I am a New Yorker... 1 year in NYC!!

I have spent ONE YEAR in NYC. Big Deal? I guess. It was exactly an year ago when I came here to live. When I came here first time more than 4 yrs ago, I used to say I have a love & hate relationship with NYC. Now I have to say that I have a love-hate-love relationship with NYC. More like a real New Yorker, huh? I don't know. I did get cheated a while ago, that's not a good sign. But isn't that part of experiencing real NYC? (Probably more of getting fooled & not being a smart New Yorker). It's been quite a journey, living in THE CITY, in REAL CITY i.e. Manhattan. 3 blocks from Times Square. 15-20 mins walk from Central Park. 10 mins walk from Bryant Park. (these are all walking times of New Yorker, not regular walk. New Yorker walk, a lot), Next to Western Piers. Working at WALL STREET. Dream life, huh? Dunno... It did used to feel special walking through Times Sq to get home everyday. Now it feels maddening. FUNKING TOURISTS!! I do say that. It could take half hour to just cross Times Sq. They walk so slow, i.e. not walk. Take pictures, ask you to take pictures, expect you to not come in there pictures... GRRRRRRR (like I never did that myself). And I still walk from there everyday, sometimes still feel cool, special. I never thought this will happen. Not while growing up all over in India - Gujarat/Bengal/Delhi and playing around never worrying what to become, what to do in future. USA was not in the dreams, surely not NYC. And now here I am, 1 year in NYC. I tell people: If you can survive in NYC for an year & still like it, you are a New Yorker. Immigrants who moved here in recent future agree & like it. People who grew up here, H(ate) it. But yeah... I am a NEW YORKER!!

That's New York I guess...

It's been a week (actually more) in New York now, except I was HOME/DC/VA for the weekend. Been okay I guess, or I dunno... Going back again tomorrow for the weekend. Still been looking for a place. I saw this place near Times Square & loved it. I told the owner that I'll take it but now... I have been calling, texting & emailing but no response. Atleast should say no... but NO, nothing!! That's New York I guess....There was this very old lady using a walker & trying to get down the stairs. I passed her while going out of building but went back to ask her if she needed help. She saw me & startled, "What are you doing?????". I asked her if I can help her and she was like, "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO". That's New York I guess... A bottomless (yeah, no pants) guy lying passed out in subway & no one cares. That's New York I guess...... But still chosing to be here, live here & be EXCITED.... That's New York I guess!!

Back from Home to New York!!

Hello World!!! Hello from the new New Yorker... Because "This is how we ROLL!!", LOL!!! I came back yesterday from DC. Is it home? Well, I have a place here which I still own (rented place), and my car is there, and part of my heart is here too. DC does feels like home, I mean Virginia. It feels nice, good!! New York is exciting but stressful. Anyways, I took the early morning bus (at 5.15 am, don't remember when was last time I woke up so early!!) and got to New York. Still looking at places here, need to look more, look harder. Looking for places is depressing. I found one place just 2 blocks away from Times Square, in Midtown West, let's see how it turns out. There are so many towns in New York, its confusing. Downtown, Midtown, Uptown, East & West... Whoa!! It's confusing, but I'll get it. I'll figure it out. Till then... Good Bye & Good Luck, Keep Rocking & Rolling!!!!!!

Going back to Virginia/DC (HOME??)

3 days in New York, I don't know how they passed. I was living in Long Island City (its not in Long Island, but it's in Queens. Industrial kinda area but decent!!) @ Quality Inn. It's an okay hotel have to say and okay area. But I got an awesome hair cut here for $10, very coool (cheaper than Virginia!!). Working at Wall Street is good, its okay atleast. At 6:00 pm I was usually the last person to leave (in Virginia) and here at 7:00, half of the office is still at work... that's how NY rolls!!! I went to Times Square yesterday night (at midnight) busy as usual & awesome. Tons of people & tons of Lights & tons of " ". It's nice... I like Times Square & Central Park... my two favorite places in NY!!! New York... its weird though. Metro.. sorry Subway is nice but no AC in stations. AC is a luxury at houses here too (in those small rooms & clingy places in Manhattan, shocking surprise!!!) .... Anyways, going back home tonight (now Virginia/DC seems like home) on Megabus.... Untill then.... Take Care & Good Bye!!!

Welcome, New York... I am HERE!!!

I landed in New York City today... not practically landed.. I mean not by flight, so don't know if I can call it landing. I took a bus (megabus, its really nice) from Washington DC to New York and landed on my feet when I got off the bus. I have to say it's a different feeling. I have been in New York many times, spent nights & days here. Actually my first night in New York, I spent in Central Park sleeping on a wooden bench (that's another story, to be shared another time). But yeah, I have been here many times, but stepping foot as a resident is different. I felt a heavyness in my heart, I really did. Why?? Hmmm.. I still need to figure it out. I guess that's New York. Begining of a new Journey, a new stage, a new life!!!

I am starting work at Wall Street with most reputed Financial Firm. Can't reveal more than that.... Need to find a place to live here... Need to LIVE here!!! Excitement? Stress? Joy? Tension? Happy? We'll see.... But yeah.... New York City, I am here... WELCOME (ME!!)!!!!!

