ngthatsme

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      1 Oct 2007

      Don't honk

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      New York is not a quiet city.

      When I visited back in July, I just thought I got the raw end of the stick with my hotel room. There was loads of traffic and background noise - constant whirring, screeching, barking, and machinery noise.

      Now I'm beginning to see that's just the way it is. The city that never sleeps is one noisy-arse city!

      Apparently, back in 1972 it was the first city to adopt a 'noise code'. This issue has recently been re-addressed with even newer noise laws being brought into effect in July this year. But forgive me if I seem a bit skeptical, but I really don't see how they're going to pull this off.

      These signs are scattered all around the city, but what's the point of having them, if no one pays attention to them:

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      30 Sep 2007

      How to make your own clothes rack

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      I did my washing today, oops sorry, I should probably conform to American parlance and say 'laundry'.

      It was a slightly nerve-wracking experience. You know that feeling when you put your most expensive clothes in a machine and just really don't what to expect? See I have turned some of my whites pink before so I wasn't holding any high hopes. But the problem is, I only have a limited set of clothes with me (most are being shipped by sea) so I can't afford to wreak what I've got.

      As it turned out everything came out fine, but there was brief moment when I pulled them out, thought I saw a hint of pink and almost died.

      Interestingly, most of the apartments here don't have washing machines included. Instead there's a shared laundry room in the basement. This is something I always kind of knew, from watching shows like FRIENDS, but just never realised until now.

      Then there was the issue of where to hang my clothes. While this apartment is uber-cool, it came sans drying rack. So drawing upon all my MacGyver knowledge I looked around to see what I could recruit into to making one.

      At the back of the closet were 2 electrical extension leads...

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      They look a little different to the ones back home and in London, but really who cares, it was the cord I was after...

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      So I strung the electrical cord between 2 chairs, giving me 4 lines to hang stuff on...

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      And voila!...

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      30 Sep 2007

      Corporate housing

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      The apartment they're putting me up in is amazing! I think I spent the first 5 minutes just in awe. I didn't want to touch anything in fear of breaking it! It's even got Hollywood style lights in the bathroom. Nice. The ceilings are also extremely high, something I really appreciate. Ironic I know, but it's more about the feeling of space, rather than anything to do with height.

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      28 Sep 2007

      Hi from NY

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      I made it to NY!

      The flight over was pretty good, ie after I convinced myself to get on it - there was a brief moment just before I boarded when I thought 'OMG WTF am I doing?'. I was forced to switch to 'mechanical mode' - buy bottle of water, buy paper, hand over boarding pass, walk to plane - and then things got a little better.

      Also, it was a total fluke but they upgraded my seat to 'World Traveller' status, which I think is just one down from business class? So I got to watch Shrek 3 on my own little pull-out screen and play with all the fancy levers on my seat to make it recline in 7 different ways. I also took my friend's advice and ate ALL the nice food...well everything apart from the soggy cheesecake. You just can't do pre-prepared, pre-wraped, frozen then defrosted cheesecake on a plane. The base goes all soggy.

      Getting through immigration and customs all went fine. Actually, it made my evening when one of the officials looked through my paperwork, smiled, nodded, stamped it, and said:

      'N.G. , have a nice night'


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      25 Sep 2007

      Revenge is a dish best served cold

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      You may remember a while ago, I had a moment of weakness and returned to an independent supermarket I swore to boycott...well, now it's time for revenge :)

      As I was clearing out my room yesterday, I coppery glint caught my eye. My collection of 'shrapnel', which usually sits patiently in a glass jar on my window sill, was impatiently saying 'spend me, spend me'.

      So I think I should oblige.

      Afterall, it does seems somewhat silly taking 1, 2 and 5p coins to New York. And why do that when someone else can really benefit from it? I know the little shop across the road will be eternally grateful...

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      'That'll be £20.58 please'
      'Sure no worries, just give me a few minutes..."

