New York City - Impossible Burger

So I have finally tasted the infamous Impossible Burger! (well, it is infamous to me...lol).

The Impossible Burger is a vegetarian burger that tastes like a beef burger. It's good, but problem is I have never tasted a beef burger in my life, so I can't compare...lol. I asked the patrons around me and they said it tastes the same.

Well, knowing that beef burger tastes like this, will I ever eat a real beef burger? NO! hehehe

I tried beef for the first time this year. I thought it's alright. I definitely didn't feel like I missed out in the past 20 over years of my life and it is not something I crave for.

Well, you may be wondering, if you want to eat meat, eat the real thing right? Yes, I agree. I don't get why people who have turned vegetarian look for vegetarian chicken or beef, isn't it defeating the purpose? If you want to eat meat - eat it! 

But this burger was created to solve another problem. The burger was created by a tech start-up, Impossible Foods, to find new ways to create environment-friendly food using technology. With the growing world population, there is a gradual depletion in resources to raise animals for consumption. This includes land and water and also the fuel needed to run the machines used for farming. You can produce a lot more food from a crop of wheat than you can from a herd of cattle. Hence, scientists at Impossible Foods are using plant based extracts to create foods that taste like meat. (I was rest assured by my scientist friend that this is non-GMO.. lol)

To read more about the creation of the meat and to understand what makes beef taste like beef, click here: Impossible Burger

This is what I am afraid of: technology taking over food! We should enjoy food for the way it is meant to be! World population, control your hormones!...lol...joking! Now that I have tried it, I will go back to avoiding foods made this way. I want the original :D

You can try the Impossible Burger at Momofuku Nishi
232 Eighth Avenue, New York, NY 10011

New York City - Dating in the Big Apple

I totally feel like Carrie Bradshaw (from Sex and the City) right now... lol jokes... and before I carry on, I want to clarify ONE thing: NO I AM NOT DATING!

I met an ex-university mate yesterday. He was posted here for work, about 2 years ago. When he first came, he was engaged. Then things didn't quite work out for him, and he is now single... and has been for the past 5 months plus. 

He is now on THREE dating apps (not one is Tinder!), and he is multitasking like no other. He has been relentlessly encouraging me to do the same. He had some 'words of wisdom' on the dating scene in New York to 'encourage' me.

• "New York is the best place to meet someone, there are so many young people, who are single and all looking for love" - Yes, I agree to this statement. There are approximately 8.5mn people in the city. About half are male, and of that about 60% is between the age group of 19-64. That gives me ~2.5mn guys (including those that are above 50... :S) Lol.. jokes. There is also a diverse range of people you can meet.
• "However, because of the vast selection, no one is really serious. They are fickle because they don't know if that person is the one, and they want to date others to figure it out!" - This is what I am fearful of. What if I find a guy, we go on a few dates, and I think I can get serious with him and he thinks the same too, BUT he doesn't want to get serious because he is not done 'scrutinising' the dating scene :-O. I know my fragile heart will not be able to take it. #ifiamanoptionpleaseleaveme
• "Dating is a numbers game!" - Ok, this I have heard over and over again from my friends who were lucky to find love on Tinder. I have been told by so many people to go out more, to hang out with different people more, to go on dating apps, etc, but I feel doing all of those is not me - it's like I am forcing it! And isn't the age-old advice to be yourself and do what makes you feel comfortable? Deep down, I DO NOT agree it's a numbers game. If it is meant to be, it will be. You will somehow meet someone in some way (through friends, at a party, in the most random way possible), then you get to know each other, and if you both 'click', both invest time to get to know each other better, and things work out - of course there is compromise and all. We can't go running around 'kissing all the frogs to find a prince' - well, at least I can't.

Here's the thing - I am sort of a traditionalist in this sense. As above, I believe in meeting a person in a more 'traditional' sense (not online). I have always been wary of the online dating scene (hence it NEVER and will NEVER work for me - the law of attraction). I downloaded Tinder in KL once and it didn't work out. Sorry Tinder, it's not you, it's me! Lol

Anyways, let me give you an overview of the dating apps my friend is on. You may find better luck using it (than Tinder), where ever you are.

