"Here I am waiting, I'll have to leave soon. Why am I holding on?"
The song has been playing endlessly in my head for the past few days. Couldn't believe that it's already been 5 weeks and that I was leaving soon. I was both excited and sad to be going back home. Of course I miss Manila and all but there's still so much to see and places to go to and Broadway shows to watch! Super bitin! Nevertheless, I felt really blessed that I was given the opportunity to travel, that the project was not that stressful and that I got to work with really nice people and sooo thankful that Candice was there. Haays, I'm sure gonna miss New York.
"We knew this day would come, we knew it all along. How did it come so fast?"
Arrived at the JFK International Airport around 10am. Walked around for some last minute purchases and looked for something to eat. Had a plateful of scrambled eggs, bacon, potato bites and buttermilk biscuit from Sbarro. That was the heaviest breakfast I've eaten while I was there. Coz I usually got by with just a pack of Skyflakes or Inipit. Hehe.
"This is my last glance that will soon be memory..."
Boarded the plane around 12pm. Got an aisle seat beside someone who frequents the washroom like once every two hours. Looking at the bright side, at least he's Pinoy coz I could really use someone to talk to without suffering any blood loss. Hehe.
Him: "Hi, are you Filipino?"
Me: "Yup, I am."
Him: "You speak Tagalog?"
Me: "Konti lang. Joke lang. Oo naman!"
Him: "Haha. Ayun naman pala! Kanina pa kita ine-English!"
The guy's a seaman from Davao. He's going back home for a short vacation and would be heading back at sea after a month.
Sleep was quite elusive so I just took advantage of the inflight entertainment. I enjoyed "Wreck-It Ralph", sat on the edge of my seat watching "Argo", and I fell in love and cried watching "The Perks of Being a Wallflower". I also managed to eat almost all of the chips that I bought from the hotel's vending machine. Despite the roller coaster of emotions I strapped myself into and all the junk that I fed myself with, I just tossed and turned in my seat the entire flight unable to drift away to Lala land.
After being airborne for approximately 13 hours, we had to deplane at Narita Airport in Japan. It sucks how sleep would come at the most inconvenient times and the most unlikely of places. The moment I sat at the airport's waiting area, I just passed out. Didn't care if I was occupying more space than I should or if I had drool dripping out of my mouth. I wanted sleep, I needed sleep, so sleep I did.
Boarded the plane again after a couple of hours. Wasn't feeling all too well when I got to my seat. Tried to continue my slumber but I couldn't find a comfortable position. Food was served and I once again stuffed myself with as much as my stomach could handle. A few minutes after I finished my food, the plane hit some rough air. Felt like I was gonna faint and throw up at the same time. Good thing I still had a bag of M&Ms with me so I quickly downed some sweets to push back whatever that was that wanted out. Yak! Haha.
After what seemed like forever, I was finally back in the Philippines. Never had I felt so relieved to be on solid ground. My phone was dead and never coming back to life (An excuse to get a new phone? Hehe), so I had to come up with ways to inform my parents that I was already at the pick-up area. Like a smoke signal or something. Wehe. Approached one cab driver and asked if I could borrow his phone to contact my parents. All I needed was one text message but he urged me to give them a call instead. I was very thankful, I almost forgot that everything comes with a price. Another kuya approached me and asked if I was able to contact my parents. Then he asked me flat out if I have a few dollars to spare. It turned out that the call that barely lasted 10 seconds costs $5. Oh well.
Caught sight of our car after a few minutes. Waved at my parents with much excitement. OFW lang ang peg. Hehe. I was kinda hoping to find my siblings and our puppy inside the car but it was just my mom and my dad. Shared all my photos and experiences and stories on our drive home. My siblings were still up when we arrived. They were waiting for me daw. Aysos!
Me: "Namiss niyo ba ako?"
Mico: "Oo! Nasan na pasalubong??"
Grabe ha! I felt really missed! Hahaha.
Me: "Ito sayo, DingDong!
Sunday, February 24, 2013
Saturday, February 23, 2013
Day At The Museum
Had my last NYC lunch at Ho Yip, a Chinese restaurant near my hotel where I usually get my fill of rice. We then headed to the American Museum of Natural History, the very museum where different animals, dinosaurs, cowboys, Indians and Theodore Roosevelt comes to life at night. Hehe.
We first watched a space show narrated by Whoopi Goldberg called "Journey to the Stars" in the Hayden Planetarium. It launched us into a visual voyage through space and time to witness the life and death of the stars. The effects were.. well, stellar. Haha. Would've been better if the seats reclined a little bit more, though.
We then went to the Hall of Ocean Life where a full-size model of a blue whale is suspended from the ceiling. There's also a lot of masterfully crafted dioramas that looked very real. The stuffed animals, the recreation of their natural habitats, the backdrop, everything blended well together creating little worlds inside the glass boxes.
