New York day 2

Figuring out the metro-

Today we stood on the metro station in -6 degree weather for an hour (literally), waiting for a train that wasn't even in function. After missing the train we were meant to catch four times on the same station we decided to ask around. There was only one Asian woman on the platform so I asked her. She looked at me very puzzled and started speaking Cantonese. I did not know Cantonese was a requirement to getting around New York.

I fell hard in love with a man on the subway. He was playing guitar and the sounds just resonated through the tunnels like it was his stadium. It was amazing. He had great dreads.

 When we finally got to the centre of the city, we visited Rockefeller centre to go to the top of the deck observation tower. We got the Sun & Night tickets so we could return later at night to see everything. Also whilst we were walking to the centre I bought a hot dog with onion crunch and it was derrreeeshuss. Hello overpriced but worth it New York street food. New York sort of reminds me of the white version of Hong Kong. Except Hong Kong feels more like home to me. But they're both a dichotomy of glamour and hustle, and mess and dysfunction. Anyway so we bought tickets and we couldn't get in til 2:30, so in order to waste time we walked around.
At 2:30 we went to the observation deck and it was amazing, as expected. We took lots of photos.

We walked to Times Square and that's when my mind was truly blown to bits. All the ads and yellow taxis were so overwhelming. When we were standing on the TKTS steps this Japanese girl asked charm for her phone to contact her friend. And she said she had to use Facebook cause they both had no numbers. And when she finally found her friend she was soooo excited. Japanese people are the cutest. She left her Facebook on charms phone.... Frape? 

After taking lots of unnecessary photos of the same thing from different angles, I went to get a coffee from Starbucks. I realise how American I am now that I always get coffee from Starbucks even though I used to disagree with how their coffee tastes and how pretentious they are with their self-named coffee sizes. But I guess now I am a truly mine washed American freak. I got the Ginerbread latte in light of the festivities. It kept my hands warm in the freezing weather. Also charm nearly died crossing the road at Times Square cause a yellow taxi nearly ran into her. Also I love that she ordered a water from Starbucks and they gave her 'H2O'.

After that we went to a restaurant called City Lobster for their happy hour- 99c oysters. They were so sweet, well worth it. I hate paying tips for food in America because suddenly your meal is so much more expensive. I hope the waiters/tresses do something good with their Christmas tips though.

Then we went souvenir shopping (hmu if you want something btw) and I got a pair of I love NY shorts and a lighter. Charm got herself a NY baseball cap, which I sort of wanted in the first place... But I remembered I have a SF cap. And that would be cheating. On my home. 

After that we had to go home to charge our phones cause they were both dying which left us in a dire situation. 

Having no phone in a new city means no transport and no contacts and no time awareness and no photos. 

So we went home and then went out for dinner at this French place called Les Halle's. I splurged on a steak with bearnaise sauce and truffle fries. I've been craving a good steak for forever. 

Then we headed back to top of the deck again to see the city at night. We nearly missed it seeing as the last lift up to the deck was at 11:10. We caught the train at 10:55 and we literally legged it all the way from the subway to Rockefeller center 6 minutes before the last lift. We were so lucky. The city looks gorgeous at night time.

I got a chicken kebab from the street stores. It was sooo gewwwd. 

I'd throw my pie for you,

Emma 

x 

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New York day 1

So today (Dec 24) Charm and I flew from SF to NY. We had to get to the airport by 5am, so we were out of the house by 4am, having slept nothing the night before. Whilst waiting to board the plane, I got super hungry so I ordered from one of the few restaurants. I paid $10 for basically what was a bacon and egg mcmuffin from maccas. But I had to blog about it because it was one of the bombest bacon and egg mcmuffins I ever had. 

 We arrived at JFK airport at 2pm, and got out at around 3ish. The moment I stepped out of the airport, I knew what it meant to be truly cold. I think it was -4 degrees when we arrived, which wasn't really that bad, but being Australian and all, I really was not used to the cold. Of course, here are some obligatory in-flight sky shots. 

 Before we arrived to NY we had booked an apartment off Airbnb, which is a system where you stay with a stranger in their house and share it. Fortunately for us, our house owner, Heather, wasn't/isn't here since she's off on vacay somewhere else. We caught an Uber to our apartment, in Williamsburg, and got the key off of one of Heather's friends. She was very welcoming and took us around the place. On first impression, it really wasn't big, but I loved it from the moment I stepped in the room because it was so cozy looking. I actually enjoy small living areas, they make me feel more at home. Less space, more company? #MyLogic. 

What really struck me were the trees in NY. I love the trees here 

 After sorting out things with the apartment, it was already nighttime. So Charm and I ventured out via the subway to East Village for dinner. 

Dinner that night was Momofuku, which Charm told me is pretty popular. We had pork and beef buns and they were ah-f***ing-mazing. Two thick slabs of pork with serious layers of tasty fat in between, wrapped in between buns that felt like pillows. I also got a green tea slushie with honey and some other japanese thing and it was so refreshing. The main course was ramen with pork flavoured broth and omg the eggs in the ramen were so runny. I don't know how they cooked them. Even the white part was runny but somehow maintained its shape. Sorry I really love eggs. Eggs are great. What would life be like without eggs? #THEREWOULDBENOLIFE 

When we both got pregnant with our food babies we walked around the neighbourhood for a bit, but most of the shops were closed because it was Christmas eve. 

Since we're both not of age and Charm doesn't have a fake, we couldn't experience the nightlife in NY. So being super creative we bought ingredients to make Christmas cookies in our new kitchen and cosy apartment. We couldn't find food dye so I made do and bought kool aid packets from the local deli and mixed it in with the frosting hahahaha. But it worked, so whatever. Also we had no cookie cutters so I had to elf away all night cutting cookies. Some of them turned out pretty passable though so it was worth it in the end. 

I'd throw my pie for you,

Emma

x

PS. None of the delis or grocers (there's 4 on our street within a km of us) had eggnog. Much disappoint. Such shame. Wow. 

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