Valhalla Island

I’m sitting in the Tom Bradley terminal at LA International. It’s 1:33am local but my body thinks it’s 4:33am. This isn’t my terminal but I can’t check-in until 4am and this terminal is much more comfortable. I feel awake and alert. The flight from NY was empty enough to afford me an entire row to myself. I slept like a baby the whole trip, the first time I’ve slept properly on a plane. So yeah, I’m out of New York.

Maybe it’s all the magazines I’ve been reading, the new music I’ve been listening to, the live improv comedy I’ve been seeing or all the foreign people I’ve been meeting but I’ve never felt so inspired. It’s said that there’s a feeling of anything being possible in New York and that’s the feeling I got.

I love writing but the desire has never been as strong as it was in Manhattan. I could have written friggin’ murder mystery.

During my first stay I ate badly. It was difficult to find something between fast food and a restaurant. I was constantly snacking rather than eating meals and having the volatile health that I have, I got sick. On my second stay the concierge at my hotel suggested a place called Cafe 28, a gourmet deli (on 28th and 5th). What a suggestion it was.

Cafe 28 was the perfect in between. Good, fast food. It sold everything, a huge selection of drinks, some groceries but the best part was a huge buffet of fresh fruit, salads, vegetables, soup, bread, meat and pasta. You fill a container and pay by weight. You could then go upstairs to watch other people choose their food while you ate yours.

Vitamin Water is a great drink. I dig the bottle’s design too. Australia, there’s an import opportunity.

Last Sunday I saw saw a free show at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre called ASSSSCAT 3000. Dave, founder of longtime favourite, Internet Zillionaire, invited me along. It was the first real comedy show I’ve seen and it was absolutely brilliant. My face hurt from laughing so much. I ended up seeing another show on short notice during my second stay. It wasn’t as funny as Sunday night but it was still well worth the $8. If you live in New York, go see ASSSSCAT 3000 at 9.30 tonight.

The Captive Lion is a cool guy. I’ve been offered the appointment of first honorary Australian Internet Zillionaire which I humbly accept. Although I need some kind of lapel pin, sash or uniform so people can recognise me in the distinguished position. If you like pinball (even if you don’t), check out the Lion’s coming-soon Extra Ball pinball blog, it’s sure to be good.

On Friday I hired a bike. By far the best way to get around Manhattan. It allowed me to travel much further than I had before. I made it all the way to the top of Central Park and browsed through the mansions on the upper west side.

My second stay was also my first stay in shared hostel accommodation. The first night I fell asleep before and woke up after I saw anyone else come in. The second night I met an London girl also traveling alone. It made me appreciate traveling alone all the more. She was nice but she was way too clingy.

I was just reminded of a girl I met in DC. She was a New York local. She asked me what I found the most different about the US compared to Australia. I told her the commercialisation, the way I’m constantly being sold things whether physically on the street or just through in your face advertising.

I had told her what I was doing here, seeing some things before studying software in Canada. After telling me she “wants to go to Australia for the animals”, she tried to get me to join her acting school in Manhattan. It took every last strand of self control to stop myself signing up on the spot (sarcasm).

The flight to LA was a QANTAS flight continuing on to Sydney. It was nice to talk to some Australians again.