winter in central park

It is cold but everything just looks so magical walking around Central Park during winter time. ;)

so you won't entirely get lost, look for the signages and arrows.

This statue is located west of East drive and 67th St. He is Balto, the Siberian Husky the sled dog who led his team which transported the serum of the anti-diphtheria vaccine in Alaska back in the 20s. He is now one of the more popular statues in the park having stood there for the past 80 or so years.

The park is also a famous place for sledding. Many kids along with their parents will brave the cold and enjoy such popular and fun sport.

Alice in Wonderland: The sculpture was constructed in 1959 by José de Creeft under the commission of philanthropist George Delacorte so that children could visit and experience the wonder of Lewis Carroll’s classic story. Atypical of most sculptures, children are invited to climb, touch and crawl all over Alice and her friends. In fact, through the decades thousands of hands and feet have literally polished parts of the statue’s surface smooth.

This is located at East 74th St.

If you feel tired and thirsty, you may opt to grab some coffee or hot choco at the Sweet Cafe at east 74th St, sit down and relax on some umbrella protected table and chair.

Belvedere meaning "beautiful view" is at the mid park of 79th. Sitting atop a hill, the castle as the name suggests indeed gives a beautiful view of the Central Parks famous views and landmarks.

The Bethesda Fountain also known as the Angel of Waters is seen at the mid-park on 72nd St. I remember this fountain from the movie Enchanted and in Home Alone 2.

The Mall is the open walkway going towards the Bethesda Terrace and runs through the middle of 66th to 72 Streets. I gather now that this is a different mall from what we are most familiar with in the Philippines hehehe. I recall this in the movie My Sassy Girl.

after walking around the park, you may want to look for the subway and hop on the connections towards the 7th train and alight at 69th St. in Woodside to check out Krystal's for their piping hot arroz caldo. :)

Grand Central Station

The Grand Central Station, the largest train station in the world is indeed an attraction on its own. It has more than a hundred tracks serving hundreds of thousands of people each day. Aside from the tracks the station also houses several restaurants, coffee shops, clothing store outlets.




The Main Concourse is the center of the Grand Central which is usually the meeting point of commuters. Here a four-faced clock can be seen sitting atop the information booth. Also known at New York's most famous clock, it is believed to have an estimated value of be between $10M and $20M.



Found at the Lower Level Dining Concourse is New York's famous and reportedly the best cheese cake in town, Junior's. They serve full meals and sandwiches but we went there merely for the cheese cakes! i am not fond of cheese cakes but this one is just so good. It has a sponge cake base and the cake itself is creamy and cheesy and insanely delicious. I wish we have something like it back home.



Just below the dining concourse is the "whispering gallery" located near the famous Oyster Bar & Restaurant. They say that the acoustics of the low ceramic arches can cause a whisper to sound like a shout. We tested it out standing in opposite corners of the large arched entryway, faced the corner and whispered. And yes, I did hear the voice as if we were right next to each other and not whispering into a far-away corner. According to experts, this happens because the whisperer’s voice follows the curve of the domed ceiling.



There are still a lot of other secret passageways and alleys and interesting structures the Grand Central has. It is just shows how rich it is in culture and history that it would be great if we could explore it once more.

Oh, Chicago!

Chicago, Illinois
(Dec. 13-14, 2010)


our trip started with an about 15 minute walk from the house towards the train station. it was about 6am and still dark and cold and snowy everywhere. i pretty much enjoyed the sights around me while trying hard not to slip and fall.
Amtrak was a bit delayed and took us almost 4 hours from West Lafayette to Chicago. but I couldn't sleep the entire time because i was excited.

the sun was shining brightly in Chicago when we arrived. we went to Chinatown after checking in at the hotel and had brunch/merienda. ee walked around and looked for cheap souvenirs but couldn't find any so we proceeded to Adler Planetarium which offered free entrance fees just for that day (Tuesday). ;)

temperature dropped later that day when we got to the Millennium Park. the scenery was breathtaking but it was just so darn cold and the biting crisp breeze didn't help much at all. one of the main attractions there was the "cloud gate" also known as "the bean" because of it's bean-like shape. it is made of stainless steel and has a polished exterior you could very well see your reflection in the surface.

moving around Chicago is fairly easy with their reliable and efficient transport system. a one day ride all you can ticket is priced at 5 USD. you can use this for all train lines including buses around the metro. and unlike New York subways, most of the stations are above ground albeit a bit rustic and classic-looking too.


