Driving to New York

Sometimes people will just get frustrated so suddenly without any reason. We usually say "pek cek" in Hokkien which describes the feeling the best. I was like this last Friday night. Out of the sudden, I just have a very bad mood. I don't even know why. I called Chia to express my feeling. I really needed to find a way out. She just replied me, "Why not you come over to my place now?"

I was stunned for only 1 second and I decided to go. That time was about 9pm. Her house is an hour and 45 minutes away from mine by driving. It is in New York, Long Island. I never been there before and it was really dark and cold outside as now is winter but I just could not wait anymore. I hung up the phone and went to pack a few clothes. With a little luggage of mine and a piece of paper showing the direction to her house, I began my journey, alone.

I feel so thankful to my wonderful host family to let me drive across the state with their car. It is indeed a wonderful and precious experience to drive here in US. I went through a huge and really beautiful bridge named George Washington Bridge which lead to The Bronx. The traffic in NY is really crazy. The freeway (We called high way in Malaysia. We have six roads highway but here have 12 roads.) is huge but the drivers are like racers from the movie "Initial D" or "The Fast and The Furious". Most of them are driving in this way. You should experience it here. Thank God I am still alive!

New York City is really a very beautiful city, not only in Manhattan. I would never discover the wonderful of this city if I never drive there. Most of the people would take train to the city. It is convenient but we might miss a lot of fantastic scenary. With the help of the direction from "Mapquest", I finally reached her house safely. I only took one and a half hour to be there. I wonder how I did it. Anyway, I would never forget this precious and awesome experience.

I spent my weekend with Chia and two South African girls (Puleng and Nadima) by having a lot of fun. Chia and I even went to a super expensive restaurant + bistro to have our dinner. Can you imagine a plate of pork chop, just pork chop, whithout any side dishes cost $33? Not included tax and tips. However the food there is so........... yummy! Even now I can still smell and taste the juicy pork chop! Too bad we did not take any photo.

Anyway, thanks again to my dearest host parents. They are so wonderful! Especially my host dad! He is such a nice guy. He not only let me drive the car to New York, he even lend me his Ezpass (just like the Smart Tag)! I saved a lot of $$ by avoiding to pay the tolls by my own. Thank you so much Duke! Thanks to Chia and her host mom for inviting me and I really have a wonderful weekend.

I shared my experience with my friends and they feel so excited to know that I can use my car to go outstation. Therefore we are now planning a road trip to Washington DC this coming April, when is the season of cherry blossom. We plan to drive to Niagara Fall which located near Ohio someday as well. Before these, I am now counting down to go to Carribean with my host family this spring....

New York City

New York City, a city that never sleep.

Long time ago I feel like wanna write about this city. Due to some technical problem, I delayed it until today. To go to this city from my home, it takes me one hour and 40 minutes. It is pretty close and I already been there for about five times. However, the feeling is always different everytime when I was there.

I always remember the 1st time I stood in the middle of Time Square, I can't even believe I am here in America. When I looked at the colourful electronic billboards which surrounding me, the feeling is amazed! It makes me think of the animation of "Shark Tale".



We always say a picture speaks a thousand words. But the beauty and amaze of NYC really cannot show in these photos. If you ever have a chance to come here, you definitely should not miss the chance to view this "City of the World". And it really is.

I joined NYC tour when I was having my orientation in Standford, Connecticut. One of our destiny is Empire State Building. I stood at the top of the highest building in NY (currently) and viewed the city. It was night time but the view was still so impressive.



Whenever think of US, whenever think of NY, you will surely think of -- Statue of Liberty. I shot these photos the 2nd time I visited NY with SzeChia. We travelled on a ferry to look around NYC and the Statue. I just counld not stop snapping the photos, trying to get the best angle of the statue. It was hard because the ferry is moving fast and everybody tried to get a good place to shoot the best photo.



Take a look at Brooklyn Bridge.








New York is made of five boroughs which are Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx and Staten Island. All of them are islands except The Bronx. The Bronx is the only borough of New York that is physically connected to the mainland of United States. Normally what we familiar about NY is only Manhattan, which is the "City of the city". It is a well developed place, including Brooklyn. New York is actually quite a big state that other boroughs are undeveloped especially The Bronx that consisted mostly of cottages and farmlands. Therefore, I only visited a very small portion of New York, which is mainly in Manhattan, the New York City.


Finally, I would like to share with you this photo, the former World Trade Center. It used to be the tallest building in NY before it collapsed, but now it is just a construction site. I still remember the tour guide said, "Nobody believed that this building would collapsed. Everybody thought it was just a big joke when it happened. It was so tall....."

It was.

They are going to rebuild it, but not as tall as before.

Below are the photos I took when I visited the fire station which located next to the former WTC. They carved these pictures on the wall to remember the incident. In fact, those pictures are carved in their hearts...





In my next blog, I am going to share with you another part of NY -- Chinatown. See you then :)

Testing....

This is the country house of my host parents in NY, Beaverkill

Well, my previous blog account is sucks! I can't upload any of my photo. Don't ask me, I seriously don't know why. After being scold by my friend, finally I am here in Blogger!

This is my first blog in Blogger. I don't really know what to write yet... Hmmm... since CNY is around the corner, I think I should start by writing about CNY.

I am so happy now as the kids are away. They are now on their way to their beautiful country house as showing above. Is not that I don't like them, but holidays are always good for me. In fact, I believe holidays are always good for most of the people. The second thing which make me feel so excited is.... NOBODY IS HOME!!! YEAH!! I am the KING of the house now!

This is the first time i celebrate my CNY oversea. Some of my friends in Malaysia thought that I would be lonely and sad here, but I myself don't think so. I always believe that you can do something to change the situation if you are not satisfy with it. And I gonna do that...

Since the whole house is mine for few days, I'm gonna make good use of it. What do you think? Yea, you are right. PARTY! I'm gonna organise an "International Chinese New Year Party" tomorrow night (Feb 17, Sat). Until this moment, I have invited my the girls from Austria, South Africa, USA, Thailand and of course Malaysia. Most probably we are going to make hot pot (we call it steamboat in Malaysia) but not sure yet. Take a look at the hot pot that Chia and I made for Americans during Christmas celebration. It was at Beaverkill.








I still remember they were so excited because most of them never try it before. Although I feel happy to make them the hot pot, but we are just serving them instead of having fun ourselves. Anyway, it is a very good memory. I hope Chia won't mind cause she was the one who help me to serve them the whole night. Hehe! Okok, now I promise you Chia, it won't be same this time. What you need to do is just sit down and eat during the dinner.

Ok now, I have to go. I will keep updating myself. Take good care all my friends.

Happy Chinese New Year!