Back from the North Pole... NYC

actually, i just got back from Manhattan in NYC. man, such a tiresome trip. i had to fly out last sunday night 1/11 via jetblue from SJC -> NYC. it was a red eye flight from 10:45PM and arriving in JFK airport at 6:30AM. barely had any sleep at all. i had to go to the largest retailer show called "RETAIL BIG SHOW 2009" or aka NRF (national retailer federation). there was over 600+ exhibitors there selling POS (definition: point of sale; not your standard Piece of Shiat) and various other hardware and software solutions. it was pretty cool there, except i felt like a nanny since my VP and one of my coworkers tagged along. it was fine, just felt dragged down if you know what i mean. there was some cool shows at some booth. one of which was the amazing "rubberboy". he was able to bend and twist his body like a rubberband. David, the rubberboy, is a Guinness World Records holder. here is a photo someone took for me of David posing his butt off.. hahaha



you can see a video of David performing below. i know the quality sucks but i should have set the resolution on high on my cell phone.



as you know at the show, there will always be some "interesting" people walking around like an advertisement. so how about this green hair martian with antenna ears?



anyhoo, the show was a long one, from 9AM till 6PM. by 5pm there was happy hour... with free wine and beer to chit-chat and network with ppl with. by night time, we went to a Sichuan Chinese restaurant called Ollies on 45th ave, between 9th & 10th street. what can i say.. that place is the BOMB!!!

they have a dish called "Spicy Grilled Shrimp" and man... that will numb your tongue. the spicy shrimp will BITE YOU BACK!! just look at how much chili red peppers in that dish. my coworker ended up eating 3.5 bowls of rice along with a spicy wet stewed beef.


after that, we walked around towards Time Square took a left somewhere toward their fashion district "It's all about Fashion, Fashion, Fashion..." ok that sounds gay, but if you love watching Project Runway like i do.. then u'll know what i'm talking about.

while walking towards the fashion district, we saw this building called 1411 where apparently that's where they have all the fashion designers work at. what's interesting was that in front of the building there was a piece of art of a giant button with a needle going through it. at first i thought it was a flying saucer, but after my coworker did his tour guide talk, then i knew it was a button with a needle going through it.

that night it was cold, but still ok, it was around 31 degrees so walking around with my long johns underneath my slacks and super thick jacket, it was actually a nice walk at night.

anyway.. i kinda miss NYC.. though I hate the cold there, but it was nice to see the snow.