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

Portuguese Voyage - Stop 1: Porto (Day 1)

After collecting many many maps from various cities over the years, I have finally decided to write a blog. Share my travels with netizens and hopefully it may serve as a guide for your future travels.

Why did I decide to start a travel blog, you may ask. Well this was fuelled by my mother, "Why can't you share your travels??" she nagged one day... my reply, "Why can't you let me be!" Funny thing is I had the idea to blog about my trip to Portugal, and with her nagging in the background... I thought let's just do it... Hence, you are now reading this...

You may also be wondering why is the title of my blog such. Well after almost 29 years of living in this world (not yet, few months away!!),  I want a partner who shares the same passion in travelling and exploring as I do! Who will fly away with me and at the same time will root me down when needed.. just as I would. Click here to apply.. jokes!

Ok, I have gone way off tangent! Back to my very first post: My first stop in exploring Portugal....PORTO! 

Ponte D. Luis I

Praca de Ribeira

Clerigos Tower

View of Porto from outside the railway station

Railway art

View of Porto

My thoughts on Porto: it is a scenic beautiful city, history rich .. but I found it a bit too cramped up... I need my space :S 

Beautiful, nevertheless & the food - delectable! 

The place I stayed was located in an amazing location, the Virtudes area. It was central enough, walking distance to most places within historical Porto, but far enough to find local treasures (restaurants)! and the view from my bedroom is the scenic Rio Duoro.

On my first night, I had dinner at O Caracas. It is run by a pair of twin sisters and their mother. The mother is the local chef of the restaurant. There is no set menu. Each night the dishes change based on what's fresh in the market - and there is always 1 fish dish and 1 meat dish. The dishes are local traditional Porto recipes. On that night, the options were cod (bacalhau) fish balls and venison.

As I LOVE cod - the obvious choice was the bacalhau.

OMG! The food - sublime!! It tasted like home-cooked food and it was so tasty and fulfilling!! I wanted to hug the 'mother'!! The portion....HUGE! (I later found out that ordering for 1, can actually feed 2!) And the price I paid for my meal, 1 bowl of vegetable soup and a glass of wine... less than 10 Euros!

A few things I learnt from my first dinner experience and more:
1) The Portuguese eat loads of rice! It was picked up from the countries they conquered way back then (15th/16th century) - Malaysia (or Malacca to be exact) being one of them!
2) They also adopted tea and cinnamon!
3) They have amazing coffee, wine, and cheese - SO IMPORTANT!
4) Huge portions (as mentioned above)
5) There is hardly any vegetables :( - I missed my veg a lot during this trip!
6) However, most of them people are slim - possibly due to the uphills they have to go through every day (every city I went to in Portugal is so hilly! hardly any flat land)

See... that's why I love travelling... you learn new things every day which you can bring home with you (just as the Portuguese did.. lol).

That's a wrap of my first evening in Porto... as for the rest of my Porto trip..to be continued...


P.S If you do want to ask me any questions or leave comments.. please fill in the comment box below :)