New York! The City that Never Sleeps. Niagara Falls. Power Like Thunder! Blend these two, then add glimpses of Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., Boston City, Rhode Island and New Jersey, and, presto, you get a rare USA experience hosted by Korean Air. Incredible was the group, composed of Michael Tex and Bindy Carvajal (Travelways), Kathleen Lim (Grand Holidays), Teresita Tiu and Leda Ang (Global Link), Bryan Felicisimo (Uni Orient), Ismael and Margaret Villarica (Destination Specialists), Analita Tiu (Leisure Travel), Stephanie Chu (Cebu Fortune Travel) and Mce (Standard Today/Sunstar/ Bee Pinoy Tv), who braved the inclement weather in the Philippines to fly to Seoul, South Korea for New York. Well, it was sunny weather in Seoul and USA except for some drizzles in New Jersey and a pleasantly cool climate in Niagara.
Korean Air general manager Paul Han and Ann Momongan were perfect hosts who took care of us all the way. Paul’s sense of humor was infectious. We also thank YS Ahn, station manager, Korean Air at John Kennedy airport; Kee-hong Woo, vice president, Easter USA, and Eugene Cheng of Unilink Inc.
We had the luxury of flying in the business class—excellent service, good food and comfortable seats all the way from Cebu-Seoul-New York and back. The Incheon International Airport, the winner of Best Airport by Skytrax, is leading the way into the region’s future, with 108 airport operators globally, voted the best by 8.6 million airline passengers, and the gateway to South Korea, most convenient to transfer in Northeast Asia and one of the largest and busiest airports in Asia. We had a tour of the vast transit area, transit hotels, hub lounges and other amenities. Our land arrangements arranged by the gracious Eugene Cheng brought us to Sheraton Hotel, Marriott and Hyatt Regency. Thanks to Aida Uy for initiating the famtour.
And the tour began.
New York! New York!
“Where the Wild Things Are… There’s One in All of Us!” This billboard text in New York brought excitement to our group, even if a few of us had been to the place many times. This was the fifth trip for me but the enthusiasm was still there.
The morning’s New York City Tour included the World Trade Center (remember Sept. 11?), the Empire State Building, Tussaud Wax Museum, Circle Line Cruise, Wall Street, United Nations, Rockefeller Center, Ground Zero, Times Square, Fifth Avenue and Chinatown.
The heart of New York is Statue of Liberty, the symbol of world peace (the glittering crown) and democracy. Made of copper, this towering monument of American dream turns “green,” yes, to delineate eternal hope of unity. Then, we sailed the New York Harbor and had an overview of the New York’s skyline; the 100-year-old Manhattan Bridge; and the Brooklyn Bridge which took 14 years to construct. The Wall Street bore the vestiges of its historic essence.
We were caught in a holiday parade in Times Square and Fifth Avenue but managed to visit St. Patrick’s Cathedral, passed through busy Broadway. My frustration? No one in our group wanted to see any Broadway show. It was a good thing I had seen most of the shows. The group climbed the Empire State Building, then had a great time recalling American history at the UN and Rockefeller Center. But shopping was the main ingredient, especially in Chinatown. Ah, New York! How this former Dutch colony transformed to what it is now, the City of the World, has always mesmerized its growing populace and visitors. The Big Apple for the first timers in the group was a wish come true.
From New York, we headed for Philadelphia-Washington, D.C., almost seven hours of land journey. The travel trail gave sights of the panoramic mountains of autumn’s red and gold trees and blooms. As Paul Han sighed, “Awesome!” We visited the Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell and US Mint in the morning; continued on to Washington to see the Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Memorial and Jefferson Memorial. We became prayerful as we viewed the death wall of close to 40,000 heroes who fought the Korean and Vietnam Wars. The Capitol Hill and the White House gave the political colors to the itinerary. I spent so much time at the Natural History Museum where visuals on ecology showed America’s environmental programs. That was when Stephanie had to remind me that the tour bus had left us, so we took a cab to catch up with them. Well, it is not difficult to find your way in the US as long as you speak English and know your way around. How did Paul Han describe our New York experience? “Overwhelming!” And he said it con todo mucho.
And, of course, we really had a great time!
The raging Niagara
Everyone anticipated fun at the Niagara Falls. Legends said that it all began when the brave “Queen of Thunder” was exiled from the village forests, escaped from her foes, sailed through the wild ocean, to be swept away by the strong current of the waterfalls. Mystics believed her spirit never left the Niagara and her presence is perceived to be in the rainbows which color the falls. The raging sound of the Niagara is not one of anger, but the thundering power of the exiled Queen. “Awesome,” muttered Paul Han as the group immersed in a chilly night view of the Niagara Falls, and in the morning, more falls sights (Horseshoe, American Falls, Goat Islands and Bridal View). The power of the sights and sounds of Niagara Falls, on a windy day at that, was the crowning glory of the tour. Added to this was the Hershey’s Chocolate World and the Corning Glass Center. Candies and crystals, anyone?
Then, Boston. Memories kept pouring in at Harvard University, where the late Marcelo Fernan finished Master of Laws and I had my International Visitors Program in curriculum design in arts and education in 1982. We also toured the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Charles River and the Quincy Market. Boston has its own ambience of the “academia” which we felt and saw in its classic structures.
Boston was something else and we knew we were all getting valuable learning experiences. Paul’s remarks? “Simply marvelous!”
