After 8h coach ride on Megabus from Buffalo, I arrived in Manhattan. I do not recommend taking Megabus because the comfort is really inferior to Greyhound. The suspension was bad making the entire ride bumpy and the air-con was blasting in my face with no means to adjust it individually. The 8h was overnight but it got delayed to become almost 10h because the bus kept stopping. The stops weren’t planned as it wasn’t indicated in the itinerary and was probably decided by the driver. However was just USD$22, ride was safe and staff had good attitude so it’s good enough.
This time I spent 5 days in NY. Hotels in Manhattan are known to be expensive but it also brings the most convenience, which is also important. Anywhere around Midtown would be most ideal and I picked DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Metropolitan, which is along Lexington Ave near 51st St. There’s a subway station interchanging with several lines right next to the hotel, which makes everything really convenient.
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Metropolitan – New York City
569 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10022, United States
Day 1 – 29th May 2014
I actually started my day with a Bikram yoga class and then had steak for lunch at Ruth’s Chris. Thereafter I went to take the free Staten Island Ferry which gives a good view of the Statue of Liberty. The ferry can be found when you exit South Ferry Station on the subway and follow the crowd. The ferry brings you to Staten Island, which somehow I didn’t want to explore. I just got off and boarded the next boat back. Within walking distance from the ferry terminal was Luke’s Lobster at South William Street in the Financial District and that was my lovely dinner. As it was still early, I grabbed some Pinkberry.
This is what it looks like. I took this photo from a helicopter ride on the last day! My compact camera has fantastic zoom.
You need a camera with good zoom to get a close up picture.
Day 2 – 30th May 2014
It was museum day and we went to the Metropolitan Museum of Art after lunch at Jean-Georges. To get there I had to cut through Central Park. It was quite a long walk but a walk in the park is always good. Admission charges are donation based.
Honestly I do not appreciate museums and is clueless about art. I’m just here because the Met is famous and I should take a look.
Kitaoji Rosanjin was a familiar name because I visited his house in Ibaraki!
1000 5th Ave, New York, NY 10028, United States
Cheeseburger – USD$8.27
French Fries – USD$3.90
I had dinner at Burger Joint and the queue was as long as it was in 2012, despite having a second outlet in NY now. Apparently they have outlets in UAE and South Korea too. I’m not too confident that it’s the same thing. I suggest getting medium done for the patty because medium rare made mine a bit weird this time.
Burger Joint at Le Meridien Parker
119 W 56th St, New York, NY, United States
Ended the night with a stroll at the iconic Times Square, just because. You always have to go to Times Square.
Day 3 – 31st May 2014
It was shopping day at Woodbury Common Premium Outlets. I had Amy’s Bread for brunch followed by Pinkberry. Everything was near Port Authority Bus Terminal where you can find several bus providers taking you to the outlets. I bought extra bread to bring along because it’s going to be a long day shopping.
625 8th Ave, New York, NY 10018, United States
I did not score much except for a Lululemon Free to Be Tank, clothes from Bebe and Estee Lauder products which was crazily cheap compared to Singapore prices! (To be precise, everything is crazily cheap compared to Singapore prices.) It’s not really worth my bus ticket but it’s worth the experience. The only other way to get there is to drive so you don’t really have a choice.
Woodbury Common Premium Outlets
498 Red Apple Ct, Central Valley, NY 10917, United States
Day 4 – 1st June 2014
It was a special day because I was going to take a yoga workshop at Pure Yoga East with Laura Sykora! She’s really famous among yoga practitioners and I was lucky because none of this was planned.
Organic Avenue is a shop which sells juices and smoothies and your best bet to finding a store is somewhere near a yoga studio. They have many outlets all over. Indeed there was one just opposite Pure Yoga East. I grabbed a Matcha Chia Glo before my lunch at Shake Shack. (I hope it balances out this way..)
(By the way, the Berry Blast Smoothie from Organic Avenue was really good. I had one on the first day before my Bikram yoga class, but no pictures.)
1021 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10021, United States
And then it was Om time. It was a great class! It’s quite expensive for a drop in class at Pure Yoga in New York, but the prices for workshops the price is quite reasonable. It was USD$40 and that’s comparable to workshops anywhere else.
203 E 86th St, New York, NY, United States
After my yoga workshop I did some shopping downtown and went to have New York Cheesecake, followed by lobster roll. And then I went to check out Brooklyn Bridge.
Brooklyn Bridge
View of Manhattan from Brooklyn Bridge
This is the view from 230 Fifth, a rooftop bar along the famous 5th Avenue. A tip: you could just go up to take a picture. It’s really crowded anyway and there’s no cover charge.
230 5th Ave, New York, NY 10001, United States
Day 5 – 2nd June 2014
Time flies and this was the final day in my favourite city for this trip. The day started early by queuing up for Cronuts. After having breakfast of 2 Cronuts and tea, I went for my helicopter ride with Liberty Helicopters! Booking was done through the hotel concierge and they basically do everything for you and payment could be transacted in cash.
It was my first time on a helicopter and it sure was fun. The whole time I had to put on ear muffs and the only sound I could hear was the voice through the ear muff and the noise from the helicopter.
Financial District
Statue of Liberty
Central Park
Empire State Building
6 E River Piers #212, New York, NY 10005, United States
Thereafter I went back to get dressed for my lunch at Le Bernadin, went shopping at the west side of Manhattan and had dinner at Momofuku Noodle Bar. That’s all for New York 2014.
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