Thursday, May 22, 2008
Hi there. Apologies for not updating the blog for so long as I wasn't able to access the internet in New York City.
New York City was a nice place but I personally don't really like that place. Many reasons to it. Being that place being too crowded, and to urban for me to stay in (well, I like layed back countries). The things sold there are expensive as compared to Oklahoma City. People there ain't as friendly as I thought they were (Oklahoman Rules!!!).
Although the architectural there are nice and the different paintings and graffitti on the building are cool, but I still feel that the place is too much like Singapore (which I dislike).
Went we reached Newark Airport, we called for a van service from the airport to our hotel in NYC. For your information, Newark Airport is in New Jersey. The travelling time is about 1 hour from the airport to the hotel we stay in. After checking in to our hotel at Pennsylvania Hotel at the heart of the city, just opposite of the Madrid Gardens Amtrak station, we went for our lunch. craving for some asian food, we hop in to the nearby asian food place which we can pick what we want to eat. And to our amazed, the price of the food is to be paid by Pounds, meaning it's paid according to the weight of the food we took. 1LBS of food is USD6.99. Clueless of how heavy 1LBS is, we just take whatever we think is nice to eat and go ahead and pay and mine was USD12.99. I was like WOW, that's a lot. Well, my friend got her's at USD16.99 (most expensive). Well, we swear we will not step in to this type of stall anymore for food (even if we have to eat fast food).
Later, we split into two groups, one went to that the CitySight Hop-on Hop-Off bus to tour around NYC while the other just walk around to the nearby stalls and to Fifth Avenue as we felt that it was a waste of the day's tri as we are only left with like less than half a day.
The next day,we planned to go to the Statue of Liberty, but the weather doesn't gives way. It's been raining for the whole day till late evening. We then decided to go to Chintown while some planned to go to Museum. When we reached Chinatown, we were like overjoyed, and was occupied in our mind to search for steamboat. After asking around, we found out that there is a new steamboat stall at the end of the street of Chinatown. Thus, we started walking down to search for it, while along the way, we were distracted by many shops which sells wonderful things and have a stopover to buy some gifts. Before we even reach our destination, we came to a halt in front of the Singapore Cafe and was like amazed with the word "Singapore" in New York. Haha. Stopping over to chat with the restaurant owner and felt so comfortable with them, we planned to have our lunch there instead. Nice food, nice service, wonder experience which make me feel so like home. Haha. After that, we headed on walking and then decided to go to some Tea Place for Milk Tea （奶茶）. Nothing that nice to drink but still felt warmth with the asian like food and drinks. On our way walking back, we saw the News Reporter fom Channel 7 reporting about the Si Chuan Earthquake. Then, we knew about the deadly earthquake in Si Chuan which brought away near to 10,000 of lives, and counting. We were like so sad there, and started to felt concern about the earthquake seriousness. My condolences to all the Si Chuan Earthquake victims and may all stay strong and move on for those who are still alive.
At night, we wanted to go for the night tour, but the bus for the tour has stopped for the day. Thus, we headed to another chinese noodle restaurant near our hotel for dinner. I had the Spicy Beef Noodle and it is delicious. Nice food I should say. Haha.
Afterwhich, We went to back to hotel to prepare for more clothings as we decided to head to the Empire State Building that very night (thinking it's not as cold that night, and we should one shot go for it). We went for the Empire State Building viewing at 11pm and walked over (about two blocks away from our hotel). While we went pass the security check, I was stopped by the security guards asking, "Do you have Sake?"
I was puzzled. I asked them, "Sake?"
Then replied, "Yes sake. (holding up my water bottle). You know english?"
I said, "yes, I know english, but I don't have sake."
Then the two security officer said, "No sake, cannot enter." I asked, "Why?" They reply, "You must give us each a bottle of Sake before you can enter."
Then did I know they thought I was a Japanese. I told them, "I don't have Sake, and by the way I am not a Japanese."
They started laughing and asked me where I'm from, which I told them Singapore. I believe down in their mind they were thinking 'where the hell is Singapore'. Haha. They asked then where is it, so I told them near Malaysia and they still looked puzzled, and later I told them along Sumatra. Then they know a bit. Interesting people there, but waste my time. Haha. Go ahead to purchase our tickets and headed up to the cold cold Empire State Building. We went out, and indeed the wind is super strong. I was thinking, "Will I be blow away?" Haha. But the scenery can only be describe with one word "WOW". It is so bueatiful looking at the lights around NYC. Beautiful night scene I thought in NYC. Enjoying the scene, while being blew by the cold wind. Spending about an hour half on the 86th level of the Empire State Building, we headed down to the suvenior place which I didn't buy anything (too expensive and not worth). Getting late, we headed back to hotel and there we go to bed after bathing.
Next day, we planned to go Liberty as the weather is very good (sunny with cool wind). Initially planned to go to the Woobury Common for shopping but the people who said wanted to go shopping overslept, so we waiting for them and told them our plan and they tag along since all of us is going Statue of Liberty. In the afternoon, we reached the jetty where we need to board the ferry to the Statue of Liberty. We queued for like 1 hour before it's our turn to board the ferry. there is no queue at the ferry area, so just squeeze ourselves up to the ferry to travel to the Liberty Island. The Liberty Statue is huge and nice. Wonderful picture taking place. And what's more, saw my favourite flower (tulips) there. i'm overjoyed. Haha. The seagull is huge as well, like we always say, everything in the ground of U.S.A. is SUPER SIZED. After awhile, we went to the restaurant at the Liberty Island for late lunch and headed back to NYC. Well, all of us dozed off one by one on the ferry. Haha. At night, we went for the Night Tour to Brooklyn and had our wonderful picture taking of the Brooklyn bridge and great Ice-Cream. Yummy!! Haha. The Ice-cream is nice despite the cold weather. We went to the same Asian Noodle Restaurant for food again and shortly, headed back to hotel.
The next day was a whole day of wonderful shopping experience at Woobury Common at New Jersey. It's a one hour trip to that place on USACoach. When we were there, we were amazed with the land mass that the place took. It's much much bigger than that of Dallas. I think that it's about the size of like 6-8 football fields, yes is that big can?
I took like half a day to shop only a selective stores but the things there is CHEAP can?? Coach is factory price plus additional 40% off, but of course, the design is those outdated and classic design. Almost all the things there are factory price, and some with additional discounts. Nice place to shop though but we have limited time to do the shopping. We headed back to NYC around 3.30pm and reach NYC only around 6pm dur to massive jam. Before I reached hotel, I went to K Mart to buy extra luggage to aviod access of the luggage weight. Bought a 3 in 1 luggage for like USD39.90. Not bad. eaching hotel not long, we headed to Sephora to help my friend buy some cosmetic products and go to Victoria Secret with my room mate to get some things before we headed to the sovenior stores to get some soveniors. Well, I missed going to the M&M House as I was so tired when I reach hotel and I still need to do some packing. Woo.
that's about all for new York. If I have a chance, I'll still want to you back to Oklahoma City. People there are friendly and nice. Environment there is relaxing and the shopping center there is great, sales assistants are so helpful.
Alrighty, I'll upload the pictures I've took when I'm on my laptop as all the pictures are saved inside my laptop. I promise, will upload for all of you.
love goes around | 7:10 PM
