Day 4 Sunday 20th April 2008 - Photoblog

Woke up late with h4ng0v3r$ :P

headed to Ground Zero....



Cafe Habana - excellent cuban food (their speciality is the grilled corn... yes we spent at least half an hour after eating this dish PICKING our TEETH. Of course Bjorkfan was verry organised and brought her own floss..


NiNaNo & I were shattered and went back to the hotel and crashed early... today was short yet sweet (albeit harrowing and intense @ Ground Zero) but we did do quite a bit of walking and shopping and investigating :)

RELISHing every moment of WILLIAMSBURGer

... so continue on from my last entry, in order to aid recovery from bumping into Mr Wetlands in Brooklyn Museum of Art (He having travelled from London to be in NY for 3 nights, and I having travelled from KL) we found ourselves at a diner (resembling a aluminium bread box) called RELISH, in an area in Brooklyn called Williamsburg - Bjorkfan described this area to be "tragically hip" but more "tragic" than "hip"... *OUCH*. My take on Williamsburg? A bit like Hoxton or Shoreditch or perhaps Dalston in London about 5 years ago....

RELISH (like being in a tin box)


Bjorkfan & the camera-shy Mr. Wetlands

... this would be the 3rd day in a row... yes, I said THIRD day - that i'm eating burger and fries and I have to say the meal at RELISH was FANTASTIC

Before Boogalooboo...
After Boogalooboo

After filling our bellies, we wandered around Williamsburg and these are 2 of my favourite pics...

Spot the error (I thought this only happened in Asia)

Yes these are shoes on the overhead wires. Bjork fan tells me that back in the day this was a sign from dealers to say drugs are available for sale in the area. These days kids just do it for a laugh. What a waste of a good pair of shoes...

Sadly after this we all parted ways - Mr. Wetlands to catch his flight back to London; Bjorkfan home to study and BMW6 to chill; Princess K back to the civility of Manhattan :P and Boogalooboo to my hotel to rest and prepare for NiNoNo's arrival :). The rest of the night flew by. NiNaNo walked through my room door within half and hour of returning... we caught up quickly, took a power nap, got ourselves all glammed up and made our way to meet HouseDancer and N.B.I.G. at a club Lotus in the MeatPacking/Garment District... Saturday nights @ Lotus is perfect for networking I am told and we certainly met a lot of people. Very friendly, very warm and incredibly welcoming. Of course it made a huge difference that we had N.B.I.G. & Housedancer introducing us to everyone.
I had promised NiNaNo that she'd have a huge first night.... the rest is history.... ;)

Welcome to the Big Apple NiNaNo!!!
The LOTUS Residents
N.B.I.G. & Boogalooboo

Layzeeee MoFo

I've let 3 whole days go by without updating my blog which is a MORTAL SIN cos it just makes life extremely difficult.... time is flying by here with so many things happening.... so I 'is' gonna be a real cop out and photo journal the last few days with the odd caption of emotional expression :P. Forgive me...

Saturday 19th - The day of surrealism and NiNaNo's arrival

Grilled marinated zucchini omelette is staring back at me today here at the Booklyn Heights Cafe that I've decided to explore on Montague Street. Some huge super sweet waffle dish was recommended to me but I just couldnt stomach it!
It's Springtime proper here. The treelined street is blossoming. Quaint. Different shades of bricked buildings are lined up outside.Varying architecture. This street is much like other 'local' streets - DIY stores, grocer, laundromat, book store, stationers, the odd high street label store. Cafes & Delis and burger joints of sorts. It's bustling. People chatting up on a saturday afternoon. Couples gazing into each other's eyes. Families bonding. Young families feeding their toddler children, some with babes in arms.
The sun is beating down on the clientele outside. There's a clown on stilts outside, holding a collection of colourful balloons.

