3 continents in 3 week - F adventure

[boomy]

Just catching up with your TR Mmchow. It's amazing, we did similar trip in September, even similar airlines!

 

[mmchow]

Just catching up with your TR Mmchow. It's amazing, we did similar trip in September, even similar airlines!

I'm not stalking I promise . Indeed we did. I was half contemplating if to read your review then but went for it. Got a few tips so thank you.

 

[mmchow]

The Best of NYC cruise starts at 12pm so we had a bit of time to walk around town in the morning.
The route for this cruise

There is a guide that speak the entire 2.5hrs journey, highlighting over 101 NY sights. Made a pit stop for photos at Liberty Island then back up to East River
Some unique buildings along the Wast River

Apartments at Harlem East

George Washington Bridge

Building around Upper West Side

 

[Straubs]

Thanks for your great TR - sounds amazing!

 

[mmchow]

Went to Little Italy and Chinatown after the cruise and there were a lot of Asian ladies standing on the street. Initially I thought it was normal being in Chinatown but to my surprise, they were all selling fake goods. They don't have the products on them so they basically just mention the goods they have or showing pictures from the phone etc.
Little Italy

Chinatown

A common sight

Dinner was at Duck’s Eatery- a recommendation for rich, juicy and tasty ribs. +1 craving for soup and ordered the spicy noodle. Soup served with ramen and surprisingly good.

 

[mmchow]

After dinner, a walk to Grand Central Teeminal - indeed a grand station. I am fascinated by this style of architecture.
The main foyer

Information and ticketing booth

Grand Central Market (small)

Dining hall

We ended the day with some shopping at Macy - needed another bag for all the purchases

 

[mmchow]

2nd last day in NYC. Deeply craving for a good cup of coffee, we headed to Laughing Man Marketplace in Tribeca and the coffee met my expectation. They were busy for that 15 minutes we were there, proving Americans do enjoy a good cuppa instead of the common filter. On the way to ground zero, some sights along the way

stall selling XMas tree

and some wood carving animals

As we're getting close to Ground Zero, tight security

and a good Autumn morning

 

[mmchow]

Another beat the queue moment for 911 Memorial Museum, we arrived 8:40am for 9am opening. Few people ahead of us so all good. Seen the queue late in the morning/ afternoon, not great.
The slurry wall designed to hold back the Hudson River

The survivor stairs

Apparently 911 Museum misuses the quotation from Virgil. Interesting.

What's left of the Ladder Company 3 Truck NYFD, tower antenna and elevator motor

Murals created for the people of NYC

 

[Pushka]

I'm sure Macy's has a bag section just for overseas tourist purchases. We all end up there for the same purpose.

 

[mmchow]

I'm sure Macy's has a bag section just for overseas tourist purchases. We all end up there for the same purpose.

They do on Level 7. Black Friday sale add a little sweetness to the deal

 

[mmchow]

On the first day we arrived, we saw this building and thought it was part of the Musuem.

Little do we know when we stepped in, it was a shopping complex. Recalled then from boomy that this is the Occulus.

From the inside to out

Next stop - Harlem@ 125th Street.

A few of the artworks we came across. There's more along 111th St

I do generally feel safe walking around Harlem but not sure if I'm comfortable doing so at night, even with a company. Just me I suppose.

 

[mmchow]

Enough of walking, we headed to Tom's restaurant for lunch. It's a basic coffee shop/ diner famous for its recurring cameo of Seinfeld.

Ordered the corn beef hash and they were delish.

The Met Museum was out next stop.

This place is HUGE, lots to see and explore if you are interested in history,artefacts, paintings etc.
Smithsonian Era

 

[mmchow]

Staircase to Medieval paintings (note: PG18)

I lost count on how many rooms they have dedicated to Medieval paintings


We were so lost (not knowing where are we) by the time we're finished with the paintings

There's still so much to see but not enough time, we cut this short and headed back to Times Square for our Broadway Show - School of Rock.

My nephew is playing in the UK version so it is only fitting that we watch this here. We got the tickets through TodaysTix for $70/person.

 

[mmchow]

Our lasT day at NYC and with 2 more attractions left on the Explorer Pass, we checked out Radio City Music Hall Tour.
The Grand Foyer with the Christmas tree chandelier

Our very enthusiast tour guide early this morning

Apparently, their toilet is very instagrammable

The prop stage with all the functions as the one in the venue. It was lost for xx-years until they find it in the filling cabinet

THE STAGE - the hydraulics of the stage is powered by water

 

[mmchow]

Roxy suite(VIP ROOM) - gold leaf on the ceiling

Backstage - the outfits


The timeline of the Rockettes

Met one of the Rockettes while we were there and were told the requirements of being a Rockettes, the trainings and routines etc. There's about 20 ladies auditioned earlier this year and only 5 got through. Impressive
The view of the Grand Foyer from the top - love the wall paper

A bummer we didn't try to make it to one of the show. There's always a next year

 

[amaroo]

A couple of AFF members got me motivated to book the family to see the Rockettes Xmas spectacular, on Xmas Day 2013 - it was very good!

 

[mmchow]

A couple of AFF members got me motivated to book the family to see the Rockettes Xmas spectacular, on Xmas Day 2013 - it was very good!

Didn't know anything about the show till we did the tour. There's one at 1pm on the day but was pushing our time a little with check out etc. I'll be back

 

[mmchow]

Claimed the last attraction on the Hop on/ Hop off Bus but we didn't use it as the traffic was bad and we've pretty much walk everywhere in the last 8 days. Last lunch was at Chelsea Market for the Oyster PoBoy. Was kicking myself for not trying the Shrimp PoBoy when I was in New Orleans earlier this year.

One very last look of Times Square

and back to the hotel for a quick freshen up, pack and check out. I came with half an empty suitcase but going out with 4 bags (left), including my backpack.

Next up - checking in to our CX flight to HKG via YVR.

 

[mmchow]

+1 loves the train but with that many luggages to cart, I was a bit reluctant to do so. So we took a taxi to the airport at 5pm for our 9:30pm departure. Rush hour and it took us 1.5 hours to get to the airport.
Check in area was empty, including Y and J

Upon arriving at the check in area, we were asked if we have a visa for Canada. Feeling surprised, we were then told that they have recently imposed a rule whereby a visa is required for all transiting passenger. Luckily, a visa can be applied and approved online so we sat at one corner and applied for one. Visa expiring 2021, so there's a reason to start planning a trip to Canada.
We headed over to the premium security queue, next to BA check in area

nice sofas in the corner of BA check in area

The queue for the premium line was OK (bout 10 people ahead of us) but it moves so slow and at times, barely moved at all. We were standing there for almost 15 minutes before being moved by the agent to the general security queue. Much faster but not that fast.

 

[mmchow]

Once you pass security, make a left turn and take the escalator up, you are at the entrance to the BA First Class lounge.

There is a another lounge - Terrace lounge within the F lounge that offers pre-flight supper to F pax only. We headed straight to the Terrace lounge for dinner.
Menu for the night

Cook to order noodle - very bland tasting

It's a very small lounge

The only difference between the F and Terrace lounge is the food and of course the size. In the F lounge, it's a buffet style with limited selection of food. The F lounge do have a big self serve bar and I came across an interesting whiskey.

Pour ourselves a glass and it was smooth. +1 loved it.