I'm sorry there's just something about starting or ending an essay/blog post with quotes that makes everything sounds better and, dramatic. HA HA.
Hi.
If you're reading this chances are we are friends in real life (or on Facebook) or if we don't know each other, we should if you love popping bubble wraps just as much as I do.
Anyway, I just want to say THANK YOU SO MUCH to everyone. Yes, you who reads this. Whoever likes the New York photos I posted on Facebook, though I know at least one or two people must be pissed off or annoyed. Unlike my last win to Taylor Swift's concert in Singapore, which garnered a few haters, for some reason (though she did apologize everything's good), this time everyone is just, so happy for me c: Which makes me happy, warm and fuzzy inside in return.
Creys I don't even know man I JUST LIKE EVERYBODY OKAY. YOU = AWESOME.
I'm just going to start this ~*~*New York trip post~*~* now.
Just to make it clear, me and Abu and Ryan (from hitz.fm) flew together on Monday, 21 November early morning, then my father and brother flew later that day at around 7 p.m. and arrived a day later because my dad had to go to work. K.
Disclaimer : My grammar is all over the place because this post is too long and I don't bother rereading it to correct anything, and sometimes I don't make sense, so. Just throwing that out there.
DAY ONE.
My flight is technically on Monday, 21 November, at 2.00 a.m. I left the house at around 11 p.m. The queue to check in was pretty long, so we just waited and since there was free WiFi, I decided to tweet about flying off somewhere and later on post about it on Facebook. People were like, Anis where are you going!? or You're going to New York!?!?! How come you didn't tell me? :( :( or Why didn't I know about this!?!? or How dare you go without telling me.. sobs.
So here's the thing. NOBODY KNOWS ABOUT THIS TRIP. Except my family, Abu's family, aaaand my some of college friends. (The reactions from Michelle and Jun won The Best Reaction Ever - omg they were jumping around and screaming so loud HAHAHAH love it.) BUT. Other than that, I didn't really tell anyone. Not because I don't want to share it or push away my friends, because everything was SO last minute! I don't want to post I'M GOING TO NEW YORK, BITCHES!! and then something goes wrong, and everything got canceled. Buat malu jer. Things like that.
But I did post little hints about it;
This was when Jin & Ryan called me to record my voice about me winning the contest :')
Pretty sure nobody caught this. But then again, it's everybody's dream to see Statue of Liberty in person.
Moving on.
We made a transit to Dubai. So nothing much happened in the flight, except when we first came in somebody is already seated in our seats. We stood there for awhile while they sort things out, (and Abu got a picture with the stewardess -
I didn't because I looked horrible but the stewardess was like, You don't want a picture with me!? :( HEH) and we got our seats back. But then hours later we found out that the couple who sat in our seats got UPGRADED TO BUSINESS CLASS. Damn that could've been us! It was very, narrow and uncomfortable. Ya know, economy class. But whatever as long as I'll get to go to New York I wouldn't even mind sitting in the lavatory the whole time.
And Malaysian nasi lemak was served! Cool beans yo. I talked a little bit with the Chinese uncle sitting next to me. He was going to.. somewhere in Europe, I can't remember. The food served were really really good, but I couldn't finish a single thing. In fact, throughout this whole trip, I didn't finish ANYTHING I ate. Seriously. Maybe my stomach was just not up to it.
ALSO, when the plane JUST touched down in Dubai, and we were still in the airplane talking, me and Abu made a startling discovery that ABU, DIDN'T BRING HIS TAYLOR SWIFT CONCERT TICKET. He thought that he gave the ticket to me which clearly he didn't, I thought it was with him. It was a case of he said she said. So then when we reached Dubai, he had to call his mother so that his parents can give the ticket to MY dad/brother because they'd be arriving 1 day after us. I wouldn't mind going to the concert alone, not my fault SOMEBODY was careless : p Also, I used the phone card to call my mom too teehee.
The layover wasn't that long, only about 3 hours+.
