First Trip Abroad After Three Years of Pandemic - New York and Washington D.C.
It feels like a lifetime has passed since the COVID-19 pandemic swept the globe for over three years. Countries imposed strict entry quarantines and controls, international flights were almost entirely grounded, and checking health codes and nucleic acid test results became a daily routine. At one point, we couldn't even freely leave our residential compounds, let alone dream of pursuing poetry and远方. The world and our lives have undergone profound changes, but everything dissipated with the WHO's announcement in early 2022 that COVID-19 no longer constituted a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, and the relaxation of national prevention and control policies. The world reconnected, and the life we once knew gradually returned. The scenery remained familiar, what we missed was still missed, what we yearned for was still yearned for, and the bustling places各自繁华...
I returned from a business trip to France in March 2019, and in November of the same year, I traveled to Taiwan with my family. Since then, I haven't left the country. This year, after spending the Chinese New Year with my parents in my hometown, I specially went to the community to get my fourth COVID-19 vaccine (CanSino inhaled) and then returned to Shanghai full of energy to dive into the new year's work. At the end of February, I learned that the company's headquarters leadership intended to invite global teams to visit the US headquarters for a meeting in April. After all, many colleagues had worked remotely together for a long time over the past few years without ever meeting in person. Our domestic colleagues began preparing to apply for US visas, but unexpectedly, this year the visa demand for popular European and American countries was extremely high. Interview appointments at embassies and consulates were as scarce as gold. Fortunately, I had obtained a ten-year US visa back in 2015, which came in handy this time. I only needed to update my information in the eVUS system, and it was done.
In early April, international flights were far from fully restored, and ticket prices were high. Flights between China and the US were especially scarce, with almost no direct flights available. On April 6th, I flew Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong, taking an A350-900 from Hong Kong to New York. The flight lasted over 16 hours, once the longest direct route in the world. Cathay Pacific's A350 is newer and has a shorter service life compared to the B777, making the ride more comfortable and the in-flight entertainment system better. Also, I have to mention that the airplane meals were excellent, with Häagen-Dazs ice cream served with each meal. There's a 12-hour time difference between Shanghai and New York. I arrived safely at John F. Kennedy International Airport around 8 p.m. that evening. Only a few immigration windows were open, so there was a long line. My nephew, who is studying in New York, was already waiting outside. After about an hour of waiting, I cleared customs smoothly, reminding me of the famous movie "The Terminal"... My nephew ordered a ride-hailing car to take us back to the rented apartment. Along the expressway, neon lights flickered, and in the distance, the glittering lights of Manhattan were faintly visible. My first impression of New York: developed, old, and bustling...
It was late at night when we returned to the apartment. I didn't deliberately try to beat jet lag; I just took a shower and went to sleep. Sure enough, I woke up very early the next day. My nephew took me on the subway to Manhattan for brunch. It was fruit salad, bread, cereal, and the like. The price was steep; the bill came to $62, including an 18% service charge (tip). Walking along the world-famous Fifth Avenue, we passed Trump Tower, St. Patrick's Cathedral, Rockefeller Center, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Times Square, and Madison Square Garden. In MoMA, I saw Monet's "Water Lilies" and Van Gogh's "The Starry Night." The paintings were surrounded by a crowd taking photos, reminding me of the same scene in 2019 when I visited the Louvre in Paris to see Da Vinci's "Mona Lisa"... Standing in Times Square, the Crossroads of the World, I suddenly felt that my ideals had become reality. Since childhood, I knew New York was prosperous, and I knew many influential Chinese entrepreneurs went public in the US and rang the bell at Times Square, haha. After taking photos at Times Square, we took the subway to Wall Street. Walking to the end of Wall Street and crossing the street, we reached the Hudson River. My nephew and I sat on a bench by the river to rest. Not far away was the famous Brooklyn Bridge, connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn. We found the famous Charging Bull. I wanted to touch it for good luck, but the line was too long, so I settled for a distant selfie. By the time we moved to the New York Stock Exchange, it had already closed. This is the barometer of the world's stock markets, influencing global economic trends. In the evening, my nephew ordered an Uber to take me and his roommate to Flushing Chinatown. I treated them to Chinese hot pot at the Dolar Shop; the three of us spent a total of $252. I should also mention the New York subway. It is one of the oldest subway systems in the world, with a history of over a hundred years. The facilities, including the trains, are quite old, and the tracks are not protected by barriers, making it easy to fall in if there's a crowd or a fight. The biggest feature of the New York subway is that it operates 24/7, which also reflects that New York is a city that never sleeps—the more night, the more beautiful...
