exploring the Biodome, wandering through the Botanical Gardens of Montreal, and reuniting with international friends.