Canada Toronto

Am now in Toronto, the comospolictian city. A very big and friendly city. I arrived on 6/9/05 and took the airport transfer bus to the Hi-Toronto hostel. I wasn't very please with the service of the staff (kinda rude and unfriendly - very unlike HI personality). I arrived at the hostel about 2.30pm and after payment. I gotta know that the check in time is not until 4pm (so late). So I have to pay $2 to store my baggage behind the counter (kinda lame - not willing to do it).
Anyhow, I sat around and gotta chat with this Toronto guy Slyvester, his origin is form Hong Kong. But had been staying in Toronto since young. He was been chased out of his house to be independent. Hs is quite a character, an amusing and chatty chap though, cos within the same day I kept bump into him like 4 times.
Later in the evening, I met another guy Max, origin from Peru but now he is working in Missisppi (a police officer). He came to Toronto on his winning tickets and only here for 3-4 days. He actually did not slept for 30hrs by the time we met him. When he arrived Toronto it was already 12 midnight and not wanting to pay for lodging, he actually intend to sleep in the airport, but someone elderly lady who met him at the airport offer to give him a lift to the casino instead. So instead of resting, he played jackport for the whole night. Next day whole day he walk around Toronto town until he reached the Hostel in the evening. But he was very energetic and very chatty too. Not sure why, I bump onto these 2 funny chap, but that's all about traveling, you get to meet different people and having fun relating to them.

Next day morning 7/9/05 - I book a 2 days trip to Niagara Fall (this is my main intention of coming to Toronto) I was happy that I get to join this group. Got to meet a lot of fun and amusing travelers from all over the world. Like Marua and Sharmine (from Austrilia Brisbane), Loraine from UK and Jason from Germany.

Both Marua and Sharmine are friends and they will be traveling together for 3 months in Canada, Dublin, Spain and Paris. But Marua will be continue to stay in Dublin for a year (am so happy cos, I will be going there around Feb 06, so will be able to see here again and maybe do some hiking in Ireland). They are both fun-loving, friendly and cheerful ladies.

Loraine, is only traveling in Toronto for a week, cos she will be working in UBS bank in New York for a year ( a bright and intelligent girl). Jason, he is a contractor painter and his intention in traveling Canada was to see his grandparent (whom he had not met in his whole 24 years) but he claimed that his meeting with them was not a pleasant one, ended in a heated argument with his grandpa (almost the similar situation as mine).

Niagara fall is majestic and magnificient. The amount of water that fall fron lake Ontario is just tremendous. We went to the tunnel to hear the awesome thunderous sound of the fall and feel the water splashing on us was great. In the evening, we witness the beautiful lightnings that illuminate the fall with various rainbow colours (it was just marvelously beautiful). Next day morning, we took the boat out to have a close encounter with the fall. Our ferry brought us so near to the Fall and the sights was just awesome and undescribable. We could feel the water mist splashing on us and had a very close view of the fall right before our eyes. What is most iinteresting about coming to Niagara Fall was being able to meet these new friends, and we truly enjoyed each other company very well.

Yesterday 9/9/05, I met up with Mark (a friend got to know from Asiawork under the Leadership program I had attended before) he is a Canadian and had been working both in Hongkong and Sinagpore for many years before moving back to Toronto with his newly wed wife Tasia. I had a good time catching up and connecting with him. he brought me to this Italian restuarant down on Kings St, the food is delicious and my first time eating snail (yummy). One thing about traveling alone, you won't want to go to a fancy resturant for meal unless you got company. So it was good to meet up with friends and simply spending time together over a meal.

Later in the evening, I went to the CN tower (the single tallest monument in the whole world) to have a dusk and night overview of the city of Toronto with Miki (a sweet, gentle and independent Japanese gal). Met her in the HI hostel I was staying in. It was an awesome experience up in the Tower. We thank God for the fantastic clear weather, the sunset was also beautiful and later the night lightning flashing through the city was just fantastically amazing. We trully enjoyed the view and our time spend up there together.

Today 10/9/05, I gotta wake up up later, just lazing on the bed longer. Went for facial appointment, and walked to the Roy Thomson Theatre, got the ticket to view the Gala premier of one of Toronto Film Festival showing The Dreamer - A true story. This is a touching and heart warming movie, I was moved by the characters in the movie. After the movie, there was a food fair beside the theatre, went a a bite (had not been eating proper meal since morning) The food in the fair was delicious and great. And then went to Chinatown for a walk and sight seeing. After the walk, I just came back to the Global hostel (a better and friendlier hostel compare to Hi Toronto hostel) early to chill out and watch some television programs with some of the other nothing much to do travelers.

So tomorrow, I will be take a ferry out to the Toronto Island for a day of chilling out and strolling. So that's how my travelling life is, sometime exciting, meet new friends, sometime just boring and chilling only.


my email: joydive@gmail.com