Once upon a time in Manhattan

“Start spreading the news,

I’m leaving today…

I want to be the part of it…

New York, New York…”

[Frank Sinatra]

Thursday, 5 June 2008

So, after a 19 hours flight, which was 11 hours and 50 minutes from KL to Stockholm, 1 hour transit in Stockholm without cigarettes, and then another 7 hours and 30 minutes from Stockholm to New York, I finally made it to New York… yaayyyy!!! The best thing about it is I’m staying in Manhattan. It’s a bit scary because deep down inside, since a long time a go, I always thought, if one day I got the chance to go to America, I really want to see Manhattan. And now, suddenly I’m here! I can even see the Empire State Building from my window. I’m happy, but at the same time I’m a bit scared too! Scared because it comes true eventually! Never crossed my mind before. Another thing that scares me is I wished that I could feel cool weather once again. It’s been a while since the last time I had cool breeze on my skin. And now… New York is 13 – 18 degree!!! It’s windy and cool. Very cool! But about Manhattan, I guess it looks better from across the area, especially when it’s getting dark and the lights are on. So beautiful! I saw it on my way from the airport. But since I’m staying in the area, I cannot have that vision every day. Too bad…

Pennsylvania Hotel, where I stay for the first couple of days, is located on the Seventh Avenue, right across the Madison Square Garden. Surrounded by amenities, I can find whatever I need here. Except for electricity converter! I find it difficult to charge my camera batteries. I guess I have to survive with my phone camera later on.

It’s good that I didn’t suffer from the jet lag. I think it’s because I slept along the way, I only woke up for meals. That’s it! I guess that helps me a lot. So, the weather is REALLY cool here, but people said that there’s going to be a heat wave in a couple of days. So, it’s going to be really hot later on. I don’t care! I got my cool weather already and I’m happy enough!

Friday, 6 June 2008

We were having a speaker’s orientation at the UNICEF building. I was so happy to see Alex coming. Finally he made it! After all the hustle and visa problems, he got a 10-year visa. Good for him! He just arrived in the morning and went straight to the meeting. Suffering from jet lag, he was very quiet compared to the last time we met. He got his passport back from the embassy in the afternoon and he flew here at 10 PM! My goodness! I’m really happy that he made it!

The sessions were okay and we had a group breakout after lunch to discuss about the HIV issues. My group was taking place outside because most of the members were smokers. We were freezing, though. Sylvia was the only one who enjoyed the weather because in Netherlands was cooler. My God! After 3 PM I don’t think anyone was quite focused anymore, but we forced ourselves to contribute anyway.

We went back to the hotel at around 5.30 PM. It was sunny as it was morning. So nice and warmer but yet the wind was still cold. After took a short break in the room, I went out to take a walk and bought some things. I forgot my shampoo, so I went to the pharmacy nearby to buy one. I wandered around the blocks and enjoyed the city before dark. It’s really crowded. A lot of people were walking. Too bad I was alone…. But as always, I enjoyed solitude and loneliness at most when I’m in strange land. Somehow, it’s nice to be alone, even though it would be nicer to have someone right next to me.

After walk around for some times, I felt a bit tired and decided to go back to the hotel. At 10 PM Alex called to my room. He just woke up and felt hungry. So, we went out together to have dinner at the nearest MacDonalds. Hahaha! After a while, I started to feel sleepy, so we decided to go back to the hotel and check our email before go to our rooms.

Funny how I still find the beauty of loneliness after quite a while suffering from loneliness itself. I guess I’m getting used to my old life [alone, lonely in solitude and solitary]. I still found it enjoyable to feel lonely in the crowd. Maybe basically I’m a real solitaire. Maybe loneliness IS my best friend after all, although something inside me was aching when I saw a couple kissing by the sidewalk. Something was stabbing me so deep. That was a good strike. I felt the chill in my chest as if my soul was frozen. I realized, I WAS lonely….

I love the feel of your name on my lips

I love the sound of your sweet gentle kiss

The way that your fingers run through my hair

And how your scent lingers even when you’re not here

I love the way your eyes danced when you laughed

How you enjoy your 2-hour bath

And how you convinced me to dance in the rain

Everyone’s watching like we were insane

But I love the way you love me, baby…

Strong and wild,

Slow and easy,

Hard and soft,

So completely,

I love the way love me…

[when walking along the Seventh Avenue in a windy day…]

Saturday, 7 June 2008

I slept at 3.30 AM this morning, trying to get an internet connection. It was darn disturbing and I couldn’t get through! Well, today I’ll move to another hotel and I heard they have free internet connection there.

Today was warm. So, apparently the heat-wave has reached New York today. It’s better. As long as it’s not getting hotter! But still… the air-con in the basement of UNICEF building is VERY cold!!! I got brain-freeze and couldn’t really think. I had to sneak out to have cigarette in the sun. The person from UNAIDS had a loooooong presentation. UN people always have long presentation. It’s never short and concise. I hate it! Today is a very long day. I am so exhausted! People were debating endlessly. I bet it was going to be a never ending discussion if Winnie didn’t interrupt. Everybody was so pedantic! And yet, we were all tired! The last hour, I just wanted to go.

So, today we had to move to another hotel called Red Roof Inn. Alex, Caitlin and I shared a taxi from the UNICEF building. We had to pick up our luggage from the Pennsylvania Hotel first. After we collected our luggage, Caitlin, Alex and I decided to walk to Red Roof Inn. It’s not that far…

So, the hotel is a bit far from the Madison Square Garden, but closer to the park. Hmmm….!!! It’s smaller than the first one, but has way much better facility. Flat screen TV and free internet connection in the room. THANK GOD…!!!!!! That’s just perfect! And most of all, the staff are nicer than Pennsylvania Hotel.