Comment on COLLEGE DAYS..part 1 ( submitted by Longwaybye)

He-he, yep, I always look back to my own college days in Manila whenever I meet some problems, and yep when I was in the US I always looked back to Manila days and the problems would then seem trivial.

First world countries are spoiled, as one nurse said, after attending a medical mission in Africa.

Thus, I now try to live life like I did in college. Of course, it helps the mind to know I now have some money to spare, but at the risk of being spoiled I dont indulge in what many would call now necessaries.

Life was simple back and college, but it was the fondest and most significant of memories. You never know life till you suffer.

I dont own a bed now, I sleep on the floor. I slept on the floor in manila during college, in a cramped room along with four others, yes right along pedro gil, we called it herran then.

I dont own a car, dont buy digitals, and I cook my food the firewood way.

Yes, I do frequent the movies, like in College.

It is not that I hate modern stuff, but I like to remember the good old days, and really youll find that life is so much easier, and enjoyable, when youve got few things in ownership, and few things to worry about.

I got spoiled when I was in the US too. When I came home after studying there and working there for several years, I wanted the same comforts here in the Philippines. the same cleanliness, the same convenience, the same efficiency, the same Fairness and Justice.

Which made me miserable, of course, given the state of things here.

So after only about a year, i went back to the US, this time aiming for good. But, after several years, i remembered college, and how hard life was in Manila, yet how sweet and satisfying!

I hurried home, and ever since I made my home at home, leaving only for a month or so to visit  and relive memories of my days abroad.

But I always find myself wanting to wake up on the floor, at 5am, to chop firewood.....

STOPPING OVER AT THE NIAGARA ON THE LAKE...

Niagara-on-the Lake is the last place to visit in our tour.

This town is a beautiful, quiet town in the Niagara Penninsula. My daughter told me she and her husband spent their honeymoon in this hamlet which is quiet but gorgeous, full of flowering shrubs, tree-lined boulevards and friendly, smiling people. This is one town that does not believe in progress for progress sake. The townspeople prefer to remain "backwards" and now tourists from all over the world come to visit this place owned by the "backward" people. No bus lines, no factories ( thanks God!).. There is a 5 star hotel housed in a building that must have been built ( and never expanded ) since the 18th century.

A live theatre called Shaw Theatre is one of the main attractions of this town. Beyond its fringes are vineyards producing grapes used for winemaking.

If you are sick of city life, this is one village you should check out, and you will be happy for it! ---#

NIAGARA, ONE OF THE WONDERS OF THE WORLD..

Almost everyday, especially during the Summer season Niagara is wall to wall with tourists..Visiting this tourist spot could be done in two ways: by using a car or joining a tour bus. Each one has certain pros and cons..

If you take a car, you can have more time to walk about and visit the various attractions ( money traps ) of the place..BUT, you have to reckon with finding a parking space.

If you take the tour bus, then you can only have a half hour at most in walking about and enjoy the place...But you will be very comfortable riding in an air condtioned bus..And sometimes, you will learn many things re: Niagara from the lecture of the driver. A buffet is included in the tour, plus the Maid of the Mists ride..Then there will be side trips, esp. to Niagara on the Lake, a wine making country..

This entry describes briefly the ride on the Maid of the Mist. However, no words can do justice to what you see and feel while you are there; the deafening sound of the cascading waters blocking your ears and the white "mist" which envelopes the boat as it approaches the horsehoe falls. Then it stops at a safe distance, otherwise the weight of the oncoming water will capsize and wreck the boat. The people scream as the ship enters the "danger" zone...Using expensive cameras will surely damage its sensitive features. Besides you would not get any good shot anyway. If the sun is out while you are there, you would see a rainbow because the spray would act as a prism to bend the sunlight and divides it into the seven recognizable colours.

After a minute or so, you would feel the ship retreating and then it goes back to the port where it picked the passengers. A new batch of daring passengers would be waiting at the dock, eager to experience what you just have did...

A LETTER TO MIKE BARTLETT

Thanks, Mike!

Yes, if you are a retiree, you have to keep busy, or else!...

Last July3, Monday, we visited Niagara Falls ( and surrounding areas ) with a tour group. The advantage of traveling with a tour bus is the information you get from the guide/driver and luckily, the one we got last Monday was a very erudite fellow..He told us, while driving at highway speed along QEW lots of stories re: the Niagara region..We learned that:

1) The movie NIAGARA starring Marilyn Monroe helped a lot in boosting the popularity of the Falls. Right now, it is one of the top tourist attractions of the world.

2) The trip to the Falls wont be complete if you wont take the trip of the Maid of the Mists, a ship which comes dangerously close to the cascading torrent of the Niagara river. Yes, the Falls is just one part of the river which empties into one of the Great lakes..

3) Kings, Presidents and various royal figures have taken the trip which does not last very long. No words can describe accurately the experience: you have to take it yourself, if you can. You get wet, you get awed, you endure an hour of waiting for a 15-minute boat ride. But compared to the rides of Disneyland or the Universal Studios, this one is REAL. And no accident has ever ocurred since the late 1800's when the first voyage of the Maid took place. I heard that Disney is trying to buy this enterprise but any of his offer was flatly refused by the Niagara Parks..

Photos of the ride will be published shortly in the next entry...

Re: FROM SUPERMAN TO A CHINESE CHORAL CONCERT

Mr. Costes,

Love this entry.  You have to be one of the busiest men around.  I hope to
catch Superman this week.  I too am a huge fan of the "Man of Steel".

All the best to you and Mrs. Costes.  Happy Canada Day!

--Bartlett

CANADA DAY PHOTOS part 2

CANADA DAY PHOTOS part 1....

CANADA DAY 2006

was a bright, sunny day all over Toronto. Side show tents, craft markets, flea markets sprung all over parts of the city like mushrooms. Harbourfront, at the edge of Lake Ontario was the center of an interesting array of events and a big sailboat that leaves the harbour every hour carrying tourists who want to experience an hour or so ride circling the Center Islands ( where people were also gathering for bar-b-ques, ball playing or just plain sun tanning..

In the Toronto Star stage was an hour long program of belly dancing stars..The dancers were quite a sight: they look as if they came straight from the pages of the 1001 Arabian Nights!

There were also craft exhibitions in the Gallery, and for those who stayed up to midnight, there were firework exhibitions that streaked the sky with splashes of fiery colors..