Found the Lady !!!

Met the final KPI for New York, USA. Took the Stefen Ferry (free !!) to Stefen Island. Approximately 25 minutes to get there and another 25 min to get back to mainland Manhattan. What's so popular about this ferry service to the island is that it passes by Liberty Island where The Statue of Liberty stands tall. To the backdrop of the setting American sun (complete with chilling winds), she stood tall at the entrance to the harbour. Whilst the real ferry people remain seated inside the ferry (remaining warm), the many opportunists (who capitalized on the free service, (instead of the US$15.00 Statue of Liberty island tour), braved the cold wind to snap away as we pass by the American Icon. (Great digital technology, compared to the days of films where every shot counts !!)
The Stefen ferry (really a hugh one, can take lots of people at one go. Very efficient and has a good docking system .... truely a people mover.

The Empire State Building

The UN Building and the hotel is at the East end of New York, whereas, all the happening places are at the West end.
Armed with a simple map and a mental picture of the locality of tallest building in the city, started walking in the windy 3 deg C temperature right after the afternoon session ended. Looking for the tallest building shouldn't be too difficult. WRONG !!! There's lots of tall buildings around couple with narrow streets; Every possible angel for a long range "look", was blocked. Even the sunlight had difficulties to pass thru. With the cross fix of 35th Street and 5th Avenue, the walk in the general direction was the order of the day. Crowd seem to be everywhere .... (not too sure, who is working) but as I got nearer to the 36th Street, signs of the tallest building could be felt. Lots of people were pointing their camera upwards, snapping away. Nicely located across the street of the American icon was another familiar site .... McDonald. Had a burger whilst I waited for the tourist queue in front of the State Building to clear. After the airport-style security screening, purchased the US$21 adult ticket and headed for the 86th floor, observatory platform. It was in the open thus the chill from the wind could be immediately felt. Guess, it was a natural way for clearing the crowd. Most took one quick walk round the platform, snapped the pictures and back in. Quite a nice bird eye's view of the City of New York. Welcome to America !!!

Snow is great fun on TV !!!

After the Dec 2010 sub-zero trip to London and now the Feb 2011 trip to the Big Apple, the conclusion is obvious. SNOW is definitely more fun on TV. Its good for the first 2-3 hours, then the chill and reality sets in. If its too heavy, transportation will be disrupted. If its too light, everywhere is still cold but its also slippery. The aftermath of snowfall .... a collection of grey/semi black soot frozen at the roadside or sludge-looking stuff that just dampened your shoes..... not the brilliant white stuff that covers the place, making it look immaculate. Maybe, this is just the way, mother nature cleans the streets, roof tops and places that are not cleaned for the entire year. A new meaning to "Spring Cleaning" .... when it finally melts and bring the dirt away. Sure hates to be hit by a snowball made from these pile of .....

@ The BIG Apple

After 21 hrs of flight onboard SQ 26, finally arrived at NEW YORK on a fine Sunday morning to be greeted by a "cool 3 Deg C" temperature. Cool, cos this is relatively "nice", compared to the sub-zero that was last experienced at London in Dec 2010. Custom and Immigration at JFK Airport (T4) took a while but managed to make my way to the City. Life on a Sunday in a hugh Central Business District is relatively quiet. (Pic above is along 1st Avenue)

Found my way to the Millennium UN Plaza HOTEL by noon but the room was not ready till 2:00pm thus started wondering around, checking out the joints around the area. Lots of fast food outlets within walking distant - SUBWAY, McDonalds, Pizza, hotdogs, etc. The best part .... the UN Building is just a stone throw away, across the street. Quite a safe area ... lots of NYPD people around !!!

It started to get dark around 6:00pm and temperature dropped a little more. The chilly wind convinced me to return to the warmer hotel room. Time difference (13 hrs) is also taking its toll. "Mind was willing but flesh is weak" .... felt like sleeping in the elevator whilst heading up to the 31st floor. The picture (left) is what I see at midnight on my first night at the BIG APPLE.

Happy Valentine's Day, USA !!!!

Surprise !! Surprise !!

After weeks of planning and hidden messages via the highest of electronic means .... (emails, facebook and SMS ..... even when @ home/the next table !!!), the plot was set. Dad's going away and returning after Sarah's trip back to Perth sealed the date : 11 Feb 11. Wee's family suggestion to have a CNY gathering seem like a good way to engineer the surprise party. Everything had to move very fast after the first few collaboration with the younger TEOs. Since date was in place, gotta fix the venue before we can start the ball rolling with the invitation. Had the first test meal with Aaron when he needed to buy CNY clothes. It had to be somewhere close to ET's office as she is simply a natural to being LATE !!!.

