Another weekend & we take off to Yorkville, the quaint Victorian architecture which houses dozens of restaurants, boutiques and art galleries. We walked around hoping to spot some celebrity since the Toronto International Film Festival was on …...but guess, humare samne saab phike paad gaye & couldn’t take the competition!!:-)
I can sooooooo live at Bloor Street & Cumberland street. Just about all the designer’s are here & someday …. Like Anwer said …. This Devil shall wear the Prada!!! Amen to that!!!
China town, largest in North America, reminded me a bit of fashion street. However, we did discover some cute shops & is a fun place to walk around. There are probably more Chinese here than China itself!!!!
We drive through the length of Younge street, the longest street & pass Dundas square, Toronto’s Life Square, which is Toronto’s answer to Times square!!! Also, go across to the country side of Milton (where I went hunting for Milton ke flask!!he he ), & checked out some of the Indian Reserves & saw the small ski slopes of the area.
Meet up with Jayesh’s sister Pallavi, her husband Vijay bhai & son, Chirag & his friends. Missed meeting Jay, though. Dinner was a mix of Punjabi fare & Gujrati , where we all overate!!! Was a fun evening with everyone getting to know everyone. With Rayan doing masti as usual, which lead to some major horror stories about Chirag as a kid!!! Pigged out & also got home a dabba full of Dhokla!!!!!
The Past continues to meet the Present. Meet up with Subhash Ganguly ,after about 20 odd years. Both of us wouldn’t have recognized each other, have changed since college, but was a afternoon where we did exchange notes. Wish his daughter,Sonya hadn’t fallen ill , then would have met her & his wife, Eithna. But his meeting us , has once again connected us to his mom….. Leela aunty called us from Bolton & she hasn’t changed either , sounds just the same …. & hoping to meet her in Kerala sometime in February!!!! Another holiday waiting to happen , I guess!!! ;-)
And meet up with Rafeal & Joanne. Last I met Rafeal was at the ashram, around 7 yrs back. Rafeal is a musicians & can play quite a few instruments. Was lovely talking about the days in the ashram & how life has taken him through, living in the ashram …. to making a mark in the IT industry today !! Yehi hai Zindagi, meri jaan …..
Since Monday was a holiday for Osman, took off with him & Rayan to Casa Loma,built by a wealthy Toronto businessman Sir Henry Pellatt in the early 1900s.Named ,the "House on the Hill", it boasts of central AC and an Elevator, even in those times. Has a wonderful history behind it & does look like a castle!! Walked all the way to the top of the castle & Osman was not very happy walking up & down the spiral steps … dizzy that child was!!! Saw a photo shoot happening at the Conservatory … would have taken some pictures, if the model wasn’t such a sad looking anorexic types.
From there went to Hockey hall of Fame, which one can skip, unless one is inquisitive about Ice Hockey or is a die hard fan!!! Took a few nice pictures & that’s that … koi interest jo nahin hai hume …. and poor Osman had no choice but to come back with us!!
African Lion safari was with Rayan & that child had a blast. Loved watching the elephants do their tricks & went racing with a Bird of Prey!!! It’s got all these animals from various parts of the world living in their natural habitat!!!A place where we are caged in our cars, while the animals roam free in the 50 acre reserve!!
We are ushered out of the house by Noori & Anwer. Thinking we are going for a short drive around the country side, we end up at Niagra Falls. Its nature at it best, an intimidating experience, to see the power & strength of the falls. Maid of the Mist, is a must, to feel the droplets of the falls shower upon you, the mist that is created at the base of the falls, the Horse Shoe Niagra falls which can only be seen from the Canadian side!!!Next time, I would like to spend a night here, to enjoy all the other attractions, including trying my luck at the Casino!!!
Osman making me a star with his friends, who came home to meet me …. Met a couple of his friends this time & next time, will make it a point to meet all his friends!!!
Its time to say Adios to Toronto , and a heavy hearted goodbye till we meet again to Anwer, Noori, Osman & Rayan. Without them this trip would not have been much to write home about. They made us feel a part of their family. Today, I can say that they are an extention of my family!!!
Warmth that touched my heart was … Rayan crying at the airport when we said our goodbye’s & Osman , giving me a side hug & saying “ Aap ke saath bahut maza aaya”!!!
Now, it is Reading calling with Kashi Uncle waiting for us at EWR!!!!!
Trivia………. Casa Loma was used as a location shoot for the 2002 movie Chicago.
Highlight …. Noori’s version of Meat Biryani , Lajawaab!!!
Highlight….. Ganesh Chaturthi was on 15th Sep, so we did our little puja & Mom put tikka on her forehead & mine. Rayan was playing outside the room, decide’s to check what we were doing , spots me with the Tikka & says “ Aunty, You have Fire on your forehead!!”, with a complete look of awe!!! To say that it took me sometime to send him away from the room & get back to the puja, is , welll…….. another story altogether!!!
Highlight …. An ostrich decides to scare us by coming towards the car, saying something & then pecking at the car & window!!!! Thak the lord we were caged inside the car , warna humara kya hota , Kalia …………
No comments:
Post a Comment