And thus Project: From Sea To Sea makes a random, mid-semester return =)

So I was in Toronto for the early part of last week for a prospecting, mining and mineralogical convention. Forums and volunteer work (this was the reason why I even forked out CAD 200 for the trip down) aside though, I found the allure of the a certain structure – which was framed majestically against the Toronto skyline like a massive pillar – too much to resist lol. So it was on the 3rd of March that I braved blistering winds and brutal entry ticket prices (more on this later) to visit this monolith lol:

The CN Tower/La Tour CN.

Located smack in the middle of downtown Toronto, the CN (short for Canadian National)  Tower of Canada is a sight to behold even from a distance. Towering over the rest of the buildings in the downtown core at a height of 553.33 metres (1815.4 feet), the CN Tower was, from 1975 to September 2007, the tallest freestanding structre in the world. That distinction – as most of you may have already guessed – now belongs to the as-of-yet-unfinished Burj Dubai of the UAE; regardless, I didn’t feel that was an ample enough reason for me to not visit this spectacle of modern engineering.

I headed out from the Toronto Metro Convention Centre as soon as my shift had ended and made my way over to the CN Tower, which – as luck would have it – is located just next to the convention centre lol. Before I detail my foray into the ticketing booths, I’ll let you guys sample a few shots of how the Tower looks like from the ground of the downtown core of Toronto.

Notre merveille du monde.

Reaching out from Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

CN Tower at dusk.

Since I went on a weekday, there weren’t that many people around the tower complex that afternoon. Entering the place was relatively hassle-free, and before long I found myself standing outside the ticketing booths:

They were closed lol. There were so few people around that day (not only was it a weekday, but the temperature was a chilly minus 30 degrees Celcius as well >.<) that the management decided that they could manage all the influx of the visitors from a single ticketing desk in the tower lobby. I didn’t head straight in however, and decided to spend a few minutes outside the complex looking at ticket prices.

The CN Tower experience is tiered – there are four different “experience” packages to choose from, which are all scaled in price to represent the extent of the facilities of the tower that one is allowed to use. The first (basic) experience basically offered entry into the CN Tower all the way to the main observation deck, and retailed for around CAD 20 + tax if I’m not mistaken.

Don’t you think that’s bleeding expensive? CAD 20 just for ENTRY into the Tower? >.<

Anyway, experience 2 offered entry to the main observation deck and also contained a pass to a screening of a movie within the Tower’s own ciniplex. This one retailed for CAD 26 + tax. The third package in turn gave buyers the opportunity to access the Sky Pod component of the tower instead of a movie screening; the Sky Pod is basically yet another observation deck located an extra 100 m above the main observation floor, and is as high as you can go within the CN Tower – CAD 30 + tax.

The fourth and final package was a combination of all three, and retailed for CAD 35 + tax.

Realizing that I would probably never ever set foot in the CN Tower ever again, it didn’t take me long to opt for the fourth option; particularly appealing was the idea of the Sky Pod, and I figured the movie screening would just be there to top out things. However, fate had other plans – when I approached the ticket counter to make my purchase, the first thing I was told was that the Sky Pod was closed for renovation >.< >.<

Sighing inwardly, I went for the entry + movie combination instead. Bye bye CAD 26 lol.

Once inside the complex, I was subjected to a top-notch security check – visitors to the tower wae ushered into individual chambers where they are blasted with detector-based air jets before being examined by security officers. Needless to say, I passed the security check without a hitch and took my first picture of the concourse:

A very Canadian concourse.

To be honest there wasn’t very much going on in the concourse aside from general information placards and the occasional model of the CN Tower, so after only a few minutes there I decided to head on up to the roof of the world. Or at least get as close as I possibly could to it.

On the way there I took the time to read the numerous (well-written) information brochures plastered around the complex; it was there that I learnt the full height of the CN Tower, and had the single burning question in my mind pre-empted, and then answered: how long did it take to build the Tower?

Answer: 8 months.

Which, to me, is a pretty amazing thing if you think about it a little. And here’s why:

Constructed with the usage of a slipform powered by hydraulic jacks, the CN Tower was first and foremost a construction project that was constantly growing in height – in the sense that workers on the structure would keep the cement mixing system running at all times, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This was necessary due to the very nature of the slipform machine itself, which perches itself atop a growing complex and elevates itself upwards based on the cement mold poured by batches into it’s waiting foundations. As a result, the CN Tower would grow a few inches taller every day over the course of eight full months.

