As a part of the yearly office team outing, we visited Kadkani Resort in May 2018. Kadkani is a riverside (in the banks of Kaveri river) resort in Coorg, Karnataka
For my Friends in Bangalore: I would certainly recommend this place if your team is planning for an Corporate outing. Try to avoid the multi axle Volvo type bus to this destination, as the road is quite narrow. We went in a Single axle Volvo bus and even then the driver had a tough time.
The property is vast and has about 32 cottages spread over the greens. The layout of the resort is very impressive. One can also do cycling within the resort on cycles provided by resort. There are multiple restaurants available. The food was tasty and the spread was excellent.
We got a chance to do river rafting, zip lining, Volleyball, Badminton, Paddle boating, Table Tennis, Swimming, Air raffle shooting and so on. Swimming pool is also big and clean.
The best part of the stay was our experience with ‘still water rafting’. This was my first still water rafting experience. They drop us into the water and we can swim around (life jackets are provided). This was an amazing experience.
Seems the travel desk at Kadkani also organises sightseeing trips to the surrounding areas such as Abbi Falls, Madikeri Fort, Omkareshwara Temple and Namdroling Monastery. But since we were on team outing with more than 25 members, we did not go anywhere outside the resort.
They also sell Coorg specialities like coffee and honey.
In addition to nice swimming pool, they have an artificial lake where guests can enjoy pedal boating and the zip liner goes across the lake.
About this resort: The Windflower Resort & Spa Prakruthi, Bangalore is located close to the Devanahalli airport, Bangalore. This scenic, green, well manicured 7 acre resort promises a perfect getaway for couples, families, family get-togethers, weddings and corporate events such as team building activities, off site meetings, product launches or just about anything a holiday maker or corporate may be looking for in a weekend getaway or a weekday escape. I stayed in this resort as a part of our Annual Team outing in October 2016.
Positive
Not very far from the Bangalore International airport. It’s a beautiful property hidden away from the hustle bustle of Bangalore city but yet only 1-hour drive.
The entire property is tastefully designed, and the approach road was also well maintained.
There are different activities for groups like Paintball shooting, ATV Drive and so on.
They also have badminton courts and swimming pool.
Indoor sports like TT, Foosball, carrom, pool and so on are also available.
Cycles are available for ride.
Quality of food was good.
Rooms are clean and properly maintained.
No noise and no pollution.
Kids play area is also available.
They have wonderful garden with birds around. Quite a refreshing scene.
The staff was friendly.
Negative
Overall, the service is little slow, maybe because we were in a group of 30+ people. Direction boards to the resort is not proper.
Summary: Overall, I would highly recommend this resort to my fellow travellers. Ideal for corporate companies who want to arrange a team offsite within Bangalore.
“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.” – Anonymous
I got a chance to visit Calgary (as a part of Business Trip) in April 2019.
Calgary is the largest city in Alberta, Canada. Following construction of a railway and the discovery of oil, Calgary soon became a business and agricultural nerve centre in the southern region of the Canadian province.
Most of the cities have an iconic Landmark. Calgary Tower is Calgary’s most iconic landmark.
While visiting Calgary, it is impossible to overlook the towering structure in the city’s Downtown, and even though it is not Calgary’s highest building anymore as surrounding skyscrapers (like Brookfield Place and The Bow) grew higher but still this Tower still draws attention.
After taking the ticket, the staff would show you the elevator which will take you to the observation deck. There is also an ultra-wide screen theater where you could experience the history of this structure in surround sound. Admission to this theatre is already included with the ticket purchase.
You can also visit rotating Sky 360 Restaurant in the Tower and in that case, you don’t need to pay the entrance fee.
Once you’re up, you can spend unlimited time to enjoy the 360 degree view, the exhibition explaining the evolution of the population in Calgary, and of course, you must try standing on the glass floor which initially causes a feeling of dizziness, but once you get used to it, you can enjoy bird’s eye view of 9th Avenue SW and Center Street below.
From the tower (which will be lid with indoor LED Lights), you also would probably be able to see the Northern Lights which will be visible in the night throughout many parts of Alberta.
The tower features an exterior LED light show each morning before sunrise and nightly from dusk to midnight. The shows are created to celebrate National Holidays, Cheer on local/national sports teams, support local festivals and raise awareness of important causes.
There are no much tourist attractions within Downtown. You will see large skyscrapers in all the places. Another major thing what I felt was that the down town becomes silent after office hours and we don’t see much shops open after the office hours.
Since I was on a short 3 days Business trip, I could not explore more places here in and around Calgary.
