It has been months since I have penned down something. I shall start my new year with my solo spiritual adventure in New York. I should say this first solo trip of mine is eventful. With my poor health, I suffered from the extreme winter in New York. As the air was really dry there, I had problems sleeping at night and my nose bled at certain point. Rashes developed on my hands and legs which I am still recovering from it. My hands seemed to be burning and raw with pain from the harsh weather. Almost had asthma attack while waiting for New Year Countdown on New Year eve. After waiting pros and cons, I gave up waiting for the countdown at Time Square under such extreme winter. It was -2 degree Celsius with strong wind beating us harshly. On top of that, I suffered from side effect of the long haul and uneventful flight. The size of my legs would be double after each long haul flight and they would subside only after a day.
If you ask me if all this trip is worthwhile, I can give you a definite 'Yes!' Through all these events, God shows me His unfailing protection and love. I would suggest everyone to travel solo at least once in your lifetime. I discover myself alot through this solo trip. It was very fruitful and enriching.
During the flight from Singapore to Colombo to Dubai, I met this handsome, young man who sat beside me. It was damn embarrassing. I did not know how to open the table for my meals and he helped me. I think he might be thinking that I have never traveled in my life, like a frog in the well. When he realized that I needed help, he would quietly helped me. He was my first angel whom God has sent to help me. Did I get acquainted with him and get his number? The answer is 'No!' I wasn't interested. I was too tired as it was a night flight and excited for my trip. Coincidentally, when we took another plane from Colombo to Dubai, he sat right in front of me. It was interesting that when we were in Colombo airport where I was stranded for hours, we did look at each other while queuing and he did come near me while queuing for our boarding passes for the next available flight. But, we did not talk. I did appreciate his presence.
On my way to New York, my plane stopped at Colombo Airport at around 1am on 23 December 2013 before Dubai Airport which I wasn't even aware of at first. Only passengers heading to Sri Lanka would need to disembark. The rest of us transiting at Dubai Airport would stay put in the plane while the staff did the necessary cleaning and refilling of items. After an hour, we were all asked to disembark. They claimed that a dead bird was found in one of the engines of the plane.Why did that stupid bird choose to die in my plane at such wee hour? This stupid bird made me an angry bird!! As it was only around 2am by then, nobody from Emirates worked and all of us were lost. How did I feel? Lost. But, instead of getting scared, I decided to look for someone to journey with me. I saw a girl who looked Singaporean and started talking to her. Like me, it was her first time travelling alone and started with a country which was half a world away from our home. We became friends. I see her as the second angel God has sent to me. We decided to travel together. After a few hours, we managed to settle down in the canteen in Colombo Airport for some food. She is a pleasant girl. As my ankle has not recovered from my sprain, she queued up for boarding passes for me at 8plus in the morning. It tok us more than an hour to settle our next available flight to Dubai.
We reached Dubai at around 3plus in the afternoon and had missed our connecting flight. I was right in the front of the queue. I asked her to join me to get our boarding passes to New York. Then, we were given rooms at Dubai where the both of us decided to go for a two hour bus tour around Dubai taking pictures as our next available flight was at 2.25am the next morning. Then, headed back to hotel for rest. That poor girl was too tired and did not wake up when it was almost time for us to check out. I requested the hotel receptionist to give her a call. She immediately woke up and caught the bus with me. We boarded the plane and waited for each other at The New York airport. I told her to get NY Airporter ticket for her to get to the hotel which was much cheaper and safer. As I did not have small notes to tip the driver, she lent me some US dollars. We parted at the Grand Central Terminal.
I was very blessed to meet her and the man. Though stranded in a developing country with backward technology and short of manpower in the airport for hours, I was not scared. I learn that no man is an island. Anyone is capable of helping others. It's a matter of whether you are willing or not. A simple thing like queuing up for things was challenging due to my ankle injury and yet such simple small gesture of queuing up for me was extremely useful. If not, I could not have got my boarding passes and might have hurt my ankle badly due to prolonged standing. Never ever belittle any forms of help that I may render. It may seem insignificant and yet to the recipients, it may mean alot. I thank God for these two people.
I was staying in one of the locals' apartment. God has blessed me with such a cheap and safe stay with easy accessibility to many places. The host is an old lady. She is a quiet and nice person. She blessed me with a cup of coffee every morning. She was the third angel I met. She advised me how to get around in New York and when to go where. I have certain level of compassion towards her as all her family members have passed on. At her age, she is still slogging for a living. I did my best to keep really quiet after 7pm daily as she would be dead tired from her work. I stayed in my room most of the time. I obeyed the house rules. During my checkout, I cleared the room so that she did not have to clear any mess after me. She is a Christian. As she was encountering some problems at work, I decided to give her a small guardian angel with a box written some words about 'I am saying a prayer for you'. I wanted her to know that prayers work and she is never alone. There will always be at least one guardian angel with her daily. I was very grateful when she allowed me to stay in her house beyond the check out time as it was snowing heavily outside on the day I was leaving. It was -10 degree Celsius.
