In general, if I haven’t planned prior to traveling, I basically do whatever the mood strikes when I am actually on the trip. This makes things easier for me as I either plan or plan to be spontaneous. π
Since my main purpose for coming to Toronto was to visit with my friends, Shu & Q, whom I hadn’t seen since they left Abu Dhabi over a year ago, I didn’t really do any investigating of the area or decide on sightseeing activities. Basically, I figured they would show me around. π
However, when I arrived, I heard some talking about Niagara Falls. When I started looking at the guide books and maps, I realized one thing people do when they visit Toronto is make a trip to Niagara Falls. Hm…, I thought…. How close is it, I asked. Just about 1.5 hours…not far…let’s do it!
As my previous posts show, Shu and Q were free on the weekend, but Monday meant I was free to figure out my own plan. Apparently there is a fairly cheap Chinese bus that goes to the Falls, but I thought it would be more interesting if I did a proper tour. So, I did a Google search and found this tour company as the best and cheapest option.
So, this morning, they picked me up and we met up with the group and off we went!
It was a good day. The Falls were spectacular! Although it was quite cold, the sun came out in the afternoon making everything more beautiful. I felt God’s presence and creation with a sense of awe and peace. Beautiful. Amazing. Wonderful.
Well, here are the pics from the day!
Finally caved and tried Tim Hortons since I am in Canada after all - not bad and cheap!27-Mar-2012 06:01, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 4.2, 5.72mm, 0.025 sec, ISO 800
Niagara Falls tour: Stop for a wine tasting - ice wine is the thing around here...27-Mar-2012 08:16, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 3.9, 5.0mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 80
Niagara Falls tour27-Mar-2012 08:17, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 5.9, 25.0mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 80
Niagara Falls tour: Apparently this place is sponsored/owned by Dan Akroyd - didn't know he is Canadian...27-Mar-2012 08:43, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 4.1, 5.4mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 800
Niagara Falls tour: The tour mobile27-Mar-2012 08:45, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 3.9, 5.0mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 80
Niagara Falls tour: A stop to see Lake Ontario27-Mar-2012 09:04, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 4.9, 8.25mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 80
Niagara Falls tour: Apparently that is New York and where part of the War of 1812 took place27-Mar-2012 09:04, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 4.9, 8.25mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 80
Niagara Falls tour: Niagara-on-the-lake - main tourist stop especially in the summer when visiting Niagara Falls27-Mar-2012 09:08, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 4.8, 7.73mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 800
Niagara Falls tour: Smallest church...27-Mar-2012 09:16, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 5.7, 13.09mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 640
Niagara Falls tour: Niagara Whirlpool - across is Canada; to the right is New York27-Mar-2012 09:29, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 4.5, 6.45mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 80
Niagara Falls tour: Whirlpool on Niagara River27-Mar-2012 09:29, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 3.9, 5.0mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 80
Niagara Falls tour: Niagara River27-Mar-2012 09:30, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 4.2, 5.72mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 80
Niagara Falls tour: A hydro-dam giving power to Canada and New York27-Mar-2012 09:31, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 5.9, 25.0mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 160
Niagara Falls tour: Cable car crossing Niagara River whirlpool27-Mar-2012 09:32, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 4.6, 16.1mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 80
Niagara Falls tour: Horseshoe Falls27-Mar-2012 09:54, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 11.0, 5.0mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 80
Niagara Falls tour: Horseshoe Falls - Journey Behind the Falls view27-Mar-2012 09:54, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 11.0, 5.0mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 80
Niagara Falls tour: Horseshoe Falls - Journey Behind the Falls view27-Mar-2012 09:57, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 11.0, 5.0mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 80
Niagara Falls tour: Horseshoe Falls - Journey Behind the Falls - silhouette of me27-Mar-2012 09:57, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 3.9, 5.0mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 80
Niagara Falls tour: Horseshoe Falls27-Mar-2012 10:10, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 11.0, 5.0mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 80
Niagara Falls tour: Horseshoe Falls27-Mar-2012 10:10, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 11.0, 5.0mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 80
