So.. How was New York City?

This was one of those trips that was never planned originally. I had gone to New york to visit my girlfriend who has been working there for a few months now. I was there for eight days and when I got back, there was one question that I faced inevitably from everyone. How was NYC?

Brooklyn Bridge

At the outset, New York did not surprise me. It was as they had showed in various movies like Little Manhattan and soaps like Friends, HIMYM. Central park was beautiful , Times Square was colorful, financial district was bustling and Manhattan skyline was as glorious as I had imagined it all. The streets, the avenues, the color coded metro rail system, the 5 boroughs, the orderly traffic were fairly easy even for a first timer to understand and work with.

But it did amaze me. I have always considered India to be the epitome of cultural diversity with 28 states, 7 UTs, 18 official languages many more art forms. New york, like most big cities, was a microcosm of the world. It was a melange of people from countries across the world, an eclectic medley of cultures. It was very well represented by all the popular immigrant nations of the world. Each had established their dominion. The Chinese had China town in South Manhattan, Italians ruled Little Italy just above the Chinese, Koreans took over the Koreatown in the 33rd street while the Brazilians loved their Little Brazil street on the 46th street. Indians on the other hand have spread their DNA all across New Jersey and particularly in Journal square. You will see the Asians selling Doner kebaps and pita-gyros, the Middle-eastern, Lebanese and Moroccans selling icecreams, the latinos selling NYC paintings and the Chinese selling everything else. Even to the above mentioned folks.

Cenral Park

New York City was a war scene every hour of the day and each day of the week. The water ways, the bus system, the metros and even the pedestrians moved with a synchronized perfection as directed an army general called Time. Time is their guiding force and their nemesis as well. People ran to save time, to fight time. Two minutes lost in catching the next metro was disappointing. Despite all this, the average New yorker spent atleast 15 minutes each day waiting for his turn to sip on the regular double shot expresso at one Starbucks or the other. Their life cannot start without one.

Manhattan skyline

Given the fast paced lifestyle, there is a galore of options available when it comes to food. I tried everything from the all-American burgers and fries to Mexican enchilladas and ribs to Italian pizzas to Chinese *&%^% (Can never remember those damn names).

NYC is beautiful, scandalous, ever growing, confusing and yet charming. Its a city that sets you free, hardens you and consumes you, before you know it. And this, is an Indian's take on the biggest city of the world.