Saturday, August 14, 2010
When You Take Away More Than You Give
Hello,
So finally 436.75 hours of work and uncountable hours of fun later, I am settling in to writing this post-internship blog post. I honestly don't feel like there's anything that I disliked or thought was completely redundant to my life - every moment was something I could take something away from, and to me, what I did was insignificant compared to what could be taken away from it.
This is not to dismiss stuff I did as unimportant and insignificant - on the contrary if there's one thing I learned, it's that everything is part of a bigger whole so nothing that you do is completely insignificant.
Thinking back on this internship, I met so many wonderful people - and then I started thinking about how you are meant to meet certain individuals for a reason. And I was wondering why it was that I was assigned to such a wonderful team with so many amazing people - was it to show me how decent people can be in this industry? That American guys do grow up after college? (Hur hur...) And all the interns! Everyone was different and it added so much variety and interesting dynamics to the group as a whole. ^_^ If I met them now in life, will our paths cross again? What will meeting these people mean to me in future? And what will I mean to them?
Over the course of the internship, I've received so much thanks and gratitude even when I help out with the smallest things - it's made me realize that thanking people more often never hurts and in fact is a great motivator for the person to want to do better and help out even more. But it's not just thanking people for work done I think, I really hoped that they knew I was actually grateful for all the work they gave to me. Everything I did taught me something new. From those damned excel spreadsheets to all the running up and down to get documents printed for meetings to all the digging around the internet for research on the industry... Just a small part in the grand scheme of things but it taught me everything: from being organized and detail-oriented, to planning ahead for any meetings that are coming up and anticipating what will be needed, to utilizing all the resources available to dig out any information necessary...
And on the last day, one of the directors told me that if I do want to go back, I would definitely receive endorsement from the whole team which I was super touched by... xD (And since I'm on the topic...) They also told me that I was smart and a fast learner (I'm touched by this too since I never think I'm smart though I know that I learn fast - something I found out after working at the steakhouse...) and that they would still want to send me documents to work on... (I don't mind but really. -_-") Of course, during my evaluation session with my manager, there are areas to improve upon - such as how I should be more vocal and show more confidence (this is something I really need to work on...) and also be more proactive (which I never knew I wasn't so this definitely is something I will work on) in thinking ahead. Also, I think they didn't realize that I actually don't really like direct interaction but did comment that I love emailing over talking to someone directly which can be improved upon too... Eeps. Looks like I'll have to stop relying on IM and email! X__X
Although many of them gave me this look when they asked if I still wanted to join advertising, I think that maybe I do. I'm not sure. There are so many things out there that I've discovered while being on this internship that I feel like I want to try everything! There's still being on the client side in marketing, planning, brand management, consumer insight research, customer relationship management (which I only recently learned about!)... All I did was look at the whole list of WPP companies and I was like phwoar I want to do everything!
And that doesn't even include any Publicis or Omnicom companies... Eeps.
So what's the point of this post? Overall, I loved loved loved this internship - it only reinforced my love for the agency and its culture and most importantly, its people after the internship I did in Singapore. I learned way more than I contributed (that's not very fair to the agency I guess but... O well. I'm a sponge!) and I couldn't be more grateful for the chance to work in New York and learn more about a different culture.
All the people I met this summer, whether in my internship or not, were wonderful. And gave me renewed faith in people (obviously people in my classes need to have more going for them...) in this country. All the experiences I had, whether professionally or outside of work, were ones I wouldn't want to forget.
If you ask me now how I'm different from the start of the summer, I would say I don't know. Can anyone change that much over the course of just 3 months? But if you ask me how I've changed since my days in high school/JC, it would be a lot. And that's how experiences shape you.
This was a long rambly post that went on forever, but it did accomplish something - it proved that you cannot sum up a summer in a blog post. And I don't mind that at all. After all, can life be summed up in a book? Of course not - it has to be seen and felt to be lived.
To everyone: I can only express the greatest gratitude even though you may never read this, it's ok. I hope these feelings have somehow transferred through other means. May our paths cross again in the future and I hope we all can meet again!
cheers
*[-witchstone-]*
[music : 夏音 GLAY]
[mood : reflective]
[food : beef noodles? =X]
[grateful for : my friends, and the experiences I have had this summer]Labels: internship, New York, thoughts
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Doing Nothing
Hello
For the past 2 nights, I set myself zero agenda except eating a healthy dinner and watching stuff on my laptop... Life has never been so good!!!
This week has been pretty quiet at work, things have never been busier for my team and as a result, no one really has time to give me stuff to do. (I honestly don't think an intern makes anyone's lives easier since we essentially know nothing and have to be taught everything from scratch and whatever we do has to be checked - resulting in more work for everyone around. I'm really grateful that people bother at all. ^_^") Honestly, I didn't really mind because I always feel bad hounding other people for stuff to "help them with" (like I said, I don't really think I'm helping so much as I'm bothering but I swear I try my best to be helpful) and instead, I could work on my parts of the summer project - the deadline of which is fast approaching and trust me, it's apprehension all around.
I think we essentially have a structure and the content, it just needs filtering and sorting, plus a hell of a good presentation. Having never had a structured internship in my life, the summer started with me really looking forward to the project but looking back, I feel like it was educational but not necessarily something I'd like to do again. (Probably after the internship, everyone will look back with fond memories but currently we're all dying together.) I actually cannot wait to submit it but at the same time, I don't quite want to submit it because I really do enjoy the internship and wish this summer would go on forever.
Except of course, it won't. And going back to Ann Arbor, seeing everyone again, and having a ton of fun in senior year is something I'm actually looking forward to. Even if it means that summer is over and school is coming, and after that the real world.
It's far too early right now (2 weeks too early) to be looking back on anything. I feel like retrospective reflection should be done, you know. Retrospectively. As opposed to currently. And certainly, I don't think my opinion of my internship so far will change very much from now till 2 weeks later but there's a certain gravitas to reflecting on something for real, instead of you know, simply looking back on what I've learned "so far".
However, it is never too early to start looking for a job and thus with a bit more exposure to the field, I have been looking around online, while waiting for an internet article to load for instance, or while that damn document attempts to feebly open on MS Word/Excel/Powerpoint. (I am now disturbingly good at being able to print stuff perfectly, and at making things look pretty and organized, and at being completely detail-obsessed right down to the last double-space between words you can barely see and fullstops/periods that shouldn't be there.) There are some awesome companies that are internationally located (ie: has Asia offices! Woo!) and sound incredibly fun to work for.
In fact today, my manager kindly invited me to a meeting on branding and it was fascinating. Like, seriously fascinating. (I think it was partially the guy who presented who was extremely enthusiastic and completely captured my attention...)
