New York

New York, or as many would say it round here Noo Yoik, is not much different from when I was last here - a cornucopia of humanity set against the vagaries of the same... It is fascinating and annoying - usually both at the same time. I am counting my blessings to get here, I was just under the 60 minute minimum check in time for US flights at Regina airport - they are now enforcing it! Good to know for next time.

As fate would have it, this impromptu stop was mainly to make sure I caught the flight out of JFK on time, I have been here when big storms rolled in, and been delayed when I am thousands of miles away from here by storms rolling in... so today is no different. Starting at 6am NYC time tomorrow two large storms are predicted to collide here, juts as they did with Hurricane Sandy. This one will have more snow. So just as well I am leaving today - as it happens there were no delays on the way here, so I could probably have made the flight leaving last night - but I suppose you never know.

I did and didn't do some of what I wanted here, the awesome picture of the Chrysler building in the sunset light will have to wait, last night a huge red orb of sun descended behind the city as my van was driving me in - would have been an awesome view from "The Top of The Rock" at Rockefeller Centre. Being here just 24 hours, well that didn't leave me a chance - I left the city on my ride to the airport right before sunset...

 Macy's above and the Mitzvah Tank below - the Hacidim are out to save the chosen people..

 Netflix has big ads in Times Square, for shows it makes.

 Bryant Park is below, one of my favourite spots, Central Park is nice but way to big and full of rapists and con men..

 As you can see below: Getting cold!

I went through the Museum of Modern Art among other things... crazy how many people squish into this place. It's not somewhere I could live and it's way colder than the night before. It broke 1 celisus... woo-hoo!

I also wasted several hours walking around B&H photo, the huge photo and electronics shop near Penn Station - completely staffed by Hacidim. How can you tell you are in New York?

It is dark outside, I am just about to run for the plane, I am in the Swiss Airlines lounge eating their free pasta - and probably that wasn't a good idea, I have two back to back flights now into Singapore... 7 hours into Frankfurt then 2.5 hours later 13 hours into Singapore. If my guts explode, the whole plane is going to know.

That said, they have free chocolates too...

I will post pictures as soon as I can with better internet.

The flights into Singapore were uneventful - the Lufthansa Sentaor Lounge in Frankfurt was lovely see the picture - I had a shower here as the most wonderful private bathrooms all clean and new... And it was past time to have one.

Lufthansa Senator Lounge: It has the word 'city' on the other side... I liked it.

The flights to Singapore were well sedated, bumpy in places, we attained around 1150 KM/hour on several stretches, which blows my mind, it's faster than a 747 that's for sure, and 2 breakfasts, 3 dinners and 8 snack servings later, as well as an a la carte selection of sandwiches and stuff and I arrive in Singapore, bloated and hot. The humidity on walking out of the plane...it is 7am, the sun just broke the horizon and the plate glass windows of the airport are drenched in dew. The real palm trees and millions of orchids inside feel at home, so I guess so should I... so I checked one bag for the next flight, took the metro to Orchard Road to drop off the bag I am leaving behind here... and then my day in the sun can begin. I feel like I have been on the road forever - and get this, there are no showers available in Singapore airport unless flying in 1st class.

 Ok, so pic above is out of focus, but look at the speed.

 Here we are flying over places no one in their right mind should go...

 It's a long-haul from Frankfurt.

 Kabul! Don't Stop!

 India! Don't Stop!

The pic above is for Mana... I was so close to BKK!


By the time today is over, that's going to be one stinky person boarding the plane for Sydney. Be thankful it's not you next to me!  :)