When we were in the waiting hall to board the flight to New York, there was this woman Abu met. I just saw them talking from afar and wondered what they are talking about. Abu was taking pictures of the plane because it was SO HUGE, then somehow they got talking and she found out that I won the tickets to see Taylor Swift and then she came to me, wide-eyed and congratulates me :) She said Taylor Swift is HUGE in the US and she said she felt like flying with a celebrity omg HAHAHA. And that this made her flight or something like that :D
She's very old, by definition, but she's alive with passion for life ya know? I can see it in her eyes. She looks like someone who travels a lot and has discovered so much about life. Gosh I want to be like this woman. She was traveling with her son. Felt awkward to ask for a picture but I'd never forget that face!
Little things like that sometimes restores my faith in humanity.
This flight was REALLY LONG. About 13 hours to be exact. (The total hours of flying involved = almost 24 hours! CRAZY. But the destination was very well worth it!)
Suits the size of the plane I guess, and WAS SO GLAD we got the front row seats this time! Which means more leg space and we can stretch our legs, not all cramped up. Also there were more in-flight entertainment this time!
Such as
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows part 2!
and
The Big Bang Theory!! I remember taking this picture and thought, this is the life y'all. Thousands of feet up in the air, free yummy breakfast, watching TBBT. Life literally couldn't get any better at that moment.
Managed to watch the movie The Help, starring Emma Stone. I was miserable the whole time! Couldn't get any sleep, AT ALL, for more than 24 hours :( Not because of crying babies or anything but just, couldn't. Anyway.
FUNNY STORY TIME.
We actually entered the plane quite late, so we had to put our bags in the compartment few rows behind, because the compartment right above our head was full. So when the plane landed and Abu had to go back to get our bags, I stayed in my seat. Other people have all lined up, just waiting for the door to be open. So I stood up too. Waiting and waiting.
Rewind back an hour earlier, every passengers were given this small box of pizza. I didn't feel like eating so I planned to eat it at the hotel and I put it on my seat while I stand up waiting for the door to be open and also for Abu to get our bags.
AND THEN, this guy, who sat right behind me, who have already stand up and lining up, GRABBED THE PIZZA ON MY SEAT. MY pizza. AND EAT IT RIGHT AWAY. Didn't even ask my permission or say anything. I was too shocked to say anything O__O
He probably didn't know it was mine.. but still! Idk man I suck at telling stories but it was just hilarious I can still laugh about it today. Luckily the guy was sort of cute LOLOL. But, yeah. There goes my pizza.
So we got out of the plane and I didn't have my jacket on, and it was pretty cold! But indoor, so still manageable. We had to fill up this form, for visa purposes I guess. And they interviewed everybody one by one. So I got out fine, not many questions asked (phew I was worried man. Ya know, wearing hijjab and all.) But Abu had to go to another room where he described as being VERY filthy and there were other 'suspicious-looking men' in the room being interrogated as well. Because of his name, Abu Haziq -..- It was only like 3 minutes though then everything was fine. So then we got our bags and head out where we saw this guy, holding Ryan's name on an A4 paper. Yep the transport from the airport to the hotel was provided. 5-star treatment, yo.
Ryan still hasn't come out yet (we sat in different rows in both flights) so we talked with the.. driver a little bit. I don't think we even asked his name.. but anyway he asked us where we're from and he's actually also from Malaysia!! Penang, to be exact. But have been staying in New York for more than 20 years. He said a few words in Malay too! "Cakap Melayu? Sikit-sikit." Or something like that. I thought it was SO COOL :D
So then Ryan came and we went to the driver's car and IT WAS MAD COLD OUTSIDE. I was too lazy to get my heavy coat out and was freezing a little bit. Lucky the car was parked very near to the airport!
The drive was only about 25 minutes I think, the traffic wasn't that heavy. And throughout the journey I hardly blink when I look outside. I am in New York City. Is this even real? IS THIS REALLY HAPPENING? Won't lie I felt like tearing up a little bit.
Everytime the car passed through a 4-way junction, you can see the long, long road left and right. It was just, surreal.
'OMG' STORY TIME.
