Today is September 11. It has been nine years. The wound might have healed but the scar remains.
Do you remember what happened on this fateful day?
If you are not an American, you and I will not fully understand the repercussion of the terrible, terrible event which took place on Sept 11, 2001. When thousands lost their lives in the name of religion extremism, which cast a shadow over the entire civilised world.
The West Village made a natural starting point for the first of my many walking tours, since I was staying at Chelsea. This was also where the fictional Becky Bloomwood (of the Shopaholic series) lived with her then boyfriend Luke Brandon, and I was eager to experience the bohemian district in all its glory.
Despite a fairly late night the previous date, I was up at eight in the morning. Not by my own choice, but because my dorm mates were all up early, catching a football match at a nearby pub.
Football match! Nearby pub! Eight in the morning!
I am only saying.
Since I was already up, I thought I will make my way to New York Broadway to get tickets to my favorite musical – Mamma Mia!
As I ascend the steps from the dismal-looking subway station to the ground of Chelsea, I could smell the icy-fresh wind and the occasional whiff of spring. I can’t believe I am here, in New York! When finally the best of Chelsea came into view, I was stunned into a broad grin that I couldn’t wipe off my face.
You know what they say about how you start a journey of a lifetime with an experience you’ll never forget? Well, mine started the night before (details of which I would rather not go into, tee hee) and as a result I was sleepy and starving as I arrived at Hong Kong International Airport. I was told that my seat will be 40D and my departure will be at Gate 4. The silly me went to Gate 40 instead, got puzzled why I was to board a plane destined for Mumbai before I realised my mistake.
And what a mistake it was! I had to walk a big round the airport to find the right gate. Good thing was that I made it to the airport with plenty of time to spare, what with the warning about Easter weekend crowd and all.
The flight was uneventful as my previous other flights. Just that it was incredibly long, and I couldn’t sleep more than three hours combined over the journey of 16-hour. So I watched movies… Avatar (yay!) and Kungfu Panda made the cut. I also watched all their episodes of Friends Season 8.
I mean, how apt was that, to watch a TV series which got me dreaming about New York in the first place?
It was past one in the afternoon when I touched down at JFK Airport. The queue for immigration was incredibly long, and it was here I encountered the tedious layers of US Customs bureaucracy, which include some forms and a “special interview” at in a “special” room”.
I knew that there would be a red carpet treatment for me.
The airport itself is impressive. Consisting of seven terminals, connected by a frequent air train service, going from one terminal to another was a breeze… but not if you are looking to go to the subway (in my case, the Howard Beach station). After making some rounds on Air Train, I found the subway, at which I realised to my dismay that I was 27 stations away from my final destination!
Talk about a long train ride. On one that is not that impressive either.
The journey to Chelsea, where I would be staying for the next two days, took almost an hour. But thank god, what a different that district had made on my impression of New York!
More photos of my first day in New York here.
Twenty four hours from now, I will be high up in the air, crossing continents and seas, making my way to New York City.
New York… what is it like? It is tall skyscrappers, dizzying grid-like streets, breakfast at Tiffany’s, big yellow cabs. It is Times Square, Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building and Central Park. It is about the lives of Ross, Rachel, Chandler, Monica, Joey and Phoebe.
Most of all, it is about my mother. The last time we spent time together was in 2006 when she came home for a month. My mom, the pillar of my family, has been living in the States for the past ten years.
Visiting New York has been a dream for me. It has now become a reality. For that, I am eternally grateful to the One above.
If you like, add me on Twitter or Facebook to follow my journey through the Big Apple.
My mind is whirling.
Apart from the tentative plans (made by my mom, not me), to visit Atlantic City and Philadephia while I am in the States, I find it totally impossible to select the must-visits in new York during the few days I get to spend there. Reading the guide is no good… everything sounds good, and if I go to one (say, Central Park) for the day, I will probably miss another (say, the Statue of Liberty).
What am I going to do? Argh!
I know… this sounds like a good problem to have, but a problem nonetheless!