VALENTINES DAY AT NIAGARA FALLS

Niagara Falls is a pretty cool place to spend Valentines Day, even when you don’t really believe in all the hype and hoopla that surrounds it. After all Niagara Falls is known as the honeymoon capital of the world so where better to spend Valentines!

Niagara Falls is certainly a place of many contrasts. On the one hand you have the majestic beauty and fury of Niagara Falls, whilst on the other you have the tackiness and tawdriness that inhabits the Canadian side that faces the Falls.

Fun parlors, haunted houses, sideshows and rides compete with high rise hotels. There are butterfly houses and exotic bird displays. A huge indoor water-park is linked to the hotels with covered walkways. It isn’t uncommon at this time of year to be walking down one of the covered walkways, dressed in a heavy coat, gloves and scarf and to pass a family dressed in swimming costumes on the way to the water park.


You can eat at the Hard Rock Café or Planet Hollywood or any number of other restaurants who all appear to offer the message that ‘kids eat free.’ Coca Cola and Hershey have huge stores to display and sell their goods and shops selling cheap t-shirts abound.


Niagara Falls may have built its reputation as the honeymoon capital of the world but it now appears to be one huge kid’s playground with Niagara Falls just a minor player in the background. The Falls are truly magnificent whilst everything else leaves a lot to be desired.

There has been lots of snow over the past few days so everything was dusted with a fresh coating of white. The ice flows that inhabit the raging waters above the Falls look stark bleak and every now and again one breaks away from its moorings to take a wild ride down the torrent and then plunge over the Falls only to bob up far below in a swirling mass of ice debris.

The volume of water that roars over the Falls is amazing and a chilled spray of mist is thrown high into the air. Even in this cold atmosphere tourists abound and the click and whirr of cameras is a constant background noise to the roar of the Falls.


I can only imagine what the crowds must be like in the warmer months.


We will spend Sunday night at a hotel located at Toronto Airport and take the flight back to Kelowna early on Monday morning. Just one day at home before heading off to the Olympics.

NIAGARA FALLS

Tammie and I travelled down to Niagara falls from Toronto yesterday. The snow had stopped and it was a bright, clear day with the temperature just below zero. The drive is just over a 100 k's and is really nondescript with a lot of heavy industry along the way belching out pollution.

We checked into our hotel, the Sheraton Fallsview just after midday. The hotel is situated just across the road from Niagara Falls. The hotel itself is a little shabby, but that is forgiven when we observed the view of Niagara Falls from our hotel room. Wall to wall windows allow a spectacular view and you can hear the boom of the Falls when the balcony door is open. 

I must admit that I thought the Falls would be a little bigger. The American Falls have a lot of big boulders at the bottom of the Falls which diminishes their size. The Horseshoe Falls are much bigger and the volume of water that falls over the top is amazing

I had a quick walk around the Clifton Hill area which is glitzy, without the glamour. Wax museums, fun parlors, rides and fast food chains abound. At this time of the year there is hardly a soul on the streets, though I can only imagine what it would be like in the summer months and school holidays. Bedlam I assume.

This morning I went to the hotel gym which is located on the 14th floor. All of the exercise machines face towards the Niagara Falls. There I was on a treadmill looking out over the Falls during a snow-shower. Amazing! I had physical pain with a brilliant view.

THE TRANS SIBERIAN EXPRESS (PART 4) MONGOLIA

Once we were settled into our ger we assembled for dinner which was presented in a larger, communal ger. All of the food was prepared in the traditional Mongolian way of cast iron pots over flame and hot stones. We were served by local people who dressed in traditional garb. All the while our guide Nemo kept up a running commentary of what we were eating and how it was prepared.



Most Mongolian dishes are centered around meats as vegetables are hard to come by. During our stay we ate beef, yak, horse, camel, goat and sheep, quiet a variety. These meats were usually cooked as a stew, in soups or as dumplings (buuz). Some of the passengers didn’t want to know what they were eating as they had qualms about eating horse or camel.

Pity any poor vegetarian that turns up on the doorstep of a Mongolian ger looking for a meal.

Hospitality is very important to Mongolian people and they go out of their way to make guests feel relaxed and comfortable. You can’t sit down to a meal in Mongolia without being offered airag, fermented mares milk. Now if the thought of drinking fermented mares milk doesn’t turn you off then the smell often will. It smells horrible! It is considered rude not to drink airag when offered to you, though you can escape offending your hosts by taking but a sip. That is what most of us did but some of the die-hards in the group set out to get drunk on the stuff. Later that night they paid the penalty by constant trips to the bathroom.

The highlight of the visit to the village was several group rides on local Mongolian ponies. Now these beasts look docile and weary but underneath their shaggy exterior they have a big motor that will keep running day in and day out. Don’t forget that the ancestors of these horses helped Genghis Khan conquer a large chunk of the world.