Anyway, following are some places that you can explore when you are in this part of the world:
1) Calgary Tower 2) Calgary Zoo 3) Heritage Park Historical Village / Gasoline Alley Museum 4) Rafting in Bow river 5) China Town 6) Stephen Avenue Walk 7) Prince’s Island Park 8) Eau Claire Market 9) Devonian Gardens 10) Big Rock Brewery 11) Bernard Callebaut Chocolate Factory 12) Canada Olympic Park (Zip-Line) 13) The Peace Bridge 14) Alberta Mountains / Rocky Mountains/ Banff National Park (1.5 Hours from Calgary) 15) Lake Louise / Moraine Lake / Johnston canyon
Food:
My search for Indian food took me to ‘Calcutta Cricket Club’. It’s a busy restaurant. I sincerely believe that they are short staffed. The food was tasty. Bar is also included. https://www.calcuttacricketclub.com/indian-food-calgary
Hotels:
There are lot of hotels in Down town. I stayed in Marriott Westin. The stay was quite comfortable. The breakfast spread was also good.
I got a chance to visit Halifax and Stellarton (as a part of Business Trip) in May 2019.
Some facts about Halifax:
1) Rescue place of Titanic Survivors 2) Most of the Titanic Victims are also buried here (150 people were buried in 3 cemeteries) 3) Place where second largest man-made explosion took place (Halifax Explosion in Dec 6, 1917) 4) Largest exporter of Lobsters 5) One of the largest and deepest Natural Harbour in the world
Now since Winter was slowly moving out, many seasonal services had started. One such service was the ‘West jet’ Airlines which took me from Dublin Ireland to Halifax Canada (Direct Flight – 6 Hours onwards Journey and 5.15 Hours Return).
Halifax Stanfield Airport is technologically advanced and have the following:
1) Automatic Passport Control (APC)* 2) Self Service Check-in with Baggage Drop* *in both places, you will have some staff to assist you (if any help is required)
After reaching Halifax Airport, if your target is to reach Down Town Halifax, you have 2 options:
1) MetroX Bus 320 (Travel Time – 1 Hour)
The charge is around 3.5 CAD (adults & Students) and 2.75 CAD (Senior & Child). It’s worth to note that the drivers in such bus doesn’t do any currency transactions, which means you should have the exact amount readily available with you before boarding the bus. The frequency of the bus is 1 hour.
2) Rent a Car (Travel Time – 30 Minutes)
Hotel Options near Airport:
If you want to stay near Halifax Airport, there are a couple of hotels like ‘Holiday inn’, ‘Hilton’ and so on. I believe both are run by the same management and is constructed within the same campus. They also provide Airport Free shuttle in a frequency of around 20-30Mins. I would suggest you take this free service as it will easily save you a straight 20 CAD (Taxi Charge). This free shuttle stops at the extreme right of the Halifax Airport (Around 200 Metres to the right after exiting from the Airport)
Places that I had visited: 1) Down Town Halifax: Down Town Halifax is very beautiful. Some places that I explored are: a) Citadel: This is a 19th-century fort with a great view of downtown Halifax. The place is quite historic and has a terrific collection of military artifacts. A large part of the living history is the tradition of the noon gun. Every day except for Christmas day the noon gun, which is pointed out across downtown and towards the waterfront, is shot off. The tradition has been in place for 148 years.
b) Harbour Walk (Waterfront) The Halifax Walkway is a must for everyone. It is an easy promenade for anyone to do. It has many places to visit and diverse restaurants to eat and enjoy the area. There is an abundance of things to do and explore. Pier 21, Farmer’s Market, Maritime Museums, souvenir shops, Breweries, pubs.
c) Sea Bridge The Sea Bridge is 520 feet of floating dock on the Halifax waterfront that will be open seasonally as often as possible but may close for weather, sea state or construction.
d) Historic properties (Market Mall) Today, Historic Properties is a balance between historic and contemporary. The spirit of Halifax is present within the site and modern restaurants, boutiques, and services offer unique local goods that can’t be found elsewhere in the city.
e) Fairview lawn Cemetery: This is the final and noteworthy resting place for many of the victims of the Titanic. The cemetery was well cared for and the Titanic victim burials were well marked. Adequate parking is also available inside the cemetery.
Tour Packages that I had taken while in Halifax: a) Harbour Hopper Tour This is one of the most rated tour in Halifax. On this 1-hour Harbour Hopper tour, you’ll travel on both land and water aboard a nifty, renovated amphibious Vietnam War vehicle. The unconventional method of transportation gives you an overview of some of Halifax’s key landmarks: First, drive by St Paul’s Cathedral, Citadel Hill and Halifax Public Gardens, then splash into Halifax Harbour for panoramic views of the waterfront. We get a chance to hear a lot of information about Halifax from this one tour. You can buy the ticket online or though their counters in Waterfront area. The ticket price was around 46 CAD. The tour starts in front of the ‘water Front area’ (near their Ticket counter) This is a Must-see tour in Halifax and travelling in an Amphibious vehicle will be a great experience.
b) Peggy’s Cove I did not find any Public transport to Peggy’s cove. I booked a tour with Gray Line (Ambassatours) Mini Bus service from Down Town Halifax to Peggy’s cove. The tour starts in front of the Maritime Museum. The charge was around 41 CAD. (https://www.grayline.com/tours/halifax/peggys-cove-tour-from-halifax-5858_12_12130_340/) Around 45 Minutes from downtown Halifax, Nova Scotia, is the tiny fishing village called Peggys Cove. The population here might be between 50-100 but a lot of tourists reach here across the year (at times highly overcrowded). There is also a Light house here in this cove (perhaps one of the most photographed light houses in the world).