One of the museum's main attractions was the huge collection of dinosaur fossils in the Hall of Dinosaurs. Still can't grasp the fact that these ridiculously gigantic creatures existed millions of years in the past and walked the same Earth that us humans do. I mean, seriously! There's the Pterodactyl, the Triceratops and the mighty Tyrannosaurus among many many others. Power Rangers lang ang peg. Haha.
I was kinda expecting to find Sacagawea in the Hall of Indians and was kinda hoping that she would look like Mizuo Peck. Haha. There were some artifacts from the Shoshone tribe of which she was a member but there was no Sacagawea in sight. The women mannequins looked just as manly as the men and almost all, if not all, looked kinda creepy. Also saw the Easter Island Head but I wasn't able to get close to it. Too bad coz I got the dum-dum some gum-gum. Hehe.
There are many other halls in the museum that a day is not enough to see everything that it has to offer. It closes at around 5:45pm, just before the sun sets. The guards were pretty unrelenting in sending us out, like they wanted everyone out of the museum fast. Hmm, I could only think of one reason why. Haha.
Had my last NYC dinner at Bar Masa, a Japanese restaurant located in The Shops at Columbus Circle. Not really a fan of raw food so I ordered my usual Japanese dish, Ebi Tempura! Hehe. For dessert we had the uber yummy green tea mille crêpe made of very thin layers of crepe (about 25 layers according to Candice) all stacked up like a piece of cake! It wasn't fancy-looking, it actually didn't look too appealing, but I swear, it was D-E-licious! =P~
We first watched a space show narrated by Whoopi Goldberg called "Journey to the Stars" in the Hayden Planetarium. It launched us into a visual voyage through space and time to witness the life and death of the stars. The effects were.. well, stellar. Haha. Would've been better if the seats reclined a little bit more, though.
We then went to the Hall of Ocean Life where a full-size model of a blue whale is suspended from the ceiling. There's also a lot of masterfully crafted dioramas that looked very real. The stuffed animals, the recreation of their natural habitats, the backdrop, everything blended well together creating little worlds inside the glass boxes.
One of the museum's main attractions was the huge collection of dinosaur fossils in the Hall of Dinosaurs. Still can't grasp the fact that these ridiculously gigantic creatures existed millions of years in the past and walked the same Earth that us humans do. I mean, seriously! There's the Pterodactyl, the Triceratops and the mighty Tyrannosaurus among many many others. Power Rangers lang ang peg. Haha.
I was kinda expecting to find Sacagawea in the Hall of Indians and was kinda hoping that she would look like Mizuo Peck. Haha. There were some artifacts from the Shoshone tribe of which she was a member but there was no Sacagawea in sight. The women mannequins looked just as manly as the men and almost all, if not all, looked kinda creepy. Also saw the Easter Island Head but I wasn't able to get close to it. Too bad coz I got the dum-dum some gum-gum. Hehe.
There are many other halls in the museum that a day is not enough to see everything that it has to offer. It closes at around 5:45pm, just before the sun sets. The guards were pretty unrelenting in sending us out, like they wanted everyone out of the museum fast. Hmm, I could only think of one reason why. Haha.
Had my last NYC dinner at Bar Masa, a Japanese restaurant located in The Shops at Columbus Circle. Not really a fan of raw food so I ordered my usual Japanese dish, Ebi Tempura! Hehe. For dessert we had the uber yummy green tea mille crêpe made of very thin layers of crepe (about 25 layers according to Candice) all stacked up like a piece of cake! It wasn't fancy-looking, it actually didn't look too appealing, but I swear, it was D-E-licious! =P~
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Cruise And Cycle
Cruised around Manhattan via Statue Cruises. The ferry left Battery Park around 1pm and took us on a 60-minute tour of New York's waterways. There was a recording that told us where to look and gave some historical background about the famous landmarks that we passed. Stayed at the deck and fought the wind's icy grip as hard as I could as I took in the breathtaking view of Manhattan. Normally, visitors get to disembark at Liberty Island and Ellis Island but due to the damages incurred during Hurricane Sandy, both islands were closed for renovation. Surprisingly, the statue wasn't as towering as I imagined it to be. It looked much more majestic and gigantic when it got hit by a huge tsunami or when it was half-buried in ice and snow. Hehe.
Went on a cycling trip with Candice around Central Park. Rented our bikes for 3 hours at Must See Central Park Bike Rentals. It was definitely more fun than just walking around and I really enjoyed freewheeling downhill! Speed freak. Haha. We stopped by the spots that I missed yesterday. When the cold started seeping into my body, the pedaling became hard work. I started walking my bike especially when the road went uphill. Stopped for a while to rest and to decide whether we're gonna continue with our current route or head back. An officer approached us and asked if we needed any help. She told us that we're headed downhill but there's also a steep uphill after and advised us to turn our wheels around since it's gonna get dark and colder soon. Took her advice, turned around and pedaled back. We were literally flirting with danger when we rolled out onto the streets among speeding cars and buses. And there were no marked bike lanes so we're not even sure if we're allowed to be there. Haha. Got off our bikes just to be safe and walked our way back to the rental shop instead.
