1 <3 NY

I first stepped on Times Square two years ago. The feeling was surreal. I knew there would be lights but i didn't think there would be LIGHTS! I could not believe i was really standing in the middle of it all. I was so happy that i wanted to laugh out loud and jump and shout. But at the same time a felt a surge of sadness that i had no one to share my happiness with. All of a sudden i wished my mom, dad and siblings were with me to experience everything there was to experience about NYC.

I went to NYC with 2 purposes: 1) To see snow; and 2) To watch Les Miserables on Broadway. I had memorized the lyrics by heart since college and i have been dreaming to watch it on stage.

It did not snow. (it did 2 days after i left NYC)

Les Mis tickets were sold out. I couldn't get tickets then. Sadly, it finished it's Broadway stint over a year ago.


2009. I went back



At the Winter Garden theater.
Mamma Mia, how can i resist you?!

By the end of the show everybody was singing and dancing. I purposely did not watch the movie version because i wanted to see it on stage. It did not disappoint.

Made me want to quit my job and join theater.

At the Minskoff Theater.

There's more to be seen than can ever be seen. More to do than can ever be done. On the path unwinding, in the Circle of Life.

Elaborate costumes.

At the majestic Theater.

Celebrating 23 years of Broadway's most haunting love story, it is currently the longest running musical in Broadway history. The Phantom of the Opera is a must see. This International phenomenon has won 8 Tony Awards in 1988 including Best Musical.

Very very impressive set.

The Phantom of the opera is here..inside your mind!





At the Imperial Theater.

My best experience so far....Billy Elliot.

It will make you cry and force you to a standing ovation. Days after watching it, it is still on my mind.

As the New York Post put it, "It is the BEST gift from Britain since Harry Potter."





I LOVE NEW YORK.

Travel With Me

I'm going on a long trip.

Why? Well...ermmm...well...just because.

I know! Because i'm a victim of the Hurricane hence i deserve a treat. There ya go. And i'm still homeless now, mind you. Plus, i finished my last inpatient hospital rotation! No more night floats! No more calls! weeeee!!!!

So i got online and booked multicity flights.

***

I'm at the Hobby Airport in Houston waiting for my flight to Dallas. I'm bored and this airport has got no free public wifi. I'm so cheap that i don't want to pay for wifi in the airport. I'll just type my entries and publish them once i get internet access on the road. The guys beside me work in a ship. I eavesdrop. Always.

"Anything for a job, man, anything."
"Yeah, a lot of guys i know have been laid off. "

And I think about the recession, the lay offs. Depressing. I went to buy me a McDonald's burger instead.

***

I arrived here in Dallas at about 3PM. My next flight is supposed to leave at 4PM but they said it got delayed for about an hour. They even changed gates. Bummer. I decided to eat an early dinner at Subway. Now my breath smells of onions. This airport has free internet kiosks. You need to have a cord in order to hook up your laptop though. Like who carries an ethernet cord with them nowadays? Argh.

I listen to the phone conversation of the old lady beside me informing her husband on the other end of the line that she'll be arriving later than expected because of the delay. They further exchange pleasantries while my eyes start to wander. Why is that guy wearing bright sky blue socks? I see this lady wearing an army uniform. Has she been to Iraq or is she headed there? I see little kids running, oh how cute. I start to miss Dani and Jeremy. This guy pushing a wheelchair smiles at me and says, "kamusta po!" I answer, "Mabuti naman, Kabayan!" I watch everybody. I love watching people. I used to do this during my USMLE review days at McDonalds in the Philippines. Everyone is interesting.

They're calling all passengers to board now.

***

I'm on the plane to Newark, NJ and I'm sooo sleepy. I keep yawning and keep smelling my onion breath. Good thing there's nobody but me in my row of seats. I try to listen to my ipod but the drone of the engine is louder. I turn on my laptop but there's no internet. Lady behind me is staring at me because i'm taking a picture of myself. I wish i could blow air on to her side so she'll smell my breath but i can't do that without turning around. I attempt to answer the crossword puzzle in the plane magazine instead. I hate flying. I'm hungry and American Airlines doesn't give you free food. Not even peanuts. They even charge $15 for your first checked in baggage. I don't understand this. They started charging you for your baggage when the price of oil soared last year. Ok, that's reasonable, maybe. But the price of oil has plummeted since! And these airlines still keep on charging baggage fees. At least Continental and Southwest give out those sweetened peanuts. Soutwest Airlines doesn't charge you for your first baggage. That's pretty nice of them. And they usually have the lowest rates too. See what happens when i'm bored. I start to rant. This is not good.

***

I landed at Newark, NJ Airport at around 9.30PM. I'll be staying with friends from college.
Goals for the 9 days: Watch broadway in NYC. Watch broadway in NYC. Watch broadway in NYC.

***
PS. I don't usually camwhore. It's just that i didn't have anything other pic to post.