US is really a shopping paradise during Christmas season. I managed to buy things for my friends, loved ones and myself at much cheaper rate. Branded stuffs at 60% off.!! But, had to be mindful of my luggage weight and whether I could drag the luggage through the snow. My problems were I kept getting lost around my area and my injured ankle gave me a lot of pain and difficulty in walking much. One thing in New York is it is difficult to move around with injured legs. I had to walk a lot of stairs in most subway stations. It was really beautiful when it snowed in New York. But, the prices were slippery ground and enduring cold temperature. Dragging luggage through the snow could be very challenging. During winter, the sky was completely dark by 5pm. The streets could be really quiet. Certain streets must be avoided. I did bump into weird people. There was one man who sat beside me and asked me if I could support his singing career while I was having my dinner. I ignored him completely. Another woman dressed like a nun tried to pushed some amulets to me which I refused to take and walked off. My antennae is totally up whenever I am overseas. Never ever presume anything in foreign countries.
Museums and Central Park were beautiful. I went to Empire State and watched the panoramic view of Manhattan from 86th Level. It was awesome. It felt like the whole world was under my feet like an emperor. Whahahahaha!!! However, it took me at least two hours for security clearance to get into the museums and Empire State. For countdown at Time Square, if you want to sit near the ball and stage, please don't bring any bags. If not, like me, you would be asked to go to the back. Once you were allowed to go in, no getting out at all!! Not even toilet break! How did people settle their bowel issue? Diapers lo...For me, I would not want to go to such extreme. God really looks into my heart, He knew that I wanted a white Christmas. At Time Square during New Year Eve, I experienced snow for the first time in my life!! I was so elated and everyone around me was laughing at my excitement. God had fulfilled my lifelong wish of experiencing a white Christmas!! A lot of nice food there. I tried Japanese, American, Korean, Chinese food. The portion was generally big. The food was nice except for the Chinese food when I had a bowl of beef brisket noodle. I also went for two plays; 'Wicked' and 'The Nutcracker'. They were really superb beyond words could describe.
My favorite place was St Patrick's Cathedral. The church building is currently under renovation. My plan was to visit Museum of Modern Art. Somehow, I ended up at St Patrick's Cathedral. God really knows my desire. Before that, I was searching for a Catholic church in New York online. I saw St Patrick's Cathedral and fell in love with it but I had no idea how to get there. I believe God had used my search for Museum of Modern Art to bring me to St Patrick's Cathedral. I really felt at home. There is nowhere in the world which I feel more at home than in a church. I am not sure about you. That is how I feel. There, I felt serenity which I could not have felt anywhere. I sat there with peace in me to spend some time with Jesus as it was during Christmas season. I believe that was God's calling for me to spend some quiet time with Him. I felt very loved that He brought me there. No matter how far I may have drifted away from time to time, He will never fail to bring me back to His arms. His love is unfailing.
Through this New York trip, I discover more about myself. That was really my much needed me time. I was clearer in my thoughts. No influence from anyone. No suppression. I value my autonomy alot. I felt free like a horse roaming around (by the way, I was born in the year of Horse.). I have never felt so free in my life before. Whether dead or alive, I was in total charge of myself. I had nothing or any loved ones and friends to depend on but my faith during this trip. If I encounter problems, I tried to look for solutions instead of complaining and lamenting and I enjoyed the problem solving process. I loved to be thrust into the unknown. The planes I was in went through a lot of turbulence. There was one point my plane dropped and everyone screamed. I kept silent. I was thinking there was no point screaming as I was already in the plane and there was no escape if the plane were to fall through the sky. All I did was to pray before every flight and lifted it all up to God. I enjoyed meeting people from all walks of life and getting to know them. I have talked to many people during this trip alone. Some even offered me pizza during my wait for countdown!!I love such freedom.
The world is big. I have not explored a lot of places. I will travel again despite my health condition and side effects from long haul flight and cold weather. I love travelling. It will be better with a travelling companion. If not, I will continue to travel solo. This applies to my life journey. I know without marriage, I may be lonely. But, I can always make friends wherever I go. This trip is truly a refreshing and adventurous one. How about time for an adventure for you? Happy New Year to all. May you enjoy your life adventure ahead!!
With Love,
Elena
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