Just as I've always been interested in how people think, I've also always been interested in how brands build this air of mystique around themselves or whatever else it is they wish to convey. How did Louis Vuitton grow to become such a marketing phenomenon? How did Coca-Cola build itself into such an ubiquitous brand? How did Sony become the leader of innovation at one point? And so on.
Not just the advertising campaigns that surround these companies, but also the brand's image, the brand's ambassadors, the brand's essence. How were all these built into seemingly tangible things? How did we come to associate all these qualities with that brand? How can we change people's perceptions of something just by switching around a few things and having a snazzy campaign?
The ever evolving world of advertising, marketing, PR, etc is dizzyingly exciting to me. And learning more and more about the process, and who works on these things is equally interesting. Watching the senior people work makes me aspire to be like them - smart, successful, stylish! And being a workaholic - but I don't think that's a problem. Contrary to my usual lazy, messy self, getting work makes me happy and I'm actually fairly organized (apparently anyway).
I guess that's why it's ok to just sit in my air-less room some nights, and have absolutely no agenda. Like tonight. It gave me time for digestion, processing and reflection. ^_^
"If you listen to your heart the whole night through, your sunny someday will come one day soon to you."
- Pink Martini, Hang On Little Tomato
cheers
*[-witchstone-]*
[music : Pink Martini!]
[mood : tired]
[food : salad! With roast chicken!]
[grateful for : the chance to meet all these wonderful people and learn so many things]Labels: Ann Arbor, internship, Job Hunt, New York, thoughts
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Home in a Mango Swiss Roll
Hello,
I just gobbled up a slice of mango swiss roll that I bought just hours ago from Chinatown and like my tweet says,
"The taste of home in a mango swiss roll from chinatown is more precious than the best cupcake you can buy in nyc."
At first I was going to blog about how I haven't had time to blog and everything but then after eating that one slice of mango swiss roll (and having 豆腐花 in the fridge, more on that later)... It just reminded me of home such that I had to blog about it. Simple things like that make another place feel more like somewhere you belong. Or at least harbor a sense of familiarity.
So today I went to Chinatown to eat 小笼包 with some people and before that went shopping for all the Chinesey-homey stuff (aka food) that I miss being all the way uptown.^_^" Going to Chinatown on a weekday evening was much more calm and peaceful than the daytime/weekend periods that I've experienced before. Perhaps going down there after work isn't such a bad idea after all... (But the commute back is such a drag.)
Although the mango swiss rolls here aren't as fluffy and delicious as the ones in Singapore, the slice I ate reminded me so much of the swiss rolls I used to inhale while in Singapore... And then it occurred to me that, perhaps if you were to get me to choose between the not-so-good mango swiss roll, and the best cupcake available in NYC, the one closer and more precious to my heart would win.
(This is probably also why in a battle of salad VS 菜... Guess which would win?)
After that, I went to buy 豆腐花. (I am eternally grateful to my brother for telling me about this place.) I was going to buy some for the friends I was meeting but when I got to the counter and ordered (in Cantonese!!! So proud of myself. Haha), the (usually) grumpy uncle laughed and told me he only had 2 bowls left. I was so shocked that he laughed (he can laugh??) that I just said, 好啦！两碗。 (in Cantonese again! Still so proud of myself. Haha) (forgot to be a bit more polite but anyway...)
When I was digging for change, I noticed he was telling the 2 guys behind me that he only had cold 豆腐花 left. I wonder why he didn't tell me that. Perhaps the hot one is what he would sell to me because it tastes better anyway.^_^
(My 豆腐花 is in the fridge though, getting cold as we speak =X I'm going to eat it for breakfast. Wee! I'd rather have fresh hot 豆腐花 however...)
Even though I'd probably never order in Cantonese in Singapore, somehow I do it here. Isn't it strange? But getting the 2 bowls of 豆腐花, something I missed so much in Ann Arbor, felt like it didn't make any difference because what I had in my hands was a taste of home and something that I wouldn't be able to obtain otherwise. Even though the sugar syrup here doesn't have the fragrance of pandan like in Singapore. Even though the 豆腐花 in Singapore is much smoother and less jelly-like (even though the one here is a more than adequate substitute to be honest). Even though they don't come in giant plastic containers for some ridiculously cheap price (they are a dollar here, not too bad at all)...
In that one moment when the 豆腐花 or Mango Swiss Roll or 小笼包 is consumed, it feels like home again. And I guess the memory of it is what really makes the difference.
(I lied about eating the 豆腐花 for breakfast... I kept for one for breakfast and caved so I'm eating one now =X At least it's healthy? And it feels like home.)
When I learned that one of the managers on my account hadn't gone home for 3 years and only just went home over one weekend, I was shocked. How can someone not go home for 3 years? And then it dawned on me that home can exist in many places and pockets of time. Once upon a time, I would have scoffed at you if you told me I'd call Ann Arbor home. I always called it "dorm" (in freshman year) rather than "home". But as the months passed, and I grew more and more accustomed to life there, I really did start calling it home. "I'm going back to my house" "I'll head back home" "See you at my house?" and so on. There it was very much relationships that bonded people together.
Here, in this vast lonely city of New York, I don't think its all about the relationships so much - but the fact that almost everyone can find some semblance of home in something that is familiar to them. Be it a food item (the taste of home), a fragrance (the smell of home), a cacophony of sound (the sound of home), or a place (the sight of home), I think that in a big metropolis like this, there's a place for everyone somewhere.
New York is not a particularly friendly city. Nor is it particularly welcoming. But if you're able to carve out a niche for yourself, there is space to do that. As your little hollow grows bigger, so do spaces for the relationships that come into your life. And maybe, that's how home is created.
cheers
*[-witchstone-]*
[music : Halo Beyonce]
[mood : tired]
[food : 豆腐花!]
[grateful for : being able to eat these yummy foods that remind me of home ^_^]Labels: edibles, New York, thoughts
Tuesday, July 06, 2010
False Argument
I have noted one thing.
As the temperature gauge soars to record levels of heat, the old adage that I've been trying to apply for the past few days doesn't really work:
心静自然凉
The principle only applies when it really isn't that hot to begin with so as long as you're 静 you'll be 凉.
I tried patiently sitting in the subway car with no airconditioning reading my book. Didn't work.
I tried sitting quietly in my seat and listening to music in my room. Didn't work.
I tried walking calmly home from the subway and from dinner. Didn't work.
It's still too hot.
fanning self,
*[-witchstone-]*
[music : 時の雫 GLAY]
[mood : frazzled by the heat]
[food : ANYTHING COOL]Labels: misc, New York
Friday, June 25, 2010
The Weekend!
