Just as the song goes " New York, New York", a city so nice they named it twice! NY does live up to its hype; a city that can be described by an infinite number of superlatives, be it bad or good. Most expensive. Most densely populated. Most modern. Most "happening". It also houses the tallest building in the US - One World Trade Center. Being one of the costliest places to live by far in terms of $ per square feet, it is no surprise that the smallest and narrowest apartment (more like a closet) can easily be found on Manhattan. I wouldn't be surprise if it also holds the record for the highest number of foreign languages spoken within a city block. For a state that is only 1% of the total U.S. land mass, it alone contributes close to 9% of U.S. gross domestic product, mostly from the financial district on Manhattan. Good or bad, we are all somewhat intrigued by the intensity of this lively city. After all, NY is known as the capital of the world, although some diehard Londoners might object to this unfounded factoid.
According to the 2019 Mercer Quality of Living by City , NY is ranked as #44. The other top US cities ranked higher than NY are Honolulu at #37, Boston at #36 and San Francisco at #34. A prominent playwright named Tennessee Williams once said "America has only 3 great cities: New York, San Francisco, and New Orleans. Everywhere else is Cleveland." Well, if Mr. Williams had followed the footsteps of Mark Twain and paid a visit to the Hawaiian Islands, he might have to recant his position on the 3 great cities that America has to offer!
Day 1 - Honolulu to J.F.K. International
The flight from Daniel K. Inouye to J.F.K. International is the second longest U.S. domestic flight, behind HNL to Boston.
The flight is 9 hours and 23 minutes with two meals served. The menu seems extensive but essentially they are fixed - with 2 options of vegan or non-vegan. Not too bad to be given an option that consists of curry and couscous. This holiday trip is starting off with the right foot with me happily downing down two complimentary Mai-Tais even before we taxied off the gate.
The flight was generally uneventful, as we tried to catch some Zzzs. Soon we could see the dawn breaking as the plane began its descent into JFK. The low level mountains with what looked like tarns glistened in the sunrise. It then gave way to housing and we could see the Hudson river snaking through the land. Finally, there was New York City, with its tall buildings standing up against the skyline.
Once landed, we picked up our car and headed for Bayonne. We weren't in Manhattan this time as we drove south skirting Brooklyn past Coney Island and onto Staten Island via the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. From there we then got to Bayonne via the Bayonne Bridge. The traffic wasn't too bad in the direction we were going, but we could see how bad it could get on the opposite side.
We found our lodging exactly as depicted and easily checked in. We were on the top floor of a traditional Bayonne home that has 4 apartments (3 floors up and a basement). The place was comfortable with easy access to Manhattan.
It was then time for lunch. Of course we had to find some Malaysian food! And there was one just 10 minutes away north of us in Jersey City. The directions to the restaurant was easy and soon we were parked at Mamak House's parking lot. The restaurant itself did not look like much from the outside, as it is right off Route 440 (a busy highway). But once inside, it was pretty respectable.
We tried their Chicken Satay, Roti Canai (thin crusted bread with curry), and their signature Prawn Noodle. The satay and canai were good - nothing spectacular nor different from the standard fare of North American based Malaysian Restaurants. The Prawn Noodle was not as expected. It certainly was not the Penang Hokkien Mee as it lacked the complexity in taste, but the portion was generous.
Once we had our fill, we had to walk some of the lunch off, so we opted to visit the Empty Sky Memorial. It wasn't too far from where we were and it was located in the Liberty State Park by the Hudson. Now this is a place worth visiting.
The memorial was grim yet well presented. It framed the Manhattan skyline - filling in for where the original twin towers used to be. Along side of each wall are the names of those who died, forever etched here in remembrance.
The views of both Manhattan and Jersey City were stunning. We were just surprised as to why there weren't more tourists here.
Next to the memorial is the New Jersey Central Station museum.
The museum is the primary location in which tourists catch the ferry to Ellis Island or to take a tour of the Statue of Liberty. Roaming around the grounds, one can only imagine what it must have been like all those years ago.