The only person here other than me, dining alone, is an elderly man sitting at the table next to me. As I literally 'inhale' my lunch (it's my first meal since yesterday lunch time as my appetite is suffering from jetlag still) I enjoy watching people watching. Two things I've not done for the longest time - dine on my own, be in my own company. Me, myself and I. Nothing but Boogalooboo and her own thoughts - *scary concept*. It's a strange thing - allowing my mind to wander - and it's in situations like these - when alone but in a bustling environment - I find is best time to reflect.. wow... I still cant believe I'm here - Brooklyn, NYC. I cant believe I spoke to Russell Simmons yesterday. It's starting to sink in. No more excuses of lethargy and blurness as a result of jetlag - It's time to grab the bull by the horns!
I'll spend the early part of this afternnon exploring this area. From what I can see it's middle class, predominantly white, nice and friendly vibe, very family orientated - well that's my first take on this area.
Hopefully meet up with BMW6 and bjorkfan later. Housedancer has the day off today - rehearsing for Madonna is no easy task - gruelling in fact. The hardest to date in his opinion. But that's why her performances and dancers are the best in the world. I need to take a leaf out of her book...
Brooklyn Heights is calling Boogalooboo... i'm outta here..

"Check (cheque) please !!"

The Manhattan Skyline on the Brooklyn Heights Promenade

The Statue of Liberty


Subway on my own for the 1st time

'Stealing' photos of Takashi Murakami's art *love it*. Commercially known for his collaboration with Louis Vuitton and Kanye West Album Cover


The inimmitable Princess K from Manhattan & Takashi

Princess K and camouflaged by the CHEERY ;) Blossoms in Brooklyn Botanic Gardens

All that walking helped build up an appetite. Off to Willamsburg we went - and yes Princess K, you don't need a passport to get there :P. Someone tell me why are almost ALL burger joints called RELISH?? Anyway, it was excellent... Oh did I forget to mention the most amazingly random thing happened today - I bumped into my best friend (Mr Wetlands) from LONDON in the MUSEUM in BROOKLYN in NEW YORK. I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I'd come all the way from KL and he'd travelled from London and we havent been in touch for weeks - and we can be at the same location in a completely different country...

to be continued....

Feeling HOT! HOT! HOT!

Part 2 – Friday 18th April 2008
Boy am I glad I hauled a$$ to the gym this morning cos I’ve done an awful lot of eating today… after rushing to finish off some work online after the gym .. I was way too late to navigate myself on the NY subway so indulged myself in a cab. US$15 later ugh!!




I find myself at Bleecker & Elizabeth and Bjorkfan comes running out of café to greet me… ☺ ☺ all round… last time we saw each other was December 07, which also happens to to be the first time we met!

The weather really could not have been more perfect. I brought a light jacket with me which was of completely no use to me. Clear blue skies, almost cloudless and a scorching sun to top it all off… around 78F I reckon. I very blurly followed let bjorkfan guide me to the subway and to purchase my week’s metrofare (US$25 gulp, but it will last me for a week) and then followed thru the gate and down the corridors and onto the train. The NY subway reminds me very much of the Paris Metro. ots of cold metal, old and almost Victorian. Very different to the London Underground which over the last 10 years has undergone serious renovation and modernization. Anyway, we yik-yakked til we arrived at our destination… and walked to Madison Avenue Park which is the location for the most famous burger joint in NYC (and it was pointed out to me that it is particularly famous among NYers). The name of this place – SHAKE SHACK.



Bjorkfan had warned me earlier that the queues, or rather ‘lines’ (American lingo) to this place are insane and there is even a webcam so that people can get online to check how long it is….. Yeah right I thought… cant be THAT long…. How wrong could I be…



BMW6series joined us in the line and we spent that time catching up… you see, everything happens for a reason ☺



Obviously with it being a burger joint, and it being called SHAKE shack.. you can guess wat our chosen beverage was… my personal choice was chocolate, bjorkfan went for Stwawbewwy and BMW6 went for black and white (choco and vanille combo)

The burgers were literally INHALED in seconds – delicious is an understatement.