Day 2 found us starting out early again to check out more parks and museums. We first went to Shedd Aquarium. I love aquariums and i really wanted to add this in the aquariums of the world that I have been to. It was indeed huge and i marveled at the many more sea creatures we saw there including some piranhas and beluga whales and otters. We also saw Polar Express on 4D.


From the aquarium we went to the nearby Fields Museum which again offered free entrance fees for that day. I'm not much of a fan of museums and ancient artifacts, i find it stuffy and a bit stifling i'd sometimes find it hard to breath when i'm around them. It still amazes me somehow that at least we still get to see and know about them.



Late lunch consisted of spaghetti and deep dish pizza from the famous Giordano's, at least I felt the experience more complete having trying out Chicago's famous pizza.

We set out for one last yet hurried walk around the city up to the river for more sightseeing and photo taking. I say hurried because it was so darn cold and my left knee started cracking and aching i could barely walk!

Anyway, we finally headed to the Union Station to catch our 545PM train back to West Lafayette.

West Lafayette

my happy place

ghastly
snow surrounds them.
but here in the dead of winter
she felt his warmth all the more.

===

i got on the NY subways and the air train towards JFK. became fascinated (but felt more like an idiot) with the self-service kiosks of Delta. good thing i checked in online and printed my boarding passes beforehand that entry became quite a breeze. till they checked my luggage twice because of my cans of sisig and a jar of garlic chips, and the heat packs i brought all the way from Japan.

the flight to Detroit was about two hours and yes, there was wifi on board!

i rode the tram from gate A75 in Detroit towards gate 25 for my next flight to Indianapolis. the flight took about 40 minutes and T and his friends met me up at the airport and we then all headed to West Lafayette, about an hour's drive from the airport.

West Lafayette is a city Indiana, northwest of Indianapolis and is home to Purdue University.

it was definitely colder that NYC but it least there were no gusts of wind which was more chilling and unbearable. being a university town, it isn't as crowded and as busy as any metropolis. life here is simpler, quieter, more serene.

snow, snow everywhere!

there wasn't any snow yet when i reached New York. it was cold alright and the wind could blow quite harshly but there wasn't any snow.

when i went to Indiana though it's an entirely different story. i couldn't quite contain myself with the excitement that yes, there's snow! i didn't waste any time for me to actually touch it with my bare hands.

and yes, i was finally able to make my very first snow angel, even if it was past midnight and freezing that time.

on subways

the New York subways is generally not for the faint of heart. it could get daunting not just with it's quite intricate system but also with its dank, dark interiors. i was a bit shocked at first, i knew it was a bit old but i didn't expect it to be that old and seemingly rickety.

after having gotten used to it though, i somehow learned to appreciate its charm and character.

Brooklyn Bridge

a free "exhibition" of Van Gogh's Starry Night at a Fifth Ave station

just right out at Wall Street

Fifth Ave. and 53rd St. where MOMA could be found

"Can you see me now?"

and though the system could be quite tricky with all the many lines, stations and destinations to choose from there's a hopstop.com for that. with the said website it's but easy to determine our routes by merely inputting our locations and destinations.

and unlike our own MRT, people there are more organized. except maybe for a few isolated altercations with fellow passengers, some could get extra grouchy you know.

so hop on, hold on tight and enjoy the ride. and hey, say hi to some ratties in case yo see them scamper around huh! :p

My US Invasion

How i would i even start to blog about everything that took place the last three months? whoa! anyway, here's a quick look at how my sched was:

Nov. 19- left for HKIA aboard Cathay Pacific just right before i watched Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows the day before.

Nov. 20- after a quick stop over at HKIA i had the first breath of American air at the JFK.

