Yesterday I ventured down to Downtown, and caught the Staten Island Ferry across and back to get a close up, and front on view, of the Lady. I had only ever seen her from behind, in Jersey, on previous trips, and so taking the ferry over - and straight back! - was another of the NYC things on my to do list!
After that I walked over to South Street Seaport, and had a lunch reminiscent of one Tali and I had on my first trip to this awesome city, all the way back in 1999! Taking a long look at the expanse of the Brooklyn Bridge from here, my aim to walk across it was starting to look like a wet prospect, in this unseasonably cold NY Spring week.
Stumbling across the greatest bookstore in the world, The Strand, and lucking out on completing my Armistead Maupin set and my missing US edition paperback Harry Potter (and sending them home, couldn't have been easier! Very dangerous!), my resolve to complete my Bridge mission was alive.
I took the subway under the river to the Brooklyn Bridge walkway, and then started the walk across. Taking in the view of the city, and the beauty in this structure, was a one of those special travel moments. The sun was peeking out from the clouds in a brief period of warmth, cars speeding past below the walkway....awesome!
A walk through the neon dazzle of Times Square, and a little shopping, before Tali finished work and come and found me. We made our way to a rooftop bar in the Garment District, for cosmopolitans and dinner, with the illuminated Empire State Building in front of us. Provided with hot red robes to battle the chill of the night, we took in the views and the New York experience....before Dr Talia was called in for a sick little puppy, and I got to see her in action!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Top Of The World
I am in New York! One of my favourite cities in the world!
Upon arriving at the new, mammoth Bangkok airport after 9 hours of flying, I received texts from home giving me the details of the latest Hawk victory, which made the prospect of getting on another jet for double the time I had just been sitting all the more bearable. I walked the length of what I assume was one section of the airport for the hour layover, passing every shop imaginable (they have Boots, Jen!), before finding my next seat.
The screen on this next flight was plotting our flight path as the crow flies, from one side of the world to the other, and I had assumed that that was just sat nav gone wrong - but then our pilot confirmed that we would be flying over Mongolia and then Siberia, the North Pole and then down over Canada. Very cool!
I glimpsed out into the dazzling brightness to catch roads snaking through a snow covered Russia, and then fell in love with Juno all over again, before a well timed peek outside had me squinting out at the top of the world! Big cracks through the surface, and absolutely no movement, it was eerie and magical. At one point the view outside turned pink...although that could have been my eyes objecting to the brightness after the dim cabin interior!
Landing at JFK airport, and following my instructions on the subway, I met up with Talia here in the Upper West Side of Manhattan. I haven't seen Talia since her visit to London back, September 2005....wow! So cool to catch up with her again.
In a cloudy-headed state, I headed over to the Musuem of Modern Art (MoMA), which has been one of the NYC things that I have not done in past trips and wanted to do on this stop, and wandered around the many rooms and floors of art, design and light. Pushing my sleepiness to the limit I left MoMA in the rain to grab a massive caffine hit, and then met up with Tali at Rockafella Plaza.
Despite reservations about the weather and the view, we headed up to Top Of The Rock, which is the on the rooftop, and with full views of the city and beyond. Looking out over Central Park, and then walking around to the other side and taking in the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, the bridges, and staking out the other many sights of this awesome city, the view started to clear as we were up there. Awesome.
Upon arriving at the new, mammoth Bangkok airport after 9 hours of flying, I received texts from home giving me the details of the latest Hawk victory, which made the prospect of getting on another jet for double the time I had just been sitting all the more bearable. I walked the length of what I assume was one section of the airport for the hour layover, passing every shop imaginable (they have Boots, Jen!), before finding my next seat.
The screen on this next flight was plotting our flight path as the crow flies, from one side of the world to the other, and I had assumed that that was just sat nav gone wrong - but then our pilot confirmed that we would be flying over Mongolia and then Siberia, the North Pole and then down over Canada. Very cool!
I glimpsed out into the dazzling brightness to catch roads snaking through a snow covered Russia, and then fell in love with Juno all over again, before a well timed peek outside had me squinting out at the top of the world! Big cracks through the surface, and absolutely no movement, it was eerie and magical. At one point the view outside turned pink...although that could have been my eyes objecting to the brightness after the dim cabin interior!