By this time we were both just so knackered! We bought another round of Malaysian food for our dinner take out and headed back to the Bayonne house. What a great way to end the day... And to think that our vacation has only just begun!
Day 2 - Roaming Three Boroughs
To get the best experience of New York City is to drive through it; or so we thought... We spent the day driving through parts of New York City's three lower boroughs - Staten Island, Brooklyn and Manhattan.
First, we headed south towards Staten Island for lunch. It was a very chilly Thursday afternoon even with the sun out in full force. No better meal to stave off the cold with is none other than some hearty piping hot soup. So we found this little quaint restaurant called Pho Plus, and it was rated as having the best beef pho in all of Staten Island. It was a small unassuming establishment, with a capacity of 4 tables. We ordered the classic Vietnamese beef noodle soup, hoping that one can't go wrong with something as simple or as common as this dish.
At first glance, it looked very much like any other pho that we had countless of times before; only the soup was darker than usual. So, these were different- it didn't taste like the Vietnamese versions that we were used to with its usually peppery taste with a touch of star anise. This one had a very heavy beef bullion flavor. Nonetheless, it was good as we wolfed the meal down without much hesitation.
After lunch, we went to find the 9/11 memorial the northern side of Staten Island. The park was somewhat secluded as it is hidden behind a huge ballpark and shopping outlets. Regardless, the views from the esplanade was nice even though not as impressive when compared to the views of Manhattan from Jersey City or Brooklyn.
We then drove along Bay Street to our next destination, Alice Austen's House. It is a very well preserved estate given to the State of New York and open to public viewing. It sits on a bluff overlooking Buono Beach. The beach is mostly all pebbles with no sand! Being on the narrows, it had a great water level view of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge.
From here, we drove across the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge to Brooklyn. The traffic was quite unforgiving. There were many impatient drivers, who made the driving experience a nightmare with their incessant tooting. There was also the constant police and emergency vehicle sirens blaring from all corners making the drive even more unpleasant. But I guess this is what living in the most populous city in the USA is like!
We decided to escape from all the traffic by taking a brief respite in the Green-Wood Cemetery. It was a sprawling 478 acres established in 1838, and is now a National Historic Landmark. It apparently gets over half a million visitors a year! For us it was nice getaway from the crazy traffic and deafening city sounds.
In the end we had to get into the thick of it all by braving our way into D.U.M.B.O, one of the most "instagramed" spot of New York City.
This area was packed with cars, buses, bikes, and people. We were lucky to snag a parking spot nearby the waterfront. Our brisk walk to the water edge was met by many people out and about, mostly taking selfies and group photos against the picturesque view of both the Manhattan and Brooklyn Bridges. This neighborhood can easily be one of the best places to live and work. The promenade was very well designed, with many interesting features like a carousel, great lawns, and coves along the waterfront. It also boast of many restaurants and ice cream parlors.
As the sun set, we decided to inch our way across Manhattan Bridge to SoHo. This was of course at the call of our stomachs for more Malaysian food! Many of the Malaysian restaurants are congregated around Chinatown and SoHo. It was the rush hour just before dinner time, and so it was one of the worst grid lock traffic we have ever encountered. It took over 40 minutes to drive 2.5 miles to our destination - Kopitiam, a very popular restaurant serving Malaysian-style cooking. I think we could have walked it faster!
The food at Kopitiam was pretty good, as we also tried their Teh Tarik, that came authentically in a plastic bag!
Now the drive back to Bayonne was cross the Holland Tunnel. A big mistake to try this before 6:30pm. It was a massive jam with a toll charge of $15USD a car! It must have been thousands collected!
Day 3 - Heli-tour Over NYC
This day was an easy day capped with a grand highlight of a helicopter ride during the sunset. This flight was epic! We had to do this one doors on, as it was just too cold for us. So the compromise is the fact that the bubble windows weren't super transparent or clean, and therefore, it created some haze or star lighting along the way. Nothing beats the first hand experience!
