New York, New York! My plane was delayed because it was raining in New York (just great!) and when I did land, it was peak hour traffic and it took me three and a half hours to get to my hostel by the shuttle bus, having to make a few stops on the way to drop off other people. I was not happy, Jan.
I got some Japanese (unagi with rice =P~) from downstairs and then decided to do some laundry after getting settled into the room. I met a few girls in my dorm who were leaving the next day to return to sunny California. We went out to a bar down the street and hung out there for the night.
New York was so different to Chicago. The area I was staying in was to the north of Manhattan and it looked like a slum area from 'Law & Order' haha. I didn't feel that safe going out at night by myself, which worried me because I had several broadway shows to go to in the evenings. Luckily the subway station was just across the road so it was just a quick scuttle to get there.
I went on a Greenwich Village tour and met several terrific people and hung with them during the rest of my stay. We bought tickets last minute to see the musical 'Rent'.
The next day I took the gang to Chinatown to find somewhere to eat dim sum heehee. We found a huge two storey restaurant and it was packed out with Asians. I had with me Kelsey - a fellow Aussie from Geraldton, Anj - an Indian from Canada, and Bryan - a redhead from somewhere in the US - haha. Our table stood out like a sore thumb.
Afterwards, Bryan had his own plans so left. Kelsey and I went to the Museum of Sex. We got some really interesting photos =P~. It was a bit creepy because there were a few old men there by themselves watching the historical pornography a bit too intently.
I had purchased tickets online months in advance before my trip to see Mamma Mia. I absolutely LOVED THE SHOW!! I was sitting right in the middle, fifth row from the stage. I had been looking for a Stella in all the bars in the US but couldn't find it. They served it at the theatre bar. I bought a pint and skulled it in the five minutes before the show started. BIG MISTAKE. Within ten minutes into the first half, I was busting to go *wah* Just as well though, because I ducked out during the last song before the intermission and avoided all the lines haha. With my bladder emptied out, I enjoyed the rest of the show in comfort and couldn't help but sing and bop along to the music.
I also saw Phantom of the Opera. Beautiful piece of broadway. I also found out from Bryan that Monty Python's Spamalot was indeed showing in New York right at that moment so I rushed out to buy a ticket and I am soooo glad I saw it. It was hilarious!!! Throughout the whole show, I kept thinking how much some of the guys back home in Perth would enjoy the show too. I decided right then and there and I would see it if the show came to Australia.
We went to the site of Ground Zero from September 11th. It was close to the anniversary and flowers and tributes were already arriving. We all stood in silence just overlooking the site for a few minutes just reflecting on what had happened there. It's hard to imagine that there once stood two of the world's tallest skyscrapers there and the chaos that would have ensued their demise.
Kelsey, Anj and I also took the ferry to Ellis Island, going past the Statue of Liberty. I dunno...I also imagined she was a bit bigger than she actually is haha. We got to Ellis Island thinking we would do some shopping there but it turned out it would take an hour's trip on a bus to get to the nearest shopping mall. Screw that! We headed back, but not before we were exposed to the sight of an elderly man peeing on the road nearby haha.
My time in New York was rather lazy. The weather was gloomy and it rained most of the time so we were trudging through the rain most days. We wanted to go to the observation deck in the Rockerfeller Centre but it was closed off to the public because they were setting up for the MTV awards. I definitely missed out on the night scene because of the weather.
My last day in New York was spent walking around and just window shopping. I went into a salon and got a manicure and pedicure =). My very first one EVER! After getting pampered, I found a tiny little seafood restaurant that I had passed earlier and had my very first lobster for dinner. It was a day for firsts for me =).
I would definitely love to return to New York again one day. The Broadway shows are enough alone to attract me back. But I would also like to be able to experience the nightlife without the miserable weather.
