pkondz
Brace yourself for immediate disintegration
- Joined
- Mar 9, 2007
- Messages
- 33,429
Dear John
I did have some free time
while I was in Toronto.
So while my sister was
at work, I took advantage
of the time to visit a couple
spots.
Here is a semi-comprehensive
list of the top things to do
while visiting Toronto.
Often, the number one
attraction listed isn't even
in Toronto.
Niagara Falls.
Niagara Falls is actually
three separate falls
Horseshoe, American
and Bridal Veil falls.
It's the most powerful falls
in North America
with over six million cubic
feet of water flowing through
every minute.
And it's a two-hour drive away
and I've been there four times.
So I didn't do that.
Also on the list of things to do are:
CN Tower
Royal Ontario Museum
St. Lawrence Market
Casa Loma (Gothic revival mansion)
Kensington Market
The Distillery District
Ripley's Aquarium of Canada
Toronto Island...
And I've done them all.
Some several times.
The end.
Well...
I did see a couple things
that were new to me.
And neither were on that list.
And to me, that made them
more interesting.
I like the path less taken
from time to time.
Most (some?... one?)
of you know that I
like Japanese gardens.
Maybe I like the relative
Zen calmness compared
to the hustle and bustle
of the highways and byways.
I Googled and found:
No one else I talked to
in Toronto had heard of it.
Which didn't bode particularly
well, but I was determined
to check it out.
Upon entering the park,
the first thing I saw
was this tall lantern.
Normally, Japanese dai-dōrō
are used to line paths.
So this one was curiously placed
within a thicket of bushes and trees.
I did smile at this foot bridge:
Not only because it was pretty,
but because I had long been told
that the design was to thwart
evil spirits.
Supposedly, evil spirits
can only move in straight lines.
Which we all know isn't true.
I mean... surely you've seen
ghost movies before?
Apparently... the bridge is
designed that way...
because it's pretty.
Or technically Feng Shui.
It's also designed that way
to focus attention to the
place and moment.
If you don't... you'll walk off
and into the water.
Walking along the pathway
offers glimpses of the
pagoda and duck pond.
The large Friendship Bell
was donated to the park
by the city of Kariya in Japan.
(Hence the park's name.)
I was a little saddened to see
that the sand garden
was either not being maintained
or had been disturbed.
Usually, the sand garden
is one of my favourite spots
to stop and just... be.
Slightly disappointed,
I continued my tour,
pausing from time to time
to admire the various
design elements.
After spending some time
exploring nature...
Nature called.
Luckily there was a Subway
restaurant right across the street.
I ambled over and...
Both restrooms were out of order.
Poop.
Uh... I mean...
When I walked out,
I was approached by a couple
seeking directions.
This happens to me all the time.
People ask me for directions.
And always when I'm on vacation.
Funny thing is, I have about
a 50% success rate of knowing
the place they want to go.
Not this time however.
Sorry!
And... luckily, there was
a mall nearby.
Problem (well, mine) solved.
I also visited the
BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir
(Hindu temple)
Say that fast five times!
Actually not that hard.
Hindu temple
Hindu temple
Hindu temple
Hindu temple
Hindu temple
See? Easy.
It was built in eighteen
months and consists of
24,000 pieces of hand carved
Italian Carrara marble,
Turkish limestone and
Indian pink stone.
It's the largest Hindu temple
of its kind in Canada.
This door caught my eye
with its intricate carving.
You can get a sense for the scale
of the temple in this shot.
Notice the worker on the roof
towards the left of the photo.
In addition to the temple,
there is a cultural center.
The details carved into
the wood are insane.
I didn't enter the temple,
not knowing the proper
protocols and not wanting
to offend.
I can only imagine
what it must look like inside.
Even if I did get in,
I couldn't show you, as there
were signs indicating no
photography was allowed.
I headed back to my sister's
and a dilemma.
She lives in an apartment.
She gave me a spare key
to her own apartment
but didn't have a spare
key card to access the building.
I parked my car, sashayed up
to the front door,
nodded to the woman who
opened the door and walked
in right behind her.
That may have been a
little too easy.
Worked in my favour, mind you.
Lastly, the reason I'd made
the trip in the first place.
The night of the Elton John concert.
I'd listened to his music for about
as long as I can remember.
My sister owned his first
Greatest Hits album
(on vinyl... when it wasn't
just hip, but the only medium)
that came out in 1974.
I'd borrow it (take when she
wasn't home)
and play it on dad's Hi Fi.