Day 4 - Exploring Lower Manhattan
The least busy days to explore Manhattan is over a weekend. Having said that, busy is a relative word. It just means that it won't be grid lock on every street(!) But there certainly will be some grid lock at each of the tunnels and bridges to or from Manhattan. We were lucky today as we even managed to find a good street parking spot in the middle of Midtown. Immediately as I got out of the car and onto the sidewalk, the surroundings brought me back to my first time walking around the streets of NYC in the 90's.
There are many more newer buildings, interspersed with the older ones that I could recognize immediately. Manhattan is still full of energy, in spite of the last couple of years of lockdown due to Covid. It is nice to see the streets full of people, out and about, and the street vendors and performers are also back to provide the full city experience to the world at large. Our walk took us from 52nd street to the Avenue of the Americas, then south to 42nd street. We walked through Bryant Park and paid a visit to the New York Public Library.
As usual, there were buskers outside the library earning their keep. This time it was a gig that we had previously seen in Waikiki. NYC is definitely a tougher crowd to please!
From here we went back down to 42nd street and on to Grand Central Station. Paid a visit to the great hall, and then back out through the MetLife building. Once outside, we went along Vanderbilt back to 5th Avenue. It was crowded! The good thing was that everyone was at Rockefeller, while we stayed on the eastside.
We strolled past Billionaire's Row and gawked at the many super skinny and tall buildings that somehow got shoehorned between the old and shorter structures.
We took a break at the Apple Store and admired the crazy reflections off the shiny toadstools out front.
Finally we were at Central Park. It was crazy busy at the entrance and along the Plaza Hotel, so we went into the park and took one of the southern trails alongside the Pond. Fall is just arriving, with most of the trees still green. Its been a warm September and October, so the leaves here have not yet turned.
It was fun peeping at the tall buildings along side 59th street, through the trees.
Once we arrived at Columbus Circle, we took in the views of the Time Warner Towers (I think its part of the Deutsche Bank Center ) where the Mandarin Oriental Hotel is located in and its surroundings; then headed south on Broadway.
By this time the sun was setting, and the lights were on in full force. Soon we could see the bright lights of Time Square up ahead... but we were by now pretty tired and hangry for some Malaysian food! The good news was that the Urban Hawker was just on 50th street. So we had to make a stop there. Little did we know that it would take us a good 30 minutes in line to get our Hainan Chicken Rice (one poached and one roasted)! But it was worth the wait. The portions were generous and the taste authentic. The place was packed with no tables available - just standing room. So we made our way back to the car, and had a very comfortable dinner in our rented beamer.
Having had our fill, we were back on the road. This time braving the drive to Times Square. It was jammed pack, but worth the view. To truly see Times Square, we'd have to come back to walk it. We'd leave that for another day! Just too crazy and crowded for us.
We finally made it down to Broadway past the Wall Street bull, and into Battery Park. We then took Fulton and Dey streets to see up close the One World Trade Center station and reflecting pools. Its a big difference, looking at this from above versus on the ground.
Roaming around Manhattan is a lot of fun, but it is also pretty tiring from all the constant sights and sounds. There are people everywhere, honking, yelling, getting into accidents... At the same time, there is just lots to see, hear and smell! Life is short, we have to take it all in - even the grid lock at 10:30pm...!
Day 5 - Chasing Fall Colors
Having spent the last few days in the city and seeing that fall had still not arrived in Central Park, we decided to spend the day north of NYC chasing fall colors. Our drive north took us through East Rutherford, where we stopped for some Vietnamese food at Pho Today. The place was huge, with many mixed families gathered for lunch. The food was of a large portion and their menu pretty extensive. We had our customary Pho Bo and Bun Ca Gio.
Now that we were full, we continued on north to the Palisades Interstate, looking for the exit to the Seven Lakes Drive. This took us into the Harriman State Park. It is the second largest pubic park system in New York boasting some 31 lakes and reservoirs, 200 miles of hiking trails, two beaches, two public camping areas, a network of group camps, miles of streams and scenic roads, and scores of wildlife species, vistas and vantage points. The drive along the Seven Lakes Drive is a scenic meander right through the middle of the park. This park is known for its model group camps started since 1913. I'd imagine the typical summer camp location with log cabins, lake and hiking activities. It is truly scenic with the Appalachian Trial making its way through here.
