Homes Designs: New York, New York

It was really good seeing Addie again and introducing Hannah to her aunt. My first impressions of New York are mixed. I found it loud, somewhat dirty and noisy. People were not really all that friendly and some were downright rude. Those we found to be nice weren't from New York!

But there's so much to see! Wish we could ahve done it in the autumn season and had maybe a month to explore it rather than 4 days! The pace was fast and the weather was freezing. So we didn't get to do as much as possible due to the weather.

In the end, Hannah was sick of the stroller and her brown jacket. And we were disappointed that we didn't get to see enough of NY! I would have loved to explore Central Park more... I guess the autumn or early summer would be nicer with the greenery.

Didn't get to visit the NY Zoo (oh well, most of them would have been hibernating I suppose), Guggenheim, Macys, Waldorf Astoria, more famous culinary places... more museums...

But we did get to see the Statue of Liberty and the edges of NY via a 3 hour cruise. Was good to be able to take in the sights in a relatively warm place! Very picturesque. We also saw the top of Empire State Building where King Kong climbed. Again freezing to be outdoors but very impressive sight of downtown NY. Central Park is huge!

Addie found a great deal for a twin room in Sheraton NY Towers. Located on 7th Ave and 53rd St, it is right next to the subway station! So from the airport, you take the airtrain to the subway station and then take the subway right to 7th Ave. Walk up the stairs (or rather, lug pram, baby and suitcase up the stairs) and you're next to the hotel! It's really central. Great find, Addie!

Despite the amount of museums in NY, we only saw one, the Museum of Natural History. It's a really interseting museum. I wanted to take Hannah to the butterfly conservatory but you have to pay more to get in there. (We bought a CityPass book which allows you free access into this museum, and others.) So we went around the free areas instead. Had to rush off though, to catch a cab back to the hotel to get to the airport! The oceania life one was rather impressive! Hannah wasn't impressed by anything hehehe

Good place to get pizza in downtown NY is at Ray's Pizza on 831, 7th Ave. I loved the pepperoni and bacon pizza! Great Malaysian restaurant in Chinatown near SoHo in NY is Jaya. We walked everywhere looking for the Malaysian restaurant Addie had been to a while back but didn't remember where. We almost gave up when my sister decided on a whim to follow instructions of a nearby cart-seller and we enjoyed such a spread! Only $55 ... and service was quick and friendly. They LOVED Hannah to bits. So, head there when you get to NY! Andrew and I would like to go back there for great food and friendly warmth.

I loved Soho. We didn't get to explore much, again because of the weather, but what we did get to see I really liked. If I were to live in downtown NY, I'd definitely be in SoHo. So funky, arty and lively. :) (Btw, SoHo is short for South of Houston!)

We were very impressed by Apple Centre's new digs in New York. Located on Fifth Ave on the corner of Central Park, it is really on prime real estate. The architects really found a unique way to have great address, yet not steal the surrounding building's prime location too! The exterior of Apple Centre, NY is just a giant glass cube where the white signature apple hangs. The interior of the store is located underground! Very swish!

Opposite the Apple Centre is The Plaza. Famed for being the home of the famous Eloise character, I really wanted to have tea there. The hotel is closed until mid 2007 when it reopenes in new splendour ready for its 100th anniversary. Oh well :(

We saw the famed Russian Tea Room. Recently reopened this historical place is one exotic foodery. Not real cheap though! Maybe for a 50th wedding anniversary that Andrew can start saving up for now! hehehe. Next to it was KATE'S PAPERIE! If you're not into the same things as me, you won't be excited about this find, but I was like a child in a candy store on my last day there. Looked at everything, touched everything and lusted. And lusted.

We've been in a yellow cab! And the subway! So now we're in the set of Law & Order, of Sex and the City, of CSI NY,... and it's the TV coming to live for us! Hehehehe :) The yellow cabs are so roomy and old! So atmospheric.

Times Square is a MUST to see. Located just up the road from our hotel, it is the location of a million films. The latest being Heroes, when Hiro lands himself in NY and yells "Hello, New York" or somerthing! Surrounded by a trillion pixels, billboards, lights, shops and people, it is a must to stand in the middle and just gawk around you! hehehehe

Rockerfeller Centre was a sight too, surrounded by all the flags of the world! Great photo taking spot! The bottom is a ice skating rink! Wow I wanna be able to skate!

Note: Coca Cola in US is very gassy!!!

Click below for photos..