Oh, Canada! - The Vacation 2006, Part 3: Niagara, We Almost Missed Ya...

Although I had been to Niagara Falls many, many, many years ago, my father and I thought heck, why not, right? I was there, it was there, it all seemed to work out for the best. Anything for an excuse to go out for a drive on the Canadian highways...

As you can see, the early morning wake-up did not agree with me. Good thing the camera was set to "Morning Stun" and not "Thunder-wake Kill".

The drive there was pretty uneventful. Since I am not quite as chipper in the morning, and, well, let's face, I was barely awake, my father did the first leg of the drive while I played navigator/manning-the-radio-CD-player operator. Since Dane Cook seemed to work out so well on the drive from London, I popped in another CD of his, reclined my chair back and cranked it up. My father was laughing in no time, while I, the ever vigilant traveler, fell asleep with the map sprawled on my lap. I swear my finger was at least pointing toward the direction of Niagara.

My father ever so gently slapped me awake for breakfast about an hour later. We stopped off at this hole-in-the-wall diner that served bacon with everything - it was not the kind of place that would be weird if you asked for "Bacon with a side of Bacon," or "Bacon with a side of Peameal", but it would feel strange if you asked them to "hold" the bacon. So, when in Rome, huh? We clutched our chests with every bite...

After raising our cholesterol a few points, we headed back on the road. Having 4 cups of coffee is enough of a jumpstart for me, so I passed over the map to my dad, and I took the reigns for the rest of the drive to the falls.

Things were going according to plan... that is, until we actually got there. You see, back when the city was smaller, and there wasn't the casino, and no TGI-Friday clones to populate the main St. area, one could easily see where the falls were and drive toward them. With the big buildings blocking the luscious falls from view, one either knew how to get there, or one would get lost. Guess which bunch we were?

We discovered later that I had missed a crucial left turn that would have taken us right to the falls and where all the parking was. Instead, we just kept driving straight, going farther and farther away from the falls. However, to justify our loss in sense of direction, we decided that the "detour" around the falls was welcome. Therefore, the town of Chipawa was very charming; the country-club golf course looked very grand and gave just enough bourgoise character to the place without seeming overly pompous.

Many expletives shouted between my father and I later - as to who got who lost, we were struck by the awe and beauty of the falls, though mostly awed at the fact that we hadn't accidentally crossed back into New York. We were getting closer at least...

These were taken along the route "to" the falls. The first pic is the power generating turbines, which are positioned so that as the water runs past, well, the rest is self-explanatory. The second is aimed toward the horizon of the falls. So, are we there yet? Almost!

We went into the Casino first. I don't know what it is about the Canadian security, but they really couldn't believe I was over 21. They kept scrutinizing my Passport - I almost expected a CSI team to pop out to forensically scan my papers and check my DNA or something. Several frustrated minutes later, they gave up their search and let me in. In case you're wondering, we broke even on the Slots after we lost everything in the cup I'm holding.

We're getting warmer...

Ah, the Hershey Store. Anything and everything was related to the chocolate. Naturally, this store had the coldest AC of all.

Now, if the Hershey Store could only sell him, I'd buy one. Nothing like having a giant Hershey Kiss in your backyard as a conversation starter.

I thought it was funny that when I took this pic, some stranger yelled at me "f--king tourist", as he was getting back into his "Niagara Falls Tour" van. Yeah, way to go, pot calling the kettle black... But who can resist taking a pic of a Canadian Mountie statue? Not me!

All right, without further ado, I give you... NIAGARA FALLS!

Okay, okay, it's a little obstructed. How about this?

That's better, right?

Those are the falls where you can take a boat down and ride behind the waterfall.
I hear it's real neat, so I guess I'll do that next time!

This was the only shot I could get with both falls in the same picture.
See! I'm not the only crazy person taking a bajillion pictures of Niagara!

And just to show I was there. Ah, the mist was refreshing!

Since we had gotten there so early, we left in the afternoon to head back
into Toronto to do some more chillin'...

TO BE CONTINUED!

Junk...