The drive was just wonderful. The road meanders through maple, birch, and oak forests; all turning a bright yellow, orange and red. Additionally, the drive also took us past several lakes. All of which further enhanced the views with mirror-like reflections of the colorful trees. Soon we stopped at Silver Mine Lake for a hike up the hill and along the lake front. This was truly what we came for... I believe we found the fall colors!
Our next stop, was at Bear Mountain. Surprisingly, there were lots of people here too! It felt like all the townies left town to see the colors too! Bear Mountain has a carousel or merry go round, an ice rink, a bear pen/trailside museum and zoo, a lake and an inn. It also has a bridge that bears its namesake - Bear Mountain Bridge; which is part of the Appalachian Trail.
Upon leaving Bear Mountain, we took the scenic drive along Bear Mountain Bridge Road around the base of Manitou Mountain to Peekskill Bay. I couldn't help but think of the horror movie called Manitou, especially since Halloween is just around the corner! No spinning head coming out of the table for me! But then, we are greeted by headless horsemen pictures and effigies, as we enter Sleepy Hollow! By this time it was already past 4:30pm and the graveyard was closed... We have to come back on all hallows night for this one...
Soon we were heading south once more back to the hustle and bustle of the city. But we made one last stop at Tarrytown to grab some food and to catch a view of the Mario Cuomo Bridge from the Hudson shoreline.
In all, it was a full day with the fall colors being the major highlight. With the colors being just an hour outside of NYC, many locals and tourists alike visit the area. The crazy thing was on return to the city, the George Washington Bridge was jammed packed with traffic, and today is Sunday! Must be all the townies returning to town!
Day 6 - Exploring the Upper Westside, Through Bronx, and Queens
Today was yet another foggy and rainy day. So we decided to get some good Malaysian eats at Satay Malaysia in Hoboken before heading back into Manhattan. The Char Kuay Teow was pretty good, while the Prawn Mee was more typically in the KL style.
Soon we were on our way through Lincoln Tunnel, heading for Columbia University. The traffic wasn't too bad and we found street parking just behind the quad. There were many students as the fall semester was in full swing. There were also many new students being led on campus orientation tour.
Beyond the university just south, was Mount Sinai hospital and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. It cost $10 to visit the church, which I found strange, as all churches are normally open for free to all; so we did not enter. Instead, we visited the children's art garden, in which there was St. Gabriel slaying the devil. Curious symbology, with giraffes and other sculptures like those of aesop's fables.
Beyond the church we then proceeded to Morningside Park. It was steep with stairs along the cliffside. There weren't many in the park, and the leaves are only just starting to turn.
Having had a good walk around campus we then returned to our car to drive through Harlem and the Bronx, on to Queens via the RFK bridges. Once on the other side we visited the Billie Jean King Tennis Center, and the Flushing Meadows Unisphere.
By this time having spent a good amount of time in traffic, we had to stop for more Malaysian fare at the New Pinang South East Asian restaurant. This would be our last stop in Forest Hills before heading back.
Day 7 - Discovering Roosevelt Island
It was an impromptu excursion on a very, very foggy day over Manhattan and most of the 5 boroughs. The drive to Queensboro Bridge and across it was an adventure by itself. We had to execute several detours just to get onto the bridge as there was major construction along the way. The surrounding neighborhood just before gaining entry to Roosevelt Island on the Queens side is a mismatch of old warehouses, a generating station, and heavily gentrified buildings. There is only one bridge and one 2-lane road on the island itself. However, it is well connected with the Metro Subway, and a cable tramway from here to midtown.
There are many parking options on the island but most visitors are told to park at the large parking garage on entry of the island. We decided to drive the island and walk the lower half. Immediately, we spotted the Tramway against the Queensboro Bridge.
From there we walked the promenade with views of both Midtown East and of Hunters Point. We could also see the fog hanging to the top of the buildings in midtown.
Roosevelt Island was originally a penitentiary, then an asylum, then hospitals and by 1970's it then became a residential community that today hosts historical buildings, memorials, and hotels.
