I have this crazy idea when i celebrated my 28th birthday this year in February. I asked myself what i want to do before i turn 30 in 2 years time. So, i began to draw up a list of items i wanted to do before i turn 30.
One of the item on my list is going to New York City, United States. With a day of hesitation, i decided to go to NYC in April this year for 8 days. Alot of friends told me that i'm crazy to have this idea. Well, sometimes i'm crazy :P So i began my trip on 2 April 2015.
After my work on Thursday, i rushed to the airport to catch my flight at 9.20pm. After 8 hours, finally arrived at Dubai Airport. With only 20 mins to catch my next flight, i was literally rushing to another terminal to catch the JFK flight.
3 April - After 14 hours, i finally arrived at JFK airport and the adventure begins...it was 11am and i was so tired after more than 24 hours of flying.. I cant wait to go to my room for shower, brush my teeth and change a new set of clothes...lol...The weather was pretty fine.. around 14 degree..After reaching my room and changed, i headed out to World Trade Centre to grab a quick lunch and took the train to 42 street, Grand Central station..The station was so pretty with Apple store at level 2.. I remember vividly that a few movies actually took their scenes here..Then, walked over to Time Square at 5 Ave,..my tears nearly flow down from my face because it was so beautiful. As i mentioned before, i cant believe i have made it to NYC. LED lights and TV, cartoon mascots, Broadway shows and street performance.. the whole place is just amazingly unbelievable.It was 5pm and im already very tired to call it a day. I slept around 6pm and didnt even had my dinner until next morning..im exhausted!
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| View from New Jersey for 911 |
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| USA, Grand central station |
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| Time Square |
4 April - Woke up at 8am and head off to Washington D.C. After 4 hours of road ride, finally arrived at D.C..The sky was clear and was about 20 degree. Cooling weather to start the day! After checking-in, head out to the street. First stop, White House. I didnt know that White House is actually so near to the walkway.. My friend told me about the rooms layout of the White House and where President Obama and Secretary Hilary Clinton rooms were.. It was so cool! (Side note: I actually guarded Hilary Clinton room when she was here in Singapore in 2010 for IISS event when i was still a policeman for my national service).. Anyway, the security were very tight as usual.. After the White House, headed to the Washington Monument, Vietnam Veteran's Memorial, Lincoln Memorial and Jefferson Memorial to further understand US history.. It was extremely sad to see so much American soldiers were killed in Vietnam war.. I have been to Vietnam War Museum (http://tsfmike87.blogspot.sg/2013_03_01_archive.html) and i just feel that the world will be a better place without war..It was very interesting for me.
Went back to my room and grab power nap before heading out for dinner...After dinner, we strolled along the White House again and saw fireworks.. Thanks for being so welcoming :)
5 April - It was an excursion day! Went to National museum of natural history..The museum was huge.. We were outside queneing up to go in and my first exhibition was to visit the Dinosaurs! I was pretty disappointed as i expected to see more.. Anyway, there are different exhibitions like Marine, animal, planet, jewelry & gems, etc..I was amazed at the human exhibit on how human transform from a monkey to two-legged human and we are genetically 99.9% similar from other human beings and 98% similar to Chimpanzee..Interesting facts to know. After which, headed to National museum of American Indian and National air and space museum...Both were very interesting where i get to know about the native Americans background and the customary..For space museum, you will see Apollo 11, the first aeroplane invented in the world, rockets and how Russian and American fighting to be Number 1 in the space discovery were all very interesting..Those museums are free of charge by the way.So worth paying a visit..
Went to "Occidental" restaurant for dinner where the restaurant hang the photo portraits of the American leaders..Nice dinner to end the trip in Washington D.C.
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| White House |
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| Washington Memorial |
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| Lincoln Memorial |
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| Thomas Jefferson Memorial |
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| White house in night view |
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| Capitol of US |
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| Apollo 11 |
6 April - Drove for another 5 hours back to NYC. Finally arrived at New Jersey room! My host challenged me to get out of the house to explore NYC on my own. So, i accepted the challenge, brought a map with me and began the journey on my own. Once you have master the street and avenue in NYC, it gets pretty easy..Also,have to take note of whether you are going uptown or downtown and the train you are taking..express train or normal train...Its very difficult to get lost in NYC. Trust me, i am horrible in directions and i didnt even sweat in NYC :)
I took PATH from Exchange place to World Trade Centre. Then walk 3 minutes to the subway station at Church Street. You can take 1,2,3 or E trains to Time Square which is at 42 street, Grand Central station. The night view of Time Square was breath-taking....the LED lights light up the whole street and the city was so vibrant...A city that never sleep...There was so much actions and things going on...I was looking for Empire State Building at 34 street but the quene was too long..Ended the night with starbuck coffee and enjoying the night view....
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| Evening view of Manhattan |
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| Night view of Time Square |
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| Night view of Manhattan |
7 April - It was a busy schedule ahead! Went to American museum of natural history where "Night at the Museum" movie scene were taken.. Again, it was huge museum with lots of exhibits like Asian People, African people, animals, blue whale, dinosaurs, etc. Can easily spent half a day there! After that, took the train to South Ferry station and took the free ferry to see Statue of Liberty..Dinner at Greenwich village and end the night with drag queen show..
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| Natural museum |
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| Dinosaurs! |
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| Statue of liberty |
8 April - Woke up like a zombie and forced myself out of the bed. I finished at 1.30am on the previous night and woke up at 8am..took the train to Metropolitan museum of art. The "Must-see" exhibit was Ancient Egypt where they have the Egyptian temple inside the museum. How cool is that! There are others like modern arts, European arts, Asian arts, Cosmopolitan arts where i can easily fall asleep even if i walk pass. So, its up to your preference. After that, grab a coffee and sandwich before heading to Time Square again to get the Broadway show tickets. You can get up to 50% discounts when you go to the ticket office and grab the show tickets and its only takes me 30 minutes to quene up. We bought "Les Miserable" show at 8pm.. Watching Broadway musical at NYC...its just mind blowing..lol..The show and set up was nice but I guess reading up of French revolutionary will helps more to understand the storyline..there are other shows like Jersey boys, mamma Mia, lion king, etc every night. No reason to miss any of those
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| Egyptian temple |
9 April - As i have mastered the train lines and street/ave, i headed to World Trade Centre and went to the 911 memorial museum..It was heart-wreaking when i was inside the museum..looking at the contrast before the incident and after the incident..The incident that shocked the whole world when a commercial plane crashed into World Trade Centre and how both towers were brought down in seconds after been burnt and crashed by the planes. The images of people injuried, rushing out to secure their lives or even jumping down from the building to end their lives..This really proves how vulnerable our life is and remind us there's always a threat out there and we must be vigilant..Went to Wall Street after that to see whether any wolves are there (The wolves of Wall Street movie)..lol..I didnt know that actually i can go in to see the stock exchange...What a shame! Went to Bloomingdale to do shopping there to end the day...
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| Freedom tower |
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| Ground Zero |
10 April - My last day in NYC.. Headed to Brooklyn Bridge and the weather was horrible.. raining and foggy..Found my way through Rockefeller and didnt managed to go up to "Top of the Rock observation" as it was zero visibility up there which informed by the staff..Went home to shower and catch my flight at 7pm..
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| Brooklyn Bridge |
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| Singapore flag in NYC |
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| Rockefeller |
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| UOB NYC |
