My East Coast US Trip
1. A few days before the trip, the British authorities uncovered the plot to bomb American aircraft using chemicals in "liquid" state. Any idiot would know that this is highly unlikely - you may get a mini school laboratory sized explosion but it will never take out the aircraft. Worse, the terrorists may end up with chemical burns more than anything else. So, the stupid plot aside, the security was stepped up to near infinity (the airport authorities are only short of making me clear secondary screening in my underwear only) and I was constantly checking if my laptop could make the journey as a cabin item. Everything went well except one item.
2. When I arrived at Changi, I saw the airport auxillary police guards screening bags by opening them. Oh well, my bags are not too full anyway. They checked and even screened my polycom set (used for multiparty teleconferencing). And then I asked if I could bring my lip balm onboard the aircraft. The police said yes. When I reached secondary clearance, they said no. I ticked them off, of course, for lack of coordination.
3. The outward flight was great. Was seated beside a urologist and we talked because we realised we shared some common background. We had come from the same unit although not at the same time. We compared notes, joked with the stewardesses, went for additional ice creams. And of course, he drank himself happy.
4. We arrived in Newark on time. Had dinner and chatted a bit. Suddenly, the secondary check-in area for my flight to Washington DC was all choked up. People were in foul moods, kids were crying and screaming, adults were agitated and impatient. Hello! If you are afraid of missing the plane, bloody hell check in early! Mdm Hysterical and her two sons were grounded because she and both her brats were not able to behave rationally. Go figure.
5. Washington DC. Monday. First day of meetings. Sore throat. Tonsilitis.
6. Days passed in a blur - if I took cough mixture, I was zoned out. If I didn't take cough mixture, I was coughing my lungs out.
7. Finally, it's time to go to New York. It was a Boeing 737 plane that seated less than 50 passengers. So nice. Loved it. I believe they had to use the 737 instead of the usual Embraer because the 30-seater Embraer will not be able to tackle the cross-winds when landing.
8. War at Marriott Marquis New York. They claimed I was not booked even though I had the hotel voucher to prove my booking.
9. New York, New York, New York. A feeling of getting to know you too late in life. New York is the place where I can live and work. It is so vibrant, so lively, so diverse, so rich in culture and cultural diversity. I saw Ground Zero, I blew more than 200 bucks in 20 minutes shopping for clothes. Food was nice, weather was nice, people were, well, mainly foreign. Still, New York is tops in my list of best cities to live in (based on where I have gone to so far). Shaoxing, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Beijing, and I'll add on when I think of others.
10. I stayed on the 45 floor of Marriott. Never had it so good. But it was facing the wrong side of the road. I should be facing Broadway. Times Square. The lights and all. It's like Christmas EVERY EVENING.
11. Toys R Us with a ferris wheel INSIDE the shop!
12. So many Broadway shows, so many things to do, so little time.
13. Met my chat buds and they came all the way from New Jersey, we went to Central Park and did some window shopping. They treated me to a great grill dinner at Redeye Grill. So nice.
14. SQ 21 plane engine caught fire one hour after take off. This would warrant a different blog entry.