 Local horseman rounded up horses for our group and each person chose a horse. As with all things on such a trip the paying passengers got first choice and I was left with whatever was leftover which in this instance was a small and scrawny looking pony, who I doubted could carry me out of sight of the camp let alone on a long ride. As I mounted the horse Nemo came up to me and said I had made a good selection as it was the best horse in the group.

 I looked at him doubtfully.

We set off at a leisurely pace as the horses appeared to know the way. We passed the dinosaur park and headed off to a local landmark to have a picnic lunch. As soon as we hit the flat, unobstructed plain several of the group kicked their horses into a gallop.

I looked at my shabby beast and wondered if it was worth the effort. I thought why the hell not and gave the pony a little bit of heel and a tug on the reins. Be buggered if the pony didn’t take off like Seabiscuit. In no time at all we had passed the three horses in front of us and we were now scorching across the plain at warp speed. I hung on like a limpet expecting at any moment to be thrown off.

I saw the camp area ahead where we were to have lunch and as the pony and I entered the cleared area I pulled back tight on the reins, dug my heels into the horses side and hoped for the best. In reality I expected either the horse wouldn't stop and just keep going until it reached Siberia or I would ignominiously fall off.

To my delight and suprise the pony skidded to a stop rearing a little as it did so.

Nemo rushed forward to greet me.

“See I told you that this was a very good horse.” I could only nod back at him as I was still trying to recover from my fear.

“You ride like a Mongolian,” he said with a broad smile on his face.

I wasn’t sure if he was taking the mickey or not and it didn’t matter a jot as it was the pony who controlled me not the other way around. I just hung on out of fear.

The group was very impressed with my riding prowess, especially when Nemo told them about how hard that particular pony was to ride………if only they knew!

The next few days were spent riding and wandering the hills. We visited a monastery that was set on a hillside where the monks greeted us with warm tea and smiles. On another occasion I topped a hill only to be confronted by a herd of shaggy yaks. I am still not sure who got the biggest fright as we both ran off in different directions.

It was a great four days and the passengers raved about the experience and the friendliness and warmth of the people. We said our heartfelt farewells and headed back to Ulaanbaatar.

SNOW, SNOW AND MORE SNOW

It has been a cold, snowy day here in Toronto today. It appears that the blizzard like conditions that are effecting the north-east coast of the USA are filtering on up into Ontario. The news here is full of adverse weather reports and transport delays.


Tammie had a round of business meetings today so I just chilled in the hotel and caught up with some sleep. One of the bonuses of staying at this particular chain of Hilton hotels is that they provided their guests with a breakfast and a pretty decent dinner.


I spent a fair amount of time on my book, revising and revising again. It is never-ending. It appears it is an author’s lot is to be never happy with what they write. Some passages of the book I have rewritten over and over again.


Tomorrow we move onto Niagara Falls and into a hotel that overlooks the Falls. How that works out will be interesting.


I know that some ex-military members read this blog from time to time and they will be interested to hear about what is the biggest story here in Canada at the moment.


A Canadian Air Force colonel who commands one of the largest bases in Canada has been charged with a double murder. He allegedly killed a Canadian Air Force corporal in her home and a few weeks later murdered another young woman. Before those events he had broken into the houses of two women and sexually assaulted them.


It has been reported that the colonel, a pilot had been earmarked to attain higher rank and one day become a general. He was apprehended when stopped at a local police checkpoint where the tyres of vehicles were being checked. A tyre treads was left in the snow at the scene of one of the crimes and was the only evidence the police had. The tyre tread of the colonel’s vehicle matched that of the suspects vehicle and when questioned the colonel became evasive so he was bought in for questioning.
I find it suprising that a person in such a position of authority could commit such a crime. You just never know.  http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2010/02/08/f-williams-biography.html





Le colonel Russell Williams

TORONTO & SNOWSTORMS

Just arrived in Toronto to be met by a sizeable snowstorm, something we haven't seen at all in the west for most of the winter.

It turned out to be a long day of travel. A 70 minute drive to Kelowna Airport where we were somewhat suprised at the lax check-in procedures as neither of us were asked for photo identification something which I have never encountered at any other airport in the world. That said Kelowna is a modern mid-sized regional airport that services mainly Westjet and Air Canada flights.

Our flight left on time and it was only a 45 minute flight for a quick layover in Calgary to drop off passengers and pick up new ones. Our flight to Toronto was three hours thirty minutes. Westjet like many airlines these days charges for everything, food, movies, pillows and blankets. Evenso the service was good and the flight landed on time into a Toronto snowstorm.

We 'lost' three hours on the flight East arriving just after midnight. We had a hire car booked but it closed at midnight so we had to catch a cab to the hotel.

It was just a short drive but unbeknownest to us the cabbie didn't put the meter on and wanted a ridiculous fee. Tammie in her nice Canadaian way told him no. Then he wanted cash and we said no, credit card and to top it off he demanded a tip. No again.

