USA 2005 : New York

Like a moth to a flame burnt by the fire...and so the song goes. There is no other city like it. And it has worked hard to deserve the accolades it receives. Even in the face of defeat at the Olympics bid, New York and it’s inhabitants have shown its true mettle, where the instinct to survive surpasses even the spirit of the games. There is much to say about it, and perhaps the account below is still too simplistic and touristy. Still, there is really no single way to encapsulate the thoughts is there?

Will & Grace. The View. Rice to Riches. Dog poo on the sidewalk. Glitter on the 43rd and 8th pavement. Buses that deflate to street level. How can one person live more in a few months that he did in a few years? It is a solid case of nurture versus nature. Where the environment and socialization is sole evidence in the evolution of a human being.

New York is like a maddening circus; a hub of activity. Many have tried to put how they feel about the city into words and visuals. Many are still trying to capture the essence of this great cosmopolitan aria. What cannot be described in words is instead felt in every nook and cranny of the city. From the traditions of European architecture, to the sprawling post Trump skyscrapers. It is also seen in the faces of the diverse people, weather worn and resilient. Truly, that may very well be the core of the city. The spirit that is a constant in every facet that binds its energy. When you talk to a New Yorker, borough dweller or Manhattanite, regardless of how they may complain or gripe about their existence in a mostly unforgiving place, you will discover a common thread. For reasons that may be personal, they all love New York. Regardless of their heritage, it is this common bond that seems to tie the city together. Let me share some reasons I have discovered as to why I love New York.

The Seasons

I arrived in the dead of winter. For someone fresh out of the tropics, snow storms were a treat. I could finally see how snow can create the magic of Christmas. How fantastic it felt to have the first feathery flakes fall on your face. Most people might hate it, but the opportunity to wear layers of clothing was in itself an adventure, each time you tried to get out to do even the most basic things. And you learn to appreciate a good hot Chantico from Starbucks. But as Winter faded into Spring, a whole new sensibility set in. Suddenly, there were talks of cherry blossoms, and colors began to change from browns and greys to greens, reds and yellows. I suppose it is the best way to understand the cycle of life, that things move in a continuum and there is a constant renewal of energies. You get to wear less clothes in spring, and perhaps the shedding of the layers is the best metaphor for the changes that one inevitably has to face in life. Life should never be a plateau. And perhaps that is why living in New York is so exciting. Nothing remains the same. And one quickly finds that with so much to experience, life literally can zip by, and before you know it, you are in your winter years and ready to pass the role of world changer to a new generation. Oh but what a way to grow old! I am fortunate though that I remained in the US just as summer was taking over. Things got hot, in more ways than one. People became even more visible as they flocked to the beaches to flaunt the bodies they worked so hard for during the colder months. Street festivals and public events drew people out of their homes into the bright sunshine. You couldn’t help but to taste optimism in the air, and the feeling of gratitude just to be alive and to be in the moment.

It would be hard for me to go back to a single season climate. Where change is not the norm, where there is no distinct sense of something to keep looking forward to. To know that even if one season is bad, the next one could be great!

The Arts

I now hate the tourists that walk like headless chickens in Times Square. But that does not change how I feel about the place. I am, and always have been totally in love with it. It is perhaps partly due to my inherent love for the theatre. I have always felt a night at the theatre is like an event. Something you look forward to, to get psyched about. In New York, theatre just can’t get any better. This year, my secret desire was to meet people who were part of the New York theatre community.

I was blessed. I became friends with someone who was involved in the set building. His stories of the creation of the car in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was like an insight to the behind the scenes going ons. I also got to know a performer who is part of the case of the Lion King. I guess meeting actors in New York should not be a surprise. Certainly, there are many. But these are people whose livelihoods depended on their craft, and deserve respect, unlike in Singapore where there is no real long term prospect to survive as an artiste.

New York is also the place where big stars lose their publicists and agents and become accessible. My friend Eric and I made it a point to meet the actors after a performance. We were fortunate to meet Cherry Jones (2005 Best Actress Tony winner), Jurassic Park’s Jeff Goldblum, Christian Slater and Stealth’s Josh Lucas among others.

The choices were endless. And thanks to a friend who was a bigger theatre enthusiast than me, I discovered that there was more theatre than I realized in locations other than in and around Times Square. I watched the excellent R rated (or at least it should be) Avenue Q, Doubt, The Glass Menagerie, Sweet Charity, The Pillowman, Slava’s Snowshow, Swimming in the Shallows, Birdie Blue, La Cage Aux Folles, and The Cherry Orchard.

The truth about theatre is that the audience are voyeurs, quietly learning vicariously through depictions of life as seen through the eyes of the playwright, and fleshed out by the expressions of the actors and directors. While some shows were a total yawn, others force you into areas you would rather not contemplate. The Pillowman was disturbing, with themes of child abuse and murder most foul. Watching Birdy Blue was like taking a bite out of a rotting fruit, as it depicted a life that was slowly deteriorating in spite of the protagonist’s best efforts to avoid it. It made one wonder, why go on if things are just stacked against you. It made one think that while it is true there is always someone else worse off than you, the only situation that matters is your own, and no one can judge what your acceptance level of that situation should be. See, it is hard to watch theatre and not have a reaction or response. It keeps you real in a very unreal way. After all, it is just the stage. But clearly, Shakespeare was right. The whole world is a stage, and we the actors. We all have a part to play, even if some of us don’t know what it is yet.

The Great Outdoors

It is a misconception to believe New York is just a sprawling metropolis without a sense of the great outdoors. Some might know that straddled in between the East and West sides, you have Central Park. For a long time I had felt that Central Park was a dangerous place to hang out, and it was only this year that I discovered how fantastic it was. Regardless of seasons, you see New Yorkers taking advantage of their green lung. Joggers, runners, cyclists share the space with couples getting married.

I witnessed the Park in Winter when the lakes were frozen, and Spring when Cherry Blossoms literally filled the air with petals. I learned the value of just kicking back, taking off my shoes and relaxing. Looking at the sky, and just contemplating. Not even listening to my iPod because really, the sounds of activity and the wind was enough music. I understood why people can spend hours on the lawn just reading a book, and just doing nothing.

Of course, Central Park is not the only respite if one is looking for nature. A kind soul once brought my friend Eric and I to Bear Mountains, about an hour out of New York. It was amazing to know that you can get away from it all if you really wanted to. Up on the vista point, we could see Manhattan in the far distance. We also met a man who rode his bike HOURS from Manhattan to get to the mountains, only to spend a couple of minutes resting, and ride all the way back. Very quickly, I realized the lifestyle options one can have in New York. They say anything is possible in New York City. And seeing this man, you really believe it. The only limits are set by your own will and patience.

Eric and I had also had the great opportunity to make the summertime pilgrimage to the beach, Jones Beach to be exact. The water may not have been Mykonos, but the boys were totally in the same league. Bodies fresh from the gym, and tortured in Winter, were out on display. And the men showed how gross they could get when one by one, they would walk over to the dunes, pull down their speedos, and pee into the sand. Ew. But somehow, seeing muscle bods do their business seemed forgiveable!

And FYI, my tan was awesome!

One last thing. I have always believed that anything can happen in New York. And they sometimes happen when you least expect it. Like finding love. In a city of millions, where people are in a constant search for their better halves, the search itself can be lifelong. But sometimes, you do get lucky, and even though it may come in the most unexpected package, the gift inside is still beautiful. Ah New York....Where dreams really can come true....