Hello,
Rejoice for the weekend has arrived!
I know I should be a lot less excited about the weekend (ie: break and sleep time) and more excited about work (ie: path to my future) but it's really no comparison when you think about waking up times (weekday: EARLY. GROAN. weekend: ANYTIME! YAY!) and stuff you can do/accomplish (weekday: Walk 50 million miles to work. research. weekend: laze around. laundry.).
It's hard to be excited about anything really, since it's so bloody hot all the time. In fact, a great reason that I stayed in the office today despite not having to was the air-conditioning. (I'm shallow. I recognize it, accept it, and have moved on.) Oh, and the fact that going all the way uptown to a hot, airless apartment seemed far less appealing than staying in the office, enjoying the airconditioning and "researching" on "social media".
I know I know. I could have gone somewhere constructive like Kinokuniya at Bryant Park (which I actually contemplated - then I thought about the walk in the hot sun and it vanished rather rapidly) or Barnes & Noble somewhere nearby. You know. The main problem I have with meeting people in the Times Square/Midtown area has got to be the lack of a nice air-conditioned store that I can browse and not feel like I need to buy something. You know, like a bookstore. I love bookstores and have renewed the love after hanging out so much in Barnes & Noble and Kinokuniya which are both fantastic for browsing, although in different ways.
If only Times Square had a nice bookstore. Or even a nice magazine store. Like how Tokyo has Tsutaya - which is not really a bookstore or magazine store but does sell both things anyway. Or Shanghai has 书城! But anyway.
Where was I. O yes. The weekend.
It started off well I must say, with a very relaxed Friday afternoon in the graveyard like office (I swear, summers are the worst time to make people work on a Friday. Especially when there's the World Cup which already reduces productivity.)... Then with the surprise reminder that we were going to see Next to Normal. And there I was, all planned out with Sake Bar Hagi in mind to drink sake, eat tons of おつまみ, and enjoy the evening. But! Thankfully, Next to Normal was exceedingly excellent and I enjoyed every minute of it. =D Very nice.
So anyway, I was feeling a little guilty about the whole yearning for the weekend thing (it'll be worse next week I can tell you, since the July 4th weekend means a long one ^_^) but then I realized that I look forward to the weekend all the time anyway. When I'm at school (ie: I can sleep till 12!!!) or when I'm in Singapore for summer vacation (ie: the parents can pay for my food from now!) or... whenever. The cultural connotation of the "weekend" is so strong. Hence disappearance of guilt. =D Yay.
Here's looking forward to more weekends! And good food! ^_^
cheers
*[-witchstone-]*
[music : Next to Normal!]
[mood : tired]
[food : sukiyaki~]
[grateful for : being able to see awesome Broadway productions on Broadway!]
PS: I'm adding in a new "grateful for ..." thingie in order to express more gratitude for the little things in life. And thus, appreciate it more.=)Labels: New York, thoughts
Monday, June 21, 2010
Welcome to Summer
Hello
Summer is now officially upon us, what with today being the summer solstice and all - otherwise known as the longest day of the year! I would have celebrated more, surely, had it not been so hot and humid and terrible.
Heat repels me. I careen toward those icy cold temperatures of air-conditioned rooms or milder climes. Like north of here! Mmm. Love that kind of weather and I wish the season would just never change to summer. Ever.
Of course, I can't really complain since I enjoy airconditioning in the office everyday - it's a small price to pay for being unable to enjoy the summer outside. Not that I really want to anyway - remember, heat and sun repel me. It's a bit vampire-ish I must admit, this whole avoiding the sun thing. But honestly, after regaining some of my original color (as opposed to brown which is just my natural color masked by a tan) in Ann Arbor during the long cloudy winter months, having it all destroyed in a matter of an hour in the sun is heartbreaking.
I don't even need an hour to get a tan to be honest. 15 minutes and you can see the tan creeping onto my face. Horrors.
But you can let it all blow away, and sip on Cherry Yuzu Soda from Spice Market, or get a brilliant fruit popsicle from Chelsea Market, or hide out in the air-conditioned chambers of the museum.^_^
Ah tempting. Now, why do I go to work again?
cheers
*[-witchstone-]*
[music : I Say a Little Prayer]
[mood : sleepyyy]
[food : haloumi!]Labels: New York, thoughts
Saturday, June 12, 2010
A Trip to Coney Island
Hello
So today we went to Coney Island, just because. There was no real pressing need to go, but then again, is there really a pressing need to go anywhere? (Maybe to work or to the laundry or something but that's another matter...)
As we walked around the boardwalk (it's really nice, except for the whole sun thing), I noticed that their amusement park, aquarium, and the bars and stuff on the boardwalk... It's all very old-school. Like, very very old-school. Honestly, I haven't seen this kind of decor since movies set in some distant past.
Because I noticed all this old-school decor (honestly, a rollercoaster from before the Great Depression?! That is seriously some old stuff.-_-), it reminded me of how Singapore seems intent on removing old things and replacing it with new things. It's not all about conservation and preservation usually, but about "how can we best use this space and make it look good?" and evidently, looking good generally means renovation or complete rebuilding - but rarely restoration unless it's some seriously important building (like that huge-ass building beside the Padang).
I really don't understand that obsession with all things new - like the 5 foot ways of those old buildings in Chinatown. Those are perfect for hiding from the sun and keeping the shops' interiors cool. But look at Orchard Road! Granted, it wouldn't look quite so nice and modern if it had five foot ways - but surely there's a better way to avoid the sun. (I tend to hide under trees but fear for birds releasing their erm... waste anywhere they wanted to =P) Then again, I'm grateful for all those trees and greenery that line every street, road, and sidewalk in Singapore. It makes the heat more tolerable, the streets more sheltered, and the city seem more beautiful.
But anyway, I thought the boardwalk at Coney Island was really nice and when I saw the sea it was really comforting. It's strange because I actually don't really like the beach all that much (sand is annoying and there's too much sun) but the smell of the sea reminded me so much of Singapore/familiarity. O__o Weird.
And it's strange! Because we went whale-watching which took us right out to the ocean but it didn't smell as familiar as when I stood at the beach and smelled the sea. Maybe what I'm used to isn't the smell of the sea per se, but the smell of the sea + city pollution. Hahaha.
When I came to New York City for my very first spring break, I thought WOW CITY!!! and that it reminded me so much of Singapore - there's stuff to do all the time, there's food available everywhere and anytime of the day, there's public transport and tons and tons of people who use it.
