New York Diary
Posted: June 19, 2007 Filed under: My bandwagon 9 Comments »When in Nepal, I thought every part of America had skyscrapers and urban crowd, but when I came here I found out that it’s just the big cities, rest are small towns and agricultural fields. I always used to envy when my friends abroad said they bought a car, but now I found out that car is a necessity not a luxury, unlike in Nepal Motor Bike are luxury here. Only big cities have good public transport, rest is no where even close to Kathmandu.
It was only when I went to big cities like Chicago and New York I saw the America that I had envisioned before. One time when I was traveling in Greyhound (similar to Sajha Bus in Nepal), I came across an American beggar asking me for money. I was shocked at first but later I realized poverty is everywhere. America is no heaven, it’s more than just Hollywood movie. But the government here has ensured the delivery of basic commodities like water, electricity, roads, education, communication etc. The thing that I was fascinated most was the planned urban development. In Nepal we build house first then get the road, here the roads are built first.
Last weekend I went to New York, third time since I have been here. When riding a subway (train) you will see the true revolution of iPod. Everyone has their ear plugged, and no one seems to care about person sitting next to you. Such is the diversity of New York; you could see people from all color, race, and origin in your subway compartment. Besides fulfillment of my personal business, there wasn’t much to write about my trip. One thing interesting though was the road side vendors. Like in streets of Kathmandu, there were street vendors (फुटपाठे ब्यपारी). Well that isn’t anything new to New York, but what caught my attention was: when I was walking around in Broadway, suddenly it started to rain, and out of nowhere there appeared vendors selling umbrellas, as if they were waiting for it to rain. And as soon as the rain stopped they were gone. I almost bought one, but I decided to take a shade in a Mall instead. Wow, I thought that’s what you call a fast paced city.
However there was one disappointment in my trip, I lost my Oakley sunglasses that I had for past three years 
. Guy’s my birthday is coming up in August, how about someone buy that for me:D.
Hey it’s nice to read your experiences of there to me who is also excited to visit that place. Such types of experiences will be quite helpful as well as interesting to us. So, keep on writing such new and romantic experiences.
Lha Oakley harayo?? By the way Prajwol, I lost my “other” sunglass – the one we ordered online and I have been looking for it for the last couple of months.
Prajwol,
Please watch Sicko by Michael Moore. It tears your heart.
I will definitely watch Sicko, thanks for the suggestion Nepali Akash.
I have been fan of Michael Moore after watching “Bowling for Columbine” and “Fahrenheit 9/11″. I am also looking forward to seeing Paradise Lost II.
Hi Anonymous,
I can’t even remember when I lost those sunglasses that we ordered online. It’s alright, this time I’ll go for metal frame Oakleys. You want to upgrade your’s too?
Utshab,
Thanks for dropping by. People tend to learn more when travelling, I wish my work schedule and finance would allow me to do it more often.
metal frame Oakley!? upgrade? lets do it, do we need to send back the old ones? i’ve already lost it….what about 15 bucks…once again!!!
I was in Chicago for five months recently. I barely tool notice of things you did.
Probably because it was my second trip. I came there for work and left.
Thx,
Ken
Prajwol,
Its true that People have a feeling taht US is a deam land where all is good. no poverty- all rich and happy.
but ur post put some insight into the real country. but comaparitively US is in a better position economically than India. and we cant say.. INDIA might come up betetr than US with so many right youngsters.. (forget the brain drain)..
lets wait n see.
good post..
share more of such experiances, prajol
bs
the problemo with US is that it doesn’t have a history… and Shiny skyscrapers are only superfically interesting for a while.. that is unless you own the building or you belong to the oBin Laden organisation!!
I was talking to my bro yesterday, and my suggestiong was : if a new Statue of Liberty as big as the original was erected underwater beside the one that is there .. I think it will really pull in the crowds.. ships/boats with big underwater windows for viewing can be used for tourists..
just a suggestion.. similarily a Kathmandu sign should be erected in Nepal as in Hollywood so at least it will add value to the barren hills surrounding ktm…
You know I felt exactly the same. I was really surprised seeing so much unused lands the very first day I landed here. Seems like I havent seen the US that I had expected before