I always knew I’d walk away loving New York, I just didn’t quite expect to be in love with the city.

It is everything I’d imagined it to be, and more. From the cliched-but-still-wonderful tourist attractions to the exciting architectural landscape and the gorgeous neighbourhoods, NYC has more than taken my breath away. There is truly little wonder why so many films, television shows and songs feature New York that prominently, and why many people continue to adorn I ♥ NY t-shirts.

I actually didn’t take as many pictures as I thought I would (only 600+ for the 2 weeks I was there). I don’t quite know why. Perhaps I just wanted to soak everything in, be in the moment, and not be fussed about apertures and other settings. After all, it’s not as though I know cameras well enough to know how to capture moments as accurately as I’d like, and I certainly didn’t think plenty of what I saw was deserving of mere snapshots. I’ll definitely take more photos next time, though. Yes, there will be a “next time”. :)

A more detailed recap of the trip including a mini guide will be up real soon.

. . . . .

Song of the Day

Lost In The Moment, by Daniel Lee Kendall

(Previous countdown posts: 70 days, 60 days, 50 days, 40 days, 30 days, 20 days, 10 days, 5 days, 3 days, 1 day)

I’m heading off to the airport now for that long, long journey to the Big Apple. Saying that I’m thrilled beyond reason is an understatement. :)

Cya in Manhattan!

(Previous countdown posts: 70 days, 60 days, 50 days, 40 days, 30 days, 20 days, 10 days, 5 days, 3 days)

And here we are, in the 25th hour before I board that 747 and bear a gruelling 23-hour flight to JFK.

*flails arms*

We finalised our itinerary today and couldn’t stop grinning like silly little girls throughout the whole process. But we were also kind of overwhelmed by how packed our schedule looked. You see, we’re the sort who prefers a more leisurely pace, so when we saw how each day seemed chock full of activities, we had to take a deep breath. How anyone can see New York in under a week, is beyond me.

27 Nov – Hello NYC :), Times Square, Empire State Building
28 Nov – Greenwich Village, East Village, NYU
29 Nov – Midtown, Lunch @ Jean Georges, The Met, Book of Mormon
30 Nov – MOMA, Fifth Ave, Barneys, 30 Rock Christmas tree light up
1 Dec – Chinatown, Central Park, Dinner @ 230 Fifth, Wicked
2 Dec – Woodbury, Chinese takeout dinner
3 Dec – Harlem, Columbia U, Museum of Natural History, Upper West Side
4 Dec – Staten Island, Brooklyn, Coney Island
5 Dec – Grand Central Terminal, United Nations HQ, Upper East Side
6 Dec – Midtown, Lunch @ Le Bernadin, New York Public Library, Jersey Boys
7 Dec – Ground Zero, TriBeCa, Soho, Dinner @ Nobu
8 Dec – Hell’s Kitchen, Flatiron District, Garment District
9 Dec – Buffer Day, Goodbye NYC :(

Amid all the excitement, I’m just really thankful that I’ve got such a great travel buddy to enjoy this vacation with. A travel buddy who I’ve known for too long, and travel so incredibly well with. It never fails to amaze me how much we have in common, and how we are both so agreeable to almost everything. I can’t emphasise the importance of travelling with someone who has the same interests and wanderlust-ing desires; I’m extremely blessed to have found such a friend. :)

I’m gonna have trouble sleeping tonight. I’m totally in a New York state of mind. Hee.

. . . . .

Song of the Day

New York State Of Mind, by Billy Joel