Landing at JFK airport, and following my instructions on the subway, I met up with Talia here in the Upper West Side of Manhattan. I haven't seen Talia since her visit to London back, September 2005....wow! So cool to catch up with her again.
In a cloudy-headed state, I headed over to the Musuem of Modern Art (MoMA), which has been one of the NYC things that I have not done in past trips and wanted to do on this stop, and wandered around the many rooms and floors of art, design and light. Pushing my sleepiness to the limit I left MoMA in the rain to grab a massive caffine hit, and then met up with Tali at Rockafella Plaza.
Despite reservations about the weather and the view, we headed up to Top Of The Rock, which is the on the rooftop, and with full views of the city and beyond. Looking out over Central Park, and then walking around to the other side and taking in the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty, the bridges, and staking out the other many sights of this awesome city, the view started to clear as we were up there. Awesome.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Heading Off
It's around this time of year that I have been posting my Visited Countries map...but sadly in this 12 month period, I have been NOWHERE new! How scary and new for me! Hee hee!
That said though, I am writing this from the International Departure lounge in Melbourne, ready for a hugh trip! I have finished all the work I had to do, handed over my cases to Consultant babysitters for 5 weeks, and packed (rather hastily this monring). And now I am about to board my first of 13 flights, off to 10 different country stops (including stopovers), for a trip I have been planning for months and months and months. It's been a long time of cheese and bread for lunch!!
So this afternoon I am off to New York City, via Bangkok airport. So excited!
That said though, I am writing this from the International Departure lounge in Melbourne, ready for a hugh trip! I have finished all the work I had to do, handed over my cases to Consultant babysitters for 5 weeks, and packed (rather hastily this monring). And now I am about to board my first of 13 flights, off to 10 different country stops (including stopovers), for a trip I have been planning for months and months and months. It's been a long time of cheese and bread for lunch!!
So this afternoon I am off to New York City, via Bangkok airport. So excited!
Monday, May 05, 2008
Hawks 7-nil!
All things footy are all things good! Hawthorn are undefeated after 7 matches, and are looking good! The only thing stopping us being top of the ladder at the moment is .19 percent....hmmmmm!
Yesterday I went along to the beloved MGC, with 47,000 other people, for a massive match against Collingwood, which had mounted as a huge test. My last match now for 5 weeks, as I head over to the other side of the world for my other sporting love. It's also the last match Jessie and I will attend together for some time, with her and Heath set to head off for their travels very soon also.
It's hard not to get carried away with it all, with the Hawks going along very well! Buddy and Roughead, and Willo sensational. The likes of Mitchell and Sewell, Crawford and Brown, alway good. September action is looking very exciting indeed!
Yesterday I went along to the beloved MGC, with 47,000 other people, for a massive match against Collingwood, which had mounted as a huge test. My last match now for 5 weeks, as I head over to the other side of the world for my other sporting love. It's also the last match Jessie and I will attend together for some time, with her and Heath set to head off for their travels very soon also.It's hard not to get carried away with it all, with the Hawks going along very well! Buddy and Roughead, and Willo sensational. The likes of Mitchell and Sewell, Crawford and Brown, alway good. September action is looking very exciting indeed!
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
The 39 Steps
After a quite couple of drinks at the office to mark another Friday, I headed over to the Curve Bar at the Art Centre to meet Jenny, Mary, Ariadne and Vicki for pre-show drinks and a catch up.
We were out for our ever-present worship of Marcus Graham. This time, in The 39 Steps. Having finally obtained, on the sly, and feasted on the brilliant Underbelly,
A Hitchcock story, with just 4 actors, apparently playing 139 characters in 100 minutes, Graham playing lead. The set was simple, and the changes were comical.
Having many drinks beforehand enhanced the laughter and pace of the play for our group! Marcus was polished and mesmerising, as usual!
We were out for our ever-present worship of Marcus Graham. This time, in The 39 Steps. Having finally obtained, on the sly, and feasted on the brilliant Underbelly, A Hitchcock story, with just 4 actors, apparently playing 139 characters in 100 minutes, Graham playing lead. The set was simple, and the changes were comical.
