You probably wonder why it takes me so long to publish the second part of my #NewYork #travel trip? To be honest, after the first blog post, I kind of feel reluctant to finish up this travel diary. Saying Goodbye to New York was so hard. It took me weeks to get back to the reality that I was no longer in New York. I thought I could pretend that I still lived there, even if I lived virtually on this blog. And thus, I didn't want to it to be over. But, looking at so many beautiful photos makes me feel guilty for not sharing them with you. There is a word called "selfish" that haunted me, you know?
So I guess, this is it! Every moment that I had with New York, during the last 3 days was here. These photos drive me crazy by looking at them. I miss New York so much. It hurts!
I've grown so much after this trip, you won't even believe it. I've learned to travel all by myself for the first time, to get out of my comfort zone, to network with strangers, and to find my own direction so I wouldn't get lost. These are the things I hate doing, or have never taken an effort to do before. Traveling alone means I have all the time by myself, doing whatever I want to do, including wandering the streets aimlessly and expecting the unexpected.
Likewise, I planned to visit Times Square on the last night in New York, but since Times Square was so near Rockefeller Center, I just went on spending the night walking around.
Full of energy and full of excitement, Times Square is no space for loneliness and boredom. I walked block after block, street after street, and totally forgot about my sore feet. The further I walked, the more I got attracted to this vibrant city.
From the most luxurious place in Manhattan (Shopping in the 5th Avenue) to the dirtiest underground, every corner of Manhattan has a story that fascinates any first time visitor.
My 8 day trip to New York was too short, as each day was packed with fashion shows and parties, but whenever I had time, I always tried to get away from the fashion week madness to explore the city.
I could be at the Brooklyn Bridge in the morning,
and back to Lincoln Center in the afternoon for a fashion show.
Or, I would walk for 30 minutes to the Empire State Building in the afternoon, to catch the sunset, and to enjoy only a 10 minute view of New York.
.jpg "Michael Costello SS15 fashion show- Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.")
Then quickly I rushed back to the hotel for an outfit change to get ready for the Michael Costello show at night. My feet were tortured by the sky high stilettos, my stomach cried in hunger, and my body was dead exhausted. It was still worth it.
On the last day in New York, I became free. No more fashion shows, parties, and meet-ups, I had the whole day to myself before heading back to the airport. I knew exactly what I wanted to do on my last day in this beautiful city: go for a helicopter ride and visit the Statue of Liberty. You haven't been to New York if you haven't been on a helicopter ride. It was quite an expensive ride ($150/ 15minutes), but I thought the memory and experience was worth much more than $150.
From the helicopter view
to the boat view
to the street level, everywhere I looked, I saw beauty, whether through my real eyes or my camera lens. New York was fascinating in every view and angle.
After visiting the Statue of Liberty, I didn't know where else I should go, so I just kept walking on the street while letting my mind wander with many thoughts. Then, I found myself at this place: 9-11 Memorial Hall. I thought I wouldn't have the opportunity to visit the Memorial Hall this trip, but it looked like "we" found each other in the end. I was overwhelmed, emotional, and proud at the same time.
Picking up this little reminder along a Manhattan street just right before I left for the airport. Everyone of us needs a little HOPE in our life. Thank you, New York, for this reminder! I do hope to see you again, very soon!
A pastel cloud as a farewell,
and a magical view of Doha on my return to Singapore.
7 hours later, I was home.
The first thing I did when I got home: cross an item off the bucket list with a big and satisfying smile. New York, New York!