Hello, gorgeous!

© Joselito Briones

I woke up late today. I decided I'll take it easy and not try to do a lot of things today. Raided Eric's fridge for some breakfast. Checked email. Walked to Rene's, a Filipino restaurant, for lunch. I had rice porridge with chicken and fried tofu side.

I thought it only natural that I should visit Times Square first, so I did. I took the 7 train and got off at Bryant park (pictured, above), where I often had my lunch when I worked nearby. Walked around there a bit. Gap still selling white shirts and blue jeans. Went to Duane Reade in Broadway to get toiletries that I didn't bring with me. I also went to Virgin Megastore. Right at the entrance, they were selling the very same t-shirts that I found at Liberty's of London for £40 and I bought from Barney's last year for $25 a pop - they're on sale for $11!!! I bought a few.

Later on Eric joined me in Virgin's. As I've bought everything I wanted to buy there, we decided to walk around. First stop was Sak's. There were a couple of jackets from D&G which were really really good. They're new items tho, so, full retail price. Big no-no. After scanning all the new arrivals at Sak's and checking if they have a sale on Incotex pants (they didn't), we went to Barney's. The only thing that appeared to me as a must-have was a white silk embroidered scarf by Dries Van Noten. Gorgeous.


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I'm back!!!

© Joselito Briones

Plane landed at 4pm in JFK. Other than minor turbulances and the shocked reaction from the girl sitted beside me when she saw me put my vanilla ice cream dessert in my coffee, the flight was pretty much uneventful. I even snuck in a few much-needed naps. Are you happy to see me?

The ever reliable Jane picked me up from the airport. In the car, she updated me on what she's been up to. She's really strong. She had more a resigned exasperation than anger or mad confusion, which is how what she's been through lately would've affected me. Or maybe she's just relieved that everything is over.

On the way to Jane's, we went to a Thai restaurant that she suggested. I guess she's now converted by deep-fried soft-shell crabs which before today she'd never touch no matter how much I tell her that they're yummy. And now that's the first thing she suggested we order. Either she really likes it now or she just likes this restaurant because of the good looking staff.

There was a moment in the restaurant when I was a bit disoriented as to where I was. Was I in Manila? the clothes of the people, and the people themselves, don't seem to fit in. Was I in New York? I looked outside and it didn't help much. Of course I was in Queens. Where else could I be. Maybe for a just a moment, when in my mind "I was home" because that's why I was flying today, that I was either expecting my neighborhood in Hell's Kitchen, or any of the places I know in the Philippines. And pretty soon I'll have a new home. New confusion.

Eric joined us in the restaurant. I'm extremely fortunate to have such good friends as Eric and Jane. We decided we were gonna watch Oscar's at Jane after dinner, then to Eric's, where I'll be staying.

I hope the weather lets up. I don't want my most recent experiences of New York to be cold and gloomy.


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Chocolate soup, anyone?

© Joselito Briones

This signage just struck me as most indulgent when I saw it last night that I had to return this morning. And indulgent it was. Rich and heavy hot chocolate drink topped with chocolate scrapings, in a soup bowl, and banana muffins with creamy caramel smeared all over. If that wasn't a perfect breakfast, I don't know what is.


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