The village of Peggys Cove is said to have been named for the lone survivor of a ship wreck long ago off the coast — a woman or young girl (no one can quite agree on which) who was nicknamed Peggy by the locals who saved her from the sea. If you visit Halifax, this is a Must-See place. It is a popular destination for photographers and is a place more difficult to get a bad shot than a good one. it is also home to the tragic crash of Swiss Air Flight 111. Two memorials have been erected near Peggy’s cove, one at Bayswater Beach Provincial Park and the other at The Whalesback, about half a kilometer from Peggy’s Point. The two memorials form a triangle with the crash site. Peggy’s Cove lent itself to many tragedies. The tragic village tales moved William Edward deGarthe, a Finnish artist who immigrated to Canada in 1926 and settled permanently in Peggy’s Cove in 1955. Until his death in 1983, he dedicated his painting and sculpting to the stories of Peggy’s Cove’s residents. His masterpiece, a 30-metre engraving of fishermen, their wives and children under the wings of a guardian angel, remains outside his home at the entrance to Peggy’s Cove. His wife donated their home to the Nova Scotia government after his death, which became the deGarthe Gallery, a museum dedicated to his work.
You can also get your passport stamped (free of cost from here)
IMPORTANT WARNING:
While taking photos of the lighthouse, I noticed that despite signs to warn people to stay off the black rocks, some tourists were venturing almost too close to the water’s edge. Visitors are swept off the rocks each year, with several incidents resulting in drowning. So please stick to the lighter coloured rocks.
c) Trip to Stellarton (New Glasgow). I used the service of ‘Maritime Bus’ to travel from Halifax Airport to Stellarton (Bus stop name is New Glasgow). You can book here –> https://maritimebus.betterez.com/cart/570e4206d12bb17e0b0015fe/reservation/570e4206d12bb17e0b001600 The travel time is around 1.40 Hours. It’s a small town. Sobeys (Retail Giant in Canada) started their operations in Stellarton. I did not find much attractions here. The only reason why I visited this place was to attend some Business meetings with a customer.
There are some taxi companies operating here with a very less Fleet size. You could use the below number to book your taxi. Some facts about the taxis here: 1) They don’t take Cards. So all payments have to be done in cash Only 2) If you need to get a bill/Receipt; you will only get a hand written version (No printed bills) 3) The taxis here are very untidy (Both Interior and Exterior). For your Groceries, you can look for a Sobeys store or the Walmart (near Highland square mall)
Other day trips that you could explore:
Bay of Fundy
Lunenburg
Whale Watching (Ex: Pleasant Bay)
Food:
My search for an Indian restaurant finally took me to the ‘Scotia Square’ mall food court. Happened to meet ‘Mr. John Nakka’, owner of a family run restaurant ‘A taste of India’. I had tried different food items from here and all were really good.I would certainly recommend this place to all my fellow Travellers (especially Indians). I felt that the rate is also economical.
You should also try some Lobsters or any sea food from a local restaurant here.
Cloak Room:
In case if you would like to store your baggage within the Airport, there is a cloak room facility here within the security office. They charge around 5CAD for a bigger bag (throughout the day). It is located in the -1 floor of the airport
Take Home Some Lobsters from the Airport:
Clearwater Sea Foods (Shop within the Halifax Airport) offers a wide variety of seafood products and specializes in live and cooked lobster. All products are packed for travel and if you’re in a hurry or on a layover, you can have your order packed up and the items will be brought right to you post security check. The shop is open from 5 Am-8PM.
“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore..”
– Andre Gide.
As a part of Business trip, I was in Ottawa for 3 days and got a chance to see some parts of this city during those days.
Ottawa is Canada’s capital, a small city where three rivers (Ottawa, Rideau and Gatineau) meet. This is the political power house of Canada.
For travelling within Ottawa, you can depend on Lyft or Uber. The Public transport was also fine. I was staying in Marriott Fairfield hotel near airport and was using bus 97 to reach the city centre (30 minutes, 3.5 CAD)
Managed to visit the following places:
1) Parliament Hill/Peace Tower:
This is one of the most visited place here in Ottawa and it’s close to Ottawa River. In front of the parliament, you can also see the Centennial flame.
Seems there is a Change of Guard ceremony that happens every morning here in front of this parliament hill.
2) Byward Market:
Across Ottawa, I did not see much local shops in the street.
Probably all such shops (restaurants, street food) are concentrated in this part of the city.
