This picture was not taken in the USA. So where was it taken?

 

This is the 10,000 Buddha temple.  Apparently, that is the number of Buddhas it contains.  So, Ontario has more that Niagara Falls.  Sure, the Falls is one of the wonders of the world.  It is breathtakingly beautiful, awesomely powerful, and has an interesting history.  Most of us do not have the desire to stare at it, walk around it, boat at its foot, or walk under it for more than a day or two.  Now you definitely should, but once you've had your fill, go exploring!  I've always had an appreciation for all things Buddhist since I was about 15.  I did a history report on Siddartha Guatama, The Buddha with a capital B, so when I heard this place was around the corner I had to go.  It is a real, active temple, so be respectful.  Take your shoes off, be quiet, etc.  While there, take a tour, if they still have them.  I did the tour.  I was the only white person.  I was the tallest person.  When asked if I could speak Chinese (I can't), the guide said something to the others (in Chinese) and everyone giggled.  Sigh, sure I can be the butt of your joke.  Anyway, yes, a lot of buddha statues, and nice gardens.    

Next, check out the wineries.  though I myself am not a fan of ice wine, that's the thing out there.  Expensive syrup, sweeter than Snow White's, ahem, flower.  Moving on, Peller Estates was my favorite.  It's right outside Niagara on the Lake, a nice little town, and across from Fort George, another fun place.  Anyway, on the road from the Falls area to Niagara on the Lake there are numerous great wineries.  Remember you have to tell the border guy how many you have in the trunk!  Be honest.  Oh, I'll never forget that blue eyed angel!  He asked the usual questions with a smile.  I told him I had a case of wine, even though I didn't want to tell.  With a twinkle in his eye he replied, "so you got nothing, hm?"  And I drove off loving him more in that moment that I ever have before or since!

Another interesting place is the nearby Floral Showcase.  The thing they have is the Titan Anum (corpse plane).  That's that big plant that smells like death and doesn't bloom often.  It wasn't blooming but it's still something to see.  

What else!  find the out of the way places to eat, just like anywhere.  with google these days it's easy to do.  I remember a great Greek place, a great farm to table type place.  Also, and I cannot stress this enough, there are no decent fried potatoes anywhere.  skip the hashbrowns.  I suppose they are famous for poutine.  That doesn't sound like something I'd enjoy, so I didn't try it.  it may explain my disdain for their potatoes in general though.  

Now I want to talk about Toronto.  It has the biggest Chinatown outside of San Franciso.  I have a tradition.  When I go to a Chinatown, I buy a scarf.  That was the reason I went, but you can't shop for trinkets all day, which is how I ended up at the Royal Ontaria Museum.  While I was there they had an exhibition on loan from China, the Terracotta Warriors.  It was an amazing exhibit.  Beyond what you expect, there were a lot of other historical trinkets, including stone dildos.  I have a friend who still doesn't understand how that would work.  I told him, for as long as men have been jerking it, woman have been putting things inside themselves.  I didn't have the heart to tell him what they used for lube.  some things are worse than ignorance.  Anyway, the real show is the warriors!  Not only did these impressive, life sized statues include warriors but administrators too.  A king needs both.  One warrior still had paint on him.  He spoke to me somehow.  I was drawn to look at him over and over again.  I imagined his ghost locked inside.  I guess the soul of the artist would be more appropriate though.  so of course, I had to have my own.  To this day, I keep my tiny warrior, made from clay from the same region as the big boys, on my dresser.  He guards me while I sleep and helps me pick out clothes in the morning.