(Not WiFi... Hi Fi.
Google it, kids.)
The afternoon of the concert,
I hopped on the subway
(first time in Toronto!)
and made my way downtown
where my sister works.
I met her there and we
had dinner at a nearby place.
And then it was time to head
over to the arena.
When we arrived, they hadn't
opened the doors yet
and there was a mob
waiting outside.
I noticed two large trucks
parked in the street.
I knew right away what they
were there for.
I find it sad that we live
in an era where precautions
have to be taken against
people who can drive and
are certifiably insane.
Soon, they opened the doors
and we made our way inside.
Just before we did, the doorman
turned away a man and his date.
I wonder if he was trying to sneak in
or had been scammed with a fake ticket.
We made our way to our seats
(after the requisite T-shirt purchase.)
The view from our seats:
We spent quite a bit of time
examining the stage and
pointing out various items.
Notice, on the "frame"
about halfway down on the left
hand side... there's a lion?
(Of note, he did not perform
a single song from Lion King.)
And then...
The lights dimmed
and went dark.
Spotlights centered on the piano.
Elton John sat quietly and...
...brought his hands down.
On one chord.
That's all.
Just that one tone,
hanging in the air.
And if you know
Bennie and the Jets,
then you know that sound.
The arena erupted.
Sir John hit it again.
The crowd roared.
Again.
Roar!
Again!
Roar!
And with that,
Elton John launched
into what was a
magical, mystical concert
experience for me and
a few thousand of my
closest friends.
It was a bit of an eclectic mix.
He did many of his most
well-known and well-loved songs,
but he also did a few that I didn't
recognize.
Occasionally, Sir John would
talk to the crowd.
He told the story of how,
early in his career, he was
told that one of his songs
was going to be covered
by another artist.
"I nearly p*ssed my pants!" He exclaimed.
We all laughed.
But then he said who was
going to do the cover...
"F**ing Aretha Franklin!!"
Cool moment.
Some of you may know
that Elton John doesn't
write his own lyrics.
Bernie Taupin has written
most of his songs.
Elton explained:
"Bernie would write the lyrics in one room
and then I would go in another room
to do the melody.
We never wrote a single song
in the same room together.
Maybe that's why we've stayed
together for fifty years."
He also talked about how
Toronto was the home
of his husband David Furnish
and that his kids were Canadian.
Some of the songs he played that night
in addition to Bennie and the Jets:
Tiny Dancer, Philadelphia Freedom,
Rocket Man, Someone Saved My Life Tonight,
Levon, Candle in the Wind,
The B*tch is Back, Saturday Night's Alright.
When he played Daniel, he mentioned
that when Bernie gave him the lyrics,
he thought it was too long.
So he cut out the last stanza...
And people have been asking him
what the song is about, ever since.
"I cut out the part that explains
what the whole song is about."
When he started on Crocodile Rock,
I was wondering what would happen.
It was obvious that he couldn't hit
the high notes anymore.
And there's quite a bit there.
So the band is playing and the
piano is a rockin and Elton belts out:
"I remember when rock was young
Me and Suzie had so much fun
Holding hands and skimming stones
Had an old gold Chevy and a place of my own
But the biggest kick I ever got
Was doing a thing called the Crocodile Rock
While the other kids were Rocking Round the Clock
We were hopping and bopping to the Crocodile Rock
Well Crocodile Rocking is something shocking
When your feet just can't keep still
I never knew me a better time and I guess I never will
Oh Lawdy mama those Friday nights
When Suzie wore her dresses tight
And the Crocodile Rocking was out of sight"
Suddenly, the entire band stopped playing
and the only sound was the percussionist
smacking out a beat.
And the entire crowd sang:
"La lalalala la lalalala la lalalala la!"
And it was perfect.
And it was magic.
And it was just right.
Soon after, the final song
was sung and Elton left the stage.
The crowd cheered and the band
came back out for an encore.
Elton sang Your Song first
and then Yellow Brick Road.
And as the song neared its end,
golden confetti fell from the sky.
And with that, Elton glided up
a ramp and through a door
that had opened in the screen.
And the show ended...
And I wished it could go on forever.
I don't like how my idols and heroes
are getting older.
Time should just stand still.
And for a little while, that night.
It did.
In case you didn't see it:
Did you see it in this chapter?
Coming up... A tale of two DISmeets.
I did have some free time
while I was in Toronto.
So while my sister was
at work, I took advantage
of the time to visit a couple
spots.
