Hypocrisy and Niagara Falls

I have heard locals argue that the Canadian side of the Niagara Falls allows you to get a better view in comparison to the American side. I believe that the view from either side does not begin to compare to the experience you get from taking a ride on the Maid of the Mist.

Last weekend, along with both national and international exchange students from Buffalo State College, I took a boat ride into the incredible Niagara Falls.

I have discovered in the one month that I have been living in Buffalo, New York that the weather is very deceiving; the sun may be shining outside but within a few hours, clouds could descend, winds pick up and your summer dress would then seem to be the wrong choice for the day. So as you can guess, for this excursion to one of the seven forgotten natural wonders of the world, I packed away my dress and thongs (in Australia, the term "thongs" is the American equivalent for "flip-flops") and replaced them with jeans, a jumper (sweater) and sneakers.

Wasn't I glad that I chose the attire that I did; standing on the bridge which overlooked the Falls from the American side left tourists subject to a hair-whipping breeze. Did I mention that if you have long hair and plan on visiting Niagara Falls that you should probably consider tying it back? After getting some unbelievable photographs, which definitely did not do this sight any justice, the group and I set off to board the Maid of the Mist.

Armed with a bright blue, plastic poncho for protection from the wind and water generated from the mist of the Falls, I remember thinking how unlucky those people were who did not prepare for the wet, slippery conditions of the boat ride. Snug inside my glowing enclosure, which oddly resembled a garbage bag, the Maid of the Mist set off into the mighty Niagara Falls.

Some of the people who accompanied me on this trip had already visited the Falls; of these people, there were those who considered Niagara Falls as being "OK." Hearing these words come from their mouths made me furious; how could there be people that honestly did not appreciate such a view?

As the Maid of the Mist approached the Falls, people were taking as many shots as their cameras would allow; I wasn't the only person who didn't have a water proof camera. I noticed that the group I was a part of were all collectively huddled in one section of the boat; everyone was battling to see as much as they could without getting wet. Getting wet was inevitable, especially when the boat ventured into the horse shoe of the Falls, but it was definitely worth it.

Ah, how I love the notion of hypocrisy; the imperfect humans that we are causes us to be victims of it. As we disembarked, most people were grouped around cameras, uttering in disbelief of what they had just experienced; "Can you believe how great that shot is?" It is then that one of the people who I had, earlier in the day, been so mad with about their lack of appreciation for this world renowned attraction, approached me;

"How incredible is Niagara Falls?! It's one of the greatest things I have ever seen."

So, this still image not only captures my friend Jay and I (both exchange students from the University of Newcastle, Australia) in front of the amazing Niagara Falls but also reminds me that in certain situations, to simply trust my own judgment.