Saturday, December 18, 2021

[USA] NEWYORK

NEW YORK
city never sleep

Finally last city of my trip. City of my dream, new york baby! Well this kinda overwhelming to step on here but yes everything just moves so fast and furious here. Busy work work work even for holiday sometimes i felt rush here. HAHA compared to other cities especially in west coast area, here was so packed by people. I couldn't imagine hows life before corona here. OK Now here's my visit & what i have eaten here in NYC some of my bucket lists from long time ago from youtube from ya everywhere.

TRANSPORTATION
In NYC can be overwhelming. Or i just stupid i felt here more complicated than Tokyo metro. In one track they pass several trains on it. It has numbers has alphabets quite confusing at first time but as we got along with it, it improved haha they has 7day passes cost USD 33/ ticket and very worth it if you commute alot because each trip USD 2.75

ACCOMODATION
Please if you visit NY for the first time or 2 or many times, everybody must said downtown manhattan near timessquare must be the most strategic area to stay. Well it is expensive but save your time to travel tho because you can just walk from one to otherpoint. But if you cheap skate mostly people stays at queens area or new jersey. We stayed at The americana inn which has great area and very clean hotel EVEN with shared bathroom but it cost USD 90/night.

VISIT AND EAT!
all tourist objects located in Manhattan island so I will divide it become some part so you can travel and make your itinerary easier ;)

SOUTH WEST MANHATTAN

LIBERTY STATUE
please its mandatory its a must! Dont you ever just take picture from the distance. TAKE A FERRY  to liberty island and see the breathtaking view. It cost around USD 24/person depart from battery park. You can reserve it here i departed last boat because we walked to slow but sailing during sunset just so perfect even we missed ellis island :p 

lunch dinner recommendation 
99 CENT PIZZA
its like everywhere in NYC can't recommended which great or pass because randomly tried several shops and everything just has similar standard flavour. It also cheap way to save ur food budget


DISCOVER CHELSEA MARKET & ROASTERY
75 9th Ave, New York, NY 10011, United States
Another starbucks roastery in US, grab some coffee and cross walk to Chelsea market, trying some local best food, homemade totebag, or just enjoying the ambience of the market

NORTH MANHATTAN
CENTRAL PARK
well it takes forever to walk around central park HAHA so i just walk around 30 mins here because we were just too tired. Many people does jogging and taking their dogs strooling around the park. Hope i came here around november must be super beautiful with all the foliage

lunch or dinner recommendation
PAPAYA KING
after pizza you have to try hotdog in NY. And here one of legend at the city. They sold thousands hotdog a day and try their fresh papaya juice that must be super refreshing during summer


MIDDLE MANHATTAN
ROCKERFELLER CENTER
What christmas without rockerfeller icerink. Rockerfeller is a must visit during christmas time. You can rent iceskate equipment for only USD10, book here or just take some picture around the huge christmas tree oŕ enjoy the view of city from the height at Top at the rock for USD 50/ person to enjoy sunset from above, book here  i just walked around rockerfeller so sad because my mom didnt want to do neither of those activities. Hopefully i can come back to NY to do it on christmas day 

GRAND CENTRAL STATION
many movies filmed here. Super pretty tall ceiling train station

quick snack
MAGNOLIA BAKERY
Bombed because sex and the city, try their cupcakes and banana pudding both just super sensational. Super moist and their cream i just can't ♡♡♡♡ black coffee and these would be perfect! They have several branches, like in rockerfeller area and grand central station.

TIMES SQUARE
well who come to NYC dont come here? Haha full of light and bunched of people crowd. Worth some pictures but its corona time dont spend time TOO LONG trust me

lunch or dinner recommendation
LOS TACOS NO.1
timesquare branch 
After long walk in timesquare, dont forget grab this famous tacos right on the block after hardrock cafe. USD 4/ taco it tastes superrrr fresh, chicken, pork or beef everything tastes on point!

BRYANT PARK WINTER VILLAGE
New York, NY 10018, United States
Feel the christmas with ice rink and festive food in Bryantpark that only open until newyear. Book your iceskate equipment for only USD 15 Here 


SOUTH EAST MANHATTAN
BROOKLYN BRIDGE & DUMBO
Iconic photo with these bridges just boom!! You really have to come early morning or just drown yourself with emotion HAHA best time to come early walk from dumbo area with background of Manhattan bridge and walk along the river side, get lunch at Timesout market and walk back to Manhattan island by crossing Brooklyn bridge. It is packed and beautiful.

lunch or dinner recommendation
WAHFUNG
79 Chrystie St, New York, NY 10002, United States
Discover china town in manhattan and try this USD4.75 bowl of roast pork rice and eat it at the park while looking at Seniors done taichi HAHA

QUICK RUN FROM MANHATTAN
WOODBURY PREMIUM OUTLET
498 Red Apple Ct, Central Valley, NY 10917, United States
Boring with hustle bustle newyork, go to Woodbury common area for more calm & peaceful wide shopping area. Just take bus from Port authority terminal ( 2 hours drive) cost you around USD 42, and enjoy more than hundreds premium brand here.