History says that this market was built a few hundred years ago and then it quickly became one of the largest public markets in Canada.
Please note that most of the shops gets closed by 6 PM (except restaurants)
3) Rideau Canal:
In Summer this is a very scenic canal and in winter, it becomes the world’s largest naturally frozen skating rink at 7.8 kilometres..
There is a Rideau canal cruise available in summer.
Apart from the guide (Brennen) and his jokes, I personally feel this is a waste of money. Both sides of the canal have a very clear pathway. If your intention is to experience the scenery in both sides of the canal, my suggestion would be rent a cycle (afterall, let’s get some fat burnt).
The Rideau Canal was named a UNESCO world heritage site in 2007
4) National War memorial:
National War Memorial is located in the centre of Confederation Square across from the Chateau Laurier. The monument commemorates all Canadians who gave their lives in the World War I. It was designed by Vernon March, and includes twenty-three bronze figures, representing people who move from war into peace. Overhead figures symbolize Peace and Liberty.
5) Fairmont Château Laurier hotel:
Built in 1912, the Fairmont Chateau Laurier is one of Canada’s most famous landmarks.
Located in the center of Downtown Ottawa, Fairmont Château Laurier is minutes away from its biggest attractions including: The Parliament Buildings, Rideau Canal, Byward Market, National Gallery of Canada, Shaw Center, and the National Arts Centre.
Will definitely come back and stay here once. Really liked the royal look of this hotel.
6) Nordstrom Shopping Mall:
Nordstrom Inc. is an American chain of luxury department stores, the store here in downtown Ottawa is also very large. There are a lot of restaurants available in this mall. There is a bus stop just in front of the mall.
7) Ottawa Name boards:
I always wish that every city should have a name board, so that the travellers can take some snaps in front of that. These pics are always a treasure.
Fortunately, Ottawa had many such boards.
8) Famous 5 Monument and Statue of Yousuf Karsh
This Famous Five monument is to commemorate the pursuit for women’s rights to participate on legislative bodies to the country’s greater power, the senate; three among them were the members of the Alberta legislature.
The unveiling ceremony of Yousuf Karsh (Canadian-Armenian world-renowned portrait photographer) statue happened on 9th June 2017, on the 25th Anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Armenia and Canada and 150th Anniversary of Canada’s Confederation.
As mentioned earlier, mine was a business trip.
In case if you get more time here in Ottawa, you can include some of the below options:
Canadian War Museum Notre Dame Basilica Hop-On Hop-Off Guided City Tour Day Ticket Ottawa Written Board Aqua Taxi – Takes you from the Rideau Canal Locks to Gatineau National gallery of Canada Try Whitewater rafting Mint Museum Aviation and Space Museum The Canadian Museum of History NOTE: I think 2 days should be a good itinerary for Ottawa.
As usual, I always try to visit an Indian Restaurant (if available/if possible) in all the cities that I visit. This time, it was a privilege to visit ‘Coconut Lagoon’ restaurant.
I never realised that it was a Kerala restaurant until I saw the menu.
If there are any Indian’s (especially Keralite’s) reading this, please don’t miss this restaurant.
The food was excellent, and the price was decent. Was surprised to see a lot of Foreigners enjoying the Indian cusine.
I also got a chance to meet the Owner and main chef of this restaurant ‘Joe Thottungal’.
Joe is very friendly and down to earth person. Great to get in touch with a person like him.
Restaurant details:
Address: 853 St. Laurent Boulevard Ottawa, Ontario K1K 3B1 Contact Number: +1 613-742-4444 Working Hours 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM, 5:00 PM – 9:00 PM Website: http://coconutlagoon.ca/ Seems they also have another restaurant named ‘Thali’ in Downtown. Joe has published a book – ‘Recipes from a south Indian Kitchen’ and the same is available in Amazon. https://www.amazon.ca/Coconut-Lagoon-Recipes-Indian-Kitchen/dp/1773270486
“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.”
Anonymous
Toronto is one of the 10 most Multicultural Cities in the World. It’s believed that over half of Toronto’s residents were born outside Canada.
I recently got a chance to visit Toronto, Canada. It was a 2 days visit and the main motive behind this trip was to visit Niagara Falls.
Lester B. Pearson International Airport, branded as Toronto Pearson International Airport and simply known as Pearson Airport or Pearson, is the primary international airport serving Toronto and other regions in the province of Ontario, Canada.
The Union-Pearson (UP) Express(https://www.upexpress.com/) goes from Pearson International Airport (YYZ) to downtown’s Union Station in about 25 minutes. Trains come every 15 minutes and run between 5:30am and 1:00am daily. Price is CAD 12.35 for an adult one-way ticket.
Toronto is big and busy city, but getting around is relatively easy. The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) runs a series of subway trains, streetcars and buses throughout the city, with a few lines operating 24 hours. Payment is accepted via cash, tickets or tokens, monthly passes and pre-loaded“Presto” cards. Seems 1-day unlimited bus card is also available.
