Trip to Toronto

PakistaniAbroad · Oct 31st, 2004, 02:40 AM

I had the opportunity to visit a couple of weekends ago.. it was a very short visit but I tried to see as much as i could..

Started with the famous Gerrard Street

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I tell you.. it's nothing like the desi streets we have in the US.. I've seen Jackson Heights and Jersey City and Houston now.. I've been to Devon.. but Gerrard Street tops them all in it's 'desipuna'..

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If it weren't for the Street Car rolling through every now and then you'd not believe u were in a foreign land..

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Next stop was of course the CN tower.. On the way..

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This "Sports Bar" scene caught my eye right next to the Tower..

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Well the first impression one gets of the CN Tower from afar is .. hey it's not that big.. but as u drive closer through streets approaching it.. u're head tends to tilt upwards to be able to see it in it's entirety..

I had trouble fitting it in the frame!!

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The light was fading fast as evening approached so I had to quickly grab a few shots before taking the trip to the top..

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continued ....

PakistaniAbroad · Oct 31st, 2004, 03:03 AM

... continued..

I spotted some railway tracks underneath the path that takes you to the tower ticket windows.. There's something about train tracks.. I always end up getting a picture!

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Well did u know.. it takes 58 seconds to get to the top of the tower... at least that's what the elevator operator told us.. she couldn't get much in as it really didn't seem long.. AND it didn't appear we went very fast..

From the top the view of the buildings below ...

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The sun had set so I quickly grabbed a 'night shot' of the lights

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There's a 'glass floor' which is actually a small portion of the floow where u can see down.. it's not for those afraid of height.. and those whose imaan is weak..

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Night fell and toronto lit up ..

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There's this restaurant on one of the levels ..oonchee dukaan.. but i didn't have time to sample the pakwaan.. some other time i guess..

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On the way down the operator told us it takes the same amount of time (58 sec) to get to the ground!!.. Why? shouldn't it be faster? and what is it with 58 sec.. i guess they were avoiding those who'd say:

Hey how long to the top?
1 minute!!!! forgeddaboudid!!
what's that? .. only 58 sec... oh let's go!

continued ...

PakistaniAbroad · Oct 31st, 2004, 03:04 AM

... continued

The exit takes you through a display of Hollywood Movie Sets.. I only took the photo of Spiderman's desk.. looked like he needs a new computer.

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Some folks were intently watching a picture wall.. i didn't get to see the photos but i found the scene photogenic

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They were also showing a movie; about sets i guess.. which may explain the 'overwhelming' interest

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Well that concluded the trip.

The next day was a ferry ride to one of the islands .. Center Island was closed but the ferry ride was enjoyable.

Here's the final photo from the Ferry.. looking back at Toronto

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**------------- The End ---------- **

Important: All images posted are copyright PakistaniAbroad. Please do not copy or reproduce them without permission. Thanks

Shakuntala Devi · Oct 31st, 2004, 03:42 AM

Wow..you really know how to take pictures and Ilike the way you made the brackground, very creative. Looks like you had fun

p.s. don't worry..I won't copy your pictures

Irem · Oct 31st, 2004, 04:02 AM

>>>> I tell you.. it's nothing like the desi streets we have in the US.. I've seen Jackson Heights and Jersey City and Houston now.. I've been to Devon.. but Gerrard Street tops them all in it's 'desipuna'..

OK...U of T it is for grad school for me then

Code_Red · Oct 31st, 2004, 06:44 AM

Great snaps

Thanx for sharing

CareBear · Oct 31st, 2004, 07:15 AM

I'm impressed! Lovely photographs, and even lovelier presentation. I absolutely love what you've done to the pictures.

You didn't meet any of us.

Mehnaz · Oct 31st, 2004, 10:09 AM

I can't believe you didn't go to the Yorkville area! Walking down those streets also makes you feel like you are in a foreign land.

PakistaniAbroad · Nov 1st, 2004, 11:36 AM

Shakuntala Devi - Thanks. Yes I had fun.. it was short but i think it was enough time. And u can reproduce any photo if you dont' forget to give me credit for it.

irem - Toronto on the whole has more desis per square mile.. i'm sure u'd be right at home

Code_Red - Thanks

CareBear - Thanks CB.. just playing with some Actions i downloaded.. varna i can't even dream of creating such borders myself .. too much time involved..

and hey there may always be a next time.

MehnazQ Yorkville? hmm is that somewhere along Younge Street?

Mehnaz · Nov 1st, 2004, 12:47 PM

Yorkville is more Bloor and Bay area. I guess it does stretch out onto Yonge Street too though.

PakistaniAbroad · Nov 2nd, 2004, 11:37 AM

well I did drive through Younge Street.. but see it wasn't any different from regular North American streets with fancy malls and designer stores and coffee-sipping yuppies on a stroll.

i opted to spend the time having paThooray in Brampton instead

Qrius · Nov 2nd, 2004, 09:39 PM

Great photographs. I love them all.

You didn't take any pics of skydome? did you went to any museums or art related things? or casa loma (the only castle in toronto)?

what's paThooray? is it another name of bhatooray? like cholay bhatooray?

Mehnaz · Nov 2nd, 2004, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by PakistaniAbroad:
well I did drive through Younge Street.. but see it wasn't any different from regular North American streets with fancy malls and designer stores and coffee-sipping yuppies on a stroll.

i opted to spend the time having paThooray in Brampton instead

You were in Brampton? Half the Toronto guppies live in Brampton. Tsk.

hayaa · Nov 4th, 2004, 08:06 AM

PA, shall we tell everyone about our secret rendez-vous?

Great pics, how about one with you in it?

PakistaniAbroad · Nov 9th, 2004, 12:06 PM

Qrius - Thanks.. nope.. didn't get the skydome.. was it the one next to the tower? Well I couldn't get the 'cultural' Toronto this trip.. it was more touristy.. and yeah.. pathooray.. bhatooray.. same deal.. puris on steroids.

MehnazQ really? i was told Brampton is a more "Sikh" area.. oh well it all adds up

hayaa tello tello.. konsa yaqeen karna hay kisee nay.. with u'r credibility

and i'm not in the pics cuz

i was behind the camera!

suroor_ca02 · Nov 9th, 2004, 08:02 PM

great pics PA. u shud come and visit during spring/summer time.. its beautiful at that time of the year plus there is a lot more to see in toronto then including the festivals n all. :-)

Mehnaz · Nov 9th, 2004, 08:38 PM

PA, Brampton does have a huge sikh population. Over the past few years though, more and more Pakistanis are moving into Brampton's various neighbourhoods. Ah well, next time.

hayaa · Nov 9th, 2004, 09:41 PM

Quote:

with u'r credibility

*gasp* say what!

Mennu samajh nai laggi.

(

)

funguy · Nov 10th, 2004, 07:15 AM

Wow! lovely pics. I have been to Toronto many times but never ventured out on Gerrard or Brampton. How the hell did I miss those???. I think a weekend trip over thanksgiving ain't a bad idea. It's only 7 hours away. I can leave Thursday morning..get there same evening... and head back saturday afternoon.

Any nice desi touch hotels to stay on Gerrard?. No, I don't want the Hiltons or the Marriotts. Just some down to earth simplistic room.

Mehnaz · Nov 10th, 2004, 09:01 AM

hahaha, you don't want to stay in the Gerrard Street area, trust me.

Khair, there are lots of desi areas here .... you have a small little Pakistani hub on Dundas in Mississauga and then you have all the shops at Albion and the Malton areas, plus Gerrard Street. Lots of Pakistani and Indian shops/restaurants. In a way, Pakistani owned businesses are starting to pop up everywhere which is good.