The American Dream in Times Square

The moment Liza Minnelli’s sequin dress sprinkled lights onto the stage, spotlight plopped, her voice shone,  “Start spreadin’ the news, I’m leaving today“.

Her pixie cut charmed. Her high cheekbones flared, “If I can make it there, I can make it anywhere.”

Then, silent broke. And she breathed, “Come on, come through…“

“New York, New Yorrrrrrrrrrrk!”  The sound of piano soared and the last syllabus of New York whirled across the hall.

Right through the very heart of all, New York! New York!

Standing in the middle of Times Square, one would quickly understand why this place is one of the world’s most visited tourist attractions, seeing around 39.2 million visitors a year according to the Business Insider. It is “The Great White Way”, the “Centre of the Universe”, the “Crossroads of the World”, very uproarious and mobbed.

Unless you mean bagging a souvenir T-shirt at Hard Rock, shopping is naturally not recommended in Times Square.  It is a very concentrated theatre district, so you can see a rock show at the Roseland Ballroom, go to a Broadway theatre, watch a comedy, admire the wax works in Madame Tussauds or be amazed in Ripley’s Believe It or Not. Better, treat yourself to the world’s largest chocolate bar at Hershey’s World, conveniently situated opposite the M&M chocolate haven.

While it was exasperatedly difficult to navigate the shaking earth on our feet, Quentin and I couldn’t help but feeling ceaselessly distracted by everything that was happening around us. There were tourists from everywhere, languages commingled with unending sounds of camera shutter, flashing neon lights,  spectacular billboard displays and people clad in costumes looking for a tip from us trippers.

It is a place where boundaries are stretched and people are more inclined to accept rather than reject.There was a guy holding up a cardboard saying “Yes I need money for weed” and a few nude models in body paint.

I honestly do not think you can get anything close to this at Kuala Lumpur’s Berjaya Times Square.

Truly the land of the free and home of the brave.

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In this month, there will be a series of posts about America. Coming up next are New York City Under the Sun and of course, the mandatory Eat, NYC! before moving onto the True American Hospitality in the Midwest.

Before signing off, did I mention that I was in New York City on the 4th of July?

Oh yes, saw the Independence Day firework, cheered and clapped as the multicoloured plumes  rocketed from the Brooklyn Bridge to the Star-Spangled sky!

An experience of a life time.

With love x