Normal taxi’s , Uber, and Lyft are quite common in Toronto.
Toronto is extremely safe and is a great city to explore on foot, which will allow you to take your time and get to know the different neighbourhoods.
Day trip from Toronto to Niagara Falls:
If you are looking for a Public transport to reach Niagara Falls, there are 2 main options available.
a) Bus (Like Mega Bus — https://ca.megabus.com) The direct bus would take around 2 hours and the charge would be around 16-21 CAD (One side)
b) Train (Via Rail and Go). The Direct train service will take around 2 hours charge would be around 23 CAD (One Side). Please also note that many companies are providing full package day tours from Toronto.
I had opted for the train service. My booking was as follows:
Union Station (Toronto) departure 9AM and Niagara Falls Arrival 11AM (GO Transport).
The train journey starts from UNION station. Please note that it’s a big station and there are clear markings which will help you to reach the GO/VIA Rail terminals.
For passengers travelling via this train, they also offer a Free Bus shuttle to the Niagara Falls from the railway station. Please note that only the onward shuttle journey is free which means, you will have to arrange your own travel options back from Niagara Falls to the Railway station in the evening.
For the return trip to the railway station, either you will have to arrange a taxi like ‘Uber’ or use a WEGO Shuttle service. The minimum card which they have is a ‘WEGO 24 Hours’ pass, which means you will have to spend around 9 CAD.
For Multiple shuttle trips, WEGO 24 Hours is a good option but for a single trip back to railway station, this doesn’t make sense.
Considering the number of people that are visiting Niagara, I think Government should also provide some cheaper options as the current options are very limited.
For the return trip back to Toronto, I had booked the train (VIA Rail Canada) which departs Niagara Falls @ 17:45 PM and arrives at Union Station (Toronto) @ 19:45 PM . This train comes from US and have a 30 minutes wait time in Niagara Falls station for completing the Immigration process (for passengers who are coming from US). There is also a Pantry car available in this train, where you can get some snacks aswell.
Even though there are many options after reaching Niagara, the ones that should never be missed are:
1) Behind the falls:
You can go underground to have the ‘Behind the Falls’ experience. The entry point is the extreme end of the Welcome Centre. Once you’ve purchased your tickets (they control the entry, I had booked for a 12:30 Entry after taking the ticket at 11am) you can go down the elevators. There are 2 tunnels and a platform area – where you can see the falls from a different angle and see the ice formations in winter. It’s really a unique view.
If its too crowded, you can very well avoid the 2nd tunnel (Grand Falls Portal) as it is just a replica of the 1st tunnel (Cataract Portal) but in a further distance.
NOTE: Please note that you will be provided a thin Mist Poncho (Recyclable)
2) Hornblower Niagara cruise:
This is a 20-minute ride that takes you close to the American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and the mighty Canadian Horseshoe Falls (which is the best of the Niagara Falls!) It was a full ‘Mist Experience’ (you will get wet under the Horseshoe Falls!). But it’s really a life time experience.
American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls are in the US region. The Bridal Veil Falls is the smallest of the three waterfalls that make up Niagara Falls.
There is also an on-board Audio commentary which you can listen to know more details/history of all the 3 falls.
Tourists from USA also visit these 3 falls in a ferry service operated by a different company.
For people with Walking disabilities, you can also try using the Funicular service to reach near the boat. (I believe the Funicular + ferry combo tickets are also available)
NOTE: Please note that you will be provided a thin Mist Poncho (Recyclable)
Since it’s a 1-day trip, you will have to certainly look for some lunch options. There are couple of food courts near to the falls, but I felt most of them are overpriced.
So, I thought to walk further away from the main falls area and managed to see ‘Terrace Food Court’. The following options were available in that food court (Great Canadian Burger, Pizza Hut Express, Subway and KFC). It was far less overcrowded when compared to other places and the food options were also economical.
If you want to stay overnight near the falls, there are many options available. Many of the larger chains like the Marriott’s have presence here.
If you have time, you can also explore some of the other options below:
1) Zip Liner
2) White water walk
3) Whirlpool Aerocar
4) Floral showhouse
5) Butterfly conservatory
6) Falls Incline railway
From the First floor of the main building (Welcome Centre) near the falls, you can reach the ‘Incline railway’.
There are ticket counters available near that place.
7) Niagara’s Fury
8) Niagara – on the lake
9) Skylon tower
10) Rainbow Bridge:
The Niagara Falls International Rainbow Bridge, commonly known as the Rainbow Bridge, is an arch bridge across the Niagara River gorge, and is a world-famous tourist site.
It connects the cities of Niagara Falls, New York, United States (to the east), and Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada (west). I believe you would need a valid travel document (like passport) to move between the countries using this bridge.
I also got a chance to do a sneak preview of Toronto down town.
