AN EXCITING EVENING IN TORONTO - CANADA JOURNEY

Our first son, daughter-in-law, and our grandson live in the US, and we visit them frequently. This time, we planned a short trip to Canada to see the mighty Niagara Falls from the Canadian side and also visit the Canadian Rockies.

When we visited Australia way back in 2012, we had a guide and coach driver named Doctor Phil. He was very humorous and friendly, and, noticing my enthusiasm to travel to different places in the world, told us that he was a Canadian settled in Australia and that the Canadian Rockies were stunning to see and we should definitely visit them one day.

We started from the Dallas Fort Worth International Airport for Toronto and landed in Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ), located in Mississauga 15 miles northwest of downtown, after three hours.

Toronto Pearson International Airport is Canada's largest and busiest airport, handling global, international, and domestic flights.

Since we had taken only hand luggage, we came out of the airport quickly and checked into the hotel we had already booked. I saw that the hotel was equipped with exceptionally good toiletries, a point I noticed in every hotel we stayed in, while in Canada. 

By the time we checked in, it was nearly time for lunch, and after searching online, we found an Indian restaurant, the Khazana Toronto. Our hotel was located quite close to the restaurant, so we walked back and forth.

On our way, we saw the St. Michael's Cathedral Basilica, the cathedral church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Toronto, and one of the oldest churches in Toronto. 

It was primarily financed by Irish immigrants who resided in the area. The cathedral has a capacity of 1600. 

As we walked by, I saw that a marriage reception was being held, and it was beautiful to watch the festivities.

There were many heritage homes on the way, with signboards containing information about their history.

We observed that the streets were clean and traffic was orderly; as the signboards were very explicit, we easily reached our destination. The ambience and food in the restaurant were good. 

Having rested for a while, we wanted to explore Toronto by the evening bus, as this bus trip was supposed to be very captivating, and we were leaving for a tour to the Niagara Falls the next day.

The bus tour would be for a duration of 90 minutes with a live tour guide speaking in English.

We started for Sankofa Square, where we had to purchase the bus tickets.

Sankofa Square formerly known as Yonge–Dundas Square, is a public square and outdoor venue at the southeast corner of the intersection of Yonge Street and Dundas Street East in downtown Toronto. The square was conceived in 1997 as part of a revitalization, effort for the intersection and the stretch of Yonge Street.

Since its completion in 2002, the square has held many public events, performances and art displays, establishing itself as a prominent landmark in Toronto and is presently one of the city's prime tourist attractions.

The city owns the square and is the first public square in Canada to be maintained through a public-private partnership

Controversy arose over the namesake of Dundas Street, Henry Dundas, whose amendments to William Wilberforce’s abolitionist parliamentary motions delayed the full abolition of slavery in the Slave Trade Act 1807. Toronto City Council voted in 2021 to rename Dundas Street and other civic assets named after Dundas, including Yonge–Dundas Square.

It was not until December 2023 that the City Council approved "Sankofa Square". This name, a Ghanaian term from the Akan people, refers to the act of reflecting on and reclaiming teachings from the past. 

Citing costs, in December 2023, Toronto opted to keep Dundas' name for the street, but to rename Yonge–Dundas Square, the Dundas and Dundas West subway stations, and the Jane–Dundas branch of the Toronto Public Library.

An official grand opening for the new name was held on August 23, 2025. The grand opening featured Caribbean short films, live music, an artisan and vendor market, and basketball clinics.

The intersection is one of the busiest in Canada, with over 100,000 people crossing the city's first pedestrian scramble daily.

As we walked towards the square, we observed that the busy streets had people of different ages and nationalities; most were tourists, and the atmosphere was electrifying indeed.

Sankofa Square was dazzling with the iconic digital billboards placed all around, and gradually as the sun started setting, the bustle of the crowd increased.

The square is continuously illuminated by large billboard screens and corporate logos, resembling Times Square in New York City, Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo, and Piccadilly Circus in London.

It is 1 acre in area and is shaped like an irregular pentagon. It is made with modular raised square textured granite slabs with a diagonally running zinc canopy, demarking the southern edge. 

