The Americas
This week Google has been sending me wonderful waterfall pictures of Iguazu Falls in South America. When I think of big waterfalls, I think of the big three, Niagara, which I have seen from both the Candaian and american sides, the Victoria Falls in Africa (now renamed something I cannot remember) and the South American waterfalls. Each continent has something special to see.
Niagara - Canada
Canada has the all jumping exciting side of the falls with all the museums. Marilyn Monroe made a film here. I have been several times. I never managed to time it right to see the Houdini museum.
Niagara - USA
If you cannot leave the USA, you can see the Falls from the American side.
The three things I remember are:
1 The noise
2 The wet spray - on some excursions you will be asked to wear waterrproof covering, or might be given it.
3 The prices.
The boat journeys come and go. They are allowed. They are banned. They are allowed again.
If you are the nervous type and prefer to stay at a distance, instead of spending your money on the attractions, you might prefer to indulge in a hotel room overlooking the falls.
What would you do if stuck indoors? Watch marilyn Monroe in the film Niagara.
As with all these attractions, in a tur group, I miss a lot of the commentary because of the noise or I am delaying to take a photo. Since you might miss half the commentary, it helps to resarch the place in advance, even print off your own guide from Wikipedia or Wikivoyage or the local tourist board.
If you have the chance, go from the USA to South America to see the Iguazu Falls.
Iguazu Falls - Brazil/Argentina
England
For me, South America is still just a dream. I remember reading about a boy who set out to visit all the major waterfalls. The minor waterfalls are numerous. We have been on hikes along paths to waterfalls in England's lovely Lake Distict, which is a pupular honeymoon destination.
I once rang up the local tourist board and asked, "Can you find me a hotel with a four-poster bed?"
She said, "You'll have to be more specific. Almost every hotel in the Lake District has a four-poster bed. Some of the hotels have three or four."
The Lake District is on the green and rainy west side of England like the Scottish lakes around Glasgow. You will find the same in many countries and islands. the wet part is green, with waterfalls, in rainy season.
Rain brings gushing rivers, waterfalls, great photos, also muddy paths. We turned back on our way to the waterfall.
Then we avoided the rain by going back in high summer. However, we found the drought had dried up the waterfall!
Australia
The seasons are opposite down in Australia. On the Great Ocean Road, we unexpectedly found a path leading to a waterfall. We took a detour, after some debate. Why? I said, "What's the problem? Because it's only half an hour."
My husband replied, "Yes. Half an hour there, would be an hour, return, plus time spent at the fall."
The signpost writer's idea of a half hour walk extended to an hour, as I hobbled along in unsutibale shoes, watched my step and took photos.
We were just about to turn back. I stopped. My husband carried on to the next corner. He came running back.
"We must be near - I can hear it!"
Yes, we heard it. And for the next half hour we continued to hear it. We finally made it.
We did not reach our hotel by lunch time but by dinner time!
We felt like explorer Livingstone - even on a marked path with wooden steps and railings.
What about rhe real Livingstone country?
Africa
The statue of Livinstone looking at the Victoria Falls.
David Lingstone Statue.
I hope the statue stays and does not disappear in a wave of political correctness.
Contrast the falls in raining season and the falls in dry season.
Asia - Malaysia
I live part of the year in Singapore. From Singapore many honeymoon couples go to the Kota Tinggi waterfall in Johor, Malaysia, just across the causeway, for romantic photos, often taken there by photographers.
Asia - Singapore's Artificial Falls
Jewel Mall - free
Singapore itself has two magnificent artificial indoor waterfalls. The one in the centre of Jewel Shopping Mall (the old airport car park, domed and converted into a mall, with the central waterfall designed by renowned architect Moshe Safdie).
I went to the pre-opening, and several times after it opened. It is great when you arrive at mid-level, great from higher floors, different again from the basement when it thunders behind a transparent barrier.
But Covid-19 measures are in place, so check opening times before setting off. It could be closed evenings, opening late, timed free entry, or not open at all.
The other huge waterfall and huge tourist attraction is in the Gardens by the Bay. One of the two main attractions. One is the Flower Garden (a series of gardens).
The second is Cloud Mountain.
This contains the large waterfall. Walkways zig zag up several floors. You can take the lift to the top and walk down.
Get tickets for both attractions at a reduced price if possible and allow several hours.
If you want something free, the free Botanic Gardens has a tiny waterfall which you can walk behind, refreshing on a hot day. You do get wet. You have to shield your camera or mobile phone with an umbrella. I started by taking photos from the outside. Then I ventured into the short tunnel walk behind the fall, which has an window behind the noisy spray.
Water, water, everywhere. Wonderful waterfalls.
Useful Websites
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niagara_(film)
Niagara Falls movie locations:
http://www.themoviedistrict.com/niagara-1953/2/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Falls
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iguazu_Falls
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kota_Tinggi_Waterfalls
https://www.lakescottageholiday.co.uk/blog/lake-district-waterfalls/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_waterfalls_of_Australia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_waterfalls_of_New_Zealand
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_waterfalls_of_England
About the Author
Travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
No comments:
Post a Comment