But since coming here this time, I realized that New York and Singapore aren't all that similar - for one, they look totally different. [I'm talking about Manhattan here since it's what I'm familiar with...] Another thing is the vastness of this city - it's insane. Just to get across town from the west side to the east took me half an hour by subway. And that's not even including the time it took to go uptown after going to the east side. O__o
The amount of people here is also crazy - I used to think that Raffles Place/CBD area in Singapore was super duper crowded, or Orchard Road on a Saturday. Then I went to Tokyo and saw the vast vast crowds in Shibuya, Shinjuku, Omotesando, Harajuku... You name it, it's PACKED. And I saw the rush hour train traffic in Hong Kong which made me realize that Singapore trains really aren't that packed after all... Then I came here and looked at Times Square. O MY GOSH. -_-" There's SO MANY PEOPLE there almost ALL the time. And the trains here are 24/7 and no matter what time I'm taking the train at, there are always always people around. It's crazy. X__X
Thanks to this vastness and diversity though, New York City has so much to offer - as long as you can pay for it. Except for my friends and family (and maybe some foods special to Singapore... oh and my ROOM/house!), there's almost nothing here that can be considered lacking. Singapore food on a limited schedule? No problem! Just head to Chinatown! Have more time on your hands? No worries there too! There's a direct train to Queens! I'm amazed by this place. Haha.
Of course, this place is currently lacking a crucial factor called "home" for me so maybe it's not the perfect location just yet. Then again... perfection is a pursuit and if you find it, what else is there to look for? Life would be so boring.
cheers
*[-witchstone-]*
[music : 听海 张惠妹 + さくらんぼ 大塚 愛]
[mood : ^_^]
[food : CHINESE FOOD! ^_^v]Labels: Coney Island, New York, thoughts
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
Hell's Kitchen
Hello
While sitting in the theater just now, waiting for This Wide Night to begin, I typed up this entry which I will try to add on to now.=) This Wide Night was awesome by the way... Holding the audience in rapt attention for 90 minutes straight is no mean feat and just by 2 very excellent actresses. =)
I've realized the charm of Hell's Kitchen which, superficially, is relatively grubby and unkempt. Look around you and there are uninspiringly dusty roads, piles of dog poo everywhere (or remnants of dog poo), tired building facades that have seen better days... Then you blink, and the scenery changes. You notice, for example, the chic interior of that apartment building, and that of-the-moment look on that pretty girl who just walked by, and the tall glass buildings in the distance.
So, and I might be wrong (not a definite impossibility), perhaps therein lies the charm of Hell's Kitchen, beloved by young executives, artsy types, and party-goers. The charm of a gorgeous interior that belies it's outward look; the mystique of achieving luxury without looking luxurious; the secret roof top garden you possess that no one can see.
Oh, you know how people nowadays don't want to be seen carrying a flashy logo bag anymore. They want to be carrying that bag that is uber luxury but you'll never know it till, oops! I just saw that iconic lining...isn't it expensive?! Indeed, the days of flashy fashion might yet linger, but the high fashion meets couture might yet be on the rise.
Speaking of roof-tops... The magic of roof-tops! Just a moment ago from the off-broadway theatre's building window, I saw a marvellous rooftop playground that stood out so brilliantly against the drab background. The splashes of color! The cute seal chairs! The laughing children! If you have something like that to look forward to just upstairs (or something more age-appropriate), it would be a marvellous place to stay indeed. And why stop at just a playground? This one in particular was located just above a parking structure - innovative use of space right there.
I suppose it's all about space maximization. In a space-strapped city like New York, Tokyo, Singapore... people have to learn to maximize what little space they have and make it beautiful. Or as beautiful as the space will allow. So all you can afford is a tiny little apartment in New York City... Ok! So let's make the most of it. Get a trendy neighborhood. Pick out a nice apartment (it's not the outside that matters silly. The inside is what counts!). Select interior design with care. Move in. Tada!
So yes, when my brother first pointed out Hell's Kitchen, I was terribly unimpressed (sorry dear residents of the area) and pretty much decided that it was quite a dumpy place to live in. But as I walked around, and saw more of the place, and sat at the theater in a moment of quiet reflection... I realized that every place has its own charm.
Sure, there might be dog poo on your doorstep, but just around the corner is a nice diner for a late night snack. Dusty streets? Please. New York is full of them. Old buildings? Hello, it's historical.
Yup. There's a positive way to look at everything, and once in a while, if you open your eyes and really look around you, maybe you'll learn something new.
cheers
*[-witchstone-]*
[music : 黒毛和牛上塩タン焼680円 大塚愛]
[mood : tired...]
[food : BONCHON CHICKEN! xD]
Sam: I'm being hardworking okay. Haha.Labels: New York, thoughts
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Away From Greenery
Hello,
Currently, I'm on the Bolt Bus, bolting back to New York City's Penn Station to catch a train home, returning from Washington DC. Well, we should have arrived by now had the traffic cooperated but Memorial Day weekend is such and we are still on the road.
Although I hadn't realized it as much when I was here, New York City is pretty much devoid of greenery. What exists does so in large quantities (re: Central Park or other smaller Parks like Riverside), but you can hardly say that you are surrounded by trees and other such green beings.
On the other hand, in DC, there were vast quantities of plant life everywhere and boy, did it feel good. =) Yep, I had forgotten the joy of being surrounded by trees and nature which is possible in Ann Arbor (hello, wilderness everywhere) and Singapore (trees lining every road to shelter you from the heat). Perhaps it is for this reason that NYC can get so bloody hot. X__x Horrors.
And so, with such a sad thought in mind, what conclusion did I come up with? Spend more time at parks! Go to seek out the wilderness more often! [OK, there's hardly any wilderness so to speak in NYC but I guess the equivalent would be the parks...?] And, get a fan to generate some longed-for breeze. The heat is killing me.
The weekend in DC was super chill and relaxed... We didn't achieve very much [didn't cover every single museum, or memorial, or... sight-seeing locale] but we did have a nice weekend with home-cooked food [hooray!], a play [very funny], and an art gallery [gorgeous - should have gone there earlier. REGRET.]. Not that you can't have nice weekends in NYC, I'm sure that's entirely possible... But the strength of DC is the free museums and free attractions =P It makes life a lot less stressful when you don't feel you need to make every penny of the admission ticket worth its weight in time.
I missed the home-cooked food the most though. Being able to cook for myself in Ann Arbor has spoiled me for sure... X__X It's back to take-out, and eating out. *gulps* And healthy meals, of course. Yogurt and fruit anyone?
Oh look, we're entering a tunnel to NYC, and it's crowded as hell! I think we'll be stuck here for a while so let me go back to snoozing. It's very soothing.
cheers
*[-witchstone-]*
[music : Anima Mundi Rentrer en Soi]
[mood : dizzy from the bus ride X__X]
[food : vegetables!]Labels: New York, thoughts, Washington DC
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Jaywalking
Hello
Nope I'm not talking about that hilarious segment on the Jay Leno show... What I'm thinking about instead is the illegal crossing of roads when the lights have yet to change.
