The Boeing 757 touched down at the Newark International Airport on time. Through the aircraft window, the Manhattan skyline loomed in the distance, tinged with the evening light. The sky was overcast. Rain was in the forecast for tomorrow.
To beat the traffic going into Manhattan, I decided to have dinner at the airport terminal, which was beautifully redone just a few years ago. The food court, The Bazaar, offered many choices.There was also the option of taking a seat at one of the many of the open booths that were spread throughout the terminal. Each had its own chair, table and iPad from which you could place your order. The menu was very elaborate and modern. I ordered arugula salad with grilled shrimp. The food appeared, almost anonymously, in about 10-15 minutes.
The views from the 17th floor of the Times Square building were awesome. From one side, I spotted the Empire State Building. From the other side, I spotted the building from which the ball dropped on New Year’s Eve
After dinner, seeing it was totally dark outside, I decided to skip the train and grabbed a yellow cab. It would be safer. My hotel, the W at Union Square, was only 10 miles away in Manhattan. In half an hour, we were there. I parted with a hundred dollars as I got out of the cab. That included a tip and a bridge toll of $20. I had arrived in New York.
Two days of business meetings lay ahead of me. But there were many breaks in between and the meetings were spread out across Manhattan, giving me an opportunity to see the city from different angles and also to sample the diverse cuisines of the Big Apple.
One of the meetings was planned to take place in Long Island. I had always wanted to visit that magical area and view the magnificent homes and castles featured in The Great Gatsby, a classic of American literature. I had seen both of the movies that were based on it. But Long Island would have to wait for a future visit.The person I had planned to visit was going to be in Manhattan for a meeting. So hedecided to meet me instead for breakfast in New York. We met at the Aroma Café near the old Post Office building.
After breakfast, I went outside. From the street corner, I spotted the magnificent new World Trade Center. Nearby was an elaborate, multi-story children’s play area the size of a block. I was told in the summer movies were screened after dark nearby in the open area. Anyone could come by and watch them.
We saw a gathering of small kids go by with their teachers or mothers. The kids were tied with a string to keep them from straying into the traffic. The scene could have come out of a Disney film.
Later we took the subway to Times Square for the next set of meetings. The subway steps were gritty as was the platform. It was hot and humid inside the stations but the trains were air conditioned. At times the lights would go out in our car. I was told that was a frequent occurrence. I was also told that at times the air conditioning failed. What a contrast from the trains I had taken in Japan and in Malaysia.
The views from the 17th floor of the Times Square building were awesome. From one side, I spotted the Empire State Building. From the other side, I spotted the building from which the ball dropped on New Year’s Eve. Some of the buildings had giant posters of ongoing art shows.
I stepped out to grab lunch.On the street hawkers were selling halal food. It looked awfully tempting but I grabbed a salad from Pret a Manger.
Later, I took the subway to Battery Park. The meeting was on the 35th floor of a building. From the large windows, the Statue of Liberty and the ferries could be spotted, along with the setting sun. The Monetary Authority of Singapore was on the same floor, suitably located in proximity to Wall Street.
For dinner, I walked along the Esplanade to a restaurant about a mile away with a friend who was living in the Tribeca area. The walk had stunning views of the sunset. The restaurant, P. J. Clarke, served great food with a smile and had a wonderful ambiance. It was child friendly. Outside seating was sold out.
I decided to have breakfast the next day at the W hotel. To save time I ordered room service. The tab came to $50 for a fruit salad and toast, another reminder that I was in Manhattan.
Lunch on Thursday was at the Union Square Café. It had begun to rain so we went there on an Uber. The driver turned out to be a young Pakistani who was boldly flying the green-and-whiteflagon his rear view mirror. I talked to him in Urdu, not a very frequent occurrence in the States. He was born and raised in the US but his family was from Sialkot and he was a frequent visitor to Pakistan. I was going to get his opinion of Pakistani politics but we had already arrived at our destination.
Two years ago, the taxi driverwas a Pakistani and we chatted a fair bit about Pakistani politics. Another time, on a two-hour drive from the Dulles International Airport to Baltimore, Maryland, the driver kept lionizing General Raheel Sharif.What was there to do but to listen? Arguing would not get me there any faster.
In between my last set of meetings, I passed by a large conference room in which more than a dozen people were working away on their laptops. Perhaps they were a team of IT professionals from India. They seemed to be talking in Hindi. I was tempted to chat with them about Modi, get their impressions of Imran Khan, and of Pakistan’s recent test victory over Australia in Dubai. But this was not the time or place.
Later, I was off to the airport. The rain was coming down hard and it was easier just to grab a cab. But the 30 minute cab ride turned into a 90 minute ride. I barely made my flight. I should have taken the train. Lesson learned for the next trip.
There was no time on this trip to check out the attractions that make New York a prized destination. Ten years ago my wife and I had checked out an opera, a play, a show, and a museum and feasted on some really great cuisine. A second vacation in New York is long overdue.
Published in Daily Times, October 19th 2018.