The Worlwide Church of Cupertino, a.k.a the flagship Apple store, is on the corner of 5th ave and the Upper East Side, so, I went to church first to give my thanks, then went for a sunny walk through one chunk of Central Park. Hard to imagine the apartments over looking the park go for the 10s of millions. I guess for a short time you can get the same view for free.
What a beautiful temple!
After that it was a stroll through the Museum of Modern Art, they have some of my favourite classical works there. And that was it for day 3. Just after 4pm I was supposed to catch my ride to the airport - however, I put it back for an hour gambling with the rush hour traffic awaiting a UPS parcel which never arrived. Well it finally did, when I was waiting for boarding the plane to Frankfurt... I guess it will eventually go back to its origin for a refund. Damn UPS - if the interest of American efficiency they work delivering until 9pm, when the rest of us are all home and done the dishes from supper... Oh well. It was booked for delivery on the Friday... I guess some stuff is bound to happen, but now I have no backpack...Ii dont know what to do...
This is me before I put my face on for the day.
This painting is called 'The Persistance of Time' I have friend who herself named it 'Floppy Clocks' and if say that a few times it sounds like something else entirely. Or, is that the mastery of the artist at work? The gallery is full of 'experts' putting their spin on sexual ambiguity or revulsion at war when staring at black and white pictures of old ladies in America's Golden Age. Personally I think you can assume just about anything into these.
The Van Gough Museum in Amsterdam does not have this lovely picture. It looks as good as the day I ran it off on my new bubble jet printer.
The last few days has been slightly surreal, the scene from the movie "7 Monkeys" runs through my head a bit, as I spread that cold virus from airport to airport and now millions will feel limbless all over the world.... Here at JFK the control tower has multi colour changing LED lights brightly twinkling... Just like Times Square. There's an awful lot of people waiting to board this aircraft, and the windows are so dirty there are no good photos, at check in they told me it was no where near full. How many more with all their bags can get on this horseless buggy?
I wish I could get better pics of the Chrysler building, the Empire State is very bland in comparison. It captures that age of America quite well.
Toys R Us is where the UPS store is. I guess the ride is for when your package doesnt show...
Oh well, overnight flight to Frankfurt. See you all later... Sleepy time.
At Frankfurt we had to park on the runway and come down stairs, they are reworking the airport and there were no spare gates - and apparently a flood of flights out of Egypt as a 'emergency'. Don't they know it's me in here?This was going to add a delay, the one thing I cannot risk on this leg. I had avoided a big snow dump in New York on Tuesday, but the bussing and stair disembark seems crazy for an airport like Frankfurt. We walked all across the airport to another security gate, went through baggage searches then got back on buses to take us back to the plane. We are about 22 mins late taking off, so I dont know how much of that can be gained en route to Changi. I did have them flag my bag on check in as being a business class unload, they are supposed to come up first, the crew on this plane have said they will notify ground crew to help speed me along. I have to go through customs and immigration at this next stop, even though I am flying out straight away. There is no further transit through allowed since I already chose one in Frankfurt. A mess!
The bus around Frankfurt dodges aircraft...some get a little close...would be good to stand outside taking pictures though... I am shocked they didn't stop me.
Now we are 3 hours from Singapore, this flight, without stop time is 20 hours, so a long haul. I get to stop in Phuket for the next three nights, assuming I catch my flight in time, so lots of room to stretch some legs. I've had 2 Singapore Slings and I feel quite merry...
I have also decided to ditch the diving in the Similans, I did not have long for it anyway, but with this cold and the congestion I have already. Popped both ear drums blowing my nose. I think to squeeze a dive in now would be foolish, I will have to do the Similans next year.
Mana called, my friend who is a driver guide in Thailand. He wants to call me at the hotel. Be nice to hear from him.
OK, more sleep needed, still a while before coming back down to Earth, gawd why bother? With tranqs and alcoholic fruity drinks I think we should bring back tht old airline ad "Come FLY with Me."
Being tiddly and in a melty pill filled world, I see no reason for anything to change!
- BlogPressed from my iPad. Click on picture for larger image and gallery.