Some major attraction within Down town are:
CN Tower (Night Views are also spectacular)
Rogers Centre (home of the famous Toronto Blue Jays baseball team)
Companies lie Tour Guys (https://www.tourguys.ca/) will help you with walking tours if that is something you are interested in.
If you really want to visualise the real beauty of the sky scrapers, I would certainly request you to walk till the Jack Layton ferry terminal and take a ferry to ‘Centre Island’, ‘Hanlan’s Point’ or the ‘Ward’s island’.
Due to some reason, the ‘Hanlan’s Point’ ferries were not available on the day I visited, and I just took the next available ferry to ‘Centre Island’. The ticket price was around 6 Euros (return trip)
Another suggestion will be to take the late evening ferries during summer (sometime after 7PM), as the views during that time will be amazing.
In these regions, the important point to note is that all the items displayed are without taxes and at the time of purchase, the tax amount will be included in the bill.
“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us.”Anonymous
As a part of my business trip, I visited Sarnia in September 2019. To be frank, I never heard about Sarnia anytime in my life before I visited this scenic and peaceful place. Sarnia is truly a little hidden gem in the south western Ontario.
The name “Sarnia” is Latin for Guernsey, which is a British Channel Island.
Sarnia is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, and have a population of around 73,000. It is the largest city on Lake Huron and in Lambton County.
There are many chemical companies around Sarnia the biggest being Nova Chemicals.
Sarnia Chris HadField Airport is the only airport in Sarnia. The airport is located 4 nautical miles from Sarnia downtown and this airport has served the needs of Sarnia-Lambton for over 60 years. Built in the late 1950’s, runways were paved in 1958, and in December of 1958 Scheduled Flights began from this airport. This is one of Smallest Airport that I had ever visited in my life.
AirCanada Flies regularly from Toronto to Sarnia (It’s a 37-Seater small flight, one of the smallest flights that I have ever travelled). The flight timing is around 35-40 Minutes.
The town is about three hours’ drive from Toronto and is also accessible by train.
After reaching Sarnia by flight, if you want to hire a taxi, am providing a list of taxi numbers. You can call them, and they would be happy to pick you up from the airport. I was told that only 3 or 4 taxis are tagged with the Uber network.
I could see very less tourists here in Sarnia. I was told that Sarnia is considered as a retirement destination by many citizens. I also felt so, as I found a lot of senior citizens in this part of Canada.
I presume that might be one of the reasons why Government of Canada is also not promoting this place as tourist destination. Maybe they would like the avoid the overcrowding of tourists here and wants to retain the Sarnia as it is.
Some places that I have explored in this trip:
1) Canadian National Railways #6069, Sarnia, Canada:
Canadian National Railways #6069 is on permanent display in Centennial Park, Sarnia Ontario Canada. An information sign located near the locomotive provides the following narrative: Engine 6069 was one of the last steam engines built for the CNR. It was built in November 1944 at Montreal Locomotive Works Montreal Quebec and delivered to the CNR during the last quarter of 1944.
2) Blue Water Bridge from Sarnia, Canada to Michigan, United States:
The Blue Water Bridge is a twin-span international bridge across the St. Clair River that links Port Huron, Michigan, United States, and Sarnia, Ontario, Canada.
This bridge is jointly owned and maintained by Canada and United States.
You can take a taxi from Sarnia to Port Huron by crossing the US border, provided you have necessary travel documents to cross the border. Many of the taxi’s here have the license to cross the bridge. Both the US and Canada border stations are open 24 hours per day.
When I enquired with a taxi company (United), I was provided with the following charges:
45 CAD one side, 90 CAD for the return trip and 30 CAD waiting charge for 1 hour.
3) Canatara Beach:
One of only 26 beaches in Canada to have earned official Blue Flag status.
This is internationally recognised and respected award for beaches that meet the strict criteria under 4 categories:
a) Water Quality
b) Safety and services
c) Environmental management
d) Environmental Education
This flag is awarded on a yearly basis and is only valid if the standards are maintained.
This sandy beach stretching nearly a kilometre along Lake Huron is perfect for family fun, Watersports and so on.
4) Canatara Park:
There are more than 100 parks in Sarnia, the largest being Canatara Park, which covers more than 200 acres along the shore of Lake Huron. This park is well maintained with trails and Bicycle routes.
5) Centennial Park:
This beautiful waterfront park opened in 1967 to celebrate Canada’s Centennial.
Today, the park features award winning floral gardens, a children’s play area, Court of Flags, walking trails, recreation and entertainment area all maintained by the city’s parks and recreation department..
There is also a very interesting Population display board here in Sarnia. I have not seen such boards in many of the cities.
5) Centennial Park:
Sarnia down town is very small. This cute little downtown is incredibly walkable and lined with little locally owned boutiques and shops. Imperial Theatre is in Downtown Sarnia. I also found an Indian restaurant – Sithara in the downtown. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find time to try any food there.