It amused me, when I came to New York, because I have noticed that jaywalking all over the world is essentially, well, the same.
First, you have to peer carefully around that car/truck/street light that's blocking your sight, while you gingerly inch forward toward the road.
Then, when it is safe, you either stroll over in a luxuriously slow and calm manner...
Or you experience mild panic when you realize you were wrong and there's actually a car hurtling your way, and you run.
Finally, you reach your destination (the other side of the road), heave a silent sigh of relief, and carry on your way, with no feelings of guilt whatsoever.
Sure, it's pretty dangerous to attempt to outrun a car who is careening in your direction, and I'm pretty sure most parents do not approve of their little kids attempting to cross the road in such a foolhardy manner. But particularly in big cities, no one has the patience to stand there, waiting for the light to change, before slowly crossing the street. I used to be like that in Singapore, couldn't wait to cross the street and just carry on wherever I was heading for, charging across the roads and getting angry horn blasts in my direction...
But then I got to Ann Arbor, and life slowed down. Car coming? Oh let it pass... won't take more than a couple of minutes anyway. Red light? Let me stand here and watch life go by... I didn't realize of course, that I was doing this until I came to New York and the pace of life picked up. I love the city. Essentially, I'm a city girl at heart... living in quiet countryside is really more a holiday thing than a permanent thing. But then I realized... is living in such a fast, high-stress, crowded place the best thing for yourself? Not really...
Before, I would have done anything to live and work in New York City. Why not? It's a place with fantastic opportunities, a place to meet people from everywhere, a place with anything you could ever want... But the living conditions? Urgh. It's dusty (too many cars, too few trees), crowded (people everywhere), expensive (lowly paychecks like mine probably won't cut it for sure...)... Now, after living in Ann Arbor, I've realized that the quality of living is really important for long-term residency.
That said though, working in a big city would still be my first choice. Living though... maybe commuting wouldn't be so bad.=P
It's bizarre how my mind works. Haha. However did I connect all this, just from the initial thought of jaywalking? =P
cheers
*[-witchstone-]*
[music : Need You Now Lady Antebellum + ロビンソン スピッツ]
[mood : HOT. The weather is horrible xP]
[food : 豆腐花！！！]
PS: I've added a little character thingie that changes everyday to the side bar!! It's located under the credits and is uber cute. ^_^Labels: Ann Arbor, New York, thoughts
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Living the High Line
Hello
Am currently on the Acela Express to Boston from New York City, and enjoying the privileges all weekend that you cannot experience on a student budget. =P I am grateful by the way, in case no one has noticed.
The whole graduation weekend has involved eating like a king (or queen, depending on whether you're feminist or not) and it's not even over because we have one more awesome meal awaiting when we return to New York from Boston. =D YAY.
Unfortunately, the crappy weather has been a turn-off, what with all the rain and wind... And I'm sure my poor friends in Ann Arbor have not been spared. I guess at least they have a place to call home, in every relative sense of the word, whereas I have been moving around, and taking each day as it comes.
I was pretty pleased to arrive in New York just last week, thinking that I could basically while away the vacation and do nothing with my life before starting the internship with full speed. Unfortunately, it hasn't quite worked out as planned (3 broadway shows and 2 giant dinners under my belt so far) and thus, sleep is a distant memory. Still, it's nice to enjoy the city without a student budget for once.=) The food is amazing (eaten everything from streetside dining to three star delights), and the broadway shows too.
Posting photos will come soon (I hope) and then, the long days of nothingness! ^_^ Oh I cannot wait.
cheers
*[-witchstone-]*
[music : Daybreak's Bell L'arc en Ciel]
[mood : happy tummy]
[food : too many to dream of~]
Sam: Thanks for the reminder ^_^Labels: New York, thoughts
Sunday, May 09, 2010
The Packing Continues (And the Laptop Fan Incessantly Protests)
Hello,
So thanks to Sam (who's presence is seriously a blessing in disguise), my packing has actually been making some sort of progress. Most of my stuff are already in boxes, half of which has been moved to the storage area... and those unpacked are generally meant to be packed away in my luggage, and taken to New York.
I need to get cracking on the whole luggage for New York thing. xP I've already packed up the box of things my parents are kindly bringing back to Singapore for me, but everything else is still in pretty much, a scattered mess.
Organized mess that is. I can still find everything despite what seems to be chaos (organized chaos) in the house. Somehow... People's minds work in strange ways.
I wondered how people can be so neat on the computer but not in life (like study tables... rooms... and whatnot). And I realized... that maybe it's just easier to keep the computer neat as opposed to physical stuff. Putting things in folders is painless but packing things on a collapsing shelf is not. Which, I guess, somehow explains my problem with keeping my room and table clean and neat. Things that are easily stowed and packed away out of sight are where they should be... But things that don't have a permanent place in my life are just... scattered around, waiting to come into use.
Are relationships like that too?
I really hope not... Can you imagine if someone who is a permanent fixture in your life is stowed in a fixed position of your conscience but suddenly... disappears? Unlike a file or a book that can take the place of the missing object, I wonder what can replace that relationship that is gone...
This isn't an emotional post -_-" Just wondering about life in general, since I have all this time on my hands (apart from the whole packing thing xO...). And honestly, I can't wait to get to New York and just rot there as much as possible until my brain is needed again.^_^" Somehow, when things slow down, there's nothing that pleases me more than doing stuff that allows my brain to just drift off into... nowhere in general. (Which is the entire point.)
While typing this entire entry (and slogging through slowww internet), my laptop fan has been whirring incessantly. I wonder if it's a sign. The last time this happened, I had to get the fan replaced. Please laptop, please hold out for just one more year!!! I swear I'll take care of you!!!
Although this post doesn't really seem to have any point whatsoever, it makes me wonder if having a blog has any point whatsoever. Airing your thoughts in a public space (and what could be more public or accessible than the internet? All you need is a connection, a website address, and the ability to understand that language.) as opposed to a personal journal. Do people really care what you think...? Or is this simply a form of catharsis in a public way?
Something I read before said that packing up your table is like clearing your mind. I wonder if this move is having the same effect on me.
cheers
*[-witchstone-]*
[music : haven't listened to much lately]
[mood : ^_~]
[food : mmmm something hopefully healthy...?]Labels: Ann Arbor, New York, thoughts
Monday, December 28, 2009
Empire State of Mind
New York!!!!
Concrete jungle where dreams are made of,
There's nothing you can’t do,
Now you're in New York!!!