My nephew's rented apartment
MADISON SQUARE GARDEN - NBA Team NEW YORK KNICKS HOME COURT
TIMES SQUARE
FLUSHING HOT POT
On the third day, I got up early, had breakfast at the apartment, and took a walk alone to the Hudson River. Oh my god, what a surprise! After about a 20-minute walk, I saw the United Nations Headquarters building, which often appears in the news broadcast "Xinwen Lianbo." Wow. Early morning in New York, there were few pedestrians on the streets, only some joggers. I remember that day was sunny with a brilliant blue sky. Sitting on a bench by the river, watching the quietly flowing Hudson River and the Manhattan skyline across the water, it was incredibly beautiful. I wished time could slow down at that wonderful moment... At noon, I returned to the apartment, said goodbye to my nephew, and took the subway and JFK Train to JFK Airport to meet five colleagues from Singapore. After working together remotely for over three years, we finally met in person. Happy, haha. After completing the car rental formalities, we started our road trip. That afternoon, we drove from New York to White Marsh and checked into the Hilton Garden hotel. The drive took about two hours.
HUDERSON RIVER & UN BUILDING
On the fourth day, after breakfast, the six of us drove two SUVs, filled up the gas, and set off for Washington D.C. After about an hour's drive, we arrived at the parking lot of Union Station in D.C. We walked through the train station, and as we stepped out of the station hall, I was surprised to see the U.S. Capitol building, which I had often seen on TV, right in front of me! Haha! The day was still sunny. With few people in the morning, it was very pleasant to walk through the National Mall. Along the way, we occasionally saw little squirrels playing on the grass or in the trees. Our tour route was roughly: Capitol Hill (the Capitol building) → Washington Monument → White House → Korean War Veterans Memorial and Vietnam Veterans Memorial → Lincoln Memorial → Cherry Blossom Garden. Except for the White House, which was heavily guarded and inaccessible, we could freely visit the other sites. The White House was much lower than I imagined, with many people taking photos at the front gate. At noon, we had lunch in the commercial area near the Washington College of Law. Ee How specially bought me a SAPPORO (Japanese craft beer) as a treat. We raised our glasses for the first time to toast Sino-Singapore friendship! Along the way, we also passed the IMF building (International Monetary Fund). The D.C. National Mall is huge; it took us about six hours to walk the entire area. That day, my WeChat step count was over 21,000 steps, ranking first. Haha!
CAPITAL HILL
On the day before returning to China, I drove from Baltimore back to New York with the Singaporean colleagues and an Indian colleague. Along the way, we made a special trip to the Philadelphia Premium Outlets. After browsing, they were actually similar to those in Shanghai, and the prices weren't particularly cheap. Before returning to the hotel, we visited Liberty State Park to see the Statue of Liberty. Overlooking New York Bay, the view was wide and open. The bustling Manhattan CBD stood across the water. You have to admit, this is the world's top superpower—the United States of America! There is no feast that doesn't end. We said our goodbyes and agreed to meet somewhere next time!
PHILADELPHIA OUTLET
LIBERTY STATUES PARK
NEW WORLD TRADE CENTER
For the return flight, I took Emirates via Dubai. It was my first time flying on the world's largest plane, the Airbus A380. Sure enough, it was a luxury airline; they handed out gifts upon boarding. Meals were served according to local time, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner, more than enough. Even though I was sitting in economy class on the lower deck, the ride was very comfortable, bringing a perfect end to this trip. A fun and fulfilling life is half about daily necessities and half about mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas; half about the hustle and bustle of the world and half about poetry and the beyond. The world is so big. Let's set off again in the post-pandemic era!
EMIRATE FLIGHT AIRBUS A380
