Broadway

We got hold of 2 Broadway tickets for Alladin after standing nearly 3 hours in line, getting 'harassed' by Jesus freaks and their take on the bible. A lot was happening in Times Square, and standing in line was a perfect excuse to people-watch and soak in the New York vibes. Once we finally got our tickets, we almost got scammed by 2 people dressed up as Mario and Luigi, Kiki foolishly stopped to talk - how yellow of her! I had to pull her away before they would ask for money.

Kiki needed a pumpkin-spiced latte after all the Times Square extravaganza to recharge, and I wanted to know what the hype was about. I also tried one and soon realized the enormity of my mistake! My body couldn't process all those spices. I had to run to the toilet the second the drink touched my lips. I wasn't even thinking about finding a clean one in the heart of NYC!

After the pumpkin-spiced late debacle, we found a restaurant and ate pizza with beer before queuing for the Broadway show.

We had front-seat tickets and a good view of the orchestra below the stage and the theatre. The show was magical—there is no other way to describe it. The music, the singing, the dancing, the actors—it was all amazing and magical. It was a great introduction to Broadway. From that moment on, we decided to squeeze in a Broadway show every time we'd visit NYC. On our walk back to the apartment on the Upper East Side, we discussed and relived the show.

Dalton

The following day, we had the amazing opportunity to visit the Dalton School, one of the highest-ranked, competitive NYC private high schools. We connected with the husband of the school director who visited our school in Cambodia.

We were greeted by a director, who gave us a small tour and background information on arrival. A student picked us up and showed us around. We were baffled! The students have many options to pursue that are in line with the Dalton plan. The school even had a theatre room that looked a lot like the one we visited yesterday night on Broadway. We got a lot of ideas from visiting the school; the 'House' aspect is especially very interesting. These things and ideas that - in hindsight - we are using today as well in our educational institution, Kulen Outreach in Cambodia.

After our visit, we needed a moment to come to our senses. It is a different world from the one we live in, Cambodia! The differences between one of the wealthiest places on earth and one of the poorest places are baffling. Kiki and I were brainstorming and fantasizing about how to bring those worlds together, laying the base for our own Kulen Outreach 'House' program.

Skyscrapers

With the whole afternoon still ahead, we visited the Chrysler Building, Grant Central, and the Empire State Building—each more impressive than the other. My favorite is the Empire State, an iconic building with an immense history.

At first, we couldn't even find the entrance to the Empire State Building. We walked in circles until someone helped us and pointed us in the right direction. We took the elevator to the observation deck on the 86th floor and a flight of stairs to the other deck on the 102nd floor. A funny thing is that there is a video presentation about the building's history.

The Empire State Building, or the "Eighth Wonder of the World," was constructed during the Great Depression and was completed in 410 days. Opening its doors on May 1, 1931, it claimed the title of the world’s tallest building at the time, standing 381 meters to the roof and reaching 443 meters with its iconic spire. It held this title for nearly four decades. Its spire was initially intended as a ring mast for airships.

This blend of history and modernity made the Empire State Building one of my favorite landmarks in NYC. Thanks to movies and pop culture, the tower feels somewhat familiar.

Some notable movies where the tower plays a key role are:

1. King Kong
   King Kong is perhaps the most famous film featuring the Empire State Building. The climactic scene of the giant ape climbing the skyscraper with planes circling remains a cinematic legend.
2. Independence Day (1996)
   The tower becomes a key target during the alien invasion, with its destruction becoming one of the film's most memorable scenes.
3. Elf (2003)
   In this Christmas cult favorite, Buddy the Elf’s father works in an office inside the Empire State Building, making it a recurring setting throughout the movie.
4. Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief (2010)
   The Empire State Building is the gateway to Olympus, reimagined as perched above.
5. The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
   The building appears in numerous scenes, highlighting the devastating effects of a global climate catastrophe on New York City.
6. The Amazing Spider-Man (2012)
   The tower is part of the dramatic New York skyline as Spider-Man swings through the city in this superhero reboot.

On the lower deck stood a statue of a pumpkin-spiced late. Obviously, we had to take a lot of pictures with it! To this day - I still have PTSD.