These streets will make you feel brand new,
the lights will inspire you,
Let's hear it for New York, New York, New York
We're in the city of lights! And bright it is indeed, especially at Times Square where you wonder how much the electricity bill costs and how that amount of money could be spent elsewhere... Then again, just like at Rockefeller Center, and all the Christmas lighting... it's all about creating an atmosphere of holiday cheer in a time of economic gloom I guess. =P
Like Alicia Keys sings, "the lights will inspire you".
After a couple of days in quiet Boston (whoever said it was a big city is obviously lying), we're in a city that never stops, never sleeps, and never leaves you alone. The whole atmosphere of New York is really charged like how a city should be, teeming with people, it has a totally different atmosphere from just a city (if you think about it, Ann Arbor is technically a city too =P), it's a metropolitan and the economic center of America. Boston is so quiet! And dead in comparison. I'm not complaining about that but I guess that in the end, we're all city kids and living in a big city is what we're used to.^_^"
Once we're done exploring New York and absorbing all the good food that we can, it's off to Washington DC, then home in Ann Arbor.^_^ I'm kind of looking forward to sleeping endlessly and wasting my days away. Haha!
Anime, Manga, Dorama. I'm looking forward to that, and to eating more on this trip~ YAY!
cheers
*[-witchstone-]*
[music : Empire State of Mind Jay-Z and Alicia Keys + Gackt]
[mood : The Empire of Light / Waterlilies]
[food : KUNJIP! =P]Labels: New York, thoughts
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Back from New York...
Hello!
Gackt is officially in Singapore as reported in the local Chinese papers!!! =D BEAMS. Jiamin, Zhilei, Vivienne, Brenda, Calissa, and all my lovely friends in Singapore, I hope you get to catch a glimpse of his droolfulness! [At least drool for me, thankyou =D] Somehow, even though I'm not there and can't go for the event [not that I would go anyway, it's a fanclub only event...] somehow, deep inside somewhere, I'm still happy that at least Singapore isn't like a random and unknown location to Gackt and his fans from now on.^_^ *nationalistic pride* Haha... Go discover the fabulousness that is Singapore!!! [and its food but not its weather]
Anyway, I just got back last night from New York [thanks Ted!] and finished my exam not too long ago... X__X Going to start writing my paper as soon as possible because its due ... very soon. DIES. (T_T) After being in New York over fall break, I must say that a little part of me regrets going because I'm so very tired. But at the same time, I thought visiting companies would be great exposure and it was! Very much so.=) I think I learned quite a bit about working in the fashion industry from a department store point of view - it's probably pretty different from how smaller boutiques and brands themselves operate.
That said however, I'm still unsure about what I want to do. I guess I'll think about that once I'm done with all these crappy papers and exams and projects. Haha.^_^" Time to start that elusive internship hunt!!!
In the meantime, I guess I'll share some of those lovely! food photos [just to procrastinate coughs] that I took while I was in New York.=D Beams.
Cathedral Church of Saint John the Divine - so pretty!!! I love the Gothic architecture but I'm sad I couldn't get a decent photo of the stained glass window from inside =(
Extremely! awesome lobster roll and thin, crispy fries at Mary's Fish Camp! SO GOOD.=D =D =D Huge chunks of lobster meat, enrobed in a light creamy dressing, stuffed into a buttery, crisp roll, and served with a mound of deliciously light fries. Mmm. The fries weren't quite my favorite but the lobster roll has converted me.^_^"
At Momofuku Milk Bar with our Cereal Milk Softserve! It was so delicious!!! =D I loved the ice-cream... Even if it did taste kinda like instant cereal/Horlicks from Singapore - but no matter the flavors were yum~
At the MoMA - The Empire of Light, II by Rene Magritte. I love this painting - it's so peaceful and photograph like.^_^
Walked over to Time Warner Center and had tea at Bouchon Bakery!!! ^_^ This is my delicious~ millecrepe [they call it a crepe cake] which went EXCEEDINGLY fabulously with the fig jam, hazelnut ice-cream, and fresh figs. YUM. xD On its own, the millecrepe was yummy, especially with the crunch of the caramelized top - but it was elevated to a whole new level once you added the fig jam [which was SO GOOD. SO SO GOOD.] and the amazing hazelnut ice-cream. Yum...
Had dinner with my lovely friends from the KCJS program... We ordered this!! And I finally learned the name of that superb unagi rice bowl I had in Kyoto!!! This is 名古屋名物うなぎひつまぶし!!! [Nagoya's specialty dish: Unagi hitsumabushi] Basically, it's rice, layered/topped with delicious grilled unagi, and eaten in 3 ways as described in my album on Facebook.^_^ Yummy!!! Now that I know the name, I can forever go hunt it down in Japan. Mwahaha!
And although I was extremely tempted to post the extremely divine lemon tart from Bouchon Bakery, I shall instead share this super duper delicious Belgian wafel I had from the truck wafels and dinges!
A Belgian wafel - light and crispy - topped with spekuloos spread and covered in a dusting of powdered sugar. YUM. xD xD xD I haven't had a decent waffle in ages so this really made my day!!! Haha... Especially with the spicy yummy spekuloos spread [have I mentioned that I absolutely adore spekuloos? Well there you go. I absolutely adore spekuloos.] that coated the wafel just right.
I ate so much good food in New York it was ridiculous! It's time to go on a veggie diet in AA. Haha... The rest of the photos will go up on Facebook... Eventually.
cheers
*[-witchstone-]*
[music : 小悪魔へヴん Gackt]
[mood : tired...]
[food : Vegetables!!! And Chicken with Gingko Nut Soup =D]
Jiamin: When!!! are you coming to visit!!!Labels: edibles, Gackt, Japanese Food, New York, umich
Saturday, October 17, 2009
I want to be a part of it - New York, New York
If I can make it there, I'll make it anywhere
Its up to you - New York, New York
I'm in New York City! =D Took an early flight this morning [giant thanks to CL and GL!~ =D] and then tackled the horrendously huge New York subway map [somehow, I think Paris, Tokyo, and London have comparably large and extensive maps but those have much better layouts X__X] to find myself in the vicinity of Columbia University! Exciting.=D
Coming from the "countryside" of Ann Arbor to the bright city lights of New York City, the difference in people is vast. While people are friendlier and kinder, moving at a slower pace in the good ol' Midwest, life here is much like Singapore - fast-paced, and please-get-out-of-my-way-you're-blocking-me. I can see the benefits (?), I suppose, of both places - though I like the slow life of the pretty university town I usually call home, I think I'll always be a city girl at heart.=P
Just went to see the Cathedral of St. John the Divine which is like, super duper near my brother's apartment after lunch.=D It's so pretty!!! Though Notre Dame will always be my number one [the only reason being that it was one of the first Gothic cathedrals I'd ever seen =P and I adore Gothic architecture], the National Cathedral in DC being a close number two, this one was very nice.^_^ The stained glass and soaring ceilings with elegant pillars will always be my favorite parts of Gothic cathedrals. [The Vatican was marvellous too - but in a totally different way.]