Here is a semi-comprehensive
list of the top things to do
while visiting Toronto.
Often, the number one
attraction listed isn't even
in Toronto.
Niagara Falls.
Niagara Falls is actually
three separate falls
Horseshoe, American
and Bridal Veil falls.
It's the most powerful falls
in North America
with over six million cubic
feet of water flowing through
every minute.
And it's a two-hour drive away
and I've been there four times.
So I didn't do that.
Also on the list of things to do are:
CN Tower
Royal Ontario Museum
St. Lawrence Market
Casa Loma (Gothic revival mansion)
Kensington Market
The Distillery District
Ripley's Aquarium of Canada
Toronto Island...
And I've done them all.
Some several times.
The end.
Well...
I did see a couple things
that were new to me.
And neither were on that list.
And to me, that made them
more interesting.
I like the path less taken
from time to time.
Most (some?... one?)
of you know that I
like Japanese gardens.
Maybe I like the relative
Zen calmness compared
to the hustle and bustle
of the highways and byways.
I Googled and found:
No one else I talked to
in Toronto had heard of it.
Which didn't bode particularly
well, but I was determined
to check it out.
Upon entering the park,
the first thing I saw
was this tall lantern.
Normally, Japanese dai-dōrō
are used to line paths.
So this one was curiously placed
within a thicket of bushes and trees.
I did smile at this foot bridge:
Not only because it was pretty,
but because I had long been told
that the design was to thwart
evil spirits.
Supposedly, evil spirits
can only move in straight lines.
Which we all know isn't true.
I mean... surely you've seen
ghost movies before?
Apparently... the bridge is
designed that way...
because it's pretty.
Or technically Feng Shui.
It's also designed that way
to focus attention to the
place and moment.
If you don't... you'll walk off
and into the water.
Walking along the pathway
offers glimpses of the
pagoda and duck pond.
The large Friendship Bell
was donated to the park
by the city of Kariya in Japan.
(Hence the park's name.)
I was a little saddened to see
that the sand garden
was either not being maintained
or had been disturbed.
Usually, the sand garden
is one of my favourite spots
to stop and just... be.
Slightly disappointed,
I continued my tour,
pausing from time to time
to admire the various
design elements.
After spending some time
exploring nature...
Nature called.
Luckily there was a Subway
restaurant right across the street.
I ambled over and...
Both restrooms were out of order.
Poop.
Uh... I mean...
When I walked out,
I was approached by a couple
seeking directions.
This happens to me all the time.
People ask me for directions.
And always when I'm on vacation.
Funny thing is, I have about
a 50% success rate of knowing
the place they want to go.
Not this time however.
Sorry!
And... luckily, there was
a mall nearby.
Problem (well, mine) solved.
I also visited the
BAPS Swaminarayan Mandir
(Hindu temple)
Say that fast five times!
Actually not that hard.
Hindu temple
Hindu temple
Hindu temple
Hindu temple
Hindu temple
See? Easy.
It was built in eighteen
months and consists of
24,000 pieces of hand carved
Italian Carrara marble,
Turkish limestone and
Indian pink stone.
It's the largest Hindu temple
of its kind in Canada.
This door caught my eye
with its intricate carving.
You can get a sense for the scale
of the temple in this shot.
Notice the worker on the roof
towards the left of the photo.
In addition to the temple,
there is a cultural center.
The details carved into
the wood are insane.
I didn't enter the temple,
not knowing the proper
protocols and not wanting
to offend.
I can only imagine
what it must look like inside.
Even if I did get in,
I couldn't show you, as there
were signs indicating no
photography was allowed.
I headed back to my sister's
and a dilemma.
She lives in an apartment.
She gave me a spare key
to her own apartment
but didn't have a spare
key card to access the building.
I parked my car, sashayed up
to the front door,
nodded to the woman who
opened the door and walked
in right behind her.
That may have been a
little too easy.
Worked in my favour, mind you.
Lastly, the reason I'd made
the trip in the first place.
The night of the Elton John concert.
I'd listened to his music for about
as long as I can remember.
My sister owned his first
Greatest Hits album
(on vinyl... when it wasn't
just hip, but the only medium)
that came out in 1974.
I'd borrow it (take when she
wasn't home)
and play it on dad's Hi Fi.
(Not WiFi... Hi Fi.
Google it, kids.)
The afternoon of the concert,
I hopped on the subway
(first time in Toronto!)
and made my way downtown
where my sister works.
I met her there and we
had dinner at a nearby place.