VivoCity was a good choice. Ample car park space (with a third of Singaporean being there on a Friday nite !!!), MRT and lots of food venues, including 4 food courts. Approached the owner of Mussel Guys to confirmed venue and menu. We were ready.

This was where the Secret Squirrels started the "cover story" plot. The first was with the TJOENG FAMILY. With CNY round the corner, the word started to spread ..... "shhhhh !!! Your sis surprise party is being planned". (Cat was almost out of the bag during re-union dinner when she was asked, "so, i it ON ?" There was sudden silence in the air. Selective hearing mode took precedence and sudden choke !! choke !! and cough !! cough !! tried to drown the question ... but it innocently came again ... "Is it on ?". (Many stopped breathing !!).

Next, came the GOD families. Richard, Julie & Avril was smooth sailing via email and SMS but the Tan Sim Boh gang was highly riskly. Too many chances for "oops !!!", so only Chief Elf and Queen Bee was in the loop. The topic will only be raise after our sudden need to leave early. (Even that took hours to happen !!!. Long long sob sob goodbyes !!!). Last was with the SFX group where there were many email exchanges with the spiritual group with lots of uncertain addresses which the angels had to convey/deliver. Took a little longer than expected for responses. (Heaven quite far !!!) The execution involves lots of delay tactics. Meetings, more meetings, office alarm system malfunction, jams and poor communications. Never realised that lack of car park space in a venue that has ample space was such a welcomed episode/blessing. Going round and round in the "unfamiliar" area was such a natural form of stalling for time. GREAT CAR PARK.

The final walk into the restaurant was "priceless". The quote "Reservation by Margaret Wee" to the waitress kicked the weeks of planning into action. Birthday song, crown, well wishes and lots of snap-snap picture taking to capture the moment. Being CNY period, RED was the theme of the evening and traditional lo-hei started the makan session ... with beef redang, seafood platter, mussels, etc ,,,, Phew !! it was a relief !! The evening took its own course of event !!! Ma'chiam wedding celebration, picture taking by categoryiesand groups followed after the meals were consumed. With so many cameras flashing, didn't know where to look. Some will find its way to the Facebook; others to blogs and goodness knows where. All the willing supporters took turns to capture the moment with the Birthday Girl (whose crown has to be re-cycled for the next victim !!!). The restaurant may just change their policy of having birthday celebration at their location after this. Holding children parties could be easier. They almost took over the entire restaurant space.The final shot with the collaborators was A MUST. Guilty of telling tons and tons of lies ... and mind you... a spiritual group was involved too (complete with God families. I am sure HE WILL UNDERSTAND !!!) Happy BIRTHDAY !!!!

A matter of colours

It all started with some email that floated around in early Dec 10 that advices "by zodiac signs" what colour is recommended for the 1st day of the CNY. Mine was suppose to be WHITE but somehow, my white shirt that was sent for washing, was stained with some black spots that could not be removed. So the nearest to a white was a light pale greenish shirt for the day (the closest to white). WRONG Decision !!! :( It started off with Clarissa-Anne exclaiming .... "Bus Driver !!!" (Count on the CNN to start the broadcast !!!). After the traditional ritual of the family photograph at home, it was off to the TJOENG annual 1st day of CNY gathering. (That really made my day !!!) Helpful brothers & sisters-in-laws rubbed in even further, asking for discount for EZ-link card, special detour for their bus route and the usual request ... "to hold the bus" ..... Every bus that went by Old Airport Road invited attention and more comments. Guess they must have bottled up all their lines and waited for this day. The final TJOENG Family shot was taken with BLK 99, Old Airport Road in the background ..... the venue where the 2nd generation TJOENG grew up. The cameraman (Aaron-James) was busy getting the correct angle for the annual shot whilst the rest of the cousins were happily running amok in front of the friendly Neighbourhood Police Post. All the policemen could do was to walk by quietly, pretending that they didn't see this mob gathering in front of their post on the first day of the RABBIT YEAR.

Of course, it didn't end there. At Godparent's place, the CNN started the ball rolling and the SBS ritual lasted the night through. So much for the furry little hairy RABBIT ..... It keeps hopping around to remind everyone of its presence and the "theme of the day" .... KONG SI FATT CHAI !!!