Anyway, yesterday we were engaged in being "props" [as GL put it] for Ted when we went to the Arb to have a photoshoot!!! We had several nice shots [I think??] but I guess I'll have to wait for our resident photographer to edit the photos and clean them up before I see the final product.^_^ I'm excited!~ There were some yay-neoprint type of photographs amidst the glory of fall, one haircutting scene [like from Gundam 00's ending sequence!], "fashion" shot [sadly none of us will ever be real models], and in the LOTR field!! Hee. So I'm very excited to see the end result.^_^ I'll definitely post them when I get hold of the files...
In the meantime, I need to start thinking of smart questions to ask at the company visits, and of course, study for my exam on Wednesday [gulp]. On top of the serious aspects, I think it's time to soak in New York City once again, enjoy the fantastic food here, and catch up with my friends!!! [I'm most excited about the last 2 options heehee.]
Heading for Bouchon Bakery and Momofuku later!!! ^_^ I can't wait to see my friends again!
cheers
*[-witchstone-]*
[music : New York New York Frank Sinatra, Sway Dean Martin]
[mood : ^_^ FOOD! *_*]
[food : Bouchon Bouchon!]
Whenever I hear the phrase "New York", the song "New York New York" will play in my head....
Jiamin: 囧? It's pronounced jiong3. Haha. SO CUTE RIGHT. Granola is DELICIOUS!! I love it.=D Especially with lots of nuts and dried fruit! Do you know. My closetful of black clothes plan? IT IS FAILING. I WEEP. (T_T) I think I will have to change it to "Black with a Pop of Color". Hahaha. As for bunnies, I LOVE BUNNIES. In fact let me share a photo now:
SO CUTE!! Ahhhh!! It's SO CUTE!!! xD xD xD I can't take it. IT IS SO CUTE.=D BUNNYWABBIT! Haha. I think it's fantastic when you can change the concept of being "cheapskate" and "poor" into having "survival skills".=PLabels: Ann Arbor, New York, thoughts, umich
Friday, February 29, 2008
A Fabulous New York Trip! - Spring Break 2008
Hello!
Having returned from sunny New York to snowy Ann Arbor with piles of clothing and a happy stomach, I must say it has been a rather successful trip! The sky has been kindly pouring snow on us these past 2 days in Ann Arbor and outside is covered in a blanket of soft white fluff [correction: THICK soft white fluff].=) I'm the only person I know rejoicing at this though.. Isn't that sad?
Anyway, I've decided to do a round-up post about New York rather than boring everyone with detail after detail of the trip! [I can't remember everything anyway considering my memory is like that of a slightly more intelligent goldfish.]
Sightseeing
Most Amazing Cool Streets
SoHo
This is a tough one.. I guess it’d be a tie between SoHo [which sort of takes the lead here] and Greenwich Village [which has quaint streets but is less classy than SoHo is]. I really like SoHo because it has beautiful stores and lots of stuff to look at. On the other hand, Greenwich Village has a lot of cute shops that are a little quirky and unique. So both really have their good points and I really like them both!
Greenwich Village
Most Beautiful Space in New York City
I vote Central Park with no hesitation whatsoever. Despite certain paths that were iced over, I really really enjoyed myself in Central Park which is big, spacious and beautiful! The planners of the original city of NYC were extremely thoughtful in the landscape of the park. Every part of Central Park is pretty even in winter when everything is covered in snow! ^_^ It’s a great spot for just walking around, exercising or [in the summer] picnicking!
The Lake at Central Park
Most Adorable Spot
This goes to Nintendo World! They have too many kawaii Pokemon characters and Super Mario characters!!! And of course, their collection of limited edition DS Lites doesn’t hurt either. ;)
Giant Pika Pika!
Most Stunning Area
Brooklyn Bridge as seen from South Street Seaport takes the prize for this one. I think it really helped that we went there on a gorgeously sunny day with clear blue skies and wonderful weather! Looking at the majestically large bridge linking Manhattan and Brooklyn together is a magnificent sight especially when paired with calm waters and a crystal clear sky.^_^ It’s also very soothing just sitting there enjoying the sights, the sunshine and the sea breeze blowing past gently.
Brooklyn Bridge is majestic no?
Most Gorgeous Library
is located in Columbia University and has the most amazingly well placed study spots that all have fantastic wireless access and easy access to a power point. Why can’t Ann Arbor have that too! (T_T) They have little alcoves for you to study at by yourself and lots of tables, each equipped with power points for everyone sitting at the table. Their collection of books looks insanely large as well.
Most Amazing Museum of Knowledge
It’s a favourite for most people – the American Museum of Natural History! It’s full of exhibits of all sorts of things from space related stuff to animals to humans and so on. You’ll definitely find something you’re interested in there. Most of the exhibits are extremely informative and very well laid out, such as the Ocean one and the one on human evolution regarding arts and culture and stuff. We didn’t spend nearly enough time in there but we were all fainting from hunger so we had to leave. We also spent more money to watch the Space Show [$16.50 for admission with one show – either the Space Show, Imax or Special Exhibition] which was very very good.
Most Fabulous Art Museum
The Metropolitan Museum of Art wins this! Called the Met for short, it is full of art for everyone! There are the classics in the form of Greek and Egyptian art carrying on to the Modern painters and Impressionists and then you’ve got the Modern painters and photography as well as the Costume Institute! With such a wonderfully varied collection, I think the Met is a wonderful place for a first-timer or someone familiar with art. I had a lot of fun going through all my favourite Impressionist artists, Japanese art and the Costume Institute. Rachel had a ton of fun going through all the Greek and Roman art and sculptures. And we checked out all the galleries that we passed through as well.=)
A beautiful piece by a Russian painter.
A beautiful dress by Jean Paul Gaultier in the Costume Institute
Shopping
Most Exciting Computer Store
The Big Apple Store in the Big Apple! ^_^ Located on Fifth Avenue near 58th Street, this Apple store is amazingly pretty! =D =D =D And they have rows of MacBook Airs for you to play with… Like how I updated the last entry from there.xD There are also all the iPod Touches and iPhones you could ever want to play with. And of course, the newest Apple launches.
