vagranting

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I’m currently sitting in another Starbucks (sigh), where they’ve decided it would be appreciated by all to pump out the music at 100dB, and ignore all the requests by their customers to turn it down!

Anyhow, I’ve had a good look around Chinatown over the last couple of days and found a few good spots to eat for cheap, but I feel like it’s time to spread my excursions to other parts of the city. It’s been abnormally cold the last week or so, but they reckon things will get better within the next few days. Would really like to go to Central park and the Met(ropolitan Museum of Art), as well as walk the Brooklyn bridge. Maybe checkout Williamsburg and DUMBO, the trendy suburbs of Brooklyn.

I’ve found some other peculiarities here that I thought might be interesting:

• The “news” in the States is much more of a mish-mash of “current affairs” and news. So they present news on middle east tensions, and then talk about Britney Spears shaving her head and then interview “experts” about Britney! It’s a little unsettling. No wonder the Daily Show has been so successful!
• Bi-lingualism is much more prevalent here. You see ads all throughout NYC in Spanish, plus in other foreign languages depending on the area (not just Chinatown either).
• Shops are not what you expect. Pharmacists also sell food. Grocers also sell liquor.

I think I had other points, but I’ve forgotten them for the moment. Time to head back to the hostel. I did have a memorable moment earlier today however. I was having lunch at a place called Noodletown, and I was seated at the same table as another group of diners. It seemed only one of them spoke any English. His was an older Chinese man in at least his late 60s, who had immigrated to Long Island nearly 40 years ago. Anyhow, at the end of the meal he just asks me my thought about the Iraq war out the blue! I wasn’t expecting that. I think that’s why I’ll remember it.

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Last night I (stupidly) decided to visit Times Square. I was hoping to get a decent paper map of Manhattan, but I didn’t even end up getting that as the NYC Visitor’s Center had already closed by the time I got there.

I’ve only been here 4 days, but right now I’d put Times Square as my number one worst experience so far. I don’t understand people’s fascination with the place! There is not a single sense in which Times Square does not offend. It’s visually disturbing, loud, smelly, cold and home to the some of the crappiest tourist-trap restaurants in the city. I’ve been purposely avoiding the tourist hot-spots until Elliott arrives but I don’t see this one being too difficult for me to avoid.

That said a few experiences have been charming. The place I’m staying has many redeeming qualities — despite the very basic amenities (communal bathroom, no kitchens or tea & coffee making facilities). It’s right opposite the police station, so it feels pretty safe (still I keep the laptop and camera in the safe). The neighbourhood itself is also interesting. The area is predominantly Polish, with many Polish restaurants and Polish signage is most shops. There’s also a very distinct type of housing, different from the brick apartments that dominate Manhattan.

But probably the most interesting experience so far has been having breakfast in the local diner. The diner is such an American cultural experience. There’s nothing really like it back in Australia. Everything about sitting in this place feels like you’d expect. The (pretty awful) drip coffee. The waitresses in matching uniform. The truckstop-esque food. The “regulars” calling out “Morning, Rose!” in that stereotypical Brooklyn accent. I actually look forward to it in the morning now.

Speaking of stereotypes I’ve found out a few interesting things about New Yorkers. 1. The vast majority of people you bump into in Manhattan at least, are transplants from other parts of the U.S. 2. People are usually pretty happy to help you out if you’re lost, if you’re polite. Also, the subway is not that confusing. Okay, it’s not logical, but no less logical than the transit system in Sydney or Melbourne for instance. And I finally understand the saying that the toilets spin in the opposite direction in Australia. Of course our toilets don’t spin, they just flush! But here, the toilets are different, it’s like they’re almost full up with water to begin with, then they empty out and “spin” when they’re flushed. Weird, huh?

The jetlag is mostly gone, although I still feel like the rooms tilting slightly from side to side when I’m sitting still. The main problem at the moment is that Wifi is hard to get in my neighbourhood. There are 2 cafe’s with open wireless, but they were both shut today, and neither are open past 8pm anyway. I’ve resorted to the darkest of my fears… Starbucks. Sad thing is, they’re everywhere in Manhattan. As in, if you don’t see one, walk 2 blocks. The Wifi is pay-by-month, but I figure I can write that off as a business expense. Do you think I could write off anything I buy at Starbucks as well? I still have to figure out the cheapest item I can order. I’m quickly running out of soft drinks I want to try.

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Due to snow storms, most flights to New York were cancelled or severely delayed on Wednesday, mine included. First my flight to LAX was delayed 6 hours, then my connecting flight to NY was cancelled. So I had the option to stay overnight (in the Hilton, on the airline), or see what flight I could get.

I chose to fly the next available time (LA has terrible public transport, so getting around would have by cab and plus, there was nothing I really wanted to see there). It was 2pm when I arrive in LAX, and my flight left at 10pm first to Chicago, then to Newark airport in New Jersey, just across from Manhattan.

So most of my Valentines Day was spent in the air and in the business lounge in LAX. Unfortunately I didn’t meet any attractive young ladies, so I’ll never be able to convert this story into a script for a romantic comedy, based on a true story. Alas.

This is my second day in New York and I’m still suffering from the effects of jet lag. I feel dizzy most of the time. I’m hoping things clear up quickly. I’ll fill you in more once my head’s back on straight. Promise.

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