Om Shanti America...

I am back to the shore and all looks good for the flight out of here. There are a few tasks I want to complete before I leave at 2030: eat (chopsticks are right beside me ;), charge up mac and droid, blog (sigh), watch the clip from Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom scene about the plane going down in the Himalayas so I am better prepared for the ejection with the life raft : / and wikipedia the Yak.

Manhattan was special. I am such a fan of pushing yourself to the limit when it comes to experiencing everything in life, definitely the areas that are uncomfortable for you. This is what I just did to myself today. I am the kind of person who can easily adapt to any aspect (:/) of life. I did adapt today, constantly moving, ducking, dodging-side story: Cab 1 Trevor 0 Alright well it did not hit me, but it won. However thanks to my years of wrestling, the increased sense of awareness due to the loss of other senses, and ass kicking firefighter training, I have ninja cat-like reflexes, but I do think I lose this one because I was the stereotypical tourist who almost ate Manhattan asphalt because of a taxi : /....where was I, Oh, and keeping up with the billion people allowed me to move with society.  Let's see other accomplishments...I saw Chinese writing on a sign on a side street, stopped by, used chopsticks ;) and had a cool lunch (prawns rice and vegetables ? ), saw the Empire State Building, Time Square (Pure Insanity), rode the subway, saw a firehouse, and took some pictures. So all in all, it was a good day to waste some time. It was another eye opening experience for me and am pretty sure I will not come back without a sidekick ;) that would be super fun.

But let me be honest. I am going to say Manhattan 1 Trevor 0.

I could fit in to NYC life if I had to, but I really don't think it is me. It was nothing but confusion. It seemed like everyone was blinded by the "material world" around them. I suck at this, I'm more inclined to look past the materials and materialistic feelings and seek what is real, what is in the brain. I like some peace and quite! Not possible in Manhattan, it must be a law that you honk your horn ( I mean come on, the honking of the horn does not make traffic move-call mythbusters...and I mean taxi that almost got me didn't even honk, what the f!) So in all this mess my brain was taking in a lot of new things, new ideas, new memories and at the same time being thankful for the things in my life that are more for how my life is where I am at this point in time. I respectfully concede the victory to NYC for one reason...

In all the confusion, in all the delusion, the rushing, the thoughts of how pretty you looked, how much money you had, the fastest way to get to the next bright light I saw a man.  He was standing in a busy area (some park with a bunch of vendors and shops and stuff) ringing a bell. It is the time of the year where we all see this. The red bucket and the salvation army. Sure, throw in a few pennies, nobody likes pennies. This guy was the happiest man I saw in Manhattan. Sure other people looked happy, but the material word isn't true happiness. This guy was singing his 40 something year old black heart out. Christmas songs with a little urban vibe and dancing politely around the red bucket, smiling all along. These are real things in life. This guy was pursuing something he cared about. That is life! Find what you love, what you care about, what you believe in, what is important-zaminamina waka waka (come do it!) Sitting around watching TV constantly and staying blinded by the material world causes you to really miss out in life. This guy is winning! So that was the happy moment in a stressful environment and a message that I wish more people could comprehend. But I find joy because of this guy in the defeat by NYC today.

Well, I am off to get stuff done and packed up for the flight. Hopefully you hear from me tomorrow. Maybe some pictures will show up. Good night creepers!