Wicked on Broadway

in the world of musical theater, i have one that has been at the top of my list since it started in 1989 - Miss Saigon. to me, that is the epitome of a good musical : beautiful songs coupled with amazing actors/singers and a storyline that captures the hearts of the audience long after they have left the theaters. Miss Saigon had it. 

and then came Wicked which had everything Miss Saigon had and more.

i know it isn't fair to compare these two as they are as vastly different as day is to night but i can't NOT compare as i love both. Miss Saigon was romantic and sad and tragic while Wicked is light and comedic with a dash of seriousness here and there.  a difference, which i think gave Wicked a slight advantage  is the entertainment value and how each individual line was written with humor and wit. even when Glinda and Elphaba were saying goodbye for the last time, they still managed to inject a little bit of humor in the end. 

that moment when you see or hear something and then your goosebumps suddenly get out of control? i had that in Defying Gravity. literally. i had to physically shush my goossies to go away coz they just won't! 

Wicked is current and relatable. the audience left the theaters not in tears nor with heavy hearts but with smiles on their faces happily humming "Defying Gravity" and being sentimental over "For Good" and "I'm not that Girl" or trying to recall Ginda's one liners. i know i was! i remember eric and i doing Glinda's toss toss as we left the Gershwin Theater. 

it was that good. it's been days and i still can't get over it. i've seen some videos on Youtube with the original cast and all i can say is the cast last saturday was as just as talented and maybe a bit funnier?  it's like watching Glinda on crack! really hilarious! and Miss Elphaba gave me the awww moment of the night.

best musical ever. sorry Lea. Miss Saigon will always have a soft spot in my heart but for now, it's Elphaba and Glinda's turn. 

waiting for the show to start...yes, my eyes were twinkling in anticipation!

cocktails served in cool Wicked tumbler/sippy cup souvenirs is an ingenious marketing strategy! i had the glozmopolitan (cranberry vodka) and eric had the ozmopolitan (apple vodka)

thanks Eric for another Wickedly fun night

quite simply, it's the best money i've spent EVER and i wouldn't mind watching it again. 

time to meet the witches of OZ

this saturday,
at the Gerswhin Theater in New York

something will change within me

i will finally get to watch Wicked

here's to hoping i don't pee in my pants. seriously.

crossing the brooklyn bridge

two things i said i wanted to do in new york : watch Wicked and cross the Brooklyn Bridge. 

Brooklyn Bridge

last saturday, i met up with Eric and Shai, both friends from manila who now live in Brooklyn and they gave me the brooklyn bridge experience (we first took the subway going to Brooklyn and then crossed the bridge on foot going back to Manhattan.)

and what heck of an experience it was! the Brooklyn Bridge has the best view of Manhattan on one side and of Brooklyn on the other; love locks lined the walls and railings and hinges of the bridge, left there by lovers/couples to express a promise love and loyalty; artists with their sketch pads lay on the path as they drew/sketched;  locals and tourists, camera on hand take pictures as they thread the walkway along with a number of cyclists (be careful as they might run you over if you're on their side of the walkway.)

 

                            love locks                                           more love locks

                            my designated tour guides :)                halfway thru the bridge

   

crossed the bridge on foot...all 1.8miles in 38degree weather. 

others may call it it crazy. i call it badass!!

every inch of the bridge is picture worthy with an awesome backdrop on all sides - Brooklyn, Manhattan skyline, Manhattan Bridge and a very small view of the Statue of Liberty can be seen on that vantage point. add to that the ferries crossing the the  East River down below. 

                            view of Manhattan Bridge                Manhattan Skyline

Brooklyn Bridge Landmark

one item on my New York Bucketlist, checked! i have crossed the Brooklyn Bridge. the same bridge where Miranda and Steve met and reconciled. awwww!

tomorrow, i'm of to DC to visit the presidents! woot woot!

time to catch up on my writing...again

i've been lazy to write. since i got back from Tokyo last December, i only wrote 2 entries. yaiks! this coming from someone who wrote about wanting to write more.  i wasn't even able to complete the 30 day photo challenge! (i'm sorry ate bing for failing you and andrei!) what's up with that????

to think, 2012 has been a friggin blast! i have no excuse, i just was to lazy. plain and simple. so imma try HARDER this time.

now, what's new with me you ask?

to start off, i applied for a US Visa and was given 10yrs multiple B1/B2 visa. that being said, i'm now in New Jersey. For two months, home is the Hyatt House @ Morristown where the room is mighty fine. The best room i've had since i started travelling abroad.

==

i was able to tick/check one item in my bucketlist - to see the NKOTB in concert! they came and conquered manila last month together with the Backstreet Boys. And boy oh boy oh boy, the throngs of screaming fans in their 30s proved they still got it. Jordan and his falsetto, Donnie and his abs. damn those abs! i found myself swooning and screaming with the rest of the crowd. i screamed like a friggin teenager but I DID NOT CARE. it's NKOTB and Donnie Wahlberg's abs for crying out loud!!! Did i mention Donnie Wahlberg's abs? yes, for days i dreamt of just that.

==

i got hooked on Instagram and when i say hooked i meant addicted. the kind that needs/requires rehab. that kind. i simply love it. super love it. can't let a day pass without using it. seriously, i need help! here are some of my fave shots so far...

    

==

and lastly, as all best things are saved for, i lost 20lbs. woot woot! working on losing 20lbs more! wish me luck!

so there, those are the highlights of my 2012 so far. oh in case you're wondering, i'm still working on the love front. real harder this time.

cheers from Jersey!