According to its namesake, there is the FDR memorial located on 4 acres of land on the southern most tip of the island. Unfortunately, it was closed today. Regardless, we did get to visit the FDR Hope Memorial which opened recently in 2020.
Also located on the south side is Cornell Tech, which is jointly sponsored by Tata Consulting, Verizon and Bloomberg. Its a nice campus that includes a hotel called the Graduate.
A visit to Roosevelt Island is a great way to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Day 8 - Enjoying The Fall Foliage Around Hudson Highlands
The weather was clearing up a bit as the sun peeked through and burnt up the low lying fog. Our first stop was Manitou, a small little township next to the Hudson River a stone's throw away from Bear Mountain Bridge. There is even a train station stop here, along with many historical markers and points of interests that one can visit.
We continued along Highway 9, passing many ranches and solitary homes. There was even a castle jutting out from a granite rock in Garrison.
Next, we came to Fahnestock State Park and we couldn't resist taking a nice shot of Canopus Lake surrounded by a multitude of colorful foliage. Surprisingly, there weren't many people in this area; so coming to visit on a week day is a good thing. This is also part of the world renown Appalachian Trail, or AT.
The entire drive thus far was breathtaking. The Hudson Memorial and the Palisades Interstate highways were both picturesque as fall was in full swing. We soaked in the views knowing that it might be a while before we'd decide to return to this place.
We then stopped at a small town called Fishkill (kill means river in Dutch) for a quick lunch before heading down to Hudson Highlands for a short hike.
The Washburn Trail is a short uphill hike that is pretty good for cardio but not as difficult as many would say. Soon we reached a nice rock outcropping overlooking the Hudson River. Then we went past what looked like an old quarry and up to another unobstructed view of West Point Military Academy across the water. There was one more view point over the quarry before it turned to the cliffs above Cold Spring.
It was a sea of colors from up here. I would rate this (and Breakneck Ridge) as one of the best day hikes closest to NYC.
Day 9 - A very long Long Island
Today we decided to explore the south east shores of New York. This area is broken up into many long islands with long beaches. Since it was fall, there were very few beach goers, and the few that braved the waters were bundled up in their wet suits, surfing in very small waves! The full drive would have been about 126 miles if we made it to Montauk. However, we gave up at Patchogue which is just shy of about halfway there. The drive was slow and pleasant as we made our way through many small neighborhoods, coastlines, and bridges. There were a few places of interest, like the Fort Tilden Gateway National Recreation Area and the Fire Island Lighthouse, but other than that it was mostly about the small towns and neighborhoods, which were made of large single family houses with a few apartments in between. There was a lot of construction along the beach building large berms as counter measures against storm surges. Apparently this area was severely damaged when Hurricane Sandy came through 10 years ago. In general, most of the areas were nice and some very affluent. The drive back was the now usual crazy New York traffic!
Day 10 - Hiking In The Catskill Mountains
The Catskill Mountains lies in between the Applachian Range and the Andirondacks, about 100 miles north of NYC. Geologically, this group of hills were formed by the process of erosion, unlike the Appalachian Range which was formed from collisions of plate tectonics. The Catskills (short for Catskill Mountains) is part of the Allegheny Plateau. Many of it's peaks are in the 3,000 to 4,000 feet range. This makes for great hiking and backpacking as it comprises of approximately 5,892 sq. miles of nature reserve. There are countless number of trails in this hilly region. We decided to hike the one at Woodstock, a small hippish town with quaint shops. After approximately a 2.5 hour drive, we arrived at the trailhead parking lot fronting a Tibetan Monastery.
A little strange to have a Buddhist temple located in this part of the world but it is what it is. Off we went on the Overlook Trail, a 2.5 mile trail one way to an old fire tower. I have always had a fascination for towers overlooking a vast area of hills and mountains. The trail is basically an old road that currently services the utility poles leading to a communications tower. Nothing out of the ordinary as it gradually ascends to the top of the mountain. This road also used to be the main thoroughfare that leads to a hillside retreat that now stands in ruin.