Favorite shots:
Went on a cycling trip with Candice around Central Park. Rented our bikes for 3 hours at Must See Central Park Bike Rentals. It was definitely more fun than just walking around and I really enjoyed freewheeling downhill! Speed freak. Haha. We stopped by the spots that I missed yesterday. When the cold started seeping into my body, the pedaling became hard work. I started walking my bike especially when the road went uphill. Stopped for a while to rest and to decide whether we're gonna continue with our current route or head back. An officer approached us and asked if we needed any help. She told us that we're headed downhill but there's also a steep uphill after and advised us to turn our wheels around since it's gonna get dark and colder soon. Took her advice, turned around and pedaled back. We were literally flirting with danger when we rolled out onto the streets among speeding cars and buses. And there were no marked bike lanes so we're not even sure if we're allowed to be there. Haha. Got off our bikes just to be safe and walked our way back to the rental shop instead.
Favorite shots:
Friday, February 15, 2013
Photo Walk: Central Park
Got the day off from the project today. And since they're already talking about cutting my stay here short by a week, I wanted to make the most of my free time. So with a map and a camera in hand, I wandered aimlessly around Central Park for a little photo walk! ^_^
Sunday, February 10, 2013
X2: Times Square
Was chatting with Roxie and she mentioned this pizza place called Lombardi's that was one of the stops in the Amazing Race. Decided to try it out for lunch. Ordered a thin crust pizza topped with pepperoni, sausage, mushroom and spinach. It wasn't the best pizza, actually there's nothing really special about it. But with its claim to fame as the first pizzeria in the US, it was worth the try.
We then grabbed some dessert at Rice to Riches. The place serves nothing but rice pudding in various flavors. Pizza for lunch + rice for dessert. That's one very bad equation but what the hell! Haha. Shared a bowl with Candice. I got the Chocolate Chip Flirt while she got the Hazelnut Chocolate Bear Hug, I think.
Cands headed back home while I jumped on a train to Times Square. I wanted to hit the flagship stores that line the streets and my first stop was every kid's wonderland, Toys"R"Us. I completely lost track of time going through all three floors of toys, toys and even more toys. Was hoping to find my precious Pinkys on the shelves, but no luck. I did, however, found some One Direction merchandise that I could sell in Manila for double the price. Hahah.
Next stop was the Disney Store! First thing I grabbed was a 7" figurine of Mickey Mouse holding an apple! Sooo cute! It's a pretty small store but I think I spent an hour just rummaging through all the cute stuff there. Ended up with a bag full of magnets, keychains and baby clothes!
Off to the sweetest and probably the most colorful attraction in Times Square, the M&M's World store! Love the cool dispensers and the wall of tubes filled with M&M's in a rainbow of colors! The pastels are so pretty but I still want my candies in orange!
Just around the corner is the Hershey's store. Despite the huge candy bar signs that adorn the building, the store itself was very small and wasn't as impressive compared to M&M's World. Bought a Hershey's flavored lip balm just because I left my ChapStick at the hotel and my lips started to feel windburned. And being the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup lover that I am, I also got me some cups in dark and white chocolate!
Another sort of "attraction" in Times Square are the people wearing costumes that roam the streets and pose for a dollar or two. Most of them looked very different from the real thing, though. There's not-quite-Mickey and not-quite-Minnie with their slightly deformed heads, creepy incarnations of Elmo and Cookie Monster, and a group of retired superheroes who need to get back in shape. Hehe. But not everyone looked like cheap imitations. Like the Stormtrooper and Chewbacca costumes that I think were really cool!
Last stop was Grand Slam where I bought some souvenir items for friends and family. I then met up with Candice for another movie. Warm Bodies is a romantic comedy about a zombie who falls in love with a human and slowly regains his humanity. It was funny and creative and gory and sweet. R, the charming undead played by Nicholas Hoult, stole my heart with his undying promise: "Keep you safe." It also had a very nice soundtrack that'll definitely be on my iPod once I return to Manila. Hehe.
After the movie, we waited for a while to catch The Midnight Moment for the month of February. This month's artist is Tracey Emin. Her digital artwork entitled "I Promise To Love You" is a visual valentine that displays neon love notes on the billboards in Times Square. I thought ALL of the digital billboards will be synchronized and display only that, but it turned out to be just a few and you wouldn't really notice it unless you are aware of it.
"There's certain things in life I cannot take
And I will wait
I hope you know I care."
