“Oh Niagara, beauty of all falls”
The world over in many countries there are waterfalls, but the Niagara Falls in Canada is a beauty by itself and is a must for nature lovers to see this most beautiful fall. It is in the shape of a horseshoe.
Its total height is 167 feet on the border of Ontario, Canada and New York.
It has an average flow of 85,000 cubic feet per second and its speed ranges from two to three feet per second. Thousands of tourists from all over the world visit Canada to see this nature’s gift of God, the Niagara Falls.
It is worth the trip for those who visit Niagara, for you can enjoy the boat or ferry ride up to the edge of the fall. Every single person who boards the ferry is given a raincoat with the wordings Niagara Falls to prevent visitors getting wet when they reach the edge of the fall. The same is done on the US side as well.
There is a boat or ferry leaving every 15 minutes to the edge of the fall, what an experience is this. Lo behold the depth at the edge is 170ft. There is a never-ending queue to purchase tickets to board the boat.
The colourful gardens on the pathway to the falls add more glamour and beauty to the environment. After a long trek to the place to board the boat from the vehicle park, you have many places like restaurants and food courts to refresh yourself, and at one place you can see an Elvis Presley look-alike entertaining the crowd.
It is roughly about 125kms one way to Niagara from Toronto. Not a tiring journey drive is pleasant, no bumpy or pot hole ridden roads. On either side one can notice the greenery and the preservation of the environment, the lush green trees at least till winter. Of course the souvenir shop is full of customers, for everybody wants to purchase some souvenir from Niagara, who doesn’t.
The writer’s next visit was to Ottawa from Toronto which is about 450kms, a five hour drive, touching the speed of 140-150kms. At stopovers which are found at several places, one can have a good meal or snacks. At every stop one can find a very clean washroom, a thing we still lack.
In Ottawa, there is always a crowd of tourists near the Canadian Parliament to watch the Changing of the Guard.
On arrival in Ottawa, we went on a city tour conducted by the Hop in Hop Off tour service which is an open hood double decker. The other shuttle is of some significance named as ‘Lady Drive.’ This bus, after an hour, enters the Ottawa River. This is the only Amphibious tour which takes tourists to the National capital land and water.
When you travel by the Hop off Hop on bus, you can get yourself dropped at any site you want and continue your journey when the bus arrives later, as many times as you would like throughout the day to resume your adventure.
One can visit important sites including museums, parks, galleries, Byward Market, the Canadian Parliament buildings and many more place of interest.
The visit to the Canadian War Museum is something very special. The colourful gardens on the pathway to the falls add more glamour and beauty to the environment One who visits the museum will never forget the exhibits. The prize exhibit is the Merc used by Adolf Hitler when he went on his propaganda tours. The car is well-maintained and preserved. In the museum, you can get a close view of imposing tanks, artillery and other machines of war, a torpedo, submarine, The Royal Canadian Legion Hall of Honour, military and learn about the military technology used by and against Canadians in times of both peace and conflict.
Toronto is a very special place in Canada for those living there and also tourists, as anything and everything is found in plenty and at affordable prices.
Shopping malls galore are of unimaginable sizes. You have Walmart, Dollar Mart which has everything at either at a dollar or two. Restaurants are also in large numbers. Of special interest is the Indian Flame restaurant owned by Punjabis. They have nearly 100 or more cuisines from Chicken Tandoori, Chicken biryani, mutton biryani, variety of food and sweets. You name it, they have it. Add liquor if you want to. All for Canadian Dollars (CD) 15 per head.
A most appreciative thing the writer observed was the interest the youngsters have in baseball. Was able to watch an under six baseball match between Bits (green) and Tim Bits (yellow). The greens are coached by Mr. Ryan Freeman. Sri Lankan Milca Chandrasena was the only Lankan in the team.
The next match (under 14) between Fighting Wolves of the Etobicoke Baseball Association and Western Dental Group was won by Fighting Wolves in a best out five match. Incidentally, one Sri Lankan Ammiel Chandrasena was outstanding. There were three Indians and the rest were Canadians.
They are picking raw talent from the age of four to be trained as baseball players.