As we went nearer, we saw a movable plinth that served as a stage for concerts. There was a live show going on, small trees lined the southern edge and a transparent canopy covered the plinth.

As we walked along, we discovered to our delight that the centerpiece of the square is the array of fountains designed by Dan Euser of Water Architecture. Two rows of ten fountains were spread out across the square's main walkway, so that one could walk through or around the fountains. 

Unlike many other city fountains, the square's fountains are meant for water play and include a sophisticated filtration system. 

The entire rock surface is of a very dark colour and effectively absorbs sunlight, thereby creating a warm surface on which to rest. The water runs under the dark rock slabs and is thus heated by them, so that the fountain water is solar-heated. 

The fountains comprise a dynamic art installation and water sculpture in which the 600 water jets are programmed to vary dynamically over time. 

The square is Toronto's only 24-hour water play area, open all day and night except during special events, maintenance, and other exceptions. 

Many people drink from the ground spray nozzles, we found some people even filling up water bottles from the ground sprays, and since water play is one of the intended uses, the water is tested daily, between 9 a.m. and 10 a.m., by the Toronto health department, and water is treated with bromine, which many bathers prefer to chlorine. 

Surrounding the square are major landmarks, including the Toronto Eaton Centre the downtown retail hub; Ed Mirvish Theatre; and the 33 Dundas Street East building. The heavily illuminated Eaton Centre is said to be a shopper's paradise, though unfortunately, we didn’t have time to shop.

We could see the CF Toronto Eaton Centre 3D Billboard, a massive high-resolution LED screen on the exterior of the Eaton Centre. This digital out-of-home display was created by combining two adjacent screens into one of Canada’s largest outdoor LED billboards, providing brands with a huge canvas for vibrant motion content and 3D-style visuals that stand out in the city’s busiest retail and entertainment district.

A media tower installed in 2017 is located to the northwest of the square and has a curved video screen, and is advertised as the tallest media tower in the world. 

Another large media tower, complete with a video screen, is a major feature of the Rogers Media building on the southeast corner of Dundas Square. 

The introduction of the imposing media tower, screens, and brightly illuminated advertising billboards has been too great a personal sacrifice for some residents, who feel that the neighborhood's identity and character are lost.

As we were strolling around, we saw the brightly coloured open-top double-decker bus that we wanted to travel for the tour.

We paid, got the tickets, and went up to the open top for a better experience; it was awesome to see all the brightly lit billboards so closely.

At the designated time, the bus started, and we enjoyed breathtaking views of the cityscape from the comfort of our tour bus.

As the bus went on its way, from the guide, we learned fascinating stories and insights about Toronto's history and culture.

The Art Gallery of Ontario was a masterpiece of modern architecture that looked fabulous lit up at night, and the iconic Toronto sign at Nathan Philips Square, illuminated against the backdrop of the city skyline, provided the perfect photo opportunity; we wished we could have visited it at leisure. 

We saw a quaintly named Village Idiot pub right across the Art Gallery of Ontario.

We passed by Toronto’s primary LGBTQ+ district, the Church-Wellesley Village, commonly known as "The Village", located right in the heart of downtown Toronto. It has a striking history. 

In the 1950s, City Park Apartments near Church and Yonge became a hub for the early gay population, earning the nickname "the Queens' Palaces" due to its affordable and accepting environment. 

In the 1960s and 70s, gay life originally centred on Yonge Street spots like the St. Charles Tavern. In the mid-1970s, the Church Street corridor featured low rents, attracting LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs who opened friendly, alternative spaces. 

On February 5, 1981, Toronto police raided four gay steam baths, making over 280 mass arrests. The massive community protests that followed galvanized political activism, and following this event, the epicenter of queer life solidified around Church and Wellesley. 

In the 1980s, the 519 Church Street Community Centre emerged as a safe meeting place for social and political groups, solidifying the neighborhood's identity. 

The Village was at the forefront of the HIV/AIDS crisis, giving rise to essential support spaces like Casey House, one of the first AIDS hospices in North America. 

The Village is a highly walkable area, featuring a rich array of queer-owned businesses, dining spots, nightlife, and community centres.