And throughout this whole pouring sequence, it was essential to maintain the vertical accuracy of the tower for obvious reasons. This was done by comparing the location of the slipform  massive measuring bobs hanging from it; these were in turn observed by small telescopes from the ground. The result: the tower varies from true vertical accuracy by only 29 millimetres (1.1 in).

That’s amazing engineering right there.

To cap things off, consider this final thought: it took the Canadians 8 months to finish the whole structure – no matter how you frame it, this would mean that they would have had to work during the winter months as well. Trust me, this is a very unenviable job – it can get to as low as minus 30 on the ground, so imagine what it must be like 500 meters in the air…with added wind-chill.

All I can say is >.< lol.

In any case, it was now my turn to go up the full height of this 8 months of labour lol:

Up the elevators, 22 km/h.

That’s pretty damn fast I tell you.

The view going upwards.

The elevator was located in the hollow-shaft left behind by the slipform by the way. And how’s this for a random (and possibly scary) fact: when I was trying to go up, the doors of the lift would not CLOSE because of the insane wind conditions in the vertical tunnel that day – the attendant had to jam the door shut herself with manual power.

I tell you in that elevator shaft I was like this already lol –> @.@

Anyway we reached the top of the Tower with no real hassle; this sight greeted my eyes once I was at the pinacle of the Torontonian skyline:

Gorgeous blue.

That’s Lake Ontario right there. On a good day with high visibility, apparently you can even make out the mist from Niagara Falls in the distance. Cool eh? =)

So I went around snapping more pictures:

The Rogers Centre.

Downtown Toronto.

Silhouettes of Lake Ontario.

Observatory.

The red marker was approximately where I was standing.

And did I mention that the CN Tower has the ability to induce severe acrophobia in people? By usage of it’s glass floors? XD

I admit I was no exception LOL. Took a bit before I could finally take the picture that you see here:

The ground is 342 meters below.

The glass panes that I was standing on were obviously built for the job. Measuring 2.5 inches of thermal glass units, a 1 inch pane of laminated glass, coupled with another inch of airspace and a final pane of 13-millimetre laminated glass, these viewing points had a safety threshold that was five times that of the required standard lol. Despite this well-known fact (at the tower’s observation deck at least it is very well-advertised), many people still refuse to go on the glass panes for a glimpse down at Toronto lol.

I myself witnessed a couple of screaming women and a very wary looking middle-aged gentleman carefully negotiate their way across the glass panels lol.

Such acrophobia did not beset this next person though:

Fearless baby XD

Also on the observation deck were even more murals that sported the many features thet defined the CN Tower. Not only is the Tower a broadcasting and telecommunications beacon, it also served – for quite some time – as the worlds tallest lightning rod lol. Lightning strikes the tower an average of 40 to 50 times every year, which is about 20 to 25 times more than any other location in Toronto on a whole.

And now I bring you dear reader, to the mural that caught my eye the most. Just below this depiction of the CN Tower’s hollow structure and it’s lighting-rod duties you will see the following words:

Great Towers of the World.

Cool! I was pretty damned sure Malaysia would be mentioned at some point – the Petronas Twin Towers of Kuala Lumpur are pretty hard to miss, especially since they are essentially TWO great structures lol.

And I was not to be disappointed:

Or was I?

Wait a minute. Something doesn’t look right.

THREE SOMETHINGS MORE LIKE =.=”

THREE spelling errors guys!! Three!! Not one, not two, but three!! Kuala Lumpur is spelt wrong, as is Petronas; heck, even MALAYSIA is spelt wrong in the French script LOL!! (it’s supposed to be spelt Malaisie =.=”)

“Malasie” sounds like some sort of disease come to think of it. Like malaria wth =.=” And it doesn’t help that the Malay word for lazy is “malas” lol.

I tell you I was so freaking disappointed by this LOL. It’s just sloppy worksmanship – the fact that I’m Malaysian notwithstanding – and the added insult that TWO of those errors are made adjacent to the CORRECT spelling only rubs salt in the wounds of destroyed nationalist feelings lol. Very sloppy indeed >.<

Licking my bruises, I decided that I had experienced all that the observation deck had to offer, and headed down to catch the movie for which I had paid a ticket for.