The ruins are what remains of the third incarnation of a hotel that unfortunately never even saw a single guest, as it closed before it could even be opened for business. Today, only the walls survived the testament of time. This hotel was destroyed several times from fire.
After an hour of walking uphill, we finally arrived at the fire tower.
It was high off the mountain, with an impressive 360 view of the Catskills. The leaves had already been blown off the trees at the top of the mountain, but the fall colors remained at the lower levels. We could also see Ashokan Reservoir and the Hudson River in the distance.
At the top there was also a ranger station with the history of the fire tower and hotel on display. Apparently there are also rattle snakes in the area as well. Good reason to stay on the trail!
About a hundred feet behind the ranger station there is a trail that leads past some large rocks to a cliff edge. Here there is an expansive view of the Hudson and of Woodstock. It is also on this ledge that many have carved their names with some dating back to 1886.
In all this was a great hike with several points of interest. Its an easy 2 to 3 hour drive from NYC, making is a great option for a day hike. For the hike video see here.
Day 11 - Looking for Halloween and Manhattan Night Birds
Today we spent most of the day changing out our rental car... So it was mostly spent at Newark Airport and then at JFK. We finally got a replacement and therefore, stopped for a late lunch in Queens. Since we were on this side we started to look for Halloween decorated homes in Dyker, Brooklyn. There were indeed a few that were truly decked up! We then went driving through Brooklyn across the Brooklyn Bridge and decided to roam Manhattan to see if any ghouls were roaming the streets. We caught a late dinner at the Urban Hawker and made our way through Times Square. It was crazy crowded!
Day 12 - Rest Day... and visit to the Brooklyn Piers
By the 12th day we were exhausted! So we spent it doing laundry, some light apartment cleaning, and a good afternoon nap. By late afternoon we were well rested and of course hungry for more Malaysian food! So off we were to south Brooklyn where on 86th street we knew that there were two restaurants with Malaysian fare. Our route took us through Bayonne Bridge and across Verrazzano Bridge. Although it was Sunday, traffic was still heavy in Brooklyn. 86th street was packed with folks doing their evening shopping and picking up their takeout dinners. We had to go around the block several times before finding a parking spot. In the end we found a good spot closer to Sedapsss, so that is where we ate! The food was good as we feasted on Chicken Curry Nasi Lemak, Mee Siam and Teh Tarik ice.
After our meal, we then went for a walk along the Brooklyn Piers. Most of these have now been converted into parks and recreational areas. Here we parked between Piers 6 and 5 in front of One Brooklyn Bridge Park apartments. On Pier 5, there were several teams playing soccer. Beyond that, we walked past the moored sailing ships and Pier 4 Beach. When we got to Pier 3, it was a pleasant walk along the pier with its trees lining the way.
At the end of the pier we were rewarded with a skyline view of downtown Manhattan's Financial District and a lighted Brooklyn Bridge. This made for a splendid evening walk. A nice way to end the day.
Day 13 - A Visit to 30 Hudson Yards & Manhattan Celebrates Halloween
Since NYC is known for its tall buildings we had to pay a visit to at least one of the viewing decks. There are many buildings with such "observatories" in the sky. The top 5 being:
One World Trade Center
The Summit at One Vanderbilt
The Edge at the North Tower of 30 Hudson Yards
Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center
Empire State Building
In selecting the one we would visit, we looked for one that was in an area that we had not yet visited, and we wanted something that was built relatively recently. Hence, we ended up selecting The Egde at Hudson Yards. This area is newly gentrified and because of the train yards, the area surrounding the new buildings is fairly open. NYC has many tall buildings (see list here) and this new set in Hudson Yards are pretty impressive.
It is also here that the converted High Line elevated train section starts or ends depending on which way you choose to walk.
Sadly just under the High Line was this bicyclist memorial! NYC is dangerous! Cars, bikes, motorbikes, skateboarders and people everywhere!
The views from The Edge were magnificent. The day was a bit hazy but a good view in anycase. The number of people were ok. Not too crazy, though they tend to stuff too many folks in a single elevator. Just not used to that anymore, plus the too strong perfume that makes one sneeze was a little too much. Regardless, the open air deck was great and the glass floors a little trippy... This is the video to our visit to THE EDGE.
