Unfortunately, I am one of the millions of people subject to the horrific cluster fuck that is NYC MTA Subway System everyday and night. I am also one of the lucky "double rush hour riders". I get the pleasure of being sardined into a sweaty smelly dirt hole during peak clog-age hours not once, but twice. And throughout my many travels I have taken notes and made observations that I will share with you now.
Upon entering the subway system you are immediately aware that it is rush hour. That is because of the thousands of people swarming in and out of the turnstiles. After you get raped (Im pretty sure thats what a ride on the Subway costs now a days) you get pushed and shoved all the way to the edge of the platform. Alas your train arrives. You are ready to finally sit down and relax while your train smoothly glides down the tracks all the way to your house. Except, it's more like this:
Now even though it is completely packed, and there is barely any room to move, a smelly junkie panhandler of sorts will surely saunter down the aisle screaming about why he is homely, why he needs money, and how he is not a crook". Some people will feed his smack habit, while others will simply stare at the ground and act as if they don't notice him, although its impossible. They usually look something like this:
Not everything is bad about traveling in the depths of underground Manhattan. Almost everyday I fall in love on the subway. There is always that one beautiful girl that stands out from the rest of the commuters. Sometimes she is sitting right next to you and you dont notice her until she stands up to leave. I used to play this game called "subway creep" with myself ( i have really long train rides don't ask) where you stare at a pretty girl until she notices you staring, feels creeped out, and ultimately gets up and moves to a different seat. Now a days I just hand out little notes to beautiful girls because 1) you got nothing to lose and 2) you never know when your life is gonna eternal sunshine you. So next time you see that beautiful girl say hi. Maybe she will say hi back.
The final most awful thing about the subway, aside from waiting for the G train when you are wasted at 5 am and desperately need to get to your bed, is standing next to that horrible smelly slimey unbalanced person. Sometimes they have tumors, sometimes they are hasidic, and sometimes they are just downright nasty, but it happens to all of us, and the question is, do they know that they are disturbing others? Their presence on the train is offensive to the other passengers, but they always continue to ride the rails. Sometimes Im standing next to some sweaty fat guy, and his blob stomach will be resting on my hip, and i just wanna be like" Yo man I'll pay for your cab fare as long as you get off the next stop!". So next time you are stuck next to a freak on the subway remember this:
If you see something, say something. SNITCH!!!!!
Chinatown has completely taken over both Little Italy, and Tokyo, and each day encroaches closer to The Lower East Side and Soho. Today I photographed some of my findings in this strange and unforgiving land. I like to say Chinatown is where "The fish are still floppin"literally...
What a fucking jerk. He got really pissed when I took this picture.This guy probably lives in a suitcase.
a beautiful view if I say so myself.
