NYC 2011 - Day 6

Our sixth and last day in NYC. The flight was at 10:30pm that night but we had to check out by 11:00am in the morning, so after checking out we left our luggage with the hotel for 2 dollars a piece. Breakfast was quite easy this time, my friends had requested to have another value meal at Bistro Marketplace. I didn't take any pictures this time.

It was a pretty relaxing day. There was really only one place to visit on today's schedule - American Museum of Natural History. It's funny even though that was the case, we still ended up not having as much time as we would like to see the museum.

Inside AMNH

NYC 2011 - Day 5

Day 5 was pretty cultured day.

Breakfast started out at Cipriani, right across from Grand Central. I used to pass by it too, but never tried it. I was quite excited to have a chance this time.

Cipriani Le Specialità

NYC 2011 - Day 4

We have walked by this place one of the days before, my friends said they would like to eat it for breakfast since it's so close by.

Bistro Marketplace - 125 Park Ave (between 41st St & 42nd St)

NYC 2011 - Day 3

This morning began with some yummy rice balls at Oms/b. It was one of my favourite grab and go places when I lived here. Very close to Grand Central, less than ten minutes walk.

Oms/b

NYC 2011 - Day 2

Our 2nd day in NYC started with riding the subway down to Flatiron building.

Flatiron Building

NYC 2011 - Day 1

Six days, six of us, a fun trip to the big apple in mid August. Although I didn't really have time to do my own stuff, it was great to just be back there again, see my new york friends, and also share some of my favourite spots with my Vancouver friends :)

I have planned the schedule out for all six days way in advance(I'm kinda crazy like that). Except switching 2 days around and cutting a few places off the schedule because we ran out of time, everything went pretty smoothly according to plan.

I never actually finished writing my other trip posts... so I will try to finish this one first and get back to the old ones later :P

We took a red eye out of Vancouver to New York. The plane delayed a little bit, but flew fast for only a little over four hours, so we arrived in JFK around 7:30am. Between the options of booking Super Shuttle or taking yellow cabs into Manhattan, the numbers came out about the same, so we took two cabs to Grand Central, 3 people each car, turned out to be $45 flat rate + 5 something dollars toll fee + tip, per car.

The reason I picked Grand Hyatt was of course of its location. I used to walk by it everyday, so it is nice to actually live in it this time. It's still under renovation though, I think it will be done very soon in the next few months.

Lobby looked very temporary for the moment.


The usual check in time is 4pm but we arrived around 9am in the morning. I did call in advance asking if we could check in early so we could have somewhere to put our luggage and fresh up before we head out for the day. The front desk was very nice but they told me the best they could do was to put in a request for me since the hotel was fully booked that day. We were lucky enough to get a room first and other two on the same floor but not until later that day. By the way, the hotel does offer luggage holding service. I'm not positive but I think it might be free if u're checking in, and if you have checked out already, they will hold your stuff for 2 dollars a piece.

So after a quick fresh up at my friend's room, we began our day. Since we're right next too Grand Central Terminal, we started our tour there.

I'm stealing a pic of grand central from my friend's photos. (thank you~)

Taiwan Trip - Part VI

I don't really remember what I did this day. I assume nothing particularly interesting happened that's why I can't recall. I do have pictures of what I ate that day though ;)

Lunch or Brunch -

I wanted to have noodles from a close by vegetarian restaurant.

Taiwan Trip - Part V

First day of 2011, it didn't particularly feel like new years day. It was just business as usual, all the stores were open and people were doing their regular everyday stuff.

Started the morning out at 85°C. They are known for their baked goodies at affordable prices. They also have this Sea Salt Coffee. It's quite interesting because you expect it to be salty, and well, it is, but when you order it, they ask you how sweet you would like it to be. So it is actually sweet with a bit of saltiness.

Yummy Cakes...


Seats outside.

Taiwan Trip - Part IV

December 31, last day of 2010, I was busy trying out some outfits all afternoon for a photo shoot in a couple days. My friend from Vancouver just happened to be in Taiwan for her Christmas break as well. This was the first time we met up in Taiwan, it was pretty cool. Before the nights ended, dinner was a must before she headed home that night. It was windy and cold outside that we didn't want to spend time picking places to eat, so we just went into a random restaurant close by. We looked through the menu and they had a couple vegetarian dishes on there and that was good enough for us.

Taiwan Trip - Part III continued

After a nice long break at Starbucks, it was time to get ready to visit the Pavilion of Dreams. To visit this exhibition, you have to first line up for tickets and then go at the given time shown on your ticket.

Inside - giant mechanical flower

Taiwan Trip - Part III

Got up super early again this day, but not to exercise, but to catch the high speed rail heading north to Taipei. We were meeting up with relatives/friends who we haven't seen in a while that were also back in Taiwan visiting. We decided to meet up at the Taipei International Flora Expo.

High Speed Rail

Taiwan Trip - Part I

I have been in Taiwan for a week now but have not had time until now to really sit down and organize pictures and start writing my first trip post. I've been eating pretty much non-stop since I landed :P I can't help it, there's just too much good vegetarian food in Taiwan.

There's going to be quite a few blurry pictures from my trip since cellphone is still the easiest way for me to take pictures without drawing too much attention. I'm pretty shy :P I just want to apologize for them in advance and also some of the translations on food names. Translated names are always confusing and more than one way to say it. Let me know if you would like to know where a restaurant is or what the name of the food is in Chinese.

YVR - left van at midnight on EVA airways




TPE - arrived in Taipei at five in the morning