I was back for a brief visit to HK for a friend's wedding. I haven't been back around Christmas time for a while now. And the lights at night as just as good as I remembered as a child.
Its time like these that makes me truely miss HK (not to mention all that good food and shopping!)
Friday, December 21, 2007
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Spring time in NY
... is completely surreal. I just finished taking all my jumpers/sweaters to dry-cleaning and packed up my down jacket last Saturday. It was really nice, the sun was out, and I was in my T-shirt and shorts. I went to Cafe Lalo on upper westside. This cafe is apparently famous for pre and after theater dinner and drinks. It appeared in the film "You've got Mail" some years back (and I guess that's why it is also famous?).
I enjoyed a very European brunch by the nice bay window seats over a cappacino, and a piece of French "Kiss" Quiche (Gruyere cheese with shiitake mushroom, onion/leek made with pate-brisee served with Mediterranean salad), with a good book.
Central park was close by so I took a long-ish walk in there afterwards. There were signs of new life after a rather mild winter here. I was even looking for magnolias and cherry blossoms in the park as these 2 weeks we celebrate the cherry blossom festival here. Afterall, it is officially Spring!
Then this morning - snow. Yap! Not for long (only about 10 minutes and it was more like hail/slush type snowy rain). Forecast for this weekend is subzero at night. At the moment I am back to wearing my cashmere tops and big coats out and the heating is on indoors AGAIN!
I am just praying that there will still be some blossoms left on tree trunks for me to see by this weekend. Oh boy.
I enjoyed a very European brunch by the nice bay window seats over a cappacino, and a piece of French "Kiss" Quiche (Gruyere cheese with shiitake mushroom, onion/leek made with pate-brisee served with Mediterranean salad), with a good book.
Central park was close by so I took a long-ish walk in there afterwards. There were signs of new life after a rather mild winter here. I was even looking for magnolias and cherry blossoms in the park as these 2 weeks we celebrate the cherry blossom festival here. Afterall, it is officially Spring!
Then this morning - snow. Yap! Not for long (only about 10 minutes and it was more like hail/slush type snowy rain). Forecast for this weekend is subzero at night. At the moment I am back to wearing my cashmere tops and big coats out and the heating is on indoors AGAIN!
I am just praying that there will still be some blossoms left on tree trunks for me to see by this weekend. Oh boy.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
NY Aquarium
I think the last time I visited an aquarium was like 5-6 years ago in Sydney. I have always loved the aquarium. It is as close to going diving as it gets, without having to get into the water - and I can actually take pictures!! One day, I would finally go diving (I have been planning on it... hopefully I will get around to it soon).Anyway, I went to the New York Aquarium near Coney Island about a month ago. It reminded me again why I loved aquariums. It was an overcast and windy winter day. It was also a public holiday so not a lot of people were around (and some of the sea animals were also off on vacation). There were still plenty to see - from colourful tropical fish, to the gentle giant turtles and seals and some big big sharks and stingrays.
There was a really cool exhibition about Jelly fish. I don't exactly remember which type of jellies they had there, but there were definitely some rather strange and alient looking creatures on display. In reality, I would probably have freaked out if I saw them in the sea while I was swimming, but they were spectacular and fascinating behind glass.
New Year in New York
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Yes yes, I am about a whole month behind with this entry but its better late than never.
So of course - for New Year's Eve, all faithful (and mad) party-goers head for Time Square. To get into Time Square itself, people started lining up at the barricades at around 3:30pm in the afternoon.
Seriously, that's like almost 9 hours worth of standing around waiting behind bars, with no much to do. Once you are in, you are in. You will have to fight with the rest of the thousands there for a spot at the porter-loo, a place to stand to see the ball drop from the Square.
It wasn't really that cold on that particular night, so there were even more people than normal. I was at Rockefeller Center around 5pm and the streets were already all blocked off and to even line up to try getting into the square, everyone had to walk all the way up to 51st Street (Time Square is around 42nd Street). I followed everyone's quick march up 6th Avenue. There were street vendors selling 2007 sunglasses, flouro-headbands, whistles, party hats and other festive goodies.
The closest I got to Time Square was around 47th Street I think. The atmosphere was great though - even if New Year itself was still like a good 6 hours away.
Apparently the other good way to do this is actually to book dinner at a restuarant nearby so you can wait in the comfort of a warm place with food and drink supplies and be in the middle of all the action.
Me on the other hand? I headed back into the 'burbs and partied on away with some friends.
Yes yes, I am about a whole month behind with this entry but its better late than never.
So of course - for New Year's Eve, all faithful (and mad) party-goers head for Time Square. To get into Time Square itself, people started lining up at the barricades at around 3:30pm in the afternoon.
Seriously, that's like almost 9 hours worth of standing around waiting behind bars, with no much to do. Once you are in, you are in. You will have to fight with the rest of the thousands there for a spot at the porter-loo, a place to stand to see the ball drop from the Square.
It wasn't really that cold on that particular night, so there were even more people than normal. I was at Rockefeller Center around 5pm and the streets were already all blocked off and to even line up to try getting into the square, everyone had to walk all the way up to 51st Street (Time Square is around 42nd Street). I followed everyone's quick march up 6th Avenue. There were street vendors selling 2007 sunglasses, flouro-headbands, whistles, party hats and other festive goodies.
The closest I got to Time Square was around 47th Street I think. The atmosphere was great though - even if New Year itself was still like a good 6 hours away.
Apparently the other good way to do this is actually to book dinner at a restuarant nearby so you can wait in the comfort of a warm place with food and drink supplies and be in the middle of all the action.
Me on the other hand? I headed back into the 'burbs and partied on away with some friends.
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