The Smallest Chapel

One more ticked off the bucket list. The Niagara falls is actually the collective name of three waterfalls. Horseshoe Falls, Bridal Veil Falls and the American Falls. One fifth of the world's fresh water flows through the great Lakes and tumbles over Niagara Falls. 

Unfortunately it was a wet and rainy day (the first half) but it was worth the visit. We decided to skip the boat ride. The view from up was better and gives you a better perspective of the falls. 

Couldn't resist clicking this double decker bus which was parked close by.

A statue erected in remembrance of the men who fell in WW-I & WW-II

The world's smallest chapel is not far from the Niagara falls. Our tour bus did not have a scheduled stop at this place,  but slowed down by which I could get it in my video. (the picture below is from the internet) 

It is said that it can accommodate only 6 people, so if the pastor is in, then only five can get in.

Source : Internet

On the way back to Toronto there was a stop over at a small town known as Niagara on the Lake. There was something British about the whole place. 

It was not yet Fall, but the colours were showing, especially against the white.

This plaque gives a short description of the Town. Interesting to know that the Americans had captured it in May 1813 and had burned it down during their withdrawal 

Also found a cross road where the Kings St and the Queens St intersect. 

Saw these decorated horse carts waiting to give customers an interesting buggy ride. 

And some enjoying the ride 

This Hotel seems to be holding on well especially when its been standing there for more than one and half century. 

Some shops had some unique names like "The Owl and the Pussycat at the sign of the Pineapple" I walked in and asked the shop owner if there was any significance to the name, but she was not in a position to give me a plausible answer. 

A word of appreciation to the Queen Tour, the tour bus that we took. Very prompt, with a cheerful and witty driver. Wish they could add that stop at the smallest Chapel in their itinerary.

Saw this store of Ten Thousand villages on the same road.

The history of this store is very interesting. It all began with one woman (Edna Ruth Byler) 

In 1946 when Byler travelled with her husband to Puerto Rico, she met women in La Plata Valley who were struggling to feed their children. Having to live through hard times through the depression, she knew the face of poverty. She also knew the importance of dignity and people wanting to help themselves.

Byler was moved to do something. She saw the pieces of fine embroidery the women of La Plata created, but had no place to sell.  
If she, an American, was so struck by these unique textiles, perhaps other Americans too would appreciate their beauty. With no clear plan, but with a sense of purpose, Byler brought the pieces home and began to sell to the neighbours and friends.

Mennonite Central Committee, an aid and relief agency, saw the long term value that sustainable income opportunities would bring to impoverished villages. They supported Byler's endeavours and facilitated her travels abroad including India and Jordan.  

 pic courtesy "Ten Thousand Village"

It was a simple idea. But a pioneering one that would launch Ten Thousand Villages and blossom into a global fair trade movement.

I saw another outlet at the Amish village in Lancaster. 

More on the Lancaster village in the next blog. 

While we waited for the bus in the morning at Toronto, saw this church. A good example of the old against the new. 

A good place in Ooty

Hill stations are the best place to get away from the heat. But getting the right place to stay is the biggest hurdle.

Had been to the Nilgiris (Ooty) last week and found that the Grand Manor is an ideal place to stay. From outside it may not grab your attention but the perspective changes once you are inside. 

The location is very close to the Botanical Garden (about 3 minutes on foot) What I liked best about the place is its cleanliness and neatness. For some, the rooms may look small but who needs huge rooms for staying at a hill station.

The problem with Ooty is that you have to go for very high end hotels to get a decent and respectable place. Garden Manor has filled in that vacuum by offering a decent place for an affordable rate. I liked the rooms which faced the stadium. Being a sportsman I enjoyed viewing the young ones playing football, basketball and volleyball (yes all are enclosed in the same stadium)

The stairs are wide and the corridors are neat and clean.

They have provision for car park near the entrance as well as an additional open air car park. Many hotels don't provide food but here you can get breakfast and dinner (but this is purely based on advance order) 
Unlike other hotels which provide hot water from a central place, here geysers are fitted in every bathroom which ensures constant hot water as per your requirement.

The overall ambiance of the place too is good with some interesting paintings put up at strategic places.

I found this canopy over the potted plant out of place, but the staff explained that a bird decided to build its nest in the plant, and they tried to shield it from the rains. And indeed there was a bird, oblivious of all the activity around.

The owner and partner Mr Antony is pleasant to talk to and has some interesting stories to tell about the old Ooty and how things are slowly changing. I suppose that is the story everywhere.

This place is close to the famous  Modern Store. Hope to write about this store in my next blog post.

The view from the balcony

One of the places that we stayed at in Cochin (Kochi) was The Poovath Hotel. The best thing about the hotel was the view of the beach from the balcony.

The overall ambiance and the locality was excellent I must say. A leisurely walk along the beach side will take you to the Chinese fishing nets which is very popular in Fort Kochi.

When you enjoy the sea view, you cannot miss out on the huge bungalow on the right side 

and the Dutch cemetery (not operational now) on the left side

so there was no disturbance whatsoever from either side (literally)

But the view from the balcony was excellent

The rooms were decently large and the bathroom was huge, but I could not figure out the complicated shower system so had my bath in the tub.

The dining room was situated on the first floor with some lovely old furniture, and yes there you can see the huge common balcony.

In the front of the hotel there was a mango tree. Those mangoes hanging there was a real temptation and we were trying to imagine how tasty it would be if they were pickled.

When we expressed our desire to the staff (about turning those mangoes into pickles) they were good enough to pluck some and give us.

I was always fascinated by spiral staircases, and I found that this place had one.

One of the paintings hanging in the dining room

While clicking those lovely scenes from the balcony I noticed that there was some alien object moving in my frame.

It turned out to be a fancy kite and I located the guy who was flying that kite

The place where the kites were sold was not far off and this is what I got when I zoomed in. Real fancy ones I must say.

The next day I strolled out on the beach and came across  a group of boys enjoying football.

I could see some vallams (boats) trying out some new method of fishing not far from the shore. They used to throw one end of the net (with a float) at one place and then furiously row and make a huge circle releasing the rest of the net on the way. After some time they pulled in the net slowly bringing in a fairly good catch. Minimum effort, minimum manpower but a fairly good catch.

Looks like this photographer was trying to get some valuable tips about photography from the tourist, or could be just exchanging notes.

but I must say that the view from the balcony was really worth clicking once more.

and finally a front view of the poovath