Easter Retreat - Niagara Falls

We left Ithaca at 2pm in the afternoon, and after a 4 hr drive, stopping only for twenty minutes halfway for a bite at mcdonalds, we arrived at the famed Number 1 Wonder of the World - The Niagara Falls. The Falls actually consist of 2 seperate falls, the USA Falls, which is horizontal, with many rocks at the bottom, and seagulls flying near the rocks and the falls; and the Horseshoe Falls, which is located on Canadian land. The Horseshoe Falls is majestic and in the shape of a horseshoe, with the water vapour rising from the impact of the falls crashing onto the lake covering almost half of the fall itself. I had little prior impression of the Falls before this visit, vaguely remembering them from some photographs my mum took when she visited the area more than 20 years ago. She said it was breathtaking, and it is.

Although it is now Spring, we arrived during a "cold" period and the temperatures were sub-zero, with rather strong winds making it chillier. The beauty of which is that the rocks near the falls are all frozen. Quite distinct from the usual green or autumn red colours that visitors in the warmer seasons will see, the Niagara I saw was white, and pale blue. Somehow, it resonated with images I had seen from documentaries in Antartica or Alaska. But the sacrifice I had to make for this unique view was that the boat ride into the falls was closed, meaning I did not get the opportunity to literally stand within the falls and feel it's strength, power and the adrenalin rush that comes along with it. Nor could I capture close-ups of the Falls, or the seagulls and rocks.It is a pity, but it gives a good reason to come back in the future!

We had dinner at the Rainforst Cafe, located at the Canadian side of the Falls. The Canadian side is very commercialized, with at least 3 large casinos, a whole array of themed-restaurants and waterparks, as well as other retail glamour stores. The US side on the other hand is far more natural, with only a single Casino, and numerous small motels. Perhaps the main beneficiaries of this are the tourists, who get to enjoy a natural view from one angle in the day, as well as experience a wonderful shopping and feasting experience at night.

As I and Yizhuan had dinner, I told him how I couldnt stop feeling how lucky we were. Having the opportunity to meet up with such a wonderful friend in another part of the world. It was only 9 years ago when we were wearing short white pants wandering blurly into Raffles Institution. And now, here I am flying across the Atlantic from the UK to the US, and then driving across the State of New York to the Canadian border, and seeing the Niagara Falls. I think I am a lucky boy.