Central Park

Central Park, the mecca of NY Bollywood, the home away from home of the Karan Johar gang :) These were my thoughts on the crisp breezy morning in November 2009 when I first stepped into the place the old timers' call New York's own backyard. I had a couple of who were excited and all the more prepared to zig zag across the different paths that lead to the hot spots in the park aka television filmed areas.

First was the visit to the Bethesda Fountain which has a rising statue of an Angel, that had become famous (at least to us Hindi movie gawkers) through the title song of Kal Ho Na Ho. Next we had a stop at the Cherry Hill Fountain that had been replicated in the introductory scene of the 90's hit comedy series, Friends.

To all those who would have loved the New York white Xmas scenes in Home Alone Part II will remember The Pond at which the cutsie Culkin boy had been scared away by the pigeon lady. It is a place where you can feel a sense of solitude. The wintry day had given away to the darkness that gave an even more stunning effect to the skaters in the Wollman Rink.

The visit was part of my first visit to the New York City, a place that still gives me a feeling of joy by simply being a part of it.

The next time I visited the Central Park was the summer of 2010 to do what every tourist tries to do here - biking. I cannot say that this is the best way to enjoy the park but it is a different experience. You tend to notice the different lanes as you lose your way and the different vantage points in the park as you try to manage covering the entire space on a bike with a camera hanging over your neck. During this visit, we managed to reach Jackie Onassis Reservoir which had a beautiful backdrop of the high rises that surrounds this park. It was also mentioned on a writing that this reservoir used to be the back up water supply of the entire city in the 1860's for two weeks a year. We can just speculate how meticulous things were then.

On the way, we stopped at the carousel and I eagerly got two passes for Rishabh and I to get on two of the 57 horses rounding the platform. I must admit is was as much fun as getting on the swings and slides (mind you - without a huge audience). I do have the few snaps taken then which I am sure to cherish for time to come.

Since it was a sunny day, we found loads of people in the Sheep's meadow enjoying time to themselves - playing Frisbee, catch, picnicking, flying kites and believe it or not sunbathing in a park too. I think after two winters in this part of US, I am able to appreciate the fact why North easterners rush to the outdoors when the temperature peaks anything beyond 75 degree.

Biking is a whole lot tiring than I first imagined. Which is why I had to zoom past the Strawberry Fields, not stopping to see the Garden of Peace symbolizing John Lennon's music.

As soon as we reached the entrance near the Columbus Circle, I bid a farewell but only after taking a few snaps at the Maine monument. There is always a next time and since it is getting to be a good weather now, in the coming weekends I need to dig up a me time and head down to the Wonder of New York.