The village looked dynamic and colourful with brightly dressed men strolling around.

Chinatown and Little Italy were the usual cultural hubs bustling with nightlife.

We saw the Old City Hall featuring a large, 340 ft tall clock tower that is a terminating vista for Bay Street south of Queen Street West and is also prominently visible from Queen Street and Nathan Phillips Square. The clock tower was the tallest structure in Canada for 18 years, from 1899 until 1917.

We then went along the trendy Queen West strip, known for its art galleries and eclectic shops, before entering the lively Club District, where the pulsating nightlife seemed to fill and throb the air.

Our bus passed by The Well, a testament to modern urban development, and the famous Rogers Centre, home to the city's beloved sports teams. 

It was thrilling to enjoy breathtaking views of the CN Tower lit up in all its glory, as well as see the shimmering and towering skyscrapers of the Financial District. 

After concluding our bus tour, we had a quick dinner and went back to our hotel.

OUR HOLY VISIT TO SRINGERI

We wanted to visit Sringeri for a long time, and finally we got the chance to visit one day. We started from Mangalore early in the morning; the distance from there to Sringeri is around 110 km and takes 2.5 to 3.5 hours. We would be passing through the Kudremukh forest area.

The journey was thrilling, we had a clear blue sky with an occasional white cloud passing by, on both sides, there were coffee plantations with steep driveways, and big houses were scattered far apart with beautiful gardens. I noticed that most of these gardens were adorned with bright red hibiscus flowers.

Part of our journey took us through a ghat section, and our driver, Jayaram, navigated the car with utmost care and patience.

On the way, we came across the Tunga River, skipping down cheerfully from the mountains, 18 kilometres from Bhadravathi, It joins the Bhadra River to become the Tungabhadra River.

Sringeri is a hill town in the middle of the forest and is the Taluk headquarters of the Chikkamagaluru district of Karnataka.

As per Hindu Mythology, it constantly rains in Sringeri and particularly in June, July and August, it is difficult to reach due to the heavy rains

The name Sringeri is derived from Rishyashringa-giri, a nearby hill which is believed to have housed the hermitage of Rishi Vibhandaka and his son.

According to existing legend, Adi Sankaracharya is said to have selected the site as the place to stay and teach his disciples, because one day, when he was walking by the Tunga River, he saw a cobra with a raised hood, it was providing shelter from the hot sun to a frog undergoing labour. Astonished that natural enemies had acted against their instincts, he felt that this land had divine powers, and he stayed here for twelve years.

Sringeri was established by Sri Adi Shankaracharya, who founded the Dakshinamnaya Sringeri Sharada Peetham, the first of four monasteries he created to spread Advaita Vedanta.

Sri Adi Shankaracharya also established other 3 Mathas, the northern one at Jyotirmath near Badrinath, on the shores of the Alakananda river , Eastern Govardhan Math, at Puri and Western at  Kalikamath at Dwaraka on the Gomathi river .

After freshening up, we went to the Tunga River, which was flowing placidly. Near the shore, there were very large black fish, eagerly jumping out of the water to grab the food being offered by the pilgrims. These fish are considered sacred and so are not caught for human consumption.

Apparently, Adi Shankaracharya used to go to the other shore for meditation every day. Once there were heavy floods and the water level suddenly increased. Sensing Adi Shankaracharya’s dilemma, a big fish is said to have taken him on its back and crossed to the other shore.

Presently, there is a hanging bridge on the river to go to the other shore, where Narasimhavanam the site where the guru meditated is located. Beside it, one can see a deer park, Sanjeevani Sanskrit Patashala, and samdhis of many Acharya.

We could see people going about their work silently and some were seen meditating. It was a very serene and pious place.

The present presiding head (36th Jagadguru Shankaracharya) of the Sringeri Sharada Peetham is Sri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswamiji, who has led since 1989. His successor-designate (37th Jagadguru) is Sri Vidhushekhara Bharati Mahaswamiji, appointed in 2015.