--- Yamaha, Delta Spirit
We then grabbed some dessert at Rice to Riches. The place serves nothing but rice pudding in various flavors. Pizza for lunch + rice for dessert. That's one very bad equation but what the hell! Haha. Shared a bowl with Candice. I got the Chocolate Chip Flirt while she got the Hazelnut Chocolate Bear Hug, I think.
Cands headed back home while I jumped on a train to Times Square. I wanted to hit the flagship stores that line the streets and my first stop was every kid's wonderland, Toys"R"Us. I completely lost track of time going through all three floors of toys, toys and even more toys. Was hoping to find my precious Pinkys on the shelves, but no luck. I did, however, found some One Direction merchandise that I could sell in Manila for double the price. Hahah.
Next stop was the Disney Store! First thing I grabbed was a 7" figurine of Mickey Mouse holding an apple! Sooo cute! It's a pretty small store but I think I spent an hour just rummaging through all the cute stuff there. Ended up with a bag full of magnets, keychains and baby clothes!
Off to the sweetest and probably the most colorful attraction in Times Square, the M&M's World store! Love the cool dispensers and the wall of tubes filled with M&M's in a rainbow of colors! The pastels are so pretty but I still want my candies in orange!
Just around the corner is the Hershey's store. Despite the huge candy bar signs that adorn the building, the store itself was very small and wasn't as impressive compared to M&M's World. Bought a Hershey's flavored lip balm just because I left my ChapStick at the hotel and my lips started to feel windburned. And being the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup lover that I am, I also got me some cups in dark and white chocolate!
Another sort of "attraction" in Times Square are the people wearing costumes that roam the streets and pose for a dollar or two. Most of them looked very different from the real thing, though. There's not-quite-Mickey and not-quite-Minnie with their slightly deformed heads, creepy incarnations of Elmo and Cookie Monster, and a group of retired superheroes who need to get back in shape. Hehe. But not everyone looked like cheap imitations. Like the Stormtrooper and Chewbacca costumes that I think were really cool!
Last stop was Grand Slam where I bought some souvenir items for friends and family. I then met up with Candice for another movie. Warm Bodies is a romantic comedy about a zombie who falls in love with a human and slowly regains his humanity. It was funny and creative and gory and sweet. R, the charming undead played by Nicholas Hoult, stole my heart with his undying promise: "Keep you safe." It also had a very nice soundtrack that'll definitely be on my iPod once I return to Manila. Hehe.
After the movie, we waited for a while to catch The Midnight Moment for the month of February. This month's artist is Tracey Emin. Her digital artwork entitled "I Promise To Love You" is a visual valentine that displays neon love notes on the billboards in Times Square. I thought ALL of the digital billboards will be synchronized and display only that, but it turned out to be just a few and you wouldn't really notice it unless you are aware of it.
"There's certain things in life I cannot take
And I will wait
I hope you know I care."
--- Yamaha, Delta Spirit
Saturday, February 02, 2013
Shezzo Wicked!
Met up with Candice at the Grand Central Terminal. Tasted all them Apple goodness at the Apple Store while waiting for her to arrive. The colors of the iPod Touch 5th Gen were candy yummy and the iPhone 5 was sinfully delectable. Must control growing appetite! Haha.
The Grand Central Terminal is one of the most photographed landmarks in NYC, no wonder why. The ceiling is a mural of constellations with tiny bulbs that twinkle like stars. Probably the only place in Manhattan where I can see the stars. Any astronomy geek would notice that the constellations were painted backwards. Needless to say, I didn't notice that myself. Hehe. I actually picked that information up from the movie "Arthur". They say it's not supposed to be our view of the sky when we look up, rather it is God's view of the of the sky when He looks down. Hmm, clever. I excitedly jumped on the bandwagon and pulled out my camera. The flow of people was quite frustrating at first, but I later learned to work them into my compositions. Cumu-composition talaga? Haha. Took more photos when Candice arrived. This time, with my face in it.
Got so excited when we walked past the Whispering Gallery! Asked Cands to stand in one corner while I stood in the opposite corner dozens of feet away. Faced the walls and started whispering and it was as if we were whispering to each other's ear! It was soo cool! And I got it from the movie as well! Hehe.
Stepped outside to check out its facade. There's a clock with a really fine sculpture of Hercules, Mercury and Minerva. At midnight, they reach down and stop time and go out swimming in Hudson, cavort in the zoo and go to strip clubs even! Oh, the things I learn from the movies!
Stopped by the New York Public Library. Part of me wanted to step inside and browse through the collection of books and smell the aroma of the pages but another part of me just wanted to stay outside and snap a few shots. The latter won. Maybe next time. If there's a "next time". Haha.