Nov. 25- my first Thanksgiving dinner with fellow Pinoys in NYC

Dec. 9- West Lafayette, Indiana

Dec. 16-17- overnight stay and sightseeing in Chicago, Illinois

Dec. 22- trip back to NYC

Dec. 26- First snow day in NYC which intensified into a blizzard!

-overnight trip to Stamford, Connecticut

Jan. 3-5 Washington, DC

Feb. 7-16 West Lafayete, Indiana

Feb. 25 Philippines, my Philippines!

in between those places i was just lazing, couch-potatoing in front of the TV or walking around, pigging out and exploring the streets of New York. Such a grand holiday indeed. I'll come up with more detailed stories soon, hang on tight. ;)

New York, New York!

i got here a week ago, i'm still adjusting to everything, the weather, the timezone, the culture, everything. and it doesn't help much that it's getting really cold each day but hey it's going to be winter soon so what can i expect. ahh, there are so many things i want to do and so many places i want to check out and i hope to be able to tick each one out before it gets unbearably cold, weee!

anyway, i found this online:

Top 10 Things to Do in New York
10.) Take in the Customary Historical Landmarks.
While every proud American should visit the historical significance of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, the Empire State Building, The World Trade Center Memorial and the other national landmarks in New York, there are simply too many to detail on a list of ten. For that reason, the historical landmarks are combined into one section.

9.) Join the Argument for Best Pizza.
One of the longest running debates is not only New York vs. Chicago pizza, but who actually has the best pizza in New York. Tons of New York restaurants serving homemade pizza offer up a voice in the debate. You simply can't take a trip to NYC without adding your input on the matter, and fortunately, there's no tastier debate! Try the classic pies at Lombardi's Pizzeria on Spring Street for a taste of old NY and don't let the line at Grimaldi's Pizzeria in Brooklyn scare you, it moves pretty quickly!

8.) Take it to the Top of the Rock
The newly opened Top of the Rock Observation Deck on the 67th, 69th and 70th floors of 30 Rockefeller Plaza offers one of the most impressive views of one of the most impressive cities in the world. It's open until midnight for a romantic visage of the twinkling stars above mirroring the glittering lights from the city below.

7.) The Metropolitan Museum of Art
From the early 20th century portraits and sculptures to the steel mastery of Frank Stella, the Met is one of the foremost collections of fine art in the world. The museum is so expansive and visual; you should plan on spending an entire day here. If you've never been, get on a flight to New York City and go see some fine art. Tip: Wear comfortable shoes!

6.) Radio City Music Hall
Is there a more American theater than Radio City Music Hall? This timeless testament to entertainment has captivated visitors since the 1930s and no other dance troupe will ever hold the esteem in the hearts of Americans like the Rockettes.

5.) Madame Tussauds Wax Museum
Where else in the world can you have a picture taken with Britney Spears, President Bush and Jack Sparrow? This world-famous wax museum is one of the most visited spots in New York and you shouldn't miss the opportunity to visit these stunningly accurate figures.

4.) Broadway
If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere. And without a doubt, you should try to make it to a Broadway show! This is the most famous theater district in the world, and you can choose from timeless classic productions like “Chicago” at the Ambassador or a newer stage rendition of “Mary Poppins” at the New Amsterdam Theater. Either way, no trip to New York is complete without some singing and dancing.

3.) Times Square
It doesn't have to be New Year’s Eve to enjoy Times Square in New York City. As the heartbeat of NYC, Times Square signifies everything that the city represents. The excitement, the glamour, the independent free-spiritedness and artistic qualities of New York are all on display in this timeless spot. One of the best places to begin sampling true New York night life.

2.) Carnegie Hall
An entire trip can be dedicated to Carnegie Hall and its collection of delicious restaurants, its enticing gift shop and educational museum. As one of the premiere concert halls in the nation, Carnegie Hall is a national institution.

1.) Stroll through Central Park
Leave your New York hotel and enjoy a stroll or ride a bike through one of America's most famous parks. There are plenty of recreational activities and there's always something special going on in the park, like the Central Park Film Festival. Besides the natural splendor of the surroundings, the best part about Central Park is that it’s free!


http://travel.aol.com/articles/top-10-things-to-do-in-new-york

so help me, God.