And then it was time to head
over to the arena.
When we arrived, they hadn't
opened the doors yet
and there was a mob
waiting outside.
I noticed two large trucks
parked in the street.
I knew right away what they
were there for.
I find it sad that we live
in an era where precautions
have to be taken against
people who can drive and
are certifiably insane.
Soon, they opened the doors
and we made our way inside.
Just before we did, the doorman
turned away a man and his date.
I wonder if he was trying to sneak in
or had been scammed with a fake ticket.
We made our way to our seats
(after the requisite T-shirt purchase.)
The view from our seats:
We spent quite a bit of time
examining the stage and
pointing out various items.
Notice, on the "frame"
about halfway down on the left
hand side... there's a lion?
(Of note, he did not perform
a single song from Lion King.)
And then...
The lights dimmed
and went dark.
Spotlights centered on the piano.
Elton John sat quietly and...
...brought his hands down.
On one chord.
That's all.
Just that one tone,
hanging in the air.
And if you know
Bennie and the Jets,
then you know that sound.
The arena erupted.
Sir John hit it again.
The crowd roared.
Again.
Roar!
Again!
Roar!
And with that,
Elton John launched
into what was a
magical, mystical concert
experience for me and
a few thousand of my
closest friends.
It was a bit of an eclectic mix.
He did many of his most
well-known and well-loved songs,
but he also did a few that I didn't
recognize.
Occasionally, Sir John would
talk to the crowd.
He told the story of how,
early in his career, he was
told that one of his songs
was going to be covered
by another artist.
"I nearly p*ssed my pants!" He exclaimed.
We all laughed.
But then he said who was
going to do the cover...
"F**ing Aretha Franklin!!"
Cool moment.
Some of you may know
that Elton John doesn't
write his own lyrics.
Bernie Taupin has written
most of his songs.
Elton explained:
"Bernie would write the lyrics in one room
and then I would go in another room
to do the melody.
We never wrote a single song
in the same room together.
Maybe that's why we've stayed
together for fifty years."
He also talked about how
Toronto was the home
of his husband David Furnish
and that his kids were Canadian.
Some of the songs he played that night
in addition to Bennie and the Jets:
Tiny Dancer, Philadelphia Freedom,
Rocket Man, Someone Saved My Life Tonight,
Levon, Candle in the Wind,
The B*tch is Back, Saturday Night's Alright.
When he played Daniel, he mentioned
that when Bernie gave him the lyrics,
he thought it was too long.
So he cut out the last stanza...
And people have been asking him
what the song is about, ever since.
"I cut out the part that explains
what the whole song is about."
When he started on Crocodile Rock,
I was wondering what would happen.
It was obvious that he couldn't hit
the high notes anymore.
And there's quite a bit there.
So the band is playing and the
piano is a rockin and Elton belts out:
"I remember when rock was young
Me and Suzie had so much fun
Holding hands and skimming stones
Had an old gold Chevy and a place of my own
But the biggest kick I ever got
Was doing a thing called the Crocodile Rock
While the other kids were Rocking Round the Clock
We were hopping and bopping to the Crocodile Rock
Well Crocodile Rocking is something shocking
When your feet just can't keep still
I never knew me a better time and I guess I never will
Oh Lawdy mama those Friday nights
When Suzie wore her dresses tight
And the Crocodile Rocking was out of sight"
Suddenly, the entire band stopped playing
and the only sound was the percussionist
smacking out a beat.
And the entire crowd sang:
"La lalalala la lalalala la lalalala la!"
And it was perfect.
And it was magic.
And it was just right.
Soon after, the final song
was sung and Elton left the stage.
The crowd cheered and the band
came back out for an encore.
Elton sang Your Song first
and then Yellow Brick Road.
And as the song neared its end,
golden confetti fell from the sky.
And with that, Elton glided up
a ramp and through a door
that had opened in the screen.
And the show ended...
And I wished it could go on forever.
I don't like how my idols and heroes
are getting older.
Time should just stand still.
And for a little while, that night.
It did.
In case you didn't see it:
Did you see it in this chapter?
Coming up... A tale of two DISmeets.
Last edited:
I kind of want to know what it's really about, but even if I knew I will always think it's about my Daniel.
Probably a lot of truth in that.
I mean we would be staying at a hotel, not expecting them to put us up. In the weeks prior to our arrival, I kept asking about the Thanksgiving day menu, could I bring anything? And she actually says to me, "No don't worry about anything, you're on vacation."