It’s good to note that many of the shops here close by 6 PM.
There are also some large stores like Canada Super store and Walmart available in Sarnia.
I was surprised to see how friendly the people of Sarnia are. … No matter you are in a beach or park or at down town, they would always greet you with a Sweet smile or Hello…..
There are also a lot of Walking Trails across Sarnia. Try exploring some of those trails, if you are really interested.
If you want explore Sarnia in a cycle, I would recommend you to check out ‘The Bicycle Shop’ .. More details can ne found here : https://www.thebicycleshopsarnia.ca/
In the whole city, I happened to see the highest number of cars in front of the casino. Due to the time limitations, I couldn’t find time to visit this casino. I was told that it’s a very popular destination here in Sarnia.
Some attractions that you can explore:
Wawanosh Wetlands
Sunflower field
Near the bridge
Blue water bridge
Bayshore park
Lake Huron
Lampton Mall
Point Edward’s Waterfront park
Lampton Shores
St. Clair River district
Sunset Golf
Pinery Provincial park
Camlachie Chapel (it’s an Airbnb property these days, I guess)
Parasailing in Grand Bend
I tried some local menu here and would definitely recommend the below 2 restaurants and would certainly recommend both of them, to all my fellow travellers.
1) Lola’s Lounge:
Lola’s menu is inspired by Latin America. The menu offers a good variety of food and the ambience is superb. The food was tasty, and service was prompt.
No dedicated parking is available, but you can park your vehicle on the road side which is just in front of this restaurant.
2) Macarthy’s Bar and Grill:
The Quantity of the bucket chips was more, so order it only if you can finish.
Food and the service was good. It was crowded when we visited this place. There is parking available in front of the shop.
I have heard a lot about Purdy’s.
Purdy’s has been in the town since 1900 offering fresh fish to the town. They have a dockside eatery where you can enjoy the views of the waterfront while munching on some fresh fish and chips.
But unfortunately, it was closed on the day that I visited.
There are many hotels available in Sarnia. I stayed in Hampton inn by Hilton.
Summary: Sarnia might not be in the bucket list of many of the people, But I would certainly recommend you try this place one time and you would never get disappointed. That is a guarantee that I can certainly give you. People in Toronto can easily try this as a long weekend gateway, Afterall its just 3 hours journey by car from Toronto.
The intention of this blog is to provide you a comprehensive list of attractions/places/restaurants so that you can use this as a reference, while preparing a Sarnia Itinerary. Typically 2 full days would be more than enough to cover this scenic little place in South Western Ontario, Canada.
“I travel a lot; I hate having my life disrupted by routine.”
– Caskie Stinnett
I visited Riyadh Saudi Arabia in July 2014. This was purely a Business trip and I did not find much time to explore a lot in Riyadh.
Riyadh is the capital and the largest city of Saudi Arabia. Riyadh may or may not be known to many, as it is not a Tourist destination as such. This is more of a Business destination. It is indeed a very lively city. The ancient fortresses and tall skyscrapers stand side by side in this Arab Capital.
King Khalid International Airport is about 35-40 Kms to the north of the city center.The easiest commuting option will be to take the ‘Riyadh Airport Shuttle’.
The main attraction that I targeted in this trip was ‘Kingdom Tower’ and ‘Al Fasaliah’ Tower.
‘Al Fasaliah’ Tower:
Although Riyadh is a historic city, state-of-the-art buildings are constantly popping up across the Saudi capital. The Al Faisaliah Tower is the fourth tallest tower in the Kingdom, and towers over Riyadh at 267-metres high, spanning 44 floors. Although the tower is metal and glass, the geometric design is a nod to the traditional Arabic designs that once dominated the city. An expensive luxury mall and restaurant complex occupies a number of floors in the tower.
Kingdom Tower:
This is the world’s third-tallest building with a hole after the Shanghai World Financial Centre and the 85 Sky Tower in Taiwan.
The Sky Bridge at Kingdom Centre is one of the hottest attractions in Riyadh. The Kingdom Centre, also called the Al Mamlaka Tower is a skyscraper which has truly transformed Riyadh’s skyline. For a fantastic panoramic view of the city, a visit to the Sky Bridge at the Kingdom Centre is a must. The bridge, connecting the two towers of the Kingdom Centre, is 65-metres in length, 300-metres above the ground, and weighs some 300 tonnes. A high-speed elevator takes visitors to the 50th floor, where a second elevator takes them to the bridge. Bridge is in the 99th floor. Try and visit the place 30min-1 Hour before sunset and enjoy the breath-taking view at sunset. The views from the bridge at night, as the city is lit up with glowing lights, is simply spectacular. The Kingdom Centre also houses a shopping mall, luxurious residential apartments and a number of fine restaurants.