The cineplex was located in the basement of the tower, and I was shown – what else – a movie documenting the construction process of the CN Tower. It was quite well done actually, and I felt that the extra CAD 5 spent on it was a fair price to pay on a whole. But apparently the other visitors didn’t think so – I watched the movie along with five other people; the cineplex was full of very empty seats lol XD

After the movie was over, I headed back out to the concourse level – I had spotted a souvenir shop earlier on my way in and felt like getting a few trinkets for those back home. To my disappointment however, much of the items on sale were either a.) exorbitantly priced, b.) useless as gifts to others, or c.) unreflective of the CN Tower experience at all.

I ended up not buying anything, and left the CN Tower a half hour later.

Now, the cumulative opinion on the whole affair: based on how the tone of this post has been for the most part, I surmise that most of you will be able to guess that I was struggling to find things to talk about with respect to the Tower, felt it was way too-high-priced for a simple viewership experience, and above all practically didn’t sport anything too interesting, aside from the fact that it was once the tallest freestanding structure in the world. If you gussed that I would end this post with any of the sentiments above then you are quite right lol.

I have to admit that at the end of it all, I did find the CN Tower somewhat disappointing; especially as I really felt that the administration could have done a LOT more to spruce up the interest factor for the average layman tourist like myself. Granted, there’s a sky-high restaurant and some party lounges in the mix, but just how many of the Tower’s  annual 2 million visitors actually have a vested interest (and the moolah) in doing all of those things. I suspect very few do.

To that end however, if you’re ever in Toronto and have some cash to spare, I would still recommend that you give the CN Tower a try – even if it’s plainly for the sake of just being there lol. Frankly speaking, going to Toronto on a tour and not going up the CN Tower is almost like eating roti canai without dhall and/or curry lol. I guess ultimately, it all just comes down to the thrill of identity, and that is exactly what this wonder of engineering provides with a CAD 20 entry ticket lol.

In my case, one thing is for sure though – I feel like I won’t ever get the chance to go to the CN Tower ever again, so this next picture will probably be as high as I will ever go (architecturally speaking at least) in Canada; no Sky Pod forever LOL XD:

Damn, that’s actually quite an ugly photo of me XD LOL!

The CN Tower is open 364 days a year (closed on Christmas Day), with general access being from 9:00am – 11:00pm  daily. Hours of operation are adjusted seasonally however, so do spare some time to confirm details of your visit before heading out.

Cheers folks! =D

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Author’s Note: This next section is not really part of this Project: From Sea To Sea post, but you all are welcome to read it anyway; it’s just a compendium of thoughts from me with regard to where this whole project is heading.

While planning my trip up the CN Tower, I came to the realization – after getting numerous cancellations and backing outs from friends who were in town and I had asked/invited to come along with  me as well (causing me to ultimately go up the tower alone in the end) – that perhaps this project will end up failing miserably >.< Such fears were eventually materialized when I became aware – halfway through my trip up the CN Tower – that this was starting to get boring and not nearly as fun as I hoped it would be at all.

Exploring new places and gaining fresh experiences in a completely foreign country is cool, don’t get me wrong about that…but it all kinda sucks when you realize that much of your experiences and “adventures” are done alone, with only the presence of yourself to keep things cheery and happy. It’s doable at first, but after a while, you start to comprehend that it can begin to get draggy – especially when you end your trip on a personal note of euphoria but there’s no one around to share such experiences with, or how your amazement at certain items is muted just because there is no one to be amazed with/to.

Ultimately I guess, I just wish I had someone to go places with. Someone to plan trips with and go on random escapades all over the place; get lost even. Someone who’d want to crack jokes and waste cash every now and then as the journey continues LOL.

It has been two years of travelling alone, and I really think I am getting weary of it >.<

Case in point: I had planned to visit a Canadian province early this summer before I go back home for the rest of the holidays; Prince Edward Island or Yukon had been the plan…but the weight of the knowledge that I’ll probably have to go through all of the process alone and without the fun of accompaniment has led me to feel that in all likelihood, I’ll just catch an early plane home for the summer.

I guess that I’ll keep wishing and hoping that someday – before it’s too late – I’ll somehow manage to find someone to work out my travel plans and go places with; I really want to see all of Canada, I just wish you would do it with me. Whoever you are.

In the meantime though, pray that this young stalwart manages to keep the project going. Cause I frankly think it’s a shame if I end up dropping the ball completely out of sheer frustration and having to wing it alone >.<

You’ve reached the end of the line.