Laid out, left out, strewn about
awaiting the opportunity to find
its purpose once more -
does it remember its life before
banishment to the wasteland
of the misplaced and forgotten?
Or has it relegated to its own
servitude of lost usefulness to the
outside world?
Of course, it's potential is only
lacking in the eye that has yet
to behold thee, where the right
moment will come, none too soon...

Platform...

Cold air sweeps the station's steps
and up the train platform
where I wait, gleaning crowds to make
your face among covered-heads
in fedoras and shawls

Last train pulls in, people rush off
in a joyful frenzy, greeting loved ones,
friends, even in-laws -
but among them, you are absent

The platform empties, I'm left
standing, alone, pining memories that
no longer seem to belong to me

So I find a bench, set myself down,
the weight of my thoughts as anchor,

Realizing you left not by train, but on a ship that set sail, long ago...

Old Tag - 6 interests/habits I picked up from Ex-girlfriends

By now, most of you should be familiar with this game, but if you're not - I'm sure you will be at some point in your blogging life.

Rules are: List 6 weird things abour yourself, and then, TAG 6 other people to reveal 6 weird things about themselves.

However, since I've been around this block before, I'm doing mine on...

6 interests/habits I picked up from Ex-girlfriends

6. Gilmore Girls - I started watching it on the nudging of the most recent ex. I Netflixed the pilot episode... and I've been hooked since. However, learning to listen to rapid-firing gatling-gun a la' Spencer/Tracy style dialogue did take some getting used to. I'm proud to say that I have mastered the art of Gilmore-isms and Lorelai-diosyncracies.

5. Cooking - It was from an ex who complained that she did all the cooking which really drove me to, well, get my butt into the kitchen. This also began my small obsession with the Food Network, which kind of drove her nuts as well. Or was it my pasta primavera?

4. Learning to take better pictures - Although I went to school to learn how to shoot film, I was never really good behind the camera. Again, after much beratement from an ex that told me my pictures sucked, she helped shape my eye for angles, subjects, and lighting. I now take better group photos because of her.

3. To not answering a question with another question - This one was a hard habit to break, and I still do it from time to time, but at least I catch myself doing it nowadays. Yeah, a lot of nothing fights that start with "I ASKED YOU FIRST!" comes to mind.

2. Watching Independent films - All right, I should have been doing this already, but it was an ex who was a hard-core film buff that pushed me to appreciate smaller, intimate cinema. Of course, I didn't stay awake through all of them, but honestly, who does? But the ones I have seen, I love. Which reminds me - go and see "Little Miss Sunshine". It rules!

1. Always minding the toilet seat - Luckily, it only took me one ex to learn that
all- important lesson, which I'll probably carry with me for the rest of my life.

Usually, I don't tag, but I hope 6 of you that read this will want to be self-tagged, so, I tagged ya!

In any case, thanks for reading!... ;)

Oh, Canada! - The Vacation 2006, Part 2: My old neighborhood...

Gosh, am I ever gonna finish this series or what? Anyhow, if you're just joining in, I've been periodically posting stuff from my vacation in Canada, and I know, they are posted far and in between, but hey, who said I was on a deadline?

Without any further ado, I give you.... DAY 2!

Arghhh!!! Flash...Too early...

Ah, that's more like it!

As my father took off with his cronies, he left me to wander around my old
'hood. Suffice it to say, it's like I never left...

Here's one side of Yonge St. It was the closest major street
around my block.

Here's Yonge St. again. Suprisingly, not a lot of people ate at the McDonald's.
It was mostly a makeshift shelter for the wealthy homeless.

Tom Cruise likes to check-in here when he's in town.
Nah, I'm just kidding... The building usually flies to him!

Gee, I wonder what they serve here? It too, is usually empty, but I
guess they do all right. There's a female chef in there that cuts the lettuce
with a huge machete. Again, don't know why, but it looks cool.

Amazingly, these are the same exact books that were laid out for sale
5 years ago the last time I was here. Hmmm, French...

