Going Around the Walking City

I was riding a Greyhound bus from New York back to Atlantic City when I received a call from my dad. He was anxious because he told me to go back earlier as we were heading straight to Boston that night. I had calculated my travel time perfectly and I knew I just had enough time to quickly rest at home (I’ve already packed my bags before leaving for NYC) but my dad being his panicky-self again (but I still love him) was worried that I will not make it on time. It was Memorial Weekend after all and the First Lady would be in Atlantic City to watch Beyonce’s concert that very same night. He thought all the odds were against me. Having traveled enough in Asian cities before, I knew the importance of time when you're on the road and I was confident I would make it right on time-- which I did.

Boston, or The Walking City as some would call it, was not originally part of my itinerary. It was a last addition in my aunt's effort to show me more of the East Coast and maximize my 3-week vacation. Because it was so last-minute, I didn't have time to research about it so I really had no expectations. However, to my surprise, Boston turned out to be my second favorite US city, next to NYC. 

From my uncle's place in Egg Harbor City, we had to ride the NJ transit to Philadelphia's 30th Station. From there, we rode the Amtrak to Boston's South Station. Travel time was around 7 hours in total and because I was dead tired from my NYC trip, I immediately fell asleep. The Amtrak was a comfortable and quick way to travel around East Coast's big cities. The train was what I thought the modern Orient Express would look like if it was still operational. It was huge and clean (vs. the NJ transit), had its own cafe in the middle car and has wifi-- my ideal mode of transportation. 

What I like about Boston is that it's mainly a college city, so it's not as busy and fast-paced as New York. Everything seems walkable-- they have Freedom Trail, a path you can follow so you can walk to 16 historic sites. It also has parks in almost every other corner. It's always nice to just sit on a bench, watch people go about their everyday lives and not worry about anything-- something I always look forward to when traveling because I never get to have that special moment when I'm home.

Here are a few places that are forever instilled in memory of Boston:

1. We got to visit Harvard Square, which made me miss my Ateneo days. I was trying to look for the next Mark Zuckerbeg and was trying to search for the dorms mentioned in the movie.

2. Y'all know I love food and Boston's China Town has good and cheap restaurants! Because we didn't research where to eat before going, we decided to look for restaurants in China Town and it was a very good decision on our part. We ate in Empire Garden and Dumpling Cafe in Washington Street for two straight nights. It's always great to have a sumptuous dinner after a tiring day.

3. For more food options, Quincy Market is also a nice place to grab some delicious grub. It's an indoor market with hundreds of food stalls, so many that I had a hard time choosing!

4. One of the first things we did was to go on a Harbor Cruise along Boston's Waterfront. It was a nice way of getting to know the city and looking at it from spectacular views.

5. We also got to see and go inside the USS Constitution, the world's oldest commissioned naval vessel still afloat. We met a Filipino girl who joined the navy to get a college scholarship. She grew up in the US but can speak Filipino very fluently because it's the only way she can communicate with her grandmother.

6. Boston is said to have 24 fountains. I didn't get to see all of them but I immediately took a liking to the Christian Science Plaza's fountain. It was huge and amazing! I wish we had something like that in Manila. 

Travel Quotes That Inspire Me

Sometimes when I have so much things to say but can't find the right words to use, I look for popular quotes that capture my thoughts best. And tonight, all I can think of is TRAVEL. So I'm sharing with you the most inspiring words that have made me hit that book button, one too many times.

“Still, despite all this, traveling is the great true love of my life. I have always felt, ever since I was sixteen years old and first went to Russia with my saved-up babysitting money, that to travel is worth any cost or sacrifice. I am loyal and constant in my love for travel, as I have not always been loyal and constant in my other loves. I feel about travel the way a happy new mother feels about her impossible, colicky, restless, newborn baby--I just don't care what it puts me through. Because I adore it. Because it's mine. Because it looks exactly like me. It can barf all over me if it wants to--I just don't care.”
― Elizabeth Gilbert, Eat, Pray, Love

"You know what drives me crazy? It's all these people talking about how great technology is, and how it saves all this time. But, what good is saved time, if nobody uses it? If it just turns into more busy work. You never hear somebody say, "With the time I've saved by using my word processor, I'm gonna go to a Zen monastery and hang out." I mean, you never hear that." 
― Jesse, Before Sunrise