1) It is important to respect and follow the local laws of Saudi Arabia and there are a number of restrictions that you need to be aware of in terms of Saudi culture and what they deem to be acceptable. It is important to know these before you go in order to have a trouble-free trip.Also, its good to go through the ‘Do’s and Don’ts list while travelling to Saudi Arabia’
2) Also, please note that the Saudi working week begins on Sunday and ends on Thursday. Friday and Saturday are the official days of rest, but in certain cases Saturday might be considered as a working day.
3) It will be nice to carry your travel document (passport/visa or copy) while roaming around. There are chances that cops might ask you to show them the same.
If you are looking to purchase some dates, ‘Kingdom Dates’ is the place to go. You will find all varieties/all ranges of dates.
The most interesting thing I found was the price of petrol. I have heard people saying the price of petrol is cheaper than water, but I never thought that it will be so cheap.
(Price per litre = 0.450 SAR)
For affordable shopping, you can also try visiting shops like Nesto or Lulu.
There are lot of Indians (especially Malayalees/Keralites) staying in Saudi Arabia. Hence, you will also see a lot of South Indian Restaurants here.
Many of the world-famous Arabic foods have their origin in Saudi Arabia, so please don’t forget to try some local cuisine before leaving Riyadh. Shawarma street stalls are littered across the capital’s streets, offering a cheap, filling meal. A shawarma is a wrap stuffed with mixed meat and salad that has been grilled for a whole day. Kabsa is another must-try dish while in Riyadh. Kabsa is a huge dish of mixed rice, spices, raisins, and grilled chicken. It’s usually a sharing dish that brings family and friends together. Head to the Najd Village for traditional Arabic cuisine and try out dishes like lamb and chicken kabsa, moqalqal, goursan and marqooq. Mataziz, which is boneless lamb cooked with vegetables and small round bread is a must-have.
If you want to explore some local travelling, there are vans like this which carry people from one place to another. You can pay the fare to the driver.
The toughest part will be to adjust with the hot climate here. Temperatures can reach up to 50-degree Celsius at times in the Summer. I have personally experienced around 43 degrees. Believe me, it’s really HHHOOOTTT…
You will see all the International Brands in the Malls here. And people do a lot of shopping aswell.
What else to see in Riyadh:
Old Diriyah
Al Masmak fort:
Located in downtown Riyadh, is a castle made of clay and mud-brick that once played a significant role in the Kingdom’s history. It was where the recapture of Riyadh took place in 1902. Even today, Al MasmakFort still plays a big part in the country’s tourism.
Deirah Souk:
After you get a dose of Saudi history, it’s time to do some bargaining at Deerah Souk. Souk is the Arabic word for market or bazaar. It is located just behind the Masmak Fort.
King Abdul Aziz Historical CenterAl-Thumama Entertainment Village
Al-Hokair Land Theme Park
Al-Hamrah Entertainment Village
Al-Safi dairy farm:
It is the World’s largest integrated farm. I believe it also holds a Guinness world record holder with more than 50000 cows.
ATV ride in red Sand dunes
Edge of the world: It around 90 kms north of Riyadh
Accommodation:
I had stayed in Holiday Inn and Novotel (both in Olaya street). My personal recommendation would be Holiday Inn.
“A ship in a harbor is safe, but it is not what ships are built for.” – John A.
I got a chance to visit Kuwait during September 2014.
Kuwait is a very small country sharing its borders with Iraq and Saudi Arabia.
Kuwait airport is very small compared to the other airports that we get to see in the middle east. We will see a lot of American food chains in the airport.
I believe Kuwait is one of the places where very few tourists visit. But there are a lot of foreign nationals in this country who have come for work. Infact expatriates account for around 70% of the population (as per Wikipedia)
Kuwaiti Dinar is the strongest/highest valued currency in the world. Before the exploitation of oil, this was one of the poorest countries in the world, but the country has developed rapidly over the past 70+ years.
Kuwait City today is a very modern and developed city and slowly recovered from its bad conditions after the war with Iraq.
Some places worth visiting
1.Kuwait towers –> When I visited, Kuwait towers was under renovation and was not open to public. The main tower has both a viewing platform and a restaurant (for those on a larger budget). The Kuwait Towers dominate the skyline of Kuwait City and from its observation desk you can get the best panoramic view of the city, looking out over the harbour, the coastline and the city centre.
2) Kuwait telecommunications tower
3) Al-Qurain Martyr’s Museum
4) Kuwait House of National Works
5) Grand Mosque
6) Failaka Island
7) Desert Safari
8) Lulu Hyper Market (for some budget shopping)
9) Shopping in the Avenues mall
One of the largest malls in the Middle East, the Avenues is more than just a mall. When the temperature is high in summer, here is where people go to walk, run and enjoy themselves in general.
10) Scientific centre/ Kuwait aquarium
The center consist of many sections like
Max Theater where they show the latest 3D movies with a huge screen,
Planetarium – with a great show of stars and how earth is moving,
Aquarium – with great show of all fishes from Kuwait plus insects and animals .
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