The hotel is nice enough but we have been put in a smokers room which is rather ordinary as the smell of cigarette smoke lingers in the room. We will make sure we get a room change tomorrow.

It is 0140 here now, that is blog dedication!

BLOG STUFF

Two posts in one day....what's gone wrong! Nothing really just some housekeeping. Generally I try to get a blog out every couple of days. Most times I stick to this, sometimes I don't.

Anyway I am going to try, at least for now to post every day. It may not be as long as the current posts but I will endeavour to get something onto the blog site.

I don't get many comments in regards to the blogs which is just a little frustrating as I don't really know if the blog is being read and if it is, is it being enjoyed.....or not. Even negative comments would be welcome as then would know that someone may be reading.

Tammie and I fly to Toronto tomorrow a few days in taht city and then onto Niagara Falls for four days, which includes Valentines Day (not my idea). That said I am looking to visiting the Falls as it has always been one of my 'must do' trips. I will post pic's.

If you would be interested in beta reading or perhaps just reading a chapter or two of my 85,000 word novel, Tommy Tippett I would love to hear from you to discuss.

See you tomorrow.

akmacca08@live.com.au

THE TRANS SIBERIAN EXPRESS (PART 3) MONGOLIA

One of the great things about working for Intrepid Travel iwas the great local guides and facilitators you have available to you in each place you visit. They made my job as the tour leader so much easier.


We had no sooner alighted from the train when a small, Mongolian man in his mid-thirties approached me and introduced himself as Nemo, our Mongolian guide. Nemo's English was very good and he had a bubbly personality which immediately endeared him to the group.


Nemo was a qualified medical doctor who was trained overseas, but the pay and conditions are so poor in Mongolia that he made far more money running a tour company.

We all hopped on board a decrepit old bus and headed off through the ramshackle streets of Ulaanbaatar. It is always the same when you go to any new place; heads crane this way and that trying to take in all of the sights and sounds of the city.


The first impressions of Ulaanbaatar were that the city was very poor indeed. Many of the thoroughfares were potholed, there was rubbish all over the place and many of the buildings were in a state of disrepair. People thronged the streets and most were dressed shabbily, though every now and again you would be caught by suprise to see a woman or man dressed in modern European style clothing.


Our first stop was at a bank to change some money. This was an experience in itself as Nemo had to do the translating for the bank teller all the while being watch by a guy with an ancient shotgun. The unit of currency in Mongolia is the togrog and we all appeared to be so much wealthier once we cashed our US dollars for togrog. I just wished I had been in Mongolia a few years earlier before they phased out Mongolian coins which were called mongo's.

Togrog's and mongo's you gotta love that.


Next stop was at a Mongolian supermarket. Well, I say supermarket though it was slightly larger than a corner store. Even so the store was well stocked with goods, particularly imported goods. The group loaded up with goodies and headed back to the bus to continue our trip to our camping site.


In short time we were out in the countryside which was bleak and barren. Not a tree to be seen anywhere just sparse, rolling hills. It was early spring so there was still snow on the ground here and there and the rivers we crossed were still frozen. The road out of the city was reasonably good though only a single lane either way. There was very little traffic on the way only the odd car and a few busses but very few trucks.


On the way we made a stop on a hill which gave a great view of the valley below. At this particular spot was a simple Buddhist memorial. As each traveler stops by the memorial they drop a stone in the pile and must circle the cairn seven times (I think). This will then give you good luck and fortune on your trip.

A lone dog stood guard; Nemo said people who stopped at the shrine fed the dog as an act of goodwill.  The guard dog being really smart had quickly figured out that staying at the shrine was a sure way to a free feed.


Back aboard the bus most slept as the terrain barely changed kilometer after kilometer.


"Look, look over there," someone shouted excitedly. "Dinosaurs." And there were. In the middle of nowhere some entrepreneur had tried to start a dinosaur park. Near life-sized dinosaurs stood sentinel over the bare, Mongolian terrain. "Nearly there," said Nemo and this perked everybody up.


We turned off the main road and onto a dirt track and the first thing we noticed were corral's full of sturdy Mongolian ponies. Around a bend the small tourist settlement of ger's ( some call them yurts) stood before us.

Nine ger's stood in line accompanied by toilet blocks and a recreation hall. The site was surrounded by a ring of hillsides which were made up of huge boulders and covered with fir trees.


We were greeted by the camp staff and lead to our ger's. Women to one ger, men to another. A Mongolian ger consist of a circular wooden frame carrying a felt cover. The felt is made from the wool of the flocks of sheep that traditionally accompanied the nomadic Mongolian family. The interior of the ger was surprisingly spacious and the central point was a large cast iron fireplace that did an excellent job of heating the ger. All around the side of the ger were beds and decorated wall-hangings which gave the interior a bright and welcoming atmosphere.

We had no sooner placed our packs away when the call came for dinner. There were a few furrowed brows as the group had heard all about traditional Mongolian fare.