NYC

I woke up in the middle of the night with the sound of the plane's twin engines humming in my ears. The dark economy class cabin was quiet, although if you listened carefully, you could still hear the collective breathing and snores of fifty other passengers. The old man next to me was watching Jumper (which was a pretty nonsensical movie). My dislike for Hayden "Anakin Skywalker" Christianson knows no bound.

For the life of me, I couldn't recall which city I was heading to since much of my April was spent sleeping on planes and going to India. And then I recalled I was in the middle of a 19-hour ride to New York City. All was well.

[On 15 May 2008, I read in the newspaper that SIA had discontinued the economy class for all Singapore-NY direct flights. So from 15 May 2008 onwards, you have to pay $10,000 to get a class in the business class to fly to New York. I considered myself lucky for being one of the last passengers on the economy class. Given my low status, I would probably be asked to fly via Tokyo next time.]

The long ride was enjoyable even welcome. I was so tired that I fell asleep before the plane took off. This took place on every flight nowadays - an indication of how tired I was in the whole of May. And when I woke up, I suddenly have the urge to drink. So I had like three cups (funny shaped glasses) of wine and a screwdriver. I must have slept like 12 hours on the plane, waking up intermittently only to eat. By the way, in the NY direct flight, there was a pantry at the back of the plane which passengers could go grab a bite and just stand around and talk. Cakes, muffins and museli bars were available. You could even buzz the air stewardess to make you instant noodles. Wonderful.

I have never stepped foot in the US before. So what I knew about New York was all gotten from watching movies like Godfather, Godzilla or Matrix. Or playing video games like Grand Theft Auto.

In other words, I am expecting a rampaging 300-foot monster kicking the Empire State Building flanked by trenchcoat wearing black gangsters wielding .38 automatic shooting at grandmothers with car chases round the corner.

Of course, I did not encounter any monsters from Japan. Or gangsters rapping with machine guns. The grandmothers here are damn tough though.

Arriving in the US late at night.

Here is how a US$450 hotel room looks like. Right smack in the middle of classy Manhattan. A world of difference from the phone booth-like room that I slept in London.

I managed to get some hours off after proper work was done. Took the free Staten Island ferry to take a look at the Status of Liberty. If there is one picture to depict New York after 9/11, this picture is it. Freedom guarded by force of arms.

Every major store and franchise can be found on 5th Avenue - the fashion avenue of the world. More on that later. Here is one on DKNY.

When I walked to Madison Square Gardens - home to the New York Knicks, I saw a welcoming sight.

IRON MAN!

And then Indiana Jones.

I always like this building in the postcard. Shape like a iron.

More on NYC later. Now time to nap.