A couple of steps away from the library is Bryant Park. Its centerpiece is a fountain that was a bit frozen but was still running. And there's also a skating rink! I think it's larger compared to the one in Rockefeller Center. And the skates look nicer, too.
My love for broadway musicals started five years ago with West Side Story. I fell in love with the perfect combination of music, singing, dancing, acting, storytelling and stagecraft. Caught a couple more shows since then and I'm just so elated that now, I got to taste the real thing!
Went to Gershwin Theater to watch one of the most pop-yuhuu-lar shows ever produced! Glinda was sooo cute and hilarious! She owned the stage everytime she's on it. I love her! Elphaba was just as amazing and who would forget the handsome prince that was Fiyero! Haha. The staging and the costumes were really something to see. Everything was just visually and auditorily spellbinding! Wicked, indeed!
Favorite shots:
"I'm through accepting limits
'Cause someone says they're so
Some things I cannot change
But till I try I'll never know."
--- Defying Gravity, Wicked OST
The Grand Central Terminal is one of the most photographed landmarks in NYC, no wonder why. The ceiling is a mural of constellations with tiny bulbs that twinkle like stars. Probably the only place in Manhattan where I can see the stars. Any astronomy geek would notice that the constellations were painted backwards. Needless to say, I didn't notice that myself. Hehe. I actually picked that information up from the movie "Arthur". They say it's not supposed to be our view of the sky when we look up, rather it is God's view of the of the sky when He looks down. Hmm, clever. I excitedly jumped on the bandwagon and pulled out my camera. The flow of people was quite frustrating at first, but I later learned to work them into my compositions. Cumu-composition talaga? Haha. Took more photos when Candice arrived. This time, with my face in it.
Got so excited when we walked past the Whispering Gallery! Asked Cands to stand in one corner while I stood in the opposite corner dozens of feet away. Faced the walls and started whispering and it was as if we were whispering to each other's ear! It was soo cool! And I got it from the movie as well! Hehe.
Stepped outside to check out its facade. There's a clock with a really fine sculpture of Hercules, Mercury and Minerva. At midnight, they reach down and stop time and go out swimming in Hudson, cavort in the zoo and go to strip clubs even! Oh, the things I learn from the movies!
Stopped by the New York Public Library. Part of me wanted to step inside and browse through the collection of books and smell the aroma of the pages but another part of me just wanted to stay outside and snap a few shots. The latter won. Maybe next time. If there's a "next time". Haha.
A couple of steps away from the library is Bryant Park. Its centerpiece is a fountain that was a bit frozen but was still running. And there's also a skating rink! I think it's larger compared to the one in Rockefeller Center. And the skates look nicer, too.
My love for broadway musicals started five years ago with West Side Story. I fell in love with the perfect combination of music, singing, dancing, acting, storytelling and stagecraft. Caught a couple more shows since then and I'm just so elated that now, I got to taste the real thing!
Went to Gershwin Theater to watch one of the most pop-yuhuu-lar shows ever produced! Glinda was sooo cute and hilarious! She owned the stage everytime she's on it. I love her! Elphaba was just as amazing and who would forget the handsome prince that was Fiyero! Haha. The staging and the costumes were really something to see. Everything was just visually and auditorily spellbinding! Wicked, indeed!
Favorite shots:
"I'm through accepting limits
'Cause someone says they're so
Some things I cannot change
But till I try I'll never know."
--- Defying Gravity, Wicked OST
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Hillsong NYC
Attended a Hillsong church service today at Irving Plaza. We arrived a bit late so the place was already packed and had to stand at the back for about an hour and a half. But that was a small sacrifice for a such an opportunity, I should say.
Praise and worship was very powerful. The band, the songs, the passion and energy were so contagious; it was amazing. Minus the original compositions and the albums, I'm proud that I can say the same about our church's worship team in Manila. Naks! Hehe. Today's message was given by Pastor Josh Kimes.
"If you lose confidence in yourself, put your confidence in God."
Thank you, Lord. That's just what I needed to hear and that's exactly what I'm gonna do.
"Like a mighty storm
Stir within my soul
Lord have Your way
Lord have Your way in me."
--- I Surrender, Hillsong
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Yo MoMA So Phat!
Went to the Museum of Modern Art, also known as MoMA, in midtown Manhattan. It features six full floors of paintings, sculptures, photographs and mixed media artworks of contemporary artists.
The first few floors were, in my opinion, a bit of a bore. Some of the pieces I think I could do myself, some I'm surprised made it in the museum, and some I wouldn't even call art. I'm not an artist but seriously, how much artistic talent do I need to doodle random shapes, let alone leave a canvas blank? Or maybe, I just didn't stare long enough to figure out the meaning behind the brush strokes, or the lack thereof. Haha.
The following installations I found quite interesting. "R.S.V.P.1" by Senga Nengudi, which is composed of suspended pantyhoses filled with sand and "Will the Russians Go to War" by Georg Herold, which is made of planks of wood with little notes stapled around them.
