We did venture through Manhattan, and I asked where we were… naturally his answer… Manhattan. Hmpf! Well I could see that. The skyline passing behind me was amazing, and the only time in the entire journey Mumbai zoomed was when we were leaving the tunnel so photo ended up being a big blur.
My new home is the Westminster Hotel www.westminsterhotel.net in the suburb of Livingston New Jersey. It’s about 21 miles from Manhattan and about 40 minutes away via bus/train… Thanks to a friend of mine the Westminster came good with an excellent rate that worked out much much cheaper than Manhattan/Chelsea/Brooklyn Heights etc for the two months, and I’ve got a few perks too. Brekky Inc Mon-Fri which is pretty good! It also includes free Wi-Fi, daily housekeeping, and use of pool, gym and shuttle bus within 5 mile radius! Having a quick look online at the bus and subway, seems like a lot to outlay for the month, but it works out to be about $9 a day which on top of the rate still comes in pretty darn cheap! Will just have to suss it out a few times to get a routine. The shuttle can pick me up and drop me off to the bus station from early until 11pm so will just have to get the timings right and then make sure I am back.
For the first time in a VERY long time I have suffered quite intense jet lag. Call it what you will but this trip took a fair bit out of me. Nerves, still fighting the bug I had in the last two weeks from work, over tired (leading up to the trip wasn’t in bed before 2am!) needless to say after checking in at 2am I picked my bed (yes I had two choices) and crashed. I set my alarm for 10am to try and go for a walk and clear my head and flight but kept snoozing and snoozing. Woke up Sunday morning still in a bit of a daze but managed to get out to the local mall. Livingston Mall.
On the scale of mall’s it was probably the size of an Arndale and has a Macy’s, Barnes & Noble, Macy's and Sears. It has a variety of specialty stores like American Eagle Outfitters, Gap, Old Navy, Victoria's Secret, and some other local type stores. Was nice to get out and just people watch.
I picked up my US sim Card from a little Kiosk and was pleasantly surprised with the fee. $50 start up fee, and $29.99 (plus taxes etc so $40.93) per month which gives me 500 minutes and on weekends and night time free minutes. I don’t have to renew the contract, just stop paying and will be disconnected. The bonus is that I can then use this to call a calling card at night for free. I was going to do pre-paid but too many obligations! Is it that easy at home? Didn’t think so??
I had my first lot of junk food (Subway…potentially not junk food but I had to get a meatball!! Lol) and I was surprised how on par things are cost wise. Just over $8 for a foot long and drink (which was a bucket even though it was regular) and cookie. The cookie neatly tucked in my bag to have with a cup of tea later that night!!
Some young teens were on stage doing what I think some would call singing….bellowing was how I looked at it….Lady Gaga covers at a shrill not great for jet lag…. But having said that it was nice just to watch the world go buy for a few hours, despite still feeling so tired!
Fortunately the hotel offers that shuttle for 5 miles, so I was all ready to make my first call on my ‘Cell’ (why can’t American’s call it a mobile…Cell sounds like an apparatus poking out my side!) and there rolls the bus anyway. Some other members of the hotel were shopping at the same time. 3 guys from Japan who had just arrived and staying in Jersey on business for three days. I asked what business and then ‘Samurai Sam’ in the background jibbers in Japanese and ‘Sideburned Steve’ in the front say's politely, “Ah you know, just international business. What are you here for” on the tip of my tongue is a smart a$$ comment but instead I politely tell him holiday and job venture.
After a few minutes Sideburned Steve asks if I mind if we go to a supermarket on the way for 10 minutes? Excellent idea I say and so begins what feels like a race on Supermarket Sweep. Boy could these men shop fast!! (I was looking for Burgo to pop around the corner and say I was out!!) Got my essentials -Yay they had Earl Grey!! and still Samurai Sam, Sideburned Steve, and ‘Manga Mike’ (looked like he should have been on a Cartoon) are racing me down the aisles! I didn’t even get an opportunity to indulge in a bit of American Grocery Shopping culture… although what a buzz. A 6 pack of 500ml Diet Coke bottles was only $3.99 and a 6 pack of A&W Root Beer cans $2.99. No wonder the culture of soft drinks are so strong. Would have been interested to compare to bottled water!!
I get excited when I get into the bus to see I am first (not that I was reeeally racing (",) and then they are loitering in the liquor store! I didn’t even see that there! Will have a looksee next visit!
Yesterday was the first day of feeling like I had a slightly better sleep, although not normally a light sleeper, it appears the louder you slam your doors in this hotel the better the feeling. Sorry Room 208 on the second floor…. You got beaten by 113 on the first floor! I’m sure in a week or two things will feel normal.
The free Brekky is really quite good value. Continental with two hot selections. Yesterdays were eggs and wedges with a great mix of muffins, cereal, fruit, coffee, tea and juice. Even better made by the fact that it is FREE! Still not game to ask what the yoghurt looking thing is. It tastes like yoghurt mixed with butter/sugar (Sime, Kirstie, Richie and Andrew…almost like that yellow thing we had at Singapore Budget Terminal on the Rye!!) and although I normally love my yoghurt and corn flakes this is like eating sugar! Oh well….
After Brekky I had the delightful pleasure of waiting for my tradesmen to come and have a look at my TV. The long and short of it was 4hrs later, my non US engineering department fixed it and all sorted! At least it felt like being at home waiting for tradesmen to get a second and third opinion and then come back!
Having spent the day in doors, another outside adventure was needed. Sadly nothing is within walking distance but a short shuttle ride (15mins away) to Short Hills was the Mall of Short Hills. Now this was like an elaborate Burnside crossed with say glitzy malls in Sydney/Melbourne and had all the big's, Jimmy Choo, Bvlgari, (tried on a gazillion things and then said thanks and walked out...although the woman encouraged my behavior...but did ask me to come back soon!!!) Chanel, Coach, Louis Vuitton, Saks, Macy, Abercrombie & Fitch and lots more!
Had a big chuckle when walking into Abercrombie & Fitch as blonde haired ‘Bambi’ or ‘Candi’ in her teeny tiny shorts says, ‘Hey, What’s going on? How are you? Welcome to Abercrombie & Fitch, Sing out if I can help’ without even taking a breath! And people thought I talked fast. Which did she want me to answer first? Naturally when I say another A&F store upstairs, I couldn’t help but walk in and see what greeting I got… Yup you guessed it ‘Britney’ ‘Tiffney’ says, “Hey, What’s going on? Welcome to Abercrombie & Fitch, Sing out if I can help’ but omits the how are you…clearly Britney / Tiffany in her teeny tiny dress is too busy folding the teeny tiny shorts to ask how I am!!
Short Hills mall was uber chic and uber expensive! I bought my first Starbucks Coffee and people watched for a while which was nice! Even saw my first Posh Spice heels… a gargantuan woman I think…ordering Coffee….! Welcome to the States!!
Next update will be after I have taken my first commute to Manhattan!
Lots of Love Bee
xx
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