So if you read my previous blog post about how I won the contest, how I got 7 correct answers but then I heard the sudden death round with these 2 girls who got 6 each, and how supposedly one of them won. Then I called hitz.fm and Ryan picked up, and cut story short, I am indeed the winner.
So in the car I asked Ryan, WHAT IN THE WORLD HAPPENED EXACTLY?
Well, he brought up the subject first actually. He asked how many answers I got correct. Then he explained about what happened TO THE OTHER GIRL. The one who got the sudden death question right.
As much as I want to win this contest and wouldn't give it to anyone no matter what, I can't imagine being her. Receiving a phone call saying oh you didn't actually win, lol kbye.
Ryan explained that it was a crazy day in the hitz.fm office (which makes sense why the people there always delay to call me). And that the girl got her dad involved, and planning to sue hitz.fm, and said the contest is not fair. Uhm, hello? It never was in the first place. And whaddya know, in the end the girl actually WILL STILL get to go to a Taylor Swift concert, fully sponsored - in Australia. Because the concert I'm going to is the last concert for the Speak Now Tour in the US and will continue to Australia in March 2012.
It took me a moment to digest everything. At first I was definitely pissed off! Why does SHE get to go as well!? I'M THE TRUE WINNER! There was no second prize offered! YOU LOST, DEAL WITH IT!
But then, I look around and see the beautiful shades of leaves falling from the trees along the road. The yellow NYC cab right next to me, with Dolce & Gabbana ad on its roof. The skyscrapers ahead. And remind myself, I'm in New York City. Be grateful. Everything else doesn't matter.
I thought, psh, Madison Square Garden in New York City - Australia. NYC,.. Australia. I mean no offense to Australians, but c'mon. There's no comparison. Madison Square Garden! Where every big names, legends in the industry has performed! The last venue the late John Lennon performed before his death. You can't top that.
So I put on a smug, thinking no one can take my spot now. MWAHAHAHA. Plus, the concert in Australia won't be the same as in the US - there won't be that many dancers, the same breathtaking stage. Just like the concert in Singapore that I went to. WHATEVER, BITCH. GO TO AUSTRALIA I COULDN'T CARE LESS.
Uhm yeah. That was a little dramatic.
Arrived at our hotel.
Hampton Inn. It was small and cozy, and everything we needed. Free WiFi too! (Honestly why do hotels STILL charge for internet? Hello it's almost 2012!)
There was a little bit of a glitch at the reception counter, since they need a credit card in case we take break anything etc in the hotel room. But me and Abu don't have one. But everything was settled and of course already paid for (WOOOOOHHH) so everything worked out fine.
This is a picture from Abu's camera, meaning Abu's room (which would later be shared with my brother, I share my room with my dad). My room is about the same, though I don't know why Abu said my room's better.
The toilet. When I said my toilet uses a shower curtain, Abu mocked me saying his has a nice door. Later I found his was just a shower, mine has a nice, big bath tub! MWAHAHAHHAHA WHO'S LAUGHING NOW.
The bed was REALLY, REALLY comfy! HEAVENLY to sleep in omg. We arrived at the hotel at around, 5 p.m. and wasted NO time to explore NYC! Stayed for about an hour to freshen up and settle in, then out the door we went. YEP. Me without ANY sleep, at all. I mean with the MANY things to do in New York, sleep should be the last thing on everybody's list.
First stop, Macy's! It was only like 6 p.m.+ but it was already dark. Sun sets early in the fall, boo :(
I've set up early on the first thing I'm going to buy is Taylor Swift's perfume, Wonderstruck because it's not available in Malaysia. So we headed to Macy's, where Taylor Swift herself actually went there to promote her perfume. Means it's definitely, definitely on sale there.
It was SO. HUGE. Got lost a little bit and we were sure this is the perfume section but how come it's so small but then discovered the other entrance and ta-dah! SO MANY PERFUMES. So much cheaper than buying it in Malaysia too! Then saw Wonderstruck all stacked up right next to Justin Bieber's perfume (blargh) and asked the promoter for a sample. It smells, really sweet! But I don't care I'm buying it anyway. Bought the little boxset at $65. YAY.