Couldn't wait to go back to my hotel and come up with my own installation! A bubblewrap-covered room, perhaps? Heheh.
The highlight of my visit was seeing the "Starry Night" by Vincent Van Gogh and "The Scream" by Edvard Munch face to face, or rather face to canvas. Hehe. There's always a crowd of tourists surrounding the famous paintings so it really took me a while to capture these unobstructed shots.
Next stop was the Rockefeller Center. As much as I wanted to put on a pair of skates and experience ice skating in the midst of New York's skyscrapers, it was freezing cold and Candice wasn't up for it either. Maybe next time? Wehe.
Stopped by the Lego Store and the NBC Experience Store where merchandise from the different NBC shows are on sale. While I didn't really purchase anything, I had fun window shopping. Haha. And Cands got me an SNL magnet! Weee!
Dinner was at Sapporo. I got a bowl of gyudon beef and shared a bowl of edamame with Cands. I only managed to finish half of my meal so we all know what's for dinner tomorrow. Hehe. Grabbed some sweet treats at the famous Magnolia Bakery. Everything on display looked so yummy and pretty. And HolyMotherOfSweetBabyJesus! The cupcakes tasted as good as they looked! Food orgasm at its best!!! Hmmm! =P~
The first few floors were, in my opinion, a bit of a bore. Some of the pieces I think I could do myself, some I'm surprised made it in the museum, and some I wouldn't even call art. I'm not an artist but seriously, how much artistic talent do I need to doodle random shapes, let alone leave a canvas blank? Or maybe, I just didn't stare long enough to figure out the meaning behind the brush strokes, or the lack thereof. Haha.
The following installations I found quite interesting. "R.S.V.P.1" by Senga Nengudi, which is composed of suspended pantyhoses filled with sand and "Will the Russians Go to War" by Georg Herold, which is made of planks of wood with little notes stapled around them.
Couldn't wait to go back to my hotel and come up with my own installation! A bubblewrap-covered room, perhaps? Heheh.
The highlight of my visit was seeing the "Starry Night" by Vincent Van Gogh and "The Scream" by Edvard Munch face to face, or rather face to canvas. Hehe. There's always a crowd of tourists surrounding the famous paintings so it really took me a while to capture these unobstructed shots.
Next stop was the Rockefeller Center. As much as I wanted to put on a pair of skates and experience ice skating in the midst of New York's skyscrapers, it was freezing cold and Candice wasn't up for it either. Maybe next time? Wehe.
Stopped by the Lego Store and the NBC Experience Store where merchandise from the different NBC shows are on sale. While I didn't really purchase anything, I had fun window shopping. Haha. And Cands got me an SNL magnet! Weee!
Dinner was at Sapporo. I got a bowl of gyudon beef and shared a bowl of edamame with Cands. I only managed to finish half of my meal so we all know what's for dinner tomorrow. Hehe. Grabbed some sweet treats at the famous Magnolia Bakery. Everything on display looked so yummy and pretty. And HolyMotherOfSweetBabyJesus! The cupcakes tasted as good as they looked! Food orgasm at its best!!! Hmmm! =P~
Friday, January 25, 2013
Excelsior!
Weekend starts Friday night. That's something I've recently learned from Candice. Hehe. So instead of just staying home after work, we went out for some food and some Silver Linings Playbook! :)
Killed some time at the World Financial Center. There was this beautiful Winter Garden with a grand staircase and a bunch of towering palm trees. And since it was already pretty late, we had the place to ourselves! Well almost, except for a couple of men who were trimming the trees. Hehe.
Steps away is the Conrad Hotel, which has a really cool lobby. The pieces hanging from the ceiling plus the couches create an ensemble of patterns splashed with vibrant shades of blue and yellow.
Dinner was at Shake Shack. It is the burger joint in the movie Something Borrowed where Rachel and Ethan would regularly meet for lunch. I actually couldn't recall seeing its name in the movie, so I browsed through it again just now and wow, talk about product placement! Hehe. Got a serving of fries and cheeseburger with all the fixings but got rid of the tomatoes and the pickles. It was a delicious experience and I love how their menu includes something for the dogs!
The Silver Linings Playbook was so dysfunctional, it was fun. I love Bradley Cooper, I love Jennifer Lawrence, and I love how their characters are a little bit odd and crazy. Okay, maybe more than a little bit. Hehe.
Sometimes, life will put you in situations where silver linings are hard to find. And during those times, you just have to create your own.
Excelsior!
Killed some time at the World Financial Center. There was this beautiful Winter Garden with a grand staircase and a bunch of towering palm trees. And since it was already pretty late, we had the place to ourselves! Well almost, except for a couple of men who were trimming the trees. Hehe.