The main Sarada temple initially had a Srichakram on a rock and then a sandalwood statue installed by Sankaracharya in 8th century. Later, it was built in stone and in 1960, the then Peetadipathi Srividya Teertha Swami had a beautiful golden statue of Ammavaru made and installed. 

The temple is beautiful and in the sanctum, we find a statue of Saradamba ammavaru, her left hand holding the Amrutha kalasam and a book , her right hand holds the Rudraksha mala, she has a smiling face with shining eyes, I looked at her in entranced devotion.

Disciples believe that Guru Rupini Trimurthis and their wives reside in the statue, and regular archanas with Lalitha Sahasra nama are performed here .

There is a big hall and Pradikshana Mantapa hall and Rajagopuram was built in 2014, its height of 127 feet. All Peetadhipathis,  before starting any important work, take permission from Ammavaru till today.

Opposite the temple is the Aksharabyasa mantapam  where getting the Aksharabyasam a ritual where children are initiated into learning by writing their first letters on a slate,it is believed to bring powerful and good results.

The day we went to Sringeri was the Peetadhipathi’s birthday, and 100 Bramhacharis had performed an extensive homam; just standing near the Yaga Mandapam gave us a holy aura and vibes.

The temple has received significant support from the Vijayanagara Empire and, later, from Tipu Sultan, who provided funds for its restoration after it was damaged in the 1790s. 

The temple is a major centre for Navaratri, a significant festival, celebrated over 11 days with grand processions and a Golden Chariot (Rathotsava) on the final days and Shankara Jayanti, which commemorates the birth of Adi Shankaracharya with special prayers and scholarly debates.

Another temple,  the Vidyasankara Temple, has been constructed in memory of 10 th Peetadipathi, who had built Sarada Devi Temple, its uniqueness being its twelve pillars, which showcase zodiac signs, designed to receive sun rays during specific months .

We later visited Chenna Kesavalayam, which was beautiful but incomplete; it has a spotless spatika Chandra Mouleeswara lingam brought from Varanasi 

When this mutt was started, Kalabhairava, Anjaneya, Durga and Kalimata temples were established by Adi Shankaracharya on its four sides.

Sringeri has now become a renowned centre of learning and devotion, and the best time to visit it is from October to March.

The Temple Trust offers free food and accommodation for pilgrims. We had our food in the evening, it was served hot and was very tasty. 

We particularly had a very divine experience, we had gone there in hot summer and on a special day, we had difficulty finding accommodation and finally with great effort we got a room with a tin roof and a single fan whirling away lazily, my hubby was doubtful if I could sleep in that room without AC but I said let us take it , after darshan and dinner, we came to the room and to my surprise it had rained profusely and weather had cooled down, I slept like a baby, I suppose it was only divine intervention. 

Our holy trip to Sringeri, though short, was very memorable.

"TAM BIET " GOODBYE TILL WE MEET AGAIN - VIETNAM JOURNEY

 It was our last day in Vietnam, and we were in Ho Chi Minh City, also popularly called Saigon.

We could clearly see architectural imprints of colonial rule, blended with relics of the city's commercial and oriental roots. 

Our first visit was to the Reunification Palace, also known as the Independence Palace, the site of the former Norodom Palace, designed by the famous architect Ngô Viết Thụ. 

Our Bus was allowed only up to a certain point, and all of us had to get down and walk towards the palace. Befitting its name, the palace looked resplendent in a setting of huge ancient trees and a beautiful lawn with water fountains merrily sprinkling water all around it. The Independence Palace symbolises Vietnam's victory, peace, and territorial integrity. 

The Palace covers an area of 120,000 square meters and is adjacent to four major streets. It has hundreds of rooms equipped with luxurious furnishings and decorations, and gorgeous exterior space. 

The palace is an ideal destination for visitors to escape the heat in Southern Vietnam, enjoy the fresh, cool air, and explore one of the most remarkable structures in Ho Chi Minh City.

Two South Vietnamese pilots, Nguyen Van Cu and Pham Phu Quoc  had bombed the Independence Palace in 1962, as construction of the palace was started immediately, Diệm and his ruling family moved to Gia Long Palace, now a museum. 

