NYC 6

and more

things on the wall

NYC 5

There were parks everywhere. Children playing. People relaxing. And loads of teeny weeny things to eat and drink and oogle.

Here are a few shots taken at Central and Prospect Parks

And … Ohh, NYC, I love you for your food and drink. Went into tons of restaurants. There's a good one every few steps in NYC. From Chinese dumplings, to Japanese sushi, to Vietnamese dinner. It's the best Eastern food you can get out of the East. Slurrrrrp.

Fell in love with the Financier Pastry Shop (Ufff … the Chocolate Eclair!!!) … So went back to it on many days. Imagine: Sabeen, Ragni, and I — eating out on Wall Street! Haahaa!

There was so much amazing food and drink  - most of it impossible to mention here - that I really enjoyed. A fabulous vacation … food, drinks, daughter. If there was any time we couldn't or didn't go out, I was fed with colossal things  at home. Crumpets, too!

There were good trips to a Sushi joint near Ragni's home and lovely food from our trips to the delightful Pillow and Outboard cafés.

I enjoyed these three the most

Sabeen took me to the Chelsea Market area. A whole afternoon needs to be spent there, looking and eating at bakeries, rolls, cookies, Ginger ice cream, seafoooooooood, and tons of little wizardy things.

Some Chelsea Market Shots

Had to rush home from there for Ragni, because her back was in great pain. Took 3 days to get well. I was glad I was there with her. I think she slept rather badly and strained it. But it did mean that we managed to stay together at home and went out for a walk.

Of course, we had a last minute taxi ride to and back from Bun Soho to say goodbye to Sabeen (and eat Vietnamese food).

Out in New York

And, finally, Ben & Jerry's, my favouritest ice cream. It's added more to its charms and increased its great flavors …

... but it has given up its REAL anti-establishment leaflets and containers. Pity. Walls say kyaa kahayñ?

NYC 4 (Picasso - The Bull)

Museum of Modern Art - Exhibition - 2010

NYC 3

Bought an amazing book for myself - a really great graphic book (or is that two graphic books in one volume?) by Joe Sacco. Brilliant. If you've never read any graphic novel, this is where you can start. And do get his Palestine, too.

Couldn't resist getting a tray for the house, with Lichtenstein's comic work on it. Looking at his work in its full size shakes your pants off! Wow!!!

And, finally, a really lovely single-rose vase for  for Nuzhat (It's her birthday — pity we missed being together, but she was with her brother in Islamabad, so it must have gone well). It looks amazing - and was bought at MoMA! (Yes, yes. I promise. Museum pix coming soon!)

Üff. I wish we could have stuff like this in Karachi. Sometimes. But ... damn! The good old days of Jazz, musical celebrities, the USIS and the Brit Council, movie award winners, exhibitions and plays are over now.

NYC 2

Got to see Juán in the evening when we went out for dinner with Ragni, Julián, Sabeen. NYC seems to have so much going for it. Yet, it's so different from London, my favourite city (still …)!

The term - Metropolitan - takes on an entirely different meaning in NYC. The tubes, the buses, the walks, they are all so full of people of so many different shades and colours and religions. (Ohh, The iPhone and iPads abound!!!)

Saw NYC all over again. Took trips to museums, shops (window-shoppping, only, though), parks — and loads and loads to eat and drink. Museum post photographs will follow, soon. 

Pity that Julián was off to Europe shortly … but it was great seeing him while he was around. Ragni's looking so happy (and a bit distressed, too) at her work. Will be on some leave during my stay so we can have loads of nutty things to do. Met many of Ragni's wonderful friends. Ben was there, often. It was wonderful to meet Hira & Yasmin again. Saw Seth after 7 years of hearing Ragni talk of him. Kate was great fun and I've just gotta start buying some of her stuff (more on that later).

The Personal Gallery

NYC 1

June 29th — A trip to NYC to see Ragni Marea

It's been a long time. Have to spend a lot of time with her. And there are so many of her friends that I've heard of that I want to meet. Ohhh, yes: tons of food and loads of (hmmm!) ice-cream, too. Ben & Jerry's. Yayyy!

Sabeen's there already for 5 days, too. Will try and extend her stay after she's gone to Aassiya (and, I hope, comes back with some good news).

Should be fun and give me some time to get my act back. Life after the attack hasn't been too good. Seem tired and bored of everything. But the trip should change all that.