NYE: NYC

The once in a lifetime opportunity to spend New Years Eve in Times Square, New York is one that you simply cannot say no to. Adrian and I were both rostered the same work trip together to New York, leaving Dubai at 08:30am on 31DEC, arriving into JFK that same afternoon. Despite having bid for a London flight together for NYE, to be both scheduled the same trip to Manhattan was a dream come true.


We hadn't worked together in nearly two years, and it was an absolute delight be off on this adventure to one of our favourite cities on the planet, however funnily, we had never been there at the same time.


With a tribe of 30 crew, a good percentage of them were also our close friends, we set off on the 13hr25m flight in a fit of laughter. Until we landed and were snap-frozen, like a hoki-fillet would be prior to being made into a Filet-o-Fish at McDonalds. -7deg Celsius, with snow flurries, and a windchill that would have made even the frostiest ice-queen cold. But it was New York. It was New Years Eve. And we wanted to party!


Central Manhattan has a lock-down at 5pm on NYE, meaning no cars can get through, and only pedestrians staying at hotels within the Times Square region can be on the streets. Thankfully our bus arrived at the crew hotel about 4:55pm, and so we werent forced to walk, in full uniform to the warm comforts of the hotel lobby!


Because it was going to be absolutely impossible to get anywhere remotely close to the Time Ball dropping in Times Sqaure, Adrian had managed to get a restaurant booking for this amazing little Mexican place called Arriba Arriba on 9th and 51st. They very graciously hosted our loud table of rabbling crew for a night which will take a long long time to forget. Nearly half of the crew came out, the others either had family in NY to see, or were simply too dead after the flight to see in the New Year, and opted for bed instead. However, Burrito's, Nachos, Guacamole and Margharita's were an amazing way to welcome in the year ahead. Fingers crossed though, that the year won't be spent hugging the toilet and feeling downright miserable, as unfortunately my First of January was spent.

May I wish you a wonderful 2009. Thank you for your support of The Flying Kiwi over 2008, and long may you receive everything you deserve in 2009 and beyond.