Unfortunately, Diem and his brother and chief adviser Ngô Đình Nhu were assassinated in 1963. The completed palace was inaugurated in 1966 by General Nguyen Van Thieu, the then head of a military junta. The Independence Hall served as Thiệu's home and office from October 1967 to April 1975.

Thieu fled the country as communist North Vietnamese forces swept southwards in the decisive Ho Chi Minh campaign on 30th April 1975 and a tank of the North Vietnamese army dramatically bulldozed through the main gate, effectively ending the Vietnam War.

After the reunification of Vietnam, the building continued to serve as a government and presidential office until 1976, when the capital of South Vietnam was officially moved to Hanoi.

The palace is now preserved as a convention hall for state events and also serves as a public museum, making it a popular tourist attraction in Ho Chi Minh City.

We looked at the route map displayed in the entrance and started our tour of the palace.

The most interesting section of the museum was its war room, where strategic planning and key decisions were made during the Vietnam War.

Maps, South Vietnamese furnishings, and communication equipment were seen throughout the room.

The president’s formal office and the map room connected to it gave us interesting insight into the decision-making process that must have taken place at that time.

The conference and reception rooms, where official events and diplomatic meetings regularly took place, showcased power and opulence, adorned with massive carpets, golden curtains, impressive chandeliers, and well-crafted furniture.

The helipad is an interesting find on the terrace area, as this was where the last helicopter carrying American delegates departed during the fall of Saigon. I could feel the palpable tension the delegates must have felt at that moment.

The Independence Palace's stunning gardens gave us a beautiful chance to stroll around in quiet reflection and peace. I found a group of youngsters trying to have a photoshoot session for their graduation. There was frustration on the faces of the boys, while the girls were patiently giving poses. 

The Independence Palace is a brave and stark reminder of Vietnam’s tragic history and its journey towards independence and reunification.

Our next visit was to the War Remnants Museum, established on September 4, 1975.

The museum specialises in researching, collecting, preserving and displaying evidence of crimes and consequences of the wars and aggression against Vietnam, it calls out for awareness against unjust wars, protecting peace and promoting solidarity between nations. 

We entered the campus and saw several buildings with period military equipment placed within a walled yard. The military equipment included a BA fighter helicopter, a fighter plane, a" Daisy Cutter" bomb, an M48 Patton tank, an attack bomber, and a Cessna A-17 Dragonfly attack bomber. The whole setup of the equipment was so scary, I could imagine how the Vietnamese felt and suffered during the wars.

Many of the aircraft decorated with non-standard "U.S. Air Force" decals were actually those of the South Vietnamese Air Force, obviously altered for display purposes. There was a huge bell prepared from a bomb.

There were pieces of unexploded ordnance stored in the corner of the yard, with their charges and/or fuses luckily removed. 

The museum was three stories and held countless artefacts and graphic photographs, including photographer Nick Ut’s Pulitzer Prize-winning shot, “The Terror of War.”

Personally, for me, going around the museum was shocking and distressing too, as always, I wish that there wouldn’t be wars; the terrible consequences of any war are borne, unfortunately, by the younger generation.

The museum has 9 permanent exhibition themes, quite a few short-term mobile exhibitions and activities to interact with war witnesses, it has nearly 1 million visitors each year both domestic and foreign.

It covered the effects of Agent Orange and other chemical defoliant sprays, the use of napalm and phosphorous bombs, and war atrocities.The photographic display included work by Vietnam War photojournalist Bunyo Ishikawa, which he had donated to the museum in 1998. 

Curiosities included a Guillotine used by the French and South Vietnamese to execute prisoners, the last time being in 1960, and three jars of preserved human foetuses deformed by exposure to dioxins contained in the defoliant Agent Orange and pack-bikes which played a key role in the war, carrying tons of supplies during the nights silently and endlessly.

One building reproduced the "tiger cages" in which the South Vietnamese government kept political prisoners. All the exhibits included graphic photography, accompanied by a short text in English, Vietnamese and Japanese, 

Our next visit was to the twin-spired Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, a peaceful oasis in the busy downtown area. Built entirely from materials imported from France, the construction of the cathedral lasted nearly two decades, from 1863 to 1880.

Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon is an iconic symbol of Ho Chi Minh City, showcasing stunning French colonial architecture. It is located about 1.2km from Ben Thanh Market. The cathedral stands as a testament to the city's rich history.

Built in the late 19th century, the cathedral features twin bell towers which are 58 meters tall, red brick walls imported from France, and beautiful stained-glass windows.

This peaceful cathedral is well worth a visit for its historical significance and breathtaking design, making it a favourite spot for both worshippers and tourists.

Located in the heart of the city, it’s the perfect place to admire European-style architecture. Unfortunately, we couldn’t visit it as it has been under renovation since 2017.

We then saw the alabaster statue of the Virgin Mary perched in the centre of the square, which is said to have wept tears on a single occasion in 2005, witnessed by huge crowds there at the time.

Opposite the cathedral is Saigon’s charming general post office. The building was constructed when Vietnam was part of French Indochina and has Gothic, Renaissance and French influences. It was constructed between 1886 and 1891 and is now a tourist attraction. Alfred Foulhoux has designed it.

It had a stunning facade of French architecture, yellow walls, arched doors and windows, and decorative reliefs. 

Right at the top, there was a massive clock that had been running for more than 130 years. The names of numerous well-known scientists and inventors of the telegraph industry, such as Benjamin Franklin, Alessandro Volta, and Michael Faraday, were engraved on rectangular cells stretching from the centre to the sides of the building.

We entered and found a massive foyer flanked by rows of Victorian-era wooden phone booths, and a huge portrait of Ho Chi Minh in the centre.

There were two painted maps created after the post office was built. The first one, located on the left side of the building, is a map of Southern Vietnam and Cambodia titled "Telegraphic lines of Southern Vietnam and Cambodia 1892".

The second map of Greater Saigon is titled "Saigon and its surroundings 1892".

The entire length of the post office was covered by a dome-shaped roof created in a highly sophisticated arched structure and supported by a row of pillars on both sides.

There were many gift shops, and people were buying postcards and posting them.

 

The last item on our tour was the Ben Thanh Market, located in the centre of the city and truly a timeless marketplace. To start with, it was just a small market by the Ben Nghe River, built in 1870. In 1912, the French authorities decided to relocate and rebuild the market at its current location. 

The market was inaugurated in 1914, more than a century ago, and has not only been a bustling trading place but also a mute historical witness of the ups and downs of Saigon.

Ben Thanh Market stands out among other markets in Vietnam thanks to its distinctive French colonial architecture, making it a historic landmark of Ho Chi Minh City. Covering an area of approximately 13,000 square meters, with more than 1500 stalls, the market features a large, yellow-ochre facade with a signature clock tower.

The Ben Thanh Market has 4 main entrances located on major streets, and like most Saigon markets, it operates with two main time frames: the day and the night market. The market opens from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM, when the stalls inside are bustling, selling a variety of goods, including fresh food, clothing, handicrafts, and local specialities.

After 6:00 PM, the market lights up, transforming into a bustling night market with street food stalls and souvenirs, and lasts till 10:00 PM.

As we entered, we could see a matrix of aisles selling everything from fresh produce to conical hats, weasel coffee to lacquerware. 

The high, dome-like ceiling and spacious walkways ensured that natural ventilation and light happened, creating a comfortable shopping experience, although the temperature was very humid.

We found that the market was divided into different sections, making it easy for us to explore. Dry goods, souvenirs, and handicrafts were in one area, while fresh produce, seafood, and street food stalls were located in another. I found differently shaped brooms that have come to the Numaish exhibition this year.

The clothing and accessories section was also conveniently arranged, and was the most sought after by most of us.

We were pre-warned by our guide to carry cash, dress comfortably and stay hydrated to overcome the humidity. We found we had to bargain hard but most of the shopkeepers were very friendly.

I loved Ben Thanh Market as it offered a rich shopping experience, we managed to explore local culture while finding unique souvenirs and savour delicious Vietnamese specialities.

Thus came the end of our Vietnam trip. I found the places interesting and the Vietnamese people very warm and welcoming.