90 more minutes for the fabled show to start. My watch told me so. Standing outside the Grand Central on the East 42nd Street I looked at the Pershing Square Plaza. A group of people had gathered there. A young man from the group told me that they were shooting a scene for a Hollywood movie.
It was a beautiful sunny day. People were out on the streets. New York City was in weekend mood. A printout of the map of Manhattan was rolled in my hand. When I saw that map I discovered a famous landmark nearby - the United Nations headquarters. Without a second thought I followed the direction. I had printed it along with the online ticket for the show.
A nearby traffic board on the pavement caught my attention.
It was a beautiful sunny day. People were out on the streets. New York City was in weekend mood. A printout of the map of Manhattan was rolled in my hand. When I saw that map I discovered a famous landmark nearby - the United Nations headquarters. Without a second thought I followed the direction. I had printed it along with the online ticket for the show.
A nearby traffic board on the pavement caught my attention.
The board said, "No standing. Except vehicles with Consul - C, Diplomat A & D license plates."
Oh, yes! I'm in the vicinity of an important location in the world - the U.N. headquarters. I've read about this building in my text books, I've seen it so many times on the TV channels and now I'm going to see it in person.
A lady told, "United Nations building is round this corner". I saw her few blocks before and had asked her the way to the U.N. office. We talked as we walked together.
"I'm going to see a Broadway musical today", I told.
"Oh, it must be quite expensive. Once upon a time I was watching those plays. Now most of the regular audience have stopped going there. The price of the ticket is increased a lot." She paused for a while as if she went back to those gone days and then asked, "Which one are you going to see?"
"Oh, it must be quite expensive. Once upon a time I was watching those plays. Now most of the regular audience have stopped going there. The price of the ticket is increased a lot." She paused for a while as if she went back to those gone days and then asked, "Which one are you going to see?"
"Wicked. My colleague suggested me."
"How will you go to the theater from the U.N. building?"
"I'll take a taxi."
"Where are you from?"
"I'm from India and I stay in Stamford."
"Oh, you stay far away in California?"
"No... no. Not Stanford. It's Stamford in Connecticut." I have had to clarify this to many people since I relocated to this small city. I had repeated a similar explanation when I was in Chennai. People were mistaking my hometown Sambalpur for the infamous Chambal valley!
We reached at this traffic board. She took the nearby steps, but not before wishing me a good day. I thanked her, took this photo and turned at the next left. After walking for some meters I saw the back side of the U.N. headquarters. The building was being renovated. Few steps further I found the visitors' entrance. A security guard told me the visitor's pass must be purchased to see the front.
The long queue for the pass disappointed me. I turned back to go out and find a taxi. Why the queue is always long when we have less time! I walked few feet and stopped suddenly. There... in front of me was this very strange thing.
Quite unique and intriguing! It holds the whole history of human civilization in its twist. Violence has no role in the scheme of a new world order.
A gift from the Luxembourg government has got its well-deserved place. Artist Carl Fredrick Reuterswärd was very upset when he knew that his friend John Lennon was shot and killed. An artist expresses his emotions through his creations. To condemn this violence he started his 'Non-Violence Project'. And this thought-provoking 'Knotted Gun' was born. Its message is so profound that it has inspired my first blog post.
This gun immortalizes the artist whose name is etched on its pedestal. The name is visible in this second photo.
My watch reminded me that I had to go to the Gershwin theatre. I took a taxi. After half an hour the 'play-full' evening unfolded the world of imagination on the stage!
"I'll take a taxi."
"Where are you from?"
"I'm from India and I stay in Stamford."
"Oh, you stay far away in California?"
"No... no. Not Stanford. It's Stamford in Connecticut." I have had to clarify this to many people since I relocated to this small city. I had repeated a similar explanation when I was in Chennai. People were mistaking my hometown Sambalpur for the infamous Chambal valley!
We reached at this traffic board. She took the nearby steps, but not before wishing me a good day. I thanked her, took this photo and turned at the next left. After walking for some meters I saw the back side of the U.N. headquarters. The building was being renovated. Few steps further I found the visitors' entrance. A security guard told me the visitor's pass must be purchased to see the front.
The long queue for the pass disappointed me. I turned back to go out and find a taxi. Why the queue is always long when we have less time! I walked few feet and stopped suddenly. There... in front of me was this very strange thing.
 |
| Non-Violence a.k.a. Knotted Gun |
A gift from the Luxembourg government has got its well-deserved place. Artist Carl Fredrick Reuterswärd was very upset when he knew that his friend John Lennon was shot and killed. An artist expresses his emotions through his creations. To condemn this violence he started his 'Non-Violence Project'. And this thought-provoking 'Knotted Gun' was born. Its message is so profound that it has inspired my first blog post.
 |
| Non-Violence a.k.a. Knotted Gun |
My watch reminded me that I had to go to the Gershwin theatre. I took a taxi. After half an hour the 'play-full' evening unfolded the world of imagination on the stage!
