Acceptance.... Learning

I know this is not a travel post but I have been in an ‘up and down’ relationship with something for a while now...I realise I have to learn to accept... accept things for what they are, things that are beyond my control...

Funny things is, I have learnt that and accept everything but.. I (the ego) is finding it a bit hard to accept authoritarian form of governance. I am working on a social project and we want the public to be involved. We have had many engagement sessions with them and taken their feedback seriously- awesome! But when it comes to certain things - for example a competition, we want to enforce certain rules because the BOSS says so...here’s where the ego struggles...why specify detailed rules that you limit the creativity of the people submitting. Actually that’s not where the struggle is.. the struggle is why do we HAVE TO OR MUST do something because the BOSS says so... why not hear the person out first... why are we doing things out of FEAR!!!???

When someone says because the BOSS says so... although I have questions etc, and the response is “Because the BOSS says so!”, that’s when the ego burns up!

Now I am wondering, what is it in me that repels that like it’s poison?
Hmm time to reflect.. adios amigs (short form for Amigos ;)

Travel posts will be up when it’s time :) thank you for understanding!

A Different New York For The Offbeat Traveler - Stepping into a Time Travel Machine: Coney Island

Recently, a friend of mine visited me in New York City. It was 7 years since we last met and hang out properly. I wanted to show her 'my' New York. Not the New York we watch in movies, not the 'city, not the usual Times Square, Central Park, etc. I mean, I made sure she saw all that, and then....

CONEY ISLANDDD!!! WOOOO HOOOO!!!

Coney Island is extremely different from the New York you were told about by the media.

It is retro! You are transported back to the early 1900s.

Also, going into Coney Island from central New York, you are introduced to a different culture - mainly Central and Eastern Europeans. The residential buildings are exactly like those back in the Soviet Union. You'll also find many delicious Georgian or Russian or any other Central or Eastern European eateries here.

The brown flats in the distance

I love this place! It is eccentric and so chilled. I don't think you will find a place like this anywhere else in the world (please let me know if there is another place like this). There's the beach and the theme park - Luna Park, which looks exactly like when it first opened - in 1903 :D (do not worry, the rides may look 'old' but it has been refurbished and is safe based on 2017 standards! ;-))

One thing I love about New York, when you go to the different neighbourhoods, the landscape, people and culture vary. For example, if you want:

• artsy, hip area - Greenwich Village (my 'favourite-st' place in New York! Some parts remind me of Notting Hill)
• retro, early 1900s, Central/ Eastern European - Coney Island
• Southern American - Jackson Heights, Queens
• posh, elegant, both residential and commercial (American style) - Upper West Side
• posh, elegant residential area (English style) - Kew Garden/ Prospect Park

You get the gist!

Anyways.. any of you planning a trip to New York, do schedule some time to go back in time ;)

Unorthodox New York (and surrounding areas)

Ok, I feel it's time to blog about some of the 'secrets' or atypical New York places to explore. Many of my friends I speak to think New York is the 'concrete jungle where dreams are made of' (maybe not mine :S); the lights DO inspire though! *seeing stars* Ooooh... speaking about stars, I THINK I saw Alec Baldwin walking his dog! I was in a rush when I saw this guy from the side, who looks, moves, and whose disposition are EXACTLY like Alec's, talking to his friend. I wanted to turn 180 degrees and look to confirm it's him, but then thought better of it - I mean stars are just like you and me, they want their private time... but anyways.. I later found out he does live in the area.. HENCE... I SAW ALEC BALDWIN!

Cheers to you too! (From one of my favourite movies of his... It's Complicated)

Back to the 'secrets' - New York is amazing! There's something for everyone: peace, noise, hiking, shopping, art, sacred sights, entertainment, you name it! Now, to BURST the bubble for most of you who think New York is just:

"Go to T.... S..... and take a picture of me with a Kodak," as Pitbull says

Central Park

Here goes......