BMW6 just couldnt wait to start eating her's *wink*

I couldn’t resist taking this pic of the gorgeous bjorkfan with the lovely daffs in the background. I love daffs – they remind me of summer at Boarding school in England.

ayoh.. so pretty-one lah

We said our goodbyes to BMW6 who had to rush back to work and then bjorkfan and I went on a stroll… we hit Broadway where I was fascinated by the FlatIron Building, one of the oldest buildings in NYC. It' so skinny... and it's skinny-ness reminded me of the Hilton and Meridien Hotels back home.


Then jumped onto the subway at Union Square to head back to Bjorkfan’s ‘hood near Bleecker.



I then got all domesticated with bjorkfan as we went to collect her drycleaning and laundry… hahahaha… she didn’t want me to blog this but TOO BAD!!! Here's t bjorkfan, the new reigning DOMESTIC GODDESS :p




We dumped the clean clothes and continued wandering round the village. As the weather was so amazing we decided not to waste it by staying couped up in museums. I love this area - So quaint and full of character. Lots of little shops and boutiques, small record shops, book shops, gift shops, nicknack shops… I love the fact that it’s low rise there… don’t feel so intimidated by the buildings. To quench ourselves from the heat (and all the talking we were doing!!!) Bjorkfan suggested we take a pitstop at PINKBERRY – a relatively new frozen Yoghurt joint in NY…. Yum yum scrum!




Lots of walking and talking today… spent every moment soaking in the atmosphere and this Boogalooboo loved every minute. There’s nothing like seeing New York with a born and bred New Yorker… Thank you Bjorkfan – can’t wait for the rest of my stay to continue (Gawd, that’s such BAD English!)

PHOTO OF THE DAY.... The number of this Silversmith is indeed...



Oh and last but by no means least.. I got a phone call from this man today....



This boogaloo needs to head back to the hotel for a rest… jet lag has not yet eluded me…

what a BEAUTIFOOOOOOOOOOOL 1st day in NYC - T shirt weather!

Friday 18th April 2008

Slept like a dog. Tossed and turned and my phone kept disturbing me with incoming smses..aargh – hope I last the day today.

Spent first hour of my morning updating this… and now about to head to the gym for a short workout. Gotta stay in shape! My plan so far for today is to get online and catch up with emails etc. then meet bjorkfan for lunch and spend the afternoon exploring a bit of this Big Apple with her – probably hit a museum or 2… I’m hoping either the Museum of Modern Art or the Metropolitan. Did you know that NYC is best known for having the best Museums in the WORLD – no wonder I love this place already and I’ve not even seen any of it!! I can’t wait to feed my brain!!! Over-and-out the gym is beckoning….

Thursay 17 April 2008 – The longest day of 2008!!

KL – Stockholm MH090 17.04.08 09.45 KL time



Blissful comfort. Thoroughly spoilt. Resolutely grateful. 3rd glass of Ch@mp3r5. Sweet Potato by Sia playing on my Itouch. Thick, grey, yet still bright clouds outside.



Standard MAS procedures failures – interactive system is down and has just been reset. Passengers all sitting patiently for the entertainment to commence.



I look around. Different faces, races, shapes, sizes, heights and widths. Different brands of human ‘beans’ packed into this aerial cruiser. All heading to either Stockholm or the Big Apple or perhaps beyond. On the same plane but on different journey with individual agendas. Some just commencing, maybe heading out on a business trip; some ending, perhaps heading home after days, weeks, months or even years away. Some ‘in-betweeners’ which I wil leave to YOUR imagination to define.
Thousands of thoughts in hundreds of minds encapsulated within this airbourne vehicle. What a mad image… loads and loads of bubble talk. Cute! Like a frenetic cartoon.
What about me? I’ve a plate of nasi lemak going cold in front of me. Why this? Cos I reckon I’m gonna miss rice soon!! God I sound so rural! Anyway I am in search of my fortune. To the land of opportunities. The city of immigrants. History has many such fortune seeking stories to tell and I am yet another in the 21st century. I am determined to find my pot of gold at the end of this rainbow. 2008 has been more than kind to me so far, Nothing may necessarily happen immediately or in a few months but intend for this trip to be a gateway for me… to what? That will be for me to discover in time.
Wooooooh!! Pedasnya! DELICIOUS nasi lemak. I just hope I don’t get a sensitive tummy on this longhaul :S
I am feeling strangely emotional on this trip. I haven’t don’t this in a long time – traveled far and beyond to new places solo. It’s made me realize how much more adventurous I used to be when I was living on my own in London. Don’t get me wrong – it’s been great living in KL since I’ve started to feel more settled and work is taking off. But I do feel I’ve lost a bit of my independence – entirely my on fault and doing. This is what happens when we get too comfortable – we get complacent. Awful human degenerative disease! I’ve not been pushing my travel and adventure boundaries. Then again I have been extremely busy. Oh I dunno lah…. Rambling now :s
All I know for sure NOW, this moment – I am going to make things happen in these next 2 weeks…. Signing off….