Then we walked to Victoria's Secret which is right in front of Macy's. Abu bought like 7 bottles of.. idk, perfume? Lotion? Something along those lines.
Contrary to popular belief, Victoria's Secret is actually not that expensive!
Of course, Victoria's Secret is famous for their sexy lingerie but I felt, uncomfortable being in that section of the shop so I hang around in the perfumes/lotions section :P
Then we got REALLY hungry and the perfume set was pretty heavy to hold around so we decided to buy some food (there were a LOT of halal carts like these!
Food was a no-problemo at all) and then head back to the hotel to eat (because it was just by the road.. no proper tables/chairs) and put our stuff in the hotel and then head out back.
NEXT STOP : TIMES SQUARE!!
Going to NYC without visiting Times Square is like, I don't even know, man. IMPOSSIBLE. Took the subway to go there. Kinda knew it wasn't that far to walk, but just wanted to try taking the Subway! The infamous NYC Subway.
Yay me being all qt pie l o l.
Eeeepppp.
We had to walk a little bit from the Subway station, which is fine because everything was just marvelous around there.
Harry Potter!
"Look at the stars; look how they shine for you."
And YES it was as magical as I hoped it would be. Everything. The neon lights. The gigantic billboards. The people. The energy. I JUST LOVE EVERYTHING ABOUT IT. BLOGGING ABOUT THIS MAKES ME SAD.
Okay took a LOT of pictures there, but couldn't possibly post all of it here. I had a HARD time choosing just 200 photos to post on my Facebook!
Entered.. Aeropostale? I forgot which shop. Just to check stuff around.
Yay new profile picture! :P
There are a lot of pictures of Abu too, but it's my blog so I shall post just my pictures :P
We were on the billboard!!
LOOK AT ABU OMG HAHAHAH
Yay Daniel Radcliffe! Yup we saw him on Broadway!! That story coming up on.. Day 3.
So then after we've been all awed out by the magnificent Times Square, we head back to the hotel. Except the story didn't end that simple, we got lost.
And trust me, getting lost in NYC is never a bad idea. Sort of.
We stumbled upon Grand Central Station!
And also NYPL, New York Public Library which was closed. We planned to go to these places, but not like in our top priority. But hey at least we stopped by!
We saw Goku, yep the character in Dragon Ball, got in the car. I don't even know what just happened. These 2 guys in their costumes.. uh yeah. Another normal day in NYC.
The beautiful Empire State Building!
We stopped by Duane Reade, which is sort of their pharmacy? It's ubiquitous in New York! Just, everywhere. Sort of like Starbucks as well. 5 minutes walk, 1 Starbucks. Another 5 minutes walk, there's another one. Madness.
The infamous Vitamin Water, made popular by hipsters on the internet lolol. Bought one myself, taste pretty good.
Can I just say Haagen Dazs is really cheap here compared to in Malaysia!? It was like $5 a pint, about RM15+. In Malaysia that stuff is literally double the price at RM30 something! -,,-
I ended up a bottle of Vitamin Water, this sleeping pills (woot woot) in case I can't sleep that night, even after sleepless for 24 hours. But I did, slept right away once we reached the hotel.
Eventually we found our way. But it was a really really really really long walk! :( Legs were aching so bad. But no choice!
At some point I think we ended up in some sort of, ghetto area. Which was scary. But AWESOME. Nothing happened la. Somehow I felt safer walking around in NYC rather than in KL, despite the ~crime rates~ in NYC. Blah.
Bought hotdog for $2.
So yeah, we reached our hotel around, 1 a.m. I think! Slept in the super comfy bed, and woke up around 7 a.m. for another adventurous day in New York City! ;)
SO this is how I'm gonna publish the rest of the posts:
28 December - Day 1 in NY
29 December - Day 2 in NY [part 2 & 3]
30 December - Day 3 in NY
31 December - Day 4 & 5 in NY
Not that anyone cares.
ps; I turned 19 two days ago, yay!
2 comments:
You suck because you compared the price of stuffs in Malaysia and in the US. Of course its much cheaper. DUH.
Thank you for your constructive criticism, anon :)
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