1) Met Cloisters - specialising in European medieval architecture, sculpture and decorative arts. Its early collection was built by the American sculptor, art dealer and collector George Grey Barnard, and acquired by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. in 1925.

The garden and path to the Cloisters are serene..

View of the Hudson River

It's all the way up on Manhattan, on the west side, at 190th street - MUST GO!

2) Harlem!!! - Yes, notorious for being dangerous - BUT.... have no fear (ok, maybe go in the day time). It's so unique and colourful! Different from mid-town or downtown - where it's busy and bustling with vehicles and people.

Since the 1920s, Harlem has been known as a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands. African-American residents began to arrive in 1905, In the 1920s and 1930s, Central and West Harlem were the focus of the "Harlem Renaissance", an outpouring of artistic work without precedent in the American black community.

The crowd you see here is different than in other areas of New York.

Music hall which is a noted venue for African-American performers like Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, Ella Fitzgerald

When in Harlem, you must savour soul food - a cuisine that comes from traditional African dishes (which has been 'Americanised'). As Harlem is 'built' on African-American heritage, where best to enjoy it in New York!

Corn bread

Grilled chicken, black beans in a uniquely spiced sauce and mashed potatoes

3) Cathedral of Saint John the Divine - An Anglican cathedral designed in 1888, the cathedral has undergone radical stylistic changes and the interruption of the two World Wars. Originally designed in the Byzantine Revival-Romanesque Revival styles, the plan was changed after 1909 to a Gothic Revival design.

It is located on 110th street on the west side of Manhattan.

Peace Fountain next to the cathedral by Greg Wyatt, sculptor-in-residence at the Cathedral. The sculpture depicts the struggle of good and evil, as well as a battle between the Archangel Michael and Satan. The sculpture also contains the Sun, the Moon, and several animals. You must explore the little garden around the sculpture, beautiful peace quotes by famous people can be found. 

Bless you couple.. may you be filled with loads of happiness and loveeeee 💖

... and you will find a very very controversial statue in this cathedral...

Am I seeing right?

A female Jesus?... yes it is :)

4) FINALLY (for this post), this one.. YOU 'MUSTEST' go..... part of the APPALACHIAN TRAIL!

I conquered 2 hours of the Appalachian trail! Woo hoo!! lol..jokes😆

What is this Appalachian trail? It is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine.The trail is about 2,200 miles (3,500 km) long, it passes through 14 states: Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. It can take up to 6 months do to the entire trail.

I just did two hours of it... at the northern part of New York. The trail is absolutely pristine, untouched! And NOT COMMERCIALISED! YAY!!! The hike - is not tough, hence I insist EVERYONE must do it - whether you are a hiker or not.

You will pass through many different landscapes - even in the two hours!

Passing through someone's backyard....

Think they may be from Switzerland? lol

Ahh... BREATHTAKING... even now, as I am writing this and recalling the moment, I feel happiness just permeating through my fingers, and all over the body! 😇

Just... RAW!

Another brilliant reason why YOU must go here? Ok, to reach to this part of the hike from New York City (and if you do not have a car), you must take a train from Grand Central Station towards the Appalachian Trail. 

There is a station (Southeast Station) where you must change trains. From Southeast station to the Appalachian Trail, the train - is the old school 'choo choo' train... the conductor pulls the string to go 'choo choo'... 

Not this train exactly, but you get the gist 

SO SO SO SO SO delightful and old-school... I LOVE IT! Yes I am a child! (We all are 😉)

Two notes: 

1) Please sit in the first carriage of the train as the Appalachian Trail platform is so small and the door only opens in the first carriage. 

2) Check the train schedule as there are very few trains that head back towards Grand Central. Please time your hike accordingly :) 

That's it for now... there are more to come, for sure... it's me...lol

Have a blessed Christmas all and here's to an EXCITING 2017!! *kiss kiss* 😘😘