Stockholm!!! Finally, land after 12 hours!!! I must admit rather disconcerting seeing all the water… but boy was I happy to see land. What a wonderful change in landscape. Evergreen trees and clear blue skies.



The airport was pretty boring and non eventful – frightfully clean, lots of dark wood… errrr.. that’s it really.





Transit was only one and a half hours so I basically found myself somewhere comfy to sit and dived into my book – ‘The Tipping Point’. Everything I’m reading at the moment is about gearing me up to make positive changes in my career ☺.
The second leg of the flight was pretty uneventful. Apart from eating some more :s it was time for me to ‘study’ my New York guide books and make a note of the places I wanted to visit and things I wanted to do. It’s madness – there is just so much to see and I’ve no idea how I’m going to squeeze it all in! There are 4 museums alone that I wanna visit sigh



I slept more .. oh and CRIED THE ENTIRE WAY THROUGH A MOVIE…. SO FRIGGIN EMBARRASSING!!! Seriously – such a great movie, or perhaps I’m turning into a huge softy…who knows but the tears just could not stop falling. Talk about having a bad case of the overflowing waterworks! I guess it didn’t help that I’ve been feeling all emo this flight plus the fact the one of my favourite actresses was in it – Hilary Swank. A true character actor who portrays the simplest raw yet most powerful human emotions so SO well. It’s a love story (sort of), incredibly romantic, irritating, torturous, painful, happy, mournful, celebratory story… yes this movie to me is a HUGE oxymoron (look it up in the dictionary, it’s my word for today!!).
But I loved every second of it, I guess cos it’s about true love, family, friends, life and the human spirit.

Watch it.

P.S I Love You



Finally….



Customs and luggage fast and harmless.. Weather = 70(F) = mild. My first NY sunset ☺




My first sighting and journey over Brooklyn Bridge



Feeling shattered and withdrawn after my shower, I cancelled plans to meet up with some friends for ‘welcome’ drinks (these friends will be referred to as bjorkfan and BMW6series) … decided to turn in early and catch up on sleep.. only to be woken up by another friend of mine to join him in the lounge to hang out (housedancer, as he shall be referred to from now on, was instrumental in making this adventure of mine in New York happen).
Boogalooboo ALWAYS obliges to good friends. Jumped out of bed, freshened up AGAIN and headed down and ended up having her first informal business meeting.
I spent the next 2 hours sharing my music and work with one of HouseDancer’s ‘family’ – a big homie called Hardy, whom I will refer to as Notorious B.I.G. or N.B.I.G. for short (clearly I don’t need to explain why)
N.B.I.G. seems a lovely guy, well connected, seriously up and coming and extremely busy. But he seemed interested in me and my work. He loved the visuals, the image and the videos… we talked and talked, shared experiences, goals and dreams. We talked about songwriting, production, grooves and beats. It was great ☺.

I will be spending more time with these people and will be meeting even MORE people over the next week… can’t wait.

Suffice to say I crawled up to my room after and crashed out..

Let’s see – I woke up 6am KL time on the 17th and passed out around midnight on the 17th/18th NY time (which is noon on the 18th KL time)… indeed the longest day of 2008