Steps away is the Conrad Hotel, which has a really cool lobby. The pieces hanging from the ceiling plus the couches create an ensemble of patterns splashed with vibrant shades of blue and yellow.
Dinner was at Shake Shack. It is the burger joint in the movie Something Borrowed where Rachel and Ethan would regularly meet for lunch. I actually couldn't recall seeing its name in the movie, so I browsed through it again just now and wow, talk about product placement! Hehe. Got a serving of fries and cheeseburger with all the fixings but got rid of the tomatoes and the pickles. It was a delicious experience and I love how their menu includes something for the dogs!
The Silver Linings Playbook was so dysfunctional, it was fun. I love Bradley Cooper, I love Jennifer Lawrence, and I love how their characters are a little bit odd and crazy. Okay, maybe more than a little bit. Hehe.
Sometimes, life will put you in situations where silver linings are hard to find. And during those times, you just have to create your own.
Excelsior!
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Bridging Oceans
Got up early to Skype with Franz and my family. This, versus chatting over YM, requires a different set of muscles. 'Twas my first time to see their faces and hear their voices again since I've landed. And that reminded me of just how much I miss them. Tried to swallow every lump that formed in my throat with every word that I spoke.
Me: "Mico! Bakit ang gulo ng kama ko?! Ayusin mooo!!"
Mico: "Si Kuya Dino yun! Hindi ako!"
Haha. Yea, I miss nagging my little brother to fix my bed.
Ended the call around 11am. Was supposed to have lunch with Cands but was still too sleepy to move my butt. Texted her that I'll have late lunch instead and headed back to bed. Woke up at around 3pm. So much for late lunch. Haha.
Attended mass at St. Andrew's Church. Then we had a Chinese dinner at Shanghai Cafe located at the heart of China Town!
Me: "Bakit halos lahat ng bansa may Chinatown?"
Cands: "Kasi madaming Chinese sa mundo kaya gumagawa sila ng sarili nilang community."
Me: "Aaahh.."
Had a follow-up question in mind, "Sa China ba may Philippinetown?" But the senseless thought chose to just stay in my head.
The place was very busy. Had to wait for a while to be seated but it was worth every second! The Pan Fried Noodles was ten times better than the crispy noodles that we usually have during night shift lunch outs at Tiananmen Bar. The Soup Dumpling was sooo yummy but eating it was hard work. I had to use a chopsticks, which I'm not particularly good at to begin with, and carefully grab the dumpling from the basket to my spoon, then nibble a tiny hole at its tip, slurp up the hot soup, go in for a bigger bite, chew and savor the mix of meat and broth and finally, swallow. Grab. Nibble. Slurp. Bite. Chew. Swallow. Repeat seductively. Or however you choose. Heheh.
Me: "Mico! Bakit ang gulo ng kama ko?! Ayusin mooo!!"
Mico: "Si Kuya Dino yun! Hindi ako!"
Haha. Yea, I miss nagging my little brother to fix my bed.
Ended the call around 11am. Was supposed to have lunch with Cands but was still too sleepy to move my butt. Texted her that I'll have late lunch instead and headed back to bed. Woke up at around 3pm. So much for late lunch. Haha.
Attended mass at St. Andrew's Church. Then we had a Chinese dinner at Shanghai Cafe located at the heart of China Town!
Me: "Bakit halos lahat ng bansa may Chinatown?"
Cands: "Kasi madaming Chinese sa mundo kaya gumagawa sila ng sarili nilang community."
Me: "Aaahh.."
Had a follow-up question in mind, "Sa China ba may Philippinetown?" But the senseless thought chose to just stay in my head.
The place was very busy. Had to wait for a while to be seated but it was worth every second! The Pan Fried Noodles was ten times better than the crispy noodles that we usually have during night shift lunch outs at Tiananmen Bar. The Soup Dumpling was sooo yummy but eating it was hard work. I had to use a chopsticks, which I'm not particularly good at to begin with, and carefully grab the dumpling from the basket to my spoon, then nibble a tiny hole at its tip, slurp up the hot soup, go in for a bigger bite, chew and savor the mix of meat and broth and finally, swallow. Grab. Nibble. Slurp. Bite. Chew. Swallow. Repeat seductively. Or however you choose. Heheh.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
NYC: Take A Bite
Met up with Candice at around 11am for lunch. Decided to grab some fastfood so we could hit some spots before 1pm. No, we didn't dine at McDonalds. We went for something more... calorie-packed? Haha. Burger King! But because it takes hours daw for me to finish a meal, we just stayed there for a while to catch up and talk about the "crazy" life of a New Yorker. Naks! I had a Whopper, by the way. Jinustify? Haha.