New York always busy and has something to offer. Hopefully can come back here and just enjoy more and more dessert and OH I missed trying Katz Deli which very popular :( really hopefully to come back here soon!

Fingercross,
HJ


[USA] CHICAGO


CHICAGO
windy city

Super random decision to visit this city and turned out this city super interesting! Its super modern with skyscrapper and beautiful river along the city. Chicago is newyork in cleaner and more discipline version. Unfortunately as it named windy city, it super cold and windy double killed HAHA not much we did here because Chicago is famous with art museum & zoo. So here's things that we visited here.

TRANSPORTATION
We used day trip pass for CTA bus and train for USD5/day which i can say the cheapest among all city that we visited. And all just super discipline no back door ride LOL all drivers very concern with passangers get in and off the ride. 

ACCOMODATION
so many choices around downtown Chicago. We stayed at Warwick chicago just few walks away from Starbucks roastery and many restaurants and shopping area around.

VISIT AND EAT!
#1
FAMOUS BEAN at MILLENIUM PARK
201 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
This bean reflects beautiful skyscrapper and blue sky of chicago. Must take picture here and just walk around the park.

#2
WALK ALONG CHICAGO RIVER
enjoy the river with just walk or by ferry. It super beaitufl during sunset and the sun light reflection makes the water of the river look so clear blue. Just stop on cafe or eat at restaurant near the river and enjoy the view.

#3
STARBUCKS RESERVE ROASTERY
646 N Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
Lately the biggest starbucks in the world with 5 level floors, makes you feel like in adult disneyland with all coffee display and bar.

#4
CHICAGO CHINA TOWN 
2133 S China Pl, Chicago, IL 60616, United States
Cheap option for buying souvernirs and eat something different. Super clean and neat compared to other cities' china town 

#5
CHICAGO THEATHER
175 N State St, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
if you love show you can come here and watch musical or comedy that really "chicago"

#6
CHRISTMASKINDL MARKET
50 W Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602, United States
Yearly opened christmas market in downtown chicago famous with its hotchocolate in their special mug or just looked around and buy christmas tree ornaments which quitr pricey but trust me they just too cute to be skipped.
NAVY PIER
600 E Grand Ave, Chicago, IL 60611, United States
Last but not least, perfect place to enjoying chicago's sunset, take a ferrish wheel or just enjoying variety food at their huge foodcourt

CHICAGO DELEGACY
DEEP DISH PIZZA
Pizza with crazy tons mozarella pizza and thin crust aside
It was quite good in Giordano's. They have personal for 1 person for lunch set for only USD12 with sidedish because just small size even can feed 2-3 persons. The crust similar with pie and their margarita sauce is very refreshing and not heavy to balance out the mozarella

Bye chicago! Even their Ohare airport looked super festive

[USA] LEAVENWORTH


LEAVENWORTH
washington's christmas village

As indonesian I have never ever feel christmas like it should be in chirstmas movie. That's why going to states and searching for christmas village is my top winter goal! And as i browsed i found this, beautiful unique germany looked small city 2 hours drive away from Seattle. And this is my journey :) 

TRANSPORTATION
i was driving here but you can take greyhound bus or train from Seattle train station for USD 40/oneway and stop at Icicle station or leavenworth.

ACCOMODATION
Well accomodation here during winter holiday quite expensive starting USD 200/night. We stayed at Bavarian haus super cute old style winter resort. Just walk less than 5 mins to the downtown.

SPECIAL EVENT
For october, they have october beerfest
For christmas light starts from thanks giving to late february 
For event calender you can check their website here 

It was snowing that morning. Me and my mom had breakfast at local waffle house. French toast breakfast set and house blend coffee for USD15 super good homey feeling with breathtaking view

As sun goes down, the city lights up and even more lovely with choir show sing christmas songs.


Try restaurants around the city. their warm beer, home made bratwurst, pretzel and my TOP tiramisu cake from the ginger bread factory, the best tiramisu in my life :") 

Ok back to Seattle!
HJ