Cont..NJ/NY Rants

Ah...the luxuries of life! So far both Holiday Inn Hotels I checked into have free unlimited internet access! And the speed is quite decent too! "Not glacier molasses-speed dial up" as described on the room key card. At least something to keep me occupied while I spend half a day holed up in this hotel in Clinton NJ as it's damn remote from anywhere! Not the best way to spend the day before my training starts tomorrow for the next 3 days. Esp not when the director and co from Japan is also here in US!

Well there is quite a big wal-mart 15-20 mins walk from here which I visited earlier today. Finally saw the new generation of Maglites with the 3 watt LEDs. Was tempted to buy some really good quality trekking boots that was going for really dirt cheap prices but what the heck, dun feel like hauling them back to Singapore. They were well made but the weight is the tradeoff. Also tempted by the Kershaw knives and some archery equipment( hand guard, carbon arrows..) for my brother but since I believe he already got all the equipment he wanted. (esp when I already overspent by a hundred dollars in NY yesterday!). Ended up only purchase Kill Bill vol 1 DVD. Considered to be among the top ten of my list of most entertaining shows but too bad, it's banned in Singapore. Dunno why vol 2, which is just as violent, is not. Hopefully it's not confiscated. Owning Vol 2 without 1 just seem so incomplete!

Also notice no one in this entire area walks! There's practically no pavement. Everyone drives! All the drivers must have thought I was some illegal as I walked to and fro the supermarket. Must admit that I was damn lucky that the weather was VERY good for the past 2 days that I was here. Even the company rep that was sent to pick me up today said that they dun get such weather in August. Thank you whoever is upstairs then. I got enuf on my mind already, all this really helps to facilitate my first visit to US.

Visited like practically the entire lower half of Manhattan yesterday. On foot! Walked my b*lls off! Dun wanna spend too much on transport and wanted to see more anyway. Finally got to see all the famous buildings that I read so much about in Primary sch when I was collecting Spiderman comics. Tried not to spend too much but the shopoholic in me just went loose! But it's all worth it except maybe the Empire State Building. Felt too expensive just to get a view. Can't believe I actually paid more to go up to the higher level, just like Tokyo Towers last yr. The hassle of waiting/queuing was not really worth it too. Did not make it in time for the ferry to Statue of Liberty but it's ok, been to plenty others. Let's just hope I still can remember the details when I finally post the pics. Almost used all the capacity in the 128mb XD card borrowed from Cat. Thanks! NY is one hell of a tourist driven state on the weekends with gift shops at every corner and not to mention the makeshift ones along the streets. Bought a few things here and there but the major purchase comes from a certain shop just as I was about to return to my hotel for the evening. Ashamed to say, it's yet another Surefire flashlight! Heh...more on that later...