Cands had to attend a birthday party so I just walked around the busy sidewalks of the city. Except for the tourists snapping photos of every block, every building everywhere, everyone else seems to be moving at top speed. I took my relaxed stroll to the sides lest I become roadkill! x_x
First stop was Wall Street, which is home to the New York Stock Exchange...
the Federal Hall...
the Trump Building and our office!
Even the less famous buildings are picture-worthy! With unique architecture and intricate details that give each one its own character. New York really is a concrete jungle. (Where dreams are made of, there's nothing you can't dooooo...)
I had to reschedule my 9/11 memorial visit to a later time because I forgot my confirmation number and was too tired to go to Vesey St. for the visitor pass. Too tired kaagad? Hahah. Went back to the hotel to print my pass instead. Rested for a while before heading to the memorial's entrance, which is just a tumbling away from where I stay.
There was a long queue but as soon as it started moving, it moved quickly. The memorial is composed of two massive waterfalls/pools that mark the spots where the twin towers once stood. The names of nearly 3000 victims are inscribed around them. It was breathtaking and heartbreaking at the same time especially when I saw this woman crying while touching one of the inscriptions. And that hit me. I was standing on the very ground where senseless violence took place that claimed the lives of thousands. I may be a tourist, a stranger to the scene, but the person standing right next to me could be someone who lost a loved one on that fateful day. Posing and smiling for a photo suddenly seemed inappropriate. But it was too late a realization.
Off to Times Square to catch Les Misérables with Cands. Shalaaa! Haha. Took my first NYC subway ride to 42nd Street! Unlike the MRTs in Manila where people just hop on and off the trains, there's so much happening in the subway trains and stations here. There are street performers who sing, dance, play unusual instruments or play usual instruments in an unusual way. There's just so much talent, I feel so talentless! Haha.
Got tickets for the 7:20pm showtime. We were basically rushing to get to the theater on time. I was in awe of the bright lights but cannot stop for photos! The movie ran for 2.5 hours and I stepped out with a heavy heart. It was deliciously sad and tragically beautiful. Someone shed a tear and that someone wasn't me! Heheh.
Standing in the middle of all these towering advertisements, the flashing lights, the yellow cabs, the vibrant mix of different people - it was just surreal. Like I was at the center of the universe. (Big lights will inspire you...) Am I hearing Alicia Keys again? Haha. Thanks Kandisu for taking on the role as my photographer! Willingly and graciously so! Heheh.
Now it's time to show off my favorite shots!
Cands had to attend a birthday party so I just walked around the busy sidewalks of the city. Except for the tourists snapping photos of every block, every building everywhere, everyone else seems to be moving at top speed. I took my relaxed stroll to the sides lest I become roadkill! x_x
First stop was Wall Street, which is home to the New York Stock Exchange...
the Federal Hall...
the Trump Building and our office!
Even the less famous buildings are picture-worthy! With unique architecture and intricate details that give each one its own character. New York really is a concrete jungle. (Where dreams are made of, there's nothing you can't dooooo...)
I had to reschedule my 9/11 memorial visit to a later time because I forgot my confirmation number and was too tired to go to Vesey St. for the visitor pass. Too tired kaagad? Hahah. Went back to the hotel to print my pass instead. Rested for a while before heading to the memorial's entrance, which is just a tumbling away from where I stay.
There was a long queue but as soon as it started moving, it moved quickly. The memorial is composed of two massive waterfalls/pools that mark the spots where the twin towers once stood. The names of nearly 3000 victims are inscribed around them. It was breathtaking and heartbreaking at the same time especially when I saw this woman crying while touching one of the inscriptions. And that hit me. I was standing on the very ground where senseless violence took place that claimed the lives of thousands. I may be a tourist, a stranger to the scene, but the person standing right next to me could be someone who lost a loved one on that fateful day. Posing and smiling for a photo suddenly seemed inappropriate. But it was too late a realization.
Off to Times Square to catch Les Misérables with Cands. Shalaaa! Haha. Took my first NYC subway ride to 42nd Street! Unlike the MRTs in Manila where people just hop on and off the trains, there's so much happening in the subway trains and stations here. There are street performers who sing, dance, play unusual instruments or play usual instruments in an unusual way. There's just so much talent, I feel so talentless! Haha.
Got tickets for the 7:20pm showtime. We were basically rushing to get to the theater on time. I was in awe of the bright lights but cannot stop for photos! The movie ran for 2.5 hours and I stepped out with a heavy heart. It was deliciously sad and tragically beautiful. Someone shed a tear and that someone wasn't me! Heheh.
Standing in the middle of all these towering advertisements, the flashing lights, the yellow cabs, the vibrant mix of different people - it was just surreal. Like I was at the center of the universe. (Big lights will inspire you...) Am I hearing Alicia Keys again? Haha. Thanks Kandisu for taking on the role as my photographer! Willingly and graciously so! Heheh.
Now it's time to show off my favorite shots!
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