After getting a good view from above we decided to roam the streets by car! There were many Halloween events around town, including the well reknown East Village Halloween Parade. This ran from Canal Street to 15th Ave, along 6th Ave. Since it was closed off we drove along side it as far as we could. There were many revelers and lots of gridlock traffic. Earlier in the day it was the little kids trick or treating, but for the parade it was a lot of adults mostly coming to watch.
Day 14 - Outskirts New Jersey
Today we took a brief break from the city and drove east past Newark to Orange County. There we paid a visit to another 9/11 Memorial, this one at the Eagle Rock Reservation. This wooded park boasts views across to NYC (left) and Newark (right) in the distance.
From here we drove further west and north to Wawayanda State Park. This area is dotted by many lakes and reservoirs. It is also where part of the Appalachian Trail crosses. We walked the deserted shores of Lake Wawayanda, and tried to imagine what it would look like crowded during the summer. The parking lot was huge and there were playgrounds, beach volley ball, and many trails running along and around the lake. This is also one of the top 5 locations for a day trip to see fall colors. By this time half of the leaves had already fallen, but it was still stunning to look at!
Having had our respite from the city we were now ready to get back into Manhattan. Of course the purpose was to have more Malaysian food! A quick visit to Urban Hawker to get our Hainan Chicken Rice fix was in order. This time we also tried some of the cakes from Lady Wong.
A good way to end the day on a sweet note.
Day 15 - A Visit to the American Museum Of Natural History (AMNH)
Our last day in NYC was spent immersing ourselves in the creation of our solar system, our human origins and evolution into todays modern man, the on-going geology of our planet, the elements and all the compounds created from the Big Bang, and last but not least the evolution of simple cell organisms into complex vertebrates. The museum also covers the migration of humans onto all continents out of Africa. What distinguish us from the other homo erectus is our big brain experience of art, technology, and philosophy. None of this is written in stone, but rather it changes as we discover more in time.
The exhibits are very detailed and well designed. Especially the Theodore Roosevelt collection of dioramas. These were uncannily real, and they made us think of the Ben Stiller movie - Night at the Museum... Just don't get locked in here at night!
Day 16 - Flight Back To Hawaii
Today we got up really early to try to beat the traffic from Bayonne to JFK in Queens. The ride out across Bayonne Bridge was perfectly smooth sailing... and then we got to the Verrazzano Bridge and it was packed. Note that this was at about 6am in the morning. I guess Brooklyn traffic starts this early! In the end we only got stuck for a little while as most of the traffic headed into Brooklyn and Manhattan, while we were going east in the opposite direction to Queens. So it took us just under an hour to travel the 25 miles to the airport.
Our flight was at 10am and we got through security pretty quickly. Unfortunately for Hawaiian Air, they were at a gate that had construction and therefore, all passengers had to be bussed to the plane. They had just recently moved from Terminal 5 to Terminal 4. I think they only have one flight a day and so it is easy to push them around at JFK. No lounge either. Hopefully, it will get better as things recover. Once on the plane it was a smooth ride back to Honolulu and then on to Kona.
The service again was really good and attentive, seats with very comfortable blankets, and flight without incident. We even had a narrated sight-seeing view of Oahu as we landed. The one thing I do have to say... is that the food served could be better.
For what one pays to fly first class, it really felt that they were saving to make up for losses elsewhere. Regardless, we got home in good stead!
In all this trip was exciting and exhausting! I think we spent an equal, if not more, time in traffic. Good thing we had a good car and we were on vacation(!) - so no rush to get anywhere. NYC is a great place to visit; with so much to do, it can be mind boggling. The one thing we enjoyed the most was the variety of Malaysian and Vietnamese food, and the ability to get stuck in traffic visiting the city, or taking a drive out to the parks (of which there were many). Although the greenery or should I say the autumn colors were magnificent, its all just hills and lakes. In that way the west coast has a leg up, with its majestic snowcapped peaks. I don't know when we will be back... perhaps in the next 25 years or perhaps we will just fuhgeddaboudit!
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