This weekend we (Myself, Alfred, Sasi) went for a trip to Thousand Island, Toronto and Niagara Falls. First time in my life i opted for packaged tour instead of planning on myself. Not becoz i have become lazy (though i have become in someway) but becoz of money crunch ...
We started on Saturday Morning around 7:30 AM from place de Armes along with 55 other passengers all from almost all part of the world. Entire tour was organized by two ladies Huo, the tour guide and Diana the driver. I am very happy to see how these ladies organized and kept the harmony of the entire passengers which i feel it is missing back at my home. I will really love to see this kind of scene in India.
Among the passengers there was group of girls of Indian, African American and European Origins. It was a great to see them together. During the entire trip we kept seeing them, and in fact took few pictures of them without their permission and finally when i went and requested a picture of all four of them together the Indian who seemed to be the group leader denied it. And i liked it so much. Though i felt a bit bad, but i liked it. A bit sad that she might have misunderstood my intentions. Though my main intention was to get a picture where i could clearly show a unity in diversity. Any way we had pictures of them but could not get them all together. :(
May be if my lines cross hers any time i would be really happy to make my intention on that day clear to her. Hope we meet ...
Thousand Island
So we set our journey towards Thousand Island a place which is around 2 hrs from Montreal. It was one of a very beautiful place i have seen. We took a ferry to see the islands. Entire place is full of island from as small as 1 sqm or so big ones. Those islands belong to both US and Canada. And there are people who owns islands in both countries.
Interesting Facts
And one of the CEO of GE bought an island in canada and built a home. He felt it is little small so he decided to buy another island that was near to this and he bought it and built a small buridge of 9m between them. And that belonged to US. So it is the shorted bridge between two countries ... Interesting isn't it ...
Toronto
From there we went to kingston and had our lunch in a chinese restaurant which was very good with lots of desert items (the best part) and they had few good vegetarian items too (surprising but true ... ) Then we set forward towards Toronto. The city is easily identified by huge huge traffic and huge huge buildings.
We first went to the City Hall and took few good pictures in front of old and new city hall. The new city hall is in the shape of an eye. It was good. Then what we expected not to happen happened :) (Proving the Murphy's law once again). There was only 60% chance of rain and it was sunny afternoon. But out of the blue the climate changed completely and started raining with heavy wind.
Then a couple in the bus did not return to bus in time we waited for sometime and went to Parliment building. There first time we saw few people protesting (for what - who cares) by being nude. But becoz of rain we could not get down and see (damn rain .... ). Cursing our fate we went to CN Towers, with mind thinking about the parliment building :)
CN Towers is truly amazing. We went to the top and it was a great sight ... There was a glass floor from where we could see below ... truly amazing ... In there we met an indian Tamil coimbatore family ... It was very nice talking to them .... where ever we go we can find an Indian.
Niagara
From there we set about towards Niagara. We reached there around 9 PM and it was pouring. So we went to hotel after having a glimpse of it from the Bus. I was very unhappy that i could not spend more time there. Then we had our dinner in Dominoes then slept off. At around 3:30 AM i woke up. I did not set any alarm but could get up and went out to see Niagara at night. I was totally alone in the streets. But here and there could see few pairs coming out of casino and bar. Then i saw Niagara in night. Though it was not clear but i could see it a bit. It was awesome and the sound it is too good. I stayed there for around 1/2 an hour and set towards hotel. I lost my way and roamed here and there for about 1 hr. Luckily i met an indian who was working as a security guard he guided me to the hotel. Then reached hotel around 6 and the alarm was about to start which we have set so as to get ready to go to skylon tower.
After getting fresh and having break fast then we went to skylon towers, but unfortunately there was huge mist and from the tower we could not see anything. Cursing our fate once again we came down. Many were curing the tourist guide as they took there early than at afternoon. I felt sorry for Huo. Then we went to see Niagara but there was huge mist we could barely see it. Still now luck was not on our side. Even the girls rejected taking photos of them. :(
Then we saw the 4D movie. It was good. First time having the experience. Everyone loved it. Then we set towards ferry Mist of the Maid to takes near to Niagara. By the time we reach ferry the mist was cleared from american falls. Slowly clearing from the Horshoe falls of canada also. We had a really good time in ferry and after that. Though we had very less time spent with niagara, it was great.
Then pushed by Huo to go to the bus, reluctantly we reached bus and set forth towards Montreal. From then on i decided never to go on for the packaged trip. I am not blaming them for anything. With ours we always have the luxury of changing the plans based on what we want to see. We could have stayed longer in Niagara and left late. Alls well ends well. It ended well and we could see Niagara very well.
I would like to visit once again by staying there for couple of days. Enjoying every bit of the city, the night life, and niagara. I would also like to visit during winter to see how it looks. May be i am asking for too much to be for a single life time. :)
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