Day Three – NYC

 Wandered around the streets and making our way to the shopping area in the Flatiron District. Passed this Puerto Rican shaved ice cart manned by what we call an "auntie" (who also happens to be fanning herself like crazy because seriously I am also fanning myself like mad but only in my head cos #image) by accident and how can I say no to this beautiful rainbow ice thingy? It's only $2 and tastes like our local Sng Bao - remixed. Hahaha.

Known as the Piragua, its name is derived from the combination of the Spanish words 'Pirámide' (pyramid) and 'Agua' (water)" because the piragua has a pointy, conical shape.
Yellow taxi-cabs, so very NYC. 


H&M Home! Why don't we have this product category/assortment in SG? 



Broadway Bites is located at Greenley Square – Broadway, between 32nd and 33rd Street.

So we gave this a miss and hopped over to Momofuku Milk Bar for a treat... Only to realise it has ran out of ice cream for the day as the soft serve machine is down. Oei, why you no put a notice on your FB page?! We walked for close to 20 minutes just to be turned down. :( 

Momofuku Milk Bar (midtown) is located at 15 W 56th St.

Some convocation thingy going on in the area... Look at all the students. #asianinvasion

Luckily Cafe Zaiya was pretty much round the corner.. at about another 20mins walk away.

I felt like a student at lunch break upon stepping into Cafe Zaiya, cos it's very much styled like a... High school cafeteria. Best known for the soft serve ice cream (perhaps?), they also offer bread, biscuits, Madeleines and a whole lot more nibbles, sandwiches, as well as noodles and mains that I think would be comfort food level 999 on a cold, rainy day.


From Cee's IG.

Cee tried the black sesame flavour. So minimal eh this grey ice cream. Hahahaha! Oh and this lady even asked us what flavour is grey... After staring at us for a while... Hahaha. #weirdasians

After much deliberation... I went for the Lychee Tea with Boba. I would later learn that it is one of the most expensive bubble tea I have had in my life. Hahaha. That set me back by a good $4.90 (~$6.00 incl tips) and it was sweet AF. I miss my KOI pearl milk tea with 25% sugar back home............... Ahhh. Here it is! Nonetheless, still a refreshing treat in the summer heat.

Cafe Zaiya has a few branches, the store we visited is located at 18 E 41st St. Opens 8am - 8pm from Mon through Sat, 11am - 7pm on Sun.

Followed the plaques on the floor to the New York Public Library!


But this cavewoman like to take photos. Hahahahaha.


So we hung around the NYPL area for just a while and walked over to the Grand Central Terminal since it was just a short stroll away. Google Maps route info here.


So packed! It was late afternoon and almost peak hour, so the station was packed, packed, packed! People were streaming in and out of the exits, making stopping in the middle for a photo totally impossible. Obviously. Haha!

After a while of staring into space and looking at pissed, rushing commuters, we realise it's just 15mins to our scheduled entry time to the Top of The Rock. Turbo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


This is the path we took. There are transit options available but we couldn't trust the waiting time so... On our legs we dashed! Routing details here.




And here we are! Looking down at the concrete jungle where dreams are made of.


Pano of the side facing the Empire State Building.


What is this long and strrange building called again??


I used to always see this image on people's instagram, framed up on their bedroom walls, on notebooks and so much more... Never thought I would get to see the exact same view live, in person. 

Side track: If this trip taught me something, that is to reinforce that gratitude towards life. I always believe in counting one's blessings, appreciate simple pleasures in life and focus on what you have in my life, rather than what you don't. 

While there are moments in life and during the trip that made me wonder why I was even there, I gave myself a moment to brood over it (for no longer than an hour), erased the negative emotions and replaced it with gratitude. As phoney as it sounds, it really is the way to keep looking up and not allowing the negativity to brood and worse, multiply. Accept the fact that everybody has bad moments, brush it off then move on! If it happens again, talk about it, work on a solution then move on again. 

Après tout, c'est la vie, non? Ce n'est pas si mal que ça!


Another picture of the view, in color.


Summer Garden & Bar! This is a seasonal gathering place that opens throughout summer and is perfect for catching up with friends (lol who happen to be in NYC at the same time as you) over a drink or two.

Located at 20 W 50th St, it is also accessible via the metro on 47-50 Sts - Rockefeller Ctr, the B/D/F/M line.


Sunset at the Manhattan Grid. It is called the Manhattanhenge, see more pictures here! Onward to Times Square since it's just a few streets away...


And here we are! At 9pm, it is still bustling with energy and full of people on the podium, up the stairs, on the streets, at the crossing... Everywhere! 



Times Square is probably one of THE iconic places to be in New York City, so be sure to pay this place a visit for shopping, stoning (lol like us) or people watching. The nearest metro station is Times Sq - 42 St on the N/Q/R/S/1/2/3/7 lines.

----------------------

Day Four – NYC