new york city vs london

in a recent blog entry, willie reflected about how new york city, despite all the energies and vibrance, did not enchant him as much as london did. i thought about my own trips and agreed with his musings. 

my first visit to new york city was in early-2001 if i recall correctly. at that time, i was with sia cargo. but i cannot really count that as a visit cos it was a business trip and other than official meetings, i did not have any time to visit the city. but what the locals (whom i interacted with during my meetings) told me shaped my views about new york city. never go out alone, do not go to dark places, don't even try to visit bronx, be very careful with your personal belonging, and for that matter, your life. these were the advices given to me by almost every person i met. scary i thought. my "real" visits to new york city occurred in 2004. they were borne of necessity cos i had to evacuate myself from tampa city, florida due to hurricanes. it was easy to know new york city. with its grid-like road networks, the initial feeling of lost and disorientation quickly dissipated once i got hold of a map. i spend a whole lot of time soaking in the busy street lights, window-shopping, people-watching, visited the (in)famous east village, checked out the night scenes, the gay bars, the sleazy gay shows, and savoured every possible tourist attractions associated with new york city. and as i was alone during the trips, boredom quickly set in. the desire to visit places disappeared very quickly. there was just so much one can do when alone. and thinking back, the fondest memories of new york city was not the neon lights or the parties, rather, it was the central park and the museums. well, not any museum - it was the metropolitan museum of art. then again, these experiences seemed rather shallow to me now. apart from the lights and the vibrance, i still do not really know what the real new york city is. even the exhibits in the museum were from ancient cities of rome, of old egyptian empires, etc. there was really nothing about new york city. to this day, my perception of new york city continued to be one that is shaped by pop culture and the likes. yes, think king kong, empire state building...

comparatively, i felt very different about london. my first visit there was in 1999. there is really nothing one can complain about london other than the perpetually dark and gloomy skies. then again, it added to the character of the city. i was reminded of eliza doolittle, my fair lady. i imagined how things were like in old london, the old covent garden market, west end, etc. and it was so charming and meaningful to be able to visit buckingham palace, kensington palace, etc etc etc... this, after all, is the land of kings and queens. the history was just so rich. and it gives the city the character and adds to the magic of the place.

if i were to make a comparison in a nutshell, i would describe new york city as a teenager. happening, full of energy, full of vibrance, a city that never sleeps (and when it does, it does so discreetly in a corner). and as for london, she is like a mature person, very charming, full of character, very rooted, yet it has its own unique energies.

:-)

top photo from www.scps.nyu.edu, second photo from thesmokyapple.wordpress.com, third picture from www.thecattylife.com