Quiet times in New York City

As I woke up early on one morning, I decided to head to the Starbucks round the corner from the hostel. I ordered a strong latte which wasn’t strong at all and took a seat by the window. I strategically placed myself so that as I spent some time reading, I’d look up just to do some people watching. 

There it was on a busy Wednesday morning, streams of people walking into Starbucks to get their caffeine fix for the day. On the outside, strangers walk past with intent. Everyone seems to be so purposeful and fixated on getting where they need to be. There is a pace and urgency in each step. 

I stop and I wonder, are New Yorkers always that busy? How different is life in comparison to Melbourne? Is a work day there the same as what it is as I observe these people now? Is it only different because I now have the time to sit back and look at life around? As if time for this moment were to move at half count while everyone is moving at a full count. In the ‘city that never sleeps’, is there ever a quiet moment?

Quiet time in New York sounds like an oxymoron. At my slow pace, I go on to read a few more pages of each book, Have a little faith by Mitch Albom and the Bible by God. In the city where dreams are made, a world of glitz and glam, the stage, in the noise of everyday, what motivates each stranger? In the city where dreams are broken, a world of ‘could be-s’ and ‘one day’, reality, I wonder what’s the life story of that diner chic or that homeless person I walked past on the way here.  Have they been deafened by the noise or left behind?

Post NYC: Jetlag

It's 5 a.m. in the morn on the second day back from my trip abroad. I think it's jetlag. Or maybe some things just don't change.

I came home from work, had something to eat and scheduled a catch up with Ian. It was 7:15 p.m. when I set the alarm for 8:20 with 10 minute snooze intervals for a 9:10 p.m catch up. I woke up thinking i was late for work and was about to get ready when i looked at the clock and it was 12 a.m. I was so confused. Checked my phone and it was still snoozing and saw a message from Ian received at 10 p.m. saying how he guesses we're not catching up anymore. I'm sooo sorry.


The day before
I arrived home at 6 a.m. the day before and seeing that i slept throughout most of the flight, i did not feel all that tired. I only watced one complete movie which was the last one and one that i've watched before, Zoolander. I slept through most of Three Days, Harry Potter and The King's Speech.

Upon reaching home, I unpacked, did the laundry, headed out for lunch and voluntarily headed in for half a day's work. I thought it was a good idea and a cure for jetlag and resetting the body clock.

After waking up
So, upon waking up, I took in the laundry, made instant noodles, washed the dishes and sent out the song list for Sunday. All this between 12-5 a.m. I think i should get some sleep now.

Goodnight.

Coming up:

NYC: Convo with a taxi driver
NYC: Convo with a homeless
NYC: Convo with a hairstylist

the everyday

Did anyone realise, it's not just a new year, it's a new decade? Well, I just did.

So, notes to self:

No matter what, we win!

Don't give ourselves to the trivial and miss the significant.

'He has put eternity in their hearts'... only people last for eternity.

The gift of God of eating, drinking and enjoying all his efforts is not about what we eat or drink (though sometimes I really like what I eat or drink) but who we share them with.

I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice and enjoy the good life. -Ecc 3:12-

Back to the daily grind

Blessed Christmas and New Year!!

Firstly, when do we stop greeting people the above?? When is it too late? Right now, Christmas seems like a long time ago to me. But then again, Christmas is also everyday cause *cue singing* Christmas isn't Christmas till it happens in your heart...

Anyway, I've been away for 2 weeks and a bit and I'm now back in Melb. And my observations upon coming back, traffic seems to crawl so slowly. Driving at 60km/h seems like a cruise compared to the zooming around in traffic in kay-elle. For the record, I try not to speed (I can't afford a traffic fine). The air, it's dry and nice smelling, unlike the pollutant-laden  air of Msia. But, it's hot. Yes, compared to the rainy season AND La Nina effects on the motherland, it's currently hotter. It was humid but cool on most days and the weather was actually very bearable. Thoughts and prayers go out to those in Queensland suffering from the above mentioned La Nina that's resulting in crazy floods up there.

In and through all that rambling, I'm glad to be back! Bring on 2011!