So first up, the big apple! Hmm, actually I didn’t really do a lot of touristy stuff in NYC cause I’ve been there a couple of times and already saw the main attractions like Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge… We ended up having too much time (4 days) catered for New York so it was taking in the cosmopolitan vibe, scouring places for food and visiting the musuems to make us feel more artistic and inspired since NYC is afterall the city of art and fashion.
Okay so anw, took the 8am Amtrak train from DC to NYC after an almost sleepless night the day before cause I had to pack away my blanket and bed sheets for summer storage. DC and NYC are NOT THAT far away from each other, by US standards—not Singapore Jurong East to Changi standard lol. Honestly, I’m now quite thankful that SG is a little red dot cause it’s so much easier to get around, especially since I haven’t gotten my driving license. So it’s around 4-5 hours bus ride depending on the traffic and that’s the cheapest way to commute between the two cities without driving but obviously don’t expect lavish coach buses. The Chinatown buses are like the normal coach buses we take in pri school for school trips. Therefore, expect stiff necks and numbed legs and pray that you don’t sit behind inconsiderate passengers who recline their seats so much it would crush your legs and yet I’m always too paiseh to subject the passenger behind me to the same treatment. Anw, we decided we couldn’t take this torment so we took the train which surprisingly took almost four hours too. I expected like Japanese high-speed bullet trains lol but it was uhh damn slow. Train and air tickets are usually of comparable prices but I personally prefer the train cause no annoying security checks and stuffy ears and you get a little scenery too.
Reached NYC at around 12 and checked into the hotel. We stayed in a hotel in Long Island cause no money to stay in NYC. Haha But the area was so sketchy we were damn scared walking back at night. I was wearing a cap and stuff cause Qihan once told me that if we act sketchy enough, the real sketchy gangsters wouldn’t come near us. LOL But sounds logical right? :D Was famished so decided to get lunch at Shakeshack burger. MUST GO! I had a vegetarian burger cause everything was beef and I don’t like beef. THE FRIES ARE SUPER GOOD. The texture was amazing and it was of the right hardness-- not too hard and not too soggy as well. A lot of people were eating the custard too so I guess it must be quite yumz.
Shake Shack: 691 8th Ave New York, NY 10036
After that, we decided to walk to Central Park and ended up taking an hour nap there lol. It was really nice actually—kids at the playground, people playing baseball, couples on the rocks, friends picnicking, students studying for finals, artists capturing the moment… The whole combination felt so natural and… harmonious. Haha yaa that’s the first word that came to my mind.
Went to get dinner in Korean town after napping in central park. lol the korean town in nyc is not that big but I like that the shops are very concentrated in one area and therefore perfect for people with absolutely no sense of directional sense aka me. We had mandus (Korean dumplings) at this mandu shop and it was really good since it was all handmade and stuff. And very polite staff as well :) OH AND WE STUMBLED ACROSS MINI CUPCAKES ON OUR WAY THERE. it's called melissa's if i'm not wrong and their cupcakes are all miniature! Perfect size so you can try all the flavors without risking a heart attack.
Planned to go MOMA the next day but it was closed. lol apparently it's closed every Tuesday so don't make the same stupid mistake. Ended up walking around, (window) shopping due to limited luggage space, met up with cat in chinatown for bubbletea. Super overpriced in the states btw-- singaporeans should really appreciate the nice koi and gongcha here. Then braced the hot sun (blazing sun but terrible wind which makes for a damn weird weather which is hot in the sun and damn cold in the shade) to go visit the place WHERE THE MONEY IS- WALL ST :D It was really quite the American dream contained within a few blocks, with towering banks and everyone dressed up in Armani suits and Prada heels.
Third day was spent in MOMA! hmm okay i'm not exactly the artsy kind but i think MOMA has nice quirky stuff which makes it more interesting and not all that somber and forbidding like the usual museums. Also realized that I find traditional, aesthetically pleasing arts more appealing than the abstract and outlandish modern art.
favorite painting :) water lilies by Monet
Had gyro for lunch by the roadside and I SWEAR THEIR CHILLI (or rather hot sauce in US) IS SO AWESOME. Rare commodity in US where people think spicy is sweet. haha We ate from the vendor just behind MOMA. They are in yellow polo uniform and my friend said they are the best :D Highlight of the day is of course dessert. MUST TRY: BANANA PUDDING FROM MAGNOLIA BAKERY. I'm honestly not a fan of banana but this one had the perfect combination of cream and cake/bread? and the banana flavor didn't came up as overwhelming or overpowering.
Picture Credits: flickr
Magnolia Bakery | 401 Bleecker Street New York, NY 10014
Spent the night watching Phantom of the Opera which was awesome cause we got half price tics from TKTS! Makes watching broadway so muchhh more affordable. The only things is the discounted tics aren't sold online so would have to wait in the line for a bit!
So the trip to NYC was really chill, lots of nappings in parks and random gardens and a lot of food. Or rather a lot of food throughout the whole two weeks. haha Yelp is now my best friend. Someone once asked me if I preferred DC or NYC and apparently it shows your personality-- the former is more conservative while the latter is more liberal. Which makes a lot of sense right, since DC is all about power and institution while NYC is all about dreams, freedom and the individual :)
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