Having many drinks beforehand enhanced the laughter and pace of the play for our group! Marcus was polished and mesmerising, as usual!
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Marking Andrea's 30th and Jessie's 25th
Having been asked to go to Ballarat to help complete some assessments, I managed to create a long long weekend for myself. Only having access to the office for half a day meant that a had the perfect excuse to find other thinsg to do...which included a much enjoyed massage for a tired and over worked body!!
Friday night I went to the Tokyo Grill House, to have dinner and drinks with Andrea to mark her 30th birthday. Our table was reserved around one of the big grills, ready for the cooking show. The teppanyaki, via a banquet meant that the food kept coming all night, which was just as well, given the BYO wine consumption! Ordering drinks proved to be a challenge all night, with brandy instead of bundy - just shows that the simple beer and wine is always the best!
Discovering that Andrea had somehow made it to thirty without discovering a Jager Bomb, and the fact that her and Dean were out for the night baby free, a crawl through the Ballarat venues ensued. Haida Bar was the venue for Andrea's introduction to Jager, and then on to Karova Bar...mainly due to walking proximity!
Sunday night back in Melbourne, a gathering at Jessie's house for drinks and pizza in the sweltering heat, started for Jessica's 25th birthday, on Monday. The group wondered on to St Jerome's, before walking the streets on this Labour Day Eve to find a dance off location. Sadly, not a lot was open, to the groups surprise, and thus a crusty pub was found for it's drink availability and it's jukebox - Roxette for Jessie, what else!
Friday night I went to the Tokyo Grill House, to have dinner and drinks with Andrea to mark her 30th birthday. Our table was reserved around one of the big grills, ready for the cooking show. The teppanyaki, via a banquet meant that the food kept coming all night, which was just as well, given the BYO wine consumption! Ordering drinks proved to be a challenge all night, with brandy instead of bundy - just shows that the simple beer and wine is always the best!Discovering that Andrea had somehow made it to thirty without discovering a Jager Bomb, and the fact that her and Dean were out for the night baby free, a crawl through the Ballarat venues ensued. Haida Bar was the venue for Andrea's introduction to Jager, and then on to Karova Bar...mainly due to walking proximity!Sunday night back in Melbourne, a gathering at Jessie's house for drinks and pizza in the sweltering heat, started for Jessica's 25th birthday, on Monday. The group wondered on to St Jerome's, before walking the streets on this Labour Day Eve to find a dance off location. Sadly, not a lot was open, to the groups surprise, and thus a crusty pub was found for it's drink availability and it's jukebox - Roxette for Jessie, what else!
Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Jane's 30th at the Grace Darling
Jane's birthday is today, however given that she's to fly to Timor for work, she marked the turning of 30 on Saturday night at the Grace Darling.
The theme was 'come wearing something you have always wanted to, but never had the chance'. Now, we can be disappointed in Jane's red lipstick effort, however many of the gathering went to some crazy effort! Rambo, full hooped dress, blonde wig, former bridesmaids dress....I wore my pyjamas.
After setting up Jane's cakes, ordered from Sugadeaux, I wandered off to watch the second half of the footy at a crusty pub - with a surprisingly good menu - for the semi final between Hawthorn and Adelaide. A loss to the Hawks, for the semi final of 2007 replay, but not without a few moments of sheer brilliance from Buddy Franklin, which I am sure would haven't given Crow's fans PTSD flashbacks!
Back to the party, there were speeches and much drinks, and dancing. Happy Birthday Jane! Welcome to 30!
The theme was 'come wearing something you have always wanted to, but never had the chance'. Now, we can be disappointed in Jane's red lipstick effort, however many of the gathering went to some crazy effort! Rambo, full hooped dress, blonde wig, former bridesmaids dress....I wore my pyjamas.After setting up Jane's cakes, ordered from Sugadeaux, I wandered off to watch the second half of the footy at a crusty pub - with a surprisingly good menu - for the semi final between Hawthorn and Adelaide. A loss to the Hawks, for the semi final of 2007 replay, but not without a few moments of sheer brilliance from Buddy Franklin, which I am sure would haven't given Crow's fans PTSD flashbacks!Back to the party, there were speeches and much drinks, and dancing. Happy Birthday Jane! Welcome to 30!
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