Chinatown

Pelham

We stopped by at Pelham park on impulse while we were driving back to NJ from Boston to see the fall colours. It is such a hugeeeee park, probably the size of Mumbai (I'm kidding!).I think it is some 2,000 acres. I'm sure its 10 times bigger than Central Park. It has baseball fields, playgrounds, tennis courts, bicycle paths and golf courses too. Love the colours. We were walking on a carpet of red and yellow leaves and it was raining as well! Simply beautiful! Somewhere there was a signboard which said "Beach" and we were looking for the parking lot. The concrete road had a layer of grey (It was the rain water) and somehow I had the illusion of it being the sea! Look the Beach! I shouted. But why are cars floating? Lolz....it was acutally the parking lot! Never mind! If my memory hasn't failed me, I think the parking ticket machine was messed up.

Boston to NY

Here's silly me doodling away on the frost formed on the car window! Happy me!:)

Don't forget to have a Kati

If you're in New York, and you haven't had a Kati roll, you need to go back. I love their decor which has orange walls and old Bollywood posters like Deewar and Naseeb. Their menu posters are like the picture charts we used to have in school. One can choose from a variety of fillings wrapped in hot parathas (Indian flat bread). I had an aloo masala roll, which was yummy. There are more options for non- vegetarians. It's a very popular joint and there are no waiters. The idea originated from street food, which is very popular in India. Brilliant concept!

Bucket loads!

Ever heard of Margarita in a bucket? We had this lovely red margarita which my cousin bought from the superstore in New Jersey. We sprinked just some salt on the rim of the glass and mmmm.....it was delicious!! I've had margarita before, but BUCKET Margarita, a definite must-have!

Guggenheim

This lovely rotunda is the most striking bit about the Guggenheim Museum in New york. If you get a chance, do visit this museum. It's close to (or parallel to)Central Park on 88th Street and 5th Avenue. The ticket costs $18. Fortunately they provide headsets for free, which is a relief, because it can get quite confusing inside. The structure is really breath- taking, once you enter. Don't crane your neck though! Some of the paintings were so abstract, that I didn't understand it (of course I had my own silly interpretations). It was a mixed bag of paintings and photographs. I was so taken up by the architecture that I enjoyed that more! There were sections where they had put up screens and lots of bean bags, so visitors could relax and see the videos. But a must-see for people who appreciate and understand art! Don't get lost if you're going walking! But then, not everyone is like me!

Truly grand!

An absolutely brilliant piece of architecture among the sky rises in New York. My aunt and I were visiting my cousin in New Haven (Connecticut). This station is located in the heart of midtown Manhattan, on 42nd Street and Park Avenue and it feels like its 10 times bigger than a palace. It has loads of platforms (40 i think) and even has a bar! After a heavy Chipotle for lunch, and some ice- skating at Bryant Park, we settled down in the train for New Haven with some V8 and some sleep.

Spotted!

Accidentally found the Chrystler building while I lost my way! Was off to buy tickets for a play and here's where I landed instead! This is the best thing about moving around on your own!

Mobile library

This mobile library was at Bryant Park. Saw a lot of people reading those books while having lunch at the park. Remarkable!Besides, its such a good cause.

The NY water taxi

Some things are so typical to each city!

Path train

The Transit from New York to New Jersey. I like this logo!

Lost and found

I was in New York yea, and one of the things you do when you go there is watch a play! So I set out to buy a cheap ticket for a matinee show with my precious map, happily walking around thinking I had finally mastered my way around the streets of New York! Just as I looked up from my map I realized that I WAS WALKING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION for more than half an hour! What's more! My scarf wasn't on me anymore! Whatt.....it was my favvourite scarf from London which was bought during my college days from H & M. I realized it when I was just outside an H & M store here. So, in I went, all grumpy, coz now I'd need a new one and guess what! I found the same old scarf which I had bought 2 years ago! Thankfully they don't change their stock too often! I paid some dollars for it, but it was required. SENTIMENTAL VALUE has no price tag!!

hmrmfff!!

Why are people always scowling in New York?

Battery Park

Wanna be statues at Battery Park. $5 for a picture, or a frown instead!