Most Exciting Toy Store
It has got to be F.A.O. Schwarz! Even though the Ferris Wheel in Toys R Us was exciting, the quality and variety of toys available at F.A.O. is stunning to say the very least. The vast collection they have of handcrafted dolls and teddy bears was a joy to look at and I loved looking at all the “couture” creations for the dolls. Haha. It also helped that they had the softest stuffed animals imaginable, a whole collection of stuffed Harry Potter creatures and a giant candy section of sheer happiness!
Most Amazing Supermarket Trip
Having been told by my father that I have to go there, I didn’t hesitate in dragging my friends along with me into the giant Whole Foods at Time Warner Centre. Located in the basement, the Whole Foods there is amazingly well stocked with everything from perfect looking capsicums/peppers to organic everything to readymade fresh and frozen meals. I’ve never seen a place where they stack the vegetables in rows in order of colour! The ready made food section had the juiciest supermarket roast chicken I’ve ever had and it was so good! Even the breast meat was palatable because it wasn’t too dry and the thigh meat was amazingly delicious, especially when dipped in the juices!
Beautifully laid out vegetables.
The Fabulous Roast Chicken!
Most Amazing Deals for Clothes
Forever 21 and H&M!!! My favourite stores because when they have sales, even when you go crazy buying up stuff, you still don’t spend that much money for the amount of clothing you get! Never buy from Forever 21 in Singapore.. It’s so inexpensive in the US that it makes the clothes in Singapore look totally overpriced! Plus if you go to the Forever 21 at Herald Square [34th Street and Avenue of the Americas/Sixth Avenue] and the H&M at Fifth Avenue [in the main district near the Cathedral and Rockefeller], you’ll get fabulous clothes at low-ish prices. Great stuff! I love shopping in the USA!
Most Awe-Inspiring Store
Tiffany & Co. at Wall Street is the store we visited! We really should have visited the Fifth Avenue location but I guess some things can’t be helped. They have the most amazingly pretty jewellery ever and you really just want to buy the whole first level [where all the expensive pieces are..]. =D The second level had the chunkier pieces and the Tiffany’s silver, houseware, etc collections. The staff there were wonderfully friendly as well so it was a very nice change from the snooty staff members in Singapore.
Most Quirky Store
I adore Anthropologie! It’s like the upmarket version of Urban Outfitters in a fabulous way.=) I love all the bohemian-style products they have and I really really adore their clothes and household items! I found these gorgeous lampshades that I really adored and the cutest teapots and tea cups! But I really like the clothing they carry although it’s seriously unafforable.
I love the window displays!
Eating
Most Amazing Sandwich
The Banh Mi from Mott Street in Chinatown! =D It was … Gorgeously amazingly good. The pork bits, the ham, the cucumbers, the radish-carrot mixture and the coriander all went amazingly well together! And it really helps that for $3.25 you get a giant sandwich cut into half [$4.50 for the vegetarian version which is amazingly good as well] and bursting with juices and ingredients! So good. I think I could eat Vietnamese sandwiches everyday!
The absolutely AMAZING pork bits!
Most Amazing Burger Meal
Shake Shack takes the cake! =D Located in Madison Square Park, I went on a cold, rainy day but the beautifully made fries made the world seem a little sunnier! It’s also pretty affordable at $8 for the most expensive sandwich stuffed full of ingredients. I got the original Shake Shack burger filled with a juicy beef patty, cheese, lettuce and tomato with the Shake Shack sauce sandwiched between yummy bread. Delicious! The fries were some of the best I’ve tasted as well. Yay!
The amazing fries!
Most Inexpensive Eats
Chinatown!!! It is literally a haven for people looking for cheap eats.. For an extremely filling dim sum meal, we paid about $12-15 a person!!! And for one giant bowl of noodles, we paid less than $5 for it.. Guo Tie dumplings are also available at just 5 for a dollar! Amazing deals no? And we bought breakfast there a lot by buying buns and stuff because they cost less than a dollar each. Great deals!!! And we kept buying fruit in Chinatown because it was so inexpensive… 1 pound of cherries for $3 and 1 pound of giant sweet grapes for $1.60! xD xD xD We got a fruit fix as often as we could.
These Char Siew Sous deserve special mention because they were so DAMN good!!! xD
Most Delicious Hot Chocolate
goes to City Bakery near Union Square! ^_^ It’s rich, creamy and warm but not hot! Plus they have this super cool spinning chocolate wheel to mix the hot chocolate into its luscious texture. Yum…
A take-out version!
Most Brilliant Dessert
The cheesecake Kevin and XW brought from.. I don’t know where they got it from actually. But the cheesecake was a variant of New York-style cheesecake that was a richer and creamier version of Japanese cheesecake. And since I love Japanese cheesecake, I’m sure you’ll know that I adored this! Rachel though, loves the New York cheesecake at Benash, along 7th Avenue.
Most “Healthy” Hot Dog Meal
At Papaya King, you have a choice amongst all the meals! I chose the Sausage Combo which comes with a special sausage hot dog with peppers and onions, Cajun Fries and a Tropical Drink of your choice. Since all their tropical drinks are made from pure fruit and nonfat yogurt, they’re pretty good for you! I chose the mango one which reminded me of Lassi which I’m not a big fan of.=P But the hot dog was delicious!
The cluttered counter of Papaya King lends it a certain charm.
Most Healthy Drink
Make Jamba Juice your friend and indulge in a whole new world of fruit drinks! With all sorts of variety available and even free boosters for Immunity and so on, Jamba Juice is a great way to get a refreshing drink that’s good for you! I had a drink composed of pomegranate juice, strawberries, mangoes and peaches which wasn’t too sweet and so yummy!
Most Fabulous Map Guiding Guy
KEVIN!!! ^_^ Thanks to him, none of us got lost [well, not really..] and we had delicious food!!! =D
And cannot forget the travel companions:
Xiaowei!
Rachel!
And of course.. Lihui and Johnathan!!! Who's photos I don't have. COUGHS.
And Nicola, Yan Chen and Jin Yi!! =)
Yay. I had SUCH a good time in New York. For more photos, you can look at them on Facebook:
Part One
Part Two
Part Three
Part Four
Part Five
Part Six
^_^ I would like to thank my travelling companions very much. Haha. And now I shall return to my work, and to marvelling at the HUGE amounts of snow being dumped on us at this very moment.
cheers
*[-witchstone-]*
[music : Distance Utada Hikaru + Zui Chang De Dian Ying Jay Chou]
[mood : xD but tired]
[food : BANH MI!!!]
Jiamin: Haha. You'll be able to feel the New York air if you look at the photos.=D
Zhenrong: Omg. Haven't heard from you in AGES!!! xD xD xDLabels: New York, photo journey
