Thumbs-up Tobermory

I believe in one simple concept: long week-ends are for traveling. The Victoria Day week-end gave me the opportunity to visit Tobermory - a picturesque getaway by the shores of Lake Huron. It was a five hour journey from Toronto, Greyhound to Owen Sound and from there a taxi (boy I wish I had my Canadian license). Along with me was my roomy and partner in all crazy travels, Abhishek. We reached there on Saturday and used up the day in soaking up the town. It’s a very calm and laid back place in contrast to the hustle bustle of busy Toronto city life – a difference we truly loved! We put up at Beth’s Bed and Breakfast InnIsFree - a very neat and cozy place with amazing wooden interiors and fabulous breakfast.

Sunday morning we started from the National Park Visitor Center on the Bruce Trail - a walk that shall remain close to my heart till I carry my bones to the grave. Along the trail was a breathtaking pebble beach with rocky shores that merge into the sea, amazing patterns carved out by the waves. A Siberian Husky, owned by one of the park rangers, playfully joined us on the shore. Among other crazy things, we did not miss out on scaling the 500 plus stairs of the watch tower for its scenic vista.

After the trail was conquered it was time for us to visit the Grotto on Cyprus Lake. The only challenge we faced was lack of wheels – it was 18kms from the visitor center and we did not have the time for a walk. “Alexander Supertramp’s” spirit overpowered me and I stuck out my thumb for a lift on highway 6. I remain ever indebted to that angel of a couple who obliged and gave us a lift to the Cyprus lake trail, where they themselves were headed to.

From there began our walk towards the Grotto - a cave carved out by the waves with a deep water filled tunnel that opens into the lake. It’s beautiful, it’s one of nature’s miracles and the water is icy cold! The climb down the rocks to the Grotto is no less of a challenge even for a linebacker! We stood there dazed, appreciating nature’s handiwork and the florescent blue waters. Time passed by and soon we realized that we were behind schedule – so many things to do, so less time.

Without wasting a minute we rock-climbed back to the trail and headed for Marr Lake - a beautiful pebble lake with rocky undulations and blue-green chilly waters. After a short ‘pit-stop’ there we hiked on towards the Horse Lake. Like the Marr, Horse Lake was rocky undulations under water and hot-bodied eye candies lunching on the shores. Here I rested and filled up my lungs with the fresh breeze that smelled of sweet water. With all the hot spots covered, we walked back towards the ‘head of trails’ to recon with the couple for a ride back to the town.

By the time we reached Tobermory, it was dusk – the ideal time to head for the port shore-line and capture the setting sun on Lake Huron. The day was very physically demanding and I am glad to have lived up to it. Dinner was at Crow’s Nest, a bar with great fish n chips and a live band playing to top all.

Day three began with a cruise of the two ship-wrecks and Flowerpot Island, on the ‘Blue Heron’. Flora and Fauna well preserved and maintained by the Fathom Five Marine Park at Flowerpot Island offered us an unscheduled rendezvous with a venomous snake! There were beautiful wild flowers and orchids on the island, gravel beach, water in different shades of blue and green. But the best of all were the two naturally formed flowerpots (small and large flowerpots). The ride on the ‘Blue Heron’ cruise brought out the sea-faring adventurer in me. It was past noon, when the cruise brought us back to main land and it was time for a quick take-away grub and a taxi ride back to Owen Sound to mark the end of an amazing week-end!

Word to all my friends, take out time for a trip to Tobermory – it’s a must do thing while you are in and around Toronto.

Money

In today’s world, it surprises me to find how money plays the role of the corner-stone in almost anything and everything. Most of us are driven my money - we change jobs to make that extra bit, some work two jobs to have more of it. Society benchmarks an individual’s success on the yardstick of the money that he/she has makes and saves. There are financial jargons aplenty to set the value of a company, even evaluate the economic dynamics of a nation!

Parents/students even consider education as an investment and their decisions in choosing a stream of study or specialization is heavily influenced by what is commonly known as ‘Return on Investment’. Effective advice/coaching are few and far away, but ones that sell false promises and gimmicks to sure success, are in every corner! Doctors have long forgotten the 'Hypocrites Oath' and are simply gold-diggers in modern world. Even in today’s sophisticated, moderated and so-called ‘peace-loving’ world, wars are waged to plunder riches and oil – still so barbaric! The 'hot babes' are no longer emotional fools to love the one who loves her most – they are busy landing rich and successful men! It does not matter how many they have had used and misused for their financial gains.

Let me give you a short example from my own life. I started my career with a decently paying job and settled in one of the costliest cities in India. I did well enough for myself, held my head high and yet did not deprive myself or my loved ones of the basic comforts and joys of life. Six years down the line when my salary has increased four fold, I have introspected to find that my happiness has not. I am that very happy a soul today as I was six years back. I am content with His blessings and have no major regrets in life! This only brought me to conclude – money and happiness are not related. Happiness comes from contentment not from ones Net Asset Value.

I could go on and on talking about the ills of money in the world that we live in. I do not wish to sound preachy either. But to cut the long story short and to conclude on a positive note, I humbly urge each and every one of us to introspect, to be responsible for once. Money is not the solution to all problems, it’s not the ticket to paradise! Let us not balloon up the role of money and add to its spoils. At the end of the day when our time is up, we will have to leave all this money behind, so why waste running after it all life?

My Prayer

The sun, the moon, the stars all look the same – no matter where I look up to them from. Then why do I see differences down here? Is it because I micro-evaluate the world? If so, I pray to Him to elevate me to a level where I can see all as one – all as part of Him.

My bags are packed and I am ready to go...

In 29 years, it was my first snow in Dec ‘09. I hail from a tropical country, India where the winters are never as harsh as in Toronto. My work assignment brought me here in Sep 2009. Come November the days got remarkably shorter and the nights colder till finally it snowed. After the heavy pounding all night long, the vista from my apartment was breath-taking. Trees, cars, streets and the park in between the constellation of apartments - everything whitewashed with powder snow! I was inexperienced and did not realize that paddling though the snow would be a totally different ball game. That evening after office I bought snow-boots and a two layered, snow-proof jacket. Rest of the winter was all snow and the travel crazy adventurer in me had no option but to stay indoors watching old movies several times over in the week-ends and weather the snow to/from office on week-days. My first winter in Toronto was not so exiting time after all!

But now with the onset of spring, there is a dance in every step and a song in every lip! And boy am I happy to finally unfreeze from my winter hibernation of suspended animation? Every week-end I go for day tours of the city, cycle around, take a walk – do stuff to absorb in all that Toronto has to offer. For long week-ends I have my calendar all planned till July. Tobermory trip in May 22-24 and NYC trip booked for mid-June. My bags are packed and I can’t wait to go…