Sound Walk through Chinatown - Alexandra David

Chinatown is possibly one of the most busiest neighborhoods in Manhattan. Even with your eyes closed you could recognize the neighborhood with the rumble of hundreds of car engines streaming down canal street, the distant humming of chinese folk music trailing out of the grocery stores and tea shops, or the lively buzz of asian pop music that could be heard from the bubble tea cafes. There is a lot of shouting voices near the open fruit and fish markets, the sounds of sharp knives chopping off fish heads and tails, the crinkle of plastic bags as ginger, fruits or nuts are placed inside them and put on a scale. The exhaust of old engines wheezing over the bartering voices trying to cut a deal on circle scarves. By the park one could hear the nasally voices of the grouped old ladies gossip excitedly about their day to day adventures, the sound of an erhu's whining melody in the background, squirrels chattering and scampering up the tree, and children's shouts and laughter as they substitute a basketball for a soccer ball in the field. It's noisy, yet each sound is very distinct in it's own way, like a river of colors, yet each stroke is a distinct hue itself. The only sound that is drowned out is the gust of cold wind that kept blowing in our faces, yet it could still be heard by the gentle rustling of branches overhead. -by Alexandra David