The last post ended with a note saying that all 'firsts' are special. I still hold to that. So just thought of penning down the few 'first' observations which I had over my stay so far in Toronto :
The city, in all, is far less crowded. Cars zoom easily @ 100-120 km/h and on a normal day very few people can be seen on the streets.
Traffic & driving sense are at their best. Drivers respect the pedestrains & wait for them to cross the roads.
NOONE - Yes 'No-one' sounds a HORN. (We haven't heard it yet)
There are a very few 'homeless' people. Beggars' common pick-up line is -- "I'm homeless"
Beggars don't accept anything less than a $. (Keep your change to yourself)
Coffee shop fronts are the ideal spot for beggars to sit.
Switches are ON when pressed on the upside (If you're an Indian - You'll think they're OFF)
All door and closet handles are lifted UP for them to open (Normally we turn them down in India)
There are more (or at least 'equal') no. of women on the street as compared to men. (It's my favourite item - For obvious reasons :-))
Almost everyone carries a pet (& most of the times the pets are dressed better than us)
People don't litter at ALL. There are dustbins everywhere and there's a good sense which prevails among the people to ensure that they don't litter.
Goods/Services are NOT inclusive of taxes.
Simple daily needs like Curd, Cabbage & Capsicum don't exist - They're Yoghurt, Lettuce & Green Pepper respectively (We learnt it after failing to convey to the s'keeper about the items in front of us & the 'keeper insisting - "We don't sell Curd/Cabbage/Capsicum")
6pm is the usual time for all the markets to shut down.
Customers first - That seems to be the Mantra everywhere. You'll feel like a king wherever you go.
Every person who interacts with you (be it a bartender, a lift operator, a coffee shop counter girl or a shopkeeper) - Will start with a warm smile & a more-than-audible 'Hi/Hello'!!!
People have the general courtesies - While boarding lifts/passing through a door - They hold it for you and noone forgets to thank you in case you do the same for them.
Its the safest of places - No thefts, pickups reported by acquaintances/newspapers at all. Women travel alone even post midnight.
In an addition to the last point - The ATMs are located @ roadside (Just like a public phone - No separate enclosure, no security - Just an ATM machine on the pavement!)
Whenever friends back-in-India interact with you, they end up asking - "When are you coming back?" (And you thought you'd 'just arrived')
Name: Nihar Ashish Home: Bangalore, India About Me: Nature soothes me...
Speed thrills me...
Adventure appeals me...
Art mystifies me...
Music entices me...
Beauty inspires me...
All of these, COMPLETE me. See my complete profile
nice observations :)