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      24 Sep 2007

      Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger

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      I woke up this morning and the first thing I did was sneeze. And sneeze again. Ugggh why is there an annoying itch between my eyes, and why is my nose running like a leaky tap? Oh yeah that's right, because I haven't cleaned my room in 5 months.
      Now, while most people would be absolutely mortified to reveal this fact, I for one am quite proud. You see, it's a stance against allergens, an indication that I've won a battle by holding out this long and have now built up a significant immunity toward dust, dirt and whatever else is hiding in the corner of my room. To be able to withstand and overcome these enemies is quite an achievement.

      To take you down a stroll of memory lane, when I was young I was allergic to loads of different things - dust, pollen, and cats in particular. My theory (with no disrespect to Mum) is that I think our house was too clean, so building up any resistance was practically impossible. Yep, bring on the asthma, eczema and hives, none of which I suffer from now I might add.

      However, having said this, in order not to turn into a modern day Homer, I do acknowledge it is important to strike a balance between being 'too clean' and the state that my room is in now. So I relaxed my stance against allergens for a brief moment today and old Mr Hoover got a bit of a work out (as did I!). If Hoovers could smile, this one would be sitting back in its dark little cupboard now beaming, its belly finally sated and bulging.

      And just to set the record straight, and I quote Garfield, 'I'm not messy... I'm organizationally challenged.'
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      23 Sep 2007

      Yet another curry

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      I've just got back from what seems like my 100th farewell dinner - partly because my friendship groups are quite fragmented, and partly because I'm rubbish at doing goodbyes so keep on coming back for more.
      Tonight we paid a visit to our favourite little Clapham curry house, Indian Flavours. It's been a while since we sampled the Wrath of Khan but as usual it didn't disappoint. Two hours later, my insides still feel like they're playing house to simmering embers, slowly corroding their way through my mucous lining.

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      22 Sep 2007

      The Garden That You Planted - Sea Wolf

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      I stumbled across a cool blog today - 'HearYa: An Indie Music Blog'

      It's great for discovering new, independent Indie music. I was looking for a track by up and coming band 'Sea Wolf' and found it here. It's called 'The Garden That You Planted' and it's just the sweetest little song. I've been playing it on repeat all day. 

      Also found this live recording on YouTube.

      Enjoy.

      Good Morning Dear
      I hope I didn’t wake you too soon
      Because my mind is growing tired
      Too much thinking what I should do
      I picture you out there
      It must be beautiful this time of year
      All those East Coast leaves
      Floating round like embers from burning trees
      Well the weather out here is just the same
      But the garden that you planted remains.

      Now it’s only work
      Each day bleeding into the next
      Barely scraping by I tire myself out just so I can rest
      But rest it rightly comes
      And when it does I come out and go home
      Because it’s much too quiet
      Seems that I’m not suited to being in love
      And everyone around me’s changed
      But the garden that you planted remains.

      I think about you
      Maybe more than I should
      But the smog is getting old
      The drugs I’m taking aren’t so good
      So will you talk to me
      Even though you’ve had a late night
      Because I need a little help
      Baby, tell me I’ll be alright
      Cause everything around me’s changed
      But the garden that you planted remains

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      17 Sep 2007

      Visa approved!

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      Things are moving along pretty well with New York plans. After spending a few hours at the US embassy today, my Visa has now been approved. Despite not being able to listen to music or send any text messages for those few hours (ipods and phones are not allowed in for security reasons), it was a relatively painless procedure - hand over the paperwork, give a few fingerprints, an interview here and there, hand over some cash and then I was stamped as A-OK. All good.
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      12 Sep 2007

      Night time photography

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      A Lone Stranger

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      Fairy lights

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      View from Waterloo Bridge

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      London Eye vs single decker bus

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      London Eye vs Double decker bus
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  • ngthatsme

    Sometimes geek, sometimes chic. I'm a third culture kid - born in Malaysia, grew up in Australia, worked in London and am now in NYC. I love traveling to places strange and unknown and having unforgettable random adventures.

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