Here's where I used to live. Oh yeah, did I mention that I lived right
near Church and Charles, the gay mecca of Toronto? Imagine San Francisco's
Castro St. and Los Angeles' Santa Monica Blvd. combined, and you get
my neighborhood. They used to shoot the exterior scenes for "Queer as Folk"
about 5 blocks down from my apartment. Yeah, lots of boys with boys and
girls with girls, but hey, it was one of the safest places to live in the city.

Strangely enough, I had never actually seen anyone step out
of these apartments.
Ever.
It was like living on the Universal Studio's backlot.

This was a little park I'd pass by. It was mostly couples and
dog walkers during the day, and drug deals going down at night.
Yeah, multipurpose commons.

And finally, here's the little market where I used to buy my grocceries
and whatnots. The clerk that worked there was from India, and he spoke
with an accent so thick he could give Abu a run for his money in linguistic
comprehension. Although I couldn't for the life of me understand what
he'd say, I'd smile politely, and nod most profusely.
We had a great relationship
like that.


Thanks for coming along!

TO BE CONTINUED...

1,825 days ago... and counting

Twin Towers were felled,
Pentagon attacked while heroes
on flight fought back

Today, thoughts are shared,
words spoken in somber tones -
"We still remember"...

...And remember September,
We shall.


***My thoughts and prayers to those who lost friends and loved ones on this day of days***

Sepia-Sunbather - for Janelle

Mono-hued beauty
lays out on the deck chair,
awashes my eyes with
her argent skin

Cloudless sky above,
sun-shines down,
the rays can't out-sheen
her brilliance

Mr. DeMille, she's ready for
her close-up...

Placid...

As Sun sets low on placid waters,
my senses drift along the flows
with ripples 'gainst my skin and toes,
as held this hour, minutes, seconds
unpreturbed, and still, unstill

Soothed, I melt into this aqua's dream,
where anger has no place to hide
when all the Zen and Tao abide
by harmony in every drop -
never let this sereneness, stop...

...Placid, the water, is.

Random Haiku #60

Dead fly on table,
laying there upturned, peaceful -
fly takes flight no more...

Random Haiku #59

Caught not wearing pants,
neighbor got underwear show -
all I got was shame!


***Note to self: wear robe when fetching the morning paper***

Where I was a few days ago...

North Hollywood

Sequoia National Park... here are the trees!

The tree behind me feel down shortly after I took this, but luckily
I had gotten out of the way... Whew!

How often do you see two deer just chill'n?

I thought this poster has turned very "Donnie Darko"

There it is, the "General Sherman" - the largest wood in all the forest, hehe...

"The General", up close and personal

The tree to the left actually has 3 trees growing from one trunk. Don't believe me?
Go see for yourself!

In Sequoia, the baby bears drink for free!

The Next Day...

No, I don't want to get up...

... Okay, fine! As you can see, I look most "Asian" in the morn'!

View from my room's back window

Oh what a beautiful morning, ain't it? Morning, Giant Rock!

The Jeep Commander - I couldn't believe we kept it this clean!


San Francisco

Yes, the room had a bay view, you know, behind the lovely track of freeway

Enjoying tapas at a place called "Tapas"...

Okay, actually the place is called something else, but I thought it'd be funnier
to call it the latter!

Mi Primos, Derek and Jenny - they rule!

Here's Jenny back at her pad - she's holding up an old picture of me from High School,
while I'm taking a picture of her, capturing me... oh boy, my head is spinning

Jenny and her plants - she is really proud of them. She was blessed with a
gene for a green thumb, which is really rare in our family
i.e. I own plastic flowers myself

These were on display at an ice cream shop we went to. Can you see the
Ben Franklin Action Figure on the left? How rock'n is that?

Mi Primos en Trio! Me gusta mi familia!!!


The Next Day, Heading Home

I could have sworn the freeway moved 6 inches to the left since last night!

Ah, taking vanity photos in front of a Vanity mirror, how apropos...

So ladies, you could be lucky and wake up next to THIS! HA!

Thanks for coming along with me! Super Winks!... ;)