Over-hyped

Like millions of tourists who visit New York, I had the Statue of Liberty on my tick-list too. I lined up at Battery Park for a ticket to Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty. It was really dark and cloudy, not to forget windy (extremely windy) and there was super tight security. I nearly fell off the ferry (courtesy the wind).The skyline looked so beautiful. I walked around the statue (I didn't have the upgraded ticket to go upto the pedestal). It was nice, but it wasn't absolutely mind blowing...probably coz we've seen and heard about it everywhere. What was interesting was the fact about the statue being blue (or green). Ellis Island was alrite, you wouldnt miss much if you didn't go). Overall, it was a good trip. It's one of these things you see once in your life.

mad about donuts!

more mexican food

Honestly, i thought this was a 'ditto' of Chipotle. Although the tacos I had were so delicious, I had all the mayo trickling down my face!
Good food, but naa...Chipotle is the definite winner!

Fung Wah bus

We were driving from Boston to New Jersey when I first spotted one of these. Had a good laugh! (By the way I took one of the very same buses for a day trip to Washington).

A funny signboard on the way back to New York

Don't forget to have Auntie Anne's pretzels! mmm....

One of the 'must do things' my dad has asked me to do before I left for the USA was to have 'pretzels'. I had them once in London, and somehow, I didn't fancy them. My cousin from New Jersey said I must have an Auntie Anne's pretzel. Since there was an outlet at the Newport shopping centre, Hetal took me there to have the pretzel. We had an 'original'. This time I really liked it. It has this nice salty taste which is left behind, just like popcorn although I dunno why the bread has a twisted heart shape. Anyways, I wouldn't mind having it again!

The new york train

The BIGGGG buzzzzzz

Quickly clicked a picture as this bus passed by at Battery Park. Very interesting advert!

Like you see in the movies

The typical NYPD police car we've always seen in Hollywood movies! It wouldn't bother someone who's been in London, but to somebody else, I'm sure its annoying!

Life in New York

streets and avenues

Indians are not used to grids. We are very comfortable with chaos. Structure confuses me. The best thing that happened to me in NY was that my bro gave me one of the street maps, which I held on to for dear life (its another thing that it looked the same upside down or downside up!). I loved walking on the streets of New York, although it reminded me of VT station in Mumbai, where people bump into each other while walking. If you think I could easily navigate, now that I had a map, then I'm laughing! I'm hopeless with directions. More often than not, I ended walked in the opposite directiononly to find another place of interest, like I was trying to get to Central Park, and where do I find myself? Guggenheim!

metro card

I think i ran out of credit on the Metro card at one of the Path stations while transiting to NJ. A very nice lady offered me her metro card.

mobile phones

at and t sim card

just a random doodle

I found this doodle in my diary. Probably drew it on my flight from NY to Chicago.

Fall colours

guacalicious!

Chipotle's day in and day out! mmmm....my favvvvvvvv food!
Here's one of my favvvv places in NY! Freaking out on beans and guacamole!! Although I died everytime I tried to finish  my burrito, I'm still a fan!

Enter the Dragon

Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island

Took the ferry from the Pier close to Battery Park for the Ellis Island and Statue of Liberty tour on a windy day. After going through some security checks,

Poland Spring

Like we say ‘mineral water’ for bottled water in India, they call it ‘spring water’ around here. Everyone drinks ‘Poland Spring’. It's equivalent of our ‘Bisleri’ in India.

Apples in New York

I visited the most talked-about Apple Flagship store on 5th Avenue in New York. The store has a spiral glass staircase, which leads to the basement. It looks like a big glass cube. Very very fancy. There are waterfalls outside the store and it is permanently mobbed with tourists and Mac lovers. We tried to get a solo picture of me, but ultimately I gave up and said I'll manage with the crowd in the background.  I say what's the big deal in having a fancy store that doesn't even have its own products? I was looking for a normal, regular, adaptor plug for my macbook,  coz mine decided to die a sudden death and they didn't even have it! Whattttttttttt! Just imagine- the NEW YORK APPLE STORE doesn't even have a basic adaptor! 'sPity! Tch Tch! And I still prefer you over the PC!!