Niagara Falls tour: view of America Falls from Horseshoe Falls27-Mar-2012 10:10, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 3.9, 5.0mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 80
27-Mar-2012 10:14, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 11.0, 5.0mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 80
27-Mar-2012 10:14, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 11.0, 5.0mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 100
Niagara Falls tour: Horseshoe Falls - Lake Eerie pours into Lake Ontario27-Mar-2012 10:15, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 4.6, 16.1mm, 0.001 sec, ISO 80
27-Mar-2012 10:17, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 11.0, 5.0mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 100
27-Mar-2012 10:24, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 11.0, 5.0mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 80
27-Mar-2012 10:24, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 3.9, 5.0mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 80
27-Mar-2012 10:25, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 3.9, 5.0mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 80
27-Mar-2012 10:29, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 11.0, 5.0mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 80
27-Mar-2012 10:30, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 3.9, 5.0mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 80
Niagara Falls tour: America Falls27-Mar-2012 10:33, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 5.3, 10.73mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 80
27-Mar-2012 10:33, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 14.0, 7.73mm, 0.006 sec, ISO 80
Niagara Falls tour: America Falls - the water comes from New York and pours into Niagara River for Lake Ontario as still part of Lake Eerie27-Mar-2012 10:35, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 16.0, 14.0mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 125
27-Mar-2012 10:36, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 13.0, 6.07mm, 0.013 sec, ISO 80
27-Mar-2012 10:38, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 13.0, 6.45mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 80
27-Mar-2012 10:38, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 16.0, 11.43mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 80
27-Mar-2012 10:39, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 11.0, 5.0mm, 0.006 sec, ISO 80
27-Mar-2012 10:40, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 14.0, 8.25mm, 0.013 sec, ISO 80
27-Mar-2012 10:41, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 5.9, 25.0mm, 0.002 sec, ISO 80
27-Mar-2012 10:42, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 13.0, 16.1mm, 0.008 sec, ISO 80
27-Mar-2012 10:47, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 11.0, 5.0mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 80
Niagara Falls tour: Spring!27-Mar-2012 10:49, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 11.0, 5.0mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 80
27-Mar-2012 10:51, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 5.7, 22.79mm, 0.003 sec, ISO 80
Niagara Falls tour: Found a Penny machine! YIPPEE!27-Mar-2012 11:18, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 11.0, 5.0mm, 0.013 sec, ISO 80
27-Mar-2012 11:27, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 16.0, 11.43mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 80
27-Mar-2012 11:36, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 13.0, 6.83mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 80
27-Mar-2012 11:41, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 14.0, 9.39mm, 0.013 sec, ISO 100
27-Mar-2012 11:42, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 11.0, 5.0mm, 0.006 sec, ISO 80
27-Mar-2012 11:54, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 13.0, 6.45mm, 0.008 sec, ISO 80
27-Mar-2012 11:57, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 11.0, 5.0mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 80
27-Mar-2012 12:03, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 11.0, 5.0mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 80
27-Mar-2012 12:04, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 11.0, 5.0mm, 0.005 sec, ISO 80
27-Mar-2012 12:06, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 11.0, 5.0mm, 0.008 sec, ISO 80
Frozen island of trees in Lake Eerie at Niagara Falls27-Mar-2012 12:06, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 14.0, 17.22mm, 0.01 sec, ISO 125
Lake Eerie heading towards Niagara Falls27-Mar-2012 12:06, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 14.0, 7.73mm, 0.013 sec, ISO 80
Before the Burj Khalifa, the CN Tower was the world's largest...27-Mar-2012 14:13, OLYMPUS IMAGING CORP. TG-610 , 4.2, 5.72mm, 0.02 sec, ISO 100
After I got back, we headed out to a tasty warm dinner of ramen!
Tonkotsu Ramen for dinner! YUM!27-Mar-2012 02:29, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 100
Then, we took a walk –
Near Howland Avenue - just a funny name...27-Mar-2012 03:06, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.004 sec, ISO 800
to Korea Town, where we got dessert. I ate so many of these when I was in Korea for a month. Love them!!!
Hoddok (Korean pancake with brown sugar and nuts) = happy happy!27-Mar-2012 03:17, NIKON COOLPIX S51, 3.3, 6.3mm, 0.033 sec, ISO 100
A very happy ending to a great day!
Tomorrow, I am off to Philly….
π -T