I woke up at 6:30 am this morning, opened the curtains and looked down from the seventh floor at the busy street, which is part of the Times Square area. There were several shops with lights & signs turned on already. The one in directly in front of me said, on its left front, “pizza gyro falafel.” I looked to the right front and it said “middle Eastern.” I looked to the left again, “pizza gyro falafel.” I looked under that. It said, “Halal.” There are so many Halal restaurants here it is unbelievable. There are even Halal “chhaabri walas” who sell fastfood on their carts. Yesterday we got chicken pizza at a Halal Pizza & Bakery that’s open 24 hours a day.
We took a ferry to the Statue of Liberty this morning. The ferry was shaking so badly, I got motion sickness. I didn’t throw up but I was nauseated. Still am. We went atop the pbservation deck, the highest point that’s open to public. The security was even more strict than at the airport. Not only did we have to take off our belts, we also had to be “air puffed.” That was the most hilarious thing we’ve seen. Apparently it is a scanner by GE that can detect explosives. First, Mo stepped into the scanner. Red lights went on, an automated voice said, “air puffers on, do not leave until the light turns green.” Mo passed. Then Haiqa entered. As the puffers went on, her hair puff went one foot off her head. It was so funny even the security personnel started laughing. I was last. The air puffers went on. Puff puff! Puff puff! It tickled and I had to pull down to keep my shirt from flying up. Nothing was as embarassing as what a man in front of us had to go through. When he went through the metal scanner (not the puffers), the alarm went off. The security first checked his shorts pockers and then asked him to raise his shirt all the way up and made him turn a complete circle.
Imaan se, security koi nahin hai, bus nakhra hi nakhra hai :|
I am still dizzy from the rocking ferry. I shall go to my room now. Soon we will have dinner at a Halal Thai/Indian restaurant.
I totally love gryos/falafel, too bad they aren’t available in Pakistan :(
Can’t wait to visit NYC, dying to try out Max Brenners too