eversince i can remember, i’ve always dreamt of going to new york. i’ve listed it as one of my top five destinations; a place i must go to before i die. i don’t know what it is about this city. maybe it’s because of frank sinatra singing about it, or woody allen repeatedly paying homage to it, reinforced by sex and the city.

when my plane landed in newark, new jersey after six hours of flying, two hours of delay, two planes, and a smelly eastern european beside me during the flight from chicago to jersey, i couldn’t pull my borrowed trolley fast enough to meet my ninang at the arrivals gate.

the first thing that the east coast made me realize was that my denim jacket was insufficient. the uber cold blast of air hit my face as i exited the terminal. in ten seconds, my lips were chapped, my face was dry, and my jaw was shivering. not one that can stand the cold, i nonetheless braved it all. i’m a tunnel away from nyc!

of course you have to go through the usual. take the ferry. post by the french lady. see the skyline (ooohhh, there’s the chrysler building and the empire state!). have the lights of times square beside you. check out the brownstones. but the top three things i really wanted to do were (in this order): (1) walk the streets of new york with john travolta smugness; (2) watch a broadway play; and (3) eat a hotdog in new york.

unfortunately, i did only one in my to-do list. it was raining during my four day stay in the east coast. when we finally got through the manila-esque traffic in lincoln tunnel, it was almost 8PM and we had to hurry to the theater.

i tried to walk the streets, with the bee gees’ music playing in my head. but it was hard to do so under the rain and in brand new high heels. there was no time to grab a hot dog and my ninang didn’t want me to do so for fear of getting food poisoning. so i snuggled into my seat in the theater, consoling myself that, at least, i get to once again cry over christine singing "that’s all i ask of you" to raoul.

i spent a maximum of three hours in new york, two of which cooped up inside the majestic. i was disappointed. i’ve waited for this moment for so long, dreamed of it, and i’m leaving, going back to the other side of the city, longing for more. my dad was telling me, at least i got there. yes, i did get there. and i left it wanting.

so i guess nyc isn’t completely crossed off my list. i want to feel the city, experience it, understand why so many people marvel at it. someday, i’m going to have my hotdog — and eat it too.