• Bumble - similar to Tinder but what's different is the app permits only women to start a chat with their matches, but the woman must initiate the conversation within 24 hours. If not, the match expires.
• Hinge - this app is a way to match with people you're connected to through friends on social media. Practically, that means it can't offer the endless pool that exists on sites like Tinder. 
• The League - this is an exclusive app, and you must get an approval to be a 'member'. You log in with your Facebook profile, but unlike any apps, The League also asks for your LinkedIn information. What's also different, the League only gives you five matches per day. At 5pm, five new matches pop up. Once you go through them, you’re done for the day.

I finally caved in under my friend's persistence. So, I downloaded just one app - under his advice, I downloaded Bumble. Hmmm... well, I guess because of the location, most of the guys look like this:

#notmycupofteacoffeeglassofwine
I need someone more exotic looking

and are mostly corporate lawyers or investment bankers - nooo! #againstmyprinciples
With that, I uninstalled the app (in less than 24 hours) and decided to stick with my conventional ways..lol

From my outing yesterday, what I gathered is that New York is a great place to meet people. 90% of the people in New York are on some dating app (or all dating apps) meeting people, unsure if they will settle with the person at the end. #genyproblems

New York City - Perfect Cosy Cafe Found! :D

I have found the ideal cosy cafe amidst the bustling city!

GROUND CENTRAL :D

It's perfect!

The coffee is good and there is a wide range of cookies, pastries, and sandwiches that will fulfill your palate. (Please note, Americans eat way too much sugar - your sweet treats may cause diabetes immediately..lol! The coffee is not sweet though :D)

Added points for being able to choose the type of milk you want: 

• Full fat milk
• Skimmed milk
• Soy milk
• Almond milk
• Coconut milk!!

My coffee with coconut milk #metryingtobehippie
(I can already imagine what my mom will say if she reads this)

Ground Central:
155 E 52nd St, New York, NY 10022

(between Lexington and 3rd Avenue)

~10-min walk from Grand Central station

New York City - Settling in OK?

When the clock struck midnight on 1st Jan 2016, I made a resolution to move away from home for a while - to experience something new. (I am usually not a resolution kind of person. Whenever someone asks me what my New Year resolution is, I say: To be happy!). However, in 2016, I made one, and I got it!

I should be thrilled - I know, but somehow I do not and did not feel as excited as I felt when I was going to the UK to pursue my degree. I was 19 when I left home to the UK for 3 years - I was over the top - exhilarated! I loved every minute of the days before flying off and of the days when I was there.

This time though, I was questioning my decision to the very day I was flying off! Well it's too late now, I am already here in the Big Apple (and for almost a week)!

Empire State

Times Square

Where's John? lol

In the Times Square subway station

I think I might hide here...lol

Tribeca area

Washington Square Park

Grand Central Station

Grand Central Market

My fav place...lol

Central Park

The Metropolitan Museum

Manus x Machina (for fashion lovers)

Brooklyn Bridge

View of Downtown Manhattan

It is an exciting city - a place everyone should visit for sure. It is diverse and huge! It can be a bit overwhelming though.

About living here - I don't think it suits my personality and I definitely do not suit New York's personality! Lol... but I foresee a fun and very educational experience for me. I am also very grateful to be given this opportunity! Thank you!!

A few things about New York (and the US) for now - I am sure there will be more added to the list:

1. Some of the subways do not have maps - WTF! Isn't that the basic! You will have to look at each stop to make sure you do not miss your stop.
2. Processed and GMO foods are so so common here - unlike in Asia and Europe. No wonder the fight against GMO is big here.
3. There is a coffee culture here, but it is so hard to find a cosy coffee shop where I can just chill! I don't want a cafe where I feel I have to rush ALL THE TIME!
4. When crossing the wide roads, even when the light is green for pedestrians to walk, there are cars still moving - hence making me run like a maniac! - WHY?! #pleasehelpmeouthere
5. Why is it sooooooo expensive to fly internally within the US? A flight from NY to New Orleans costs USD$300! (You can fly London to Barcelona for just 30-40 pounds!) Again, please help me out here!!
6. There are many parks around - love it!
7. The organisation of the streets is amazing, you will know exactly which direction you are headed to. Streets run from East to West (the higher the street number - the more north you are); Avenues run from North to South (the smaller the avenue number, the more east you are).
8. It's a huge city and you are bound to discover something new everyday.
9. People - they are nice, but not as warm and friendly, as I'd wish.. hehe

Anyways, we'll see after a few more months perhaps? I will blog more about experiences here as my time here progresses.

Adios amigos! xx