The Cloisters

Sorry for taking so long to post this one - 30+ hour travel from Ohio to Singapore is truly a snoozing matter.

So, The Cloisters. What is a Cloister anyways? Something in close proximity (Khalwat)? Something buried deep in a cupboard? Now that the mists have parted, on with my travelogue.
The Cloisters Museum was my last scheduled stop in New York. Decided to use up my Metro transit card and took a long traffic-fouled bus journey from 51st street to 191st. Doesn't sound too far, but with New York's traffic, it was almost a 2 hour journey.
Along the way, I was trundled past the Cathedral of St John the Divine, a Gothic cathedral STILL in construction.
Front-ish view
Back-ish view After a false alightment at Fort Tryon park (yes, Tryon, it's not a typo)
I finally came to the battlements of this wonderful Medieval museum.
The museum was blissfully empty for a while, but a high-school excursion and a tour group with a shrill tour guide put an end to my bliss. I was running from tapestry to chapel to cloister, in a futile attempt to escape the ravening horde. This graven image soon became my constant companion: (praying for succor - think about it)

Barbarian hordes aside, I found delightful views, such as a graven coat of arms of the Porcelot family, very apt for this Chinese Zodiac year. A deserted (for the winter) outdoor cafe area The museum even had a gallery of roundels depicting modern day workplace scenarios: Who knew those crafty medieval artisans also practiced prestidigitation? (take that George!)

But alas, my trip down memory lane was over and I had to endure another traffic-fouled-double-hour seat warming exercise back into the city, only to have to rush to catch my airport shuttle bus. [sigh].

The Morning After
Yes, this was my plane, scheduled to take me from Ohio to Detroit. I kid you not, it truly went pthptpthpthpthpthpthtppththththththppthth all the way, except for when it was trying to land, and the entire cabin started imitating a paper cone subwoofer.

Well, 30 hours later, I landed in wet old Singapore, where everything looked foreign. Adjustment time... I miss Ohio [sob] and the weather there. I was glad to be away from roomie's stinky food though. When I checked the fridge to make sure I hadn't left anything behind, I smelt something suspicious from the packet of raw meat from his half of the fridge. Urk.