New York... & India's got Talent

Just to be clear, what I am talking about is not the city New York but the 2009 Indian Movie 'New York' released this week. I watched it today at Satyam Cineplex in Janakpuri (can you believe that the AC was not working through out the movie in a Housefull show of Rs 160 each, just terrible. I thought people used to go in AC theatres to even sleep in this damn heat of Delhi). After a long time I saw long queues for a movie ticket, I had to wait 45 mins in queue to get the ticket for 1.40 pm show. I couldn't watch the planned 12.30 pm show as I got on the ticket counter at 12.45, so no point missing the first 15 mins of movie (I had this friend in college who used to say that he can't watch a movie if he missed the numbering/credits). The movie was nice, I would give 3 out of 5. It's a story of 3 people of Indian descent in New York city whose lives change after the 9/11 attacks. Many Asian people were badly impacted all over the western world after those attacks, they were being eyed as villains all the time. Many innocent people were arrested by security agencies & harassed/tortured considering them as terrorist suspects. So this movie is a story of such people who turned into a terrorist or FBI agent & what happened to them after that. The first half of movie is fast paced & interesting compared to second part where the climax is not as striking as could have been considering the subject of the movie. The fun element of the college time or an Indian in US for 1st time could have been lil more but maybe the director wanted to stick to the topic. Good performances by Katrina (she has actually acted for the 1st time and spoke Hindi with accent which is not acting but her real style I guess), John (I have always liked him as an actor of caliber, but its lil funny when he says in a pure Indian accent that "I am an American") & Irrfan too. Neil (the guy hardly looks Inidan though) is really good, he has great range of facial expressions and has given a nice performance. Overall a nice Movie which shows how the events which are news for many can change life of teh people who are part of it, enjoy!! (FYI... I also need to watch X-Men 4, Terminator 4 & Transformer 2 sonn)

This weekend also marked the start of India's Got Talent (IGT) on Colors. It's Indian version of Got Talent Series like many other Indian version of American/European shows on Indian Television. Seems we can't come with our own original ideas & just love copying there shows like American Idol=Indian Idol; Dancing with Stars=Jhalak Dikhla Jaa; 30 Seconds to Fame=Entertainment Ke Liye Kuch Bhi Karega; Iss Jungle Se Mujhe Bachao=I'm a Celebrity…Get Me out of Here! and many others. But I like watching Talent & Reality Shows comapred to any saas-bahu drama or other stupid stuff. Even news channels have become drama with all of them accepting & promoting the INDIA TV format. IGT has Shekhar Kapur (he's an international celebrity so I like him but quite an emotional/dynamic guy. starts laughing or crying or acting hysterically at any moment), Sonali Bendre (you get old & useless then you become judge I guess. she definitely was very pretty but still... aren't you suppsoed to shine ur own career before jumping on others) & Kirron Kher (she's nice & Also Anupam Kher's wife) as judges and the 1st week was not bad. Hopefully the show will bring out some good talent of India.

So what do you think about the movie & these TV sh0ws, any comments/questions?? Till then... keep reading, commenting & enjoying. This is RAHUL saying Good Bye & Good Luck... JAI HO!!!!!

I am ON... Oye, it's Friday!!!

It was Friday & was a nice day today (the days when u really dont wanna go to work/college/school but still end up going, urghh!!), I mean the weather was just so great in the morning & evening (i was in office whole day so don't know about the day). I was wearing my cool black T-shirt in which I really look awesome, the effect of gyming is showing well in this summer now (it has already started getting hot in Delhi) with cool clothes (FYI... I went to office in morning & was standing outside the lift waiting for it to come. As the door opened there were 2 nice girls already in the lift and they literally gasped when they saw me & looked into each others eyes. I literally kinda blushed too, I know I was looking great in this T-shirt & my nice body/personality & smart me & all that, but didn't expect this like this. WOW, enough about me I guess!!!). This week was very tiring with continuous full day TRM-sessions going on where I was learning a lot in my so sleepy state (falling off my seat & reading about 'how to keep awake'; my easy way is to keep asking questions, but be smart like me & know what u r talking about). I really wanted to go out and have some fun, but seems everyone else is busy except me. This week has been nice though... however my shoulder is still in lot of pain since Holi, it sucks!!

'Oye its Friday' ended today with Shilpa Shetty (I don't like her much except Phir Milenge, there should have been a better guest for Finale... like ME!!) as the last guest in final episode. They might come up with more seasons in future but this season was pretty good too. Farhan Akhtar is a funny guy and his show has been nice too, he makes lots of PJs but they do sound funny on him. He's got a weird sense of humor but that has kept his show different from other chat shows by making his guest chit-chat comfortably on the show & show a different side too. With all the performances & gags there, it does reminds me of 'Saturday Night Live' or 'Mad TV' too. So with the show over, Friday might get more boring... or they might turn interesting too, who knows!!! BTW, I went to PVR Priya (it's one of my favorite movie-theatre in Delhi & very few of the single screens left now) to see 13B last Friday but it was not there, still wanna see it. Also waiting for Aa Dekhen Zara & New York. Alright boys n girls and dear friends, that's it for now. Please keep blogging & keep reading my blogs (& COMMENT to let me know of your views).RAHUL saying, Good Bye & Good Luck... This is JAI HO!!!!!