"I told myself spreading news was part of a traveler’s nature, but if I was being completely honest, I was just like everybody else: shit-scared of the great unknown. Desperate to take a little piece of home with me."
― Richard, The Beach 

 

"The core of mans’ spirit comes from new experiences." 
― Christopher McCandless, Into The Wild

"Never lose your childish innocence. It's the most important thing."
― Katherine, Under the Tuscan Sun

 

“There is never any ending to Paris and the memory of each person who has lived in it differs from that of any other. We always returned to it no matter who we were or how it was changed or with what difficulties, or ease, it could be reached. Paris was always worth it and you received return for whatever you brought to it. But this is how Paris was in the early days when we were very poor and very happy.”
― Ernest Hemingway, A Moveable Feast 

“Never to go on trips with anyone you do not love.”
― Ernest Hemingway, A Moveable Feast

NYC Hotel Reviews: Marrakech Hotel and The Jane

A promise is a promise, however late it is. So for the hotel hoes / accommodation-obsessed scouts, this post is for you.

As soon as I booked my ticket to the US, I knew I wanted to go to NYC and just experience the city all by myself. It took my parents, especially my dad, quite some time to say yes to the idea (I use the “I’m-freaking-24-years-old-and-it-will-only-be-for-a-few-days" line) of me going around the oh, so big and scary Big Apple. But eventually, they did say yes.

Despite being in NYC for only three short days, I got to stay in two very different hotels. The first one was Marrakech Hotel in the Upper West Side.

Their website was convincing enough but what really made me hit that BOOK button was the $29 price tag. Yup, you read that right. I got a $29 Queen Room (good for 4 people, yo!) in the UWS in late May. The sweetest deal I’ve ever seen! Unfortunately, it wasn’t their standard rate. For some crazy and unexplainable reason, their reservations system had, what I could only think of as, a typographical error for that exact night I was coming. The price read $29 when it should have been $229, like the rest of the nights that followed. I guess, I just got lucky!

Anyway, if you’re looking for a luxurious hotel (and Egyptian cotton sheets), then look away from the Marrakech Hotel.

What did I like about it?

-          Big rooms and soft beds

-          Has its own bathroom and it’s clean

-          TV has several channels

-          Quiet—I didn’t hear any noise from the streets

-          Staff is quite nice and helpful

-          Good location – generally safe neighborhood, Subway 1 (103 st.) and Starbucks are a few steps away and Central Park is just 5 minutes away

What did I not like about it?

-          No elevators (not really a huge problem because really, how many hotels in Manhattan have one anyway?)

-          Hallways and rooms are generally dark

-          Room carpet, I felt, was not quite squeaky clean (just bring and wear your slippers)

-          No refrigerator in the room

Will I stay here again?

Yes, if I chance upon a good price again. But I won’t pay $200 for it.

My second hotel was The Jane in the West Village. I paid more than what I wanted but I chose it because of its charm, history and neighborhood. I got the Standard Cabin for $125, without taxes.

What did I like about it?

-          Neighborhood—comparing it to UWS, the West Village is more young and hip. Restaurants and bars are everywhere. There are a couple of parks, too. Oh, and did I mention there’s a nearby Barney’s Co-Op (with GORGEOUS sales staff!) and a Magnolia Bakery (quite a disappointment though).

-          Rooms are cute and very affordable.

-          Café Gitane, which serves delicious Moroccan fare, is located in the lobby.

What did I not like about it?

-         No elevators (surprise, surprise-- NOT!)

-         Courteous and helpful staff

-         Small rooms – yes, it’s cute but it’s TINY. If you’re taller than 5’5”, then you’ll probably be uncomfortable in the bed

-         Shared bathrooms—I knew this from the very start and I thought I was fine with it, but I realized I wasn’t when I got there.

-         Nearest subway station is quite a walk

Will I stay here again?

Yes, but I’d make sure I get it during the low season for a better price.

Tease, tease baby

Contrary to what you might have expected (thanks to my misleading posts and photos), I did not stay in NYC for the entirety of my vacation. I stayed with my relatives in South Jersey and went around the major cities in the East Coast including, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and Boston.

What I love most about the East Coast is that it's mostly commute-friendly. I was never a fan of driving so I very much enjoyed traveling by railway train, subway and bus. It's also very convenient as you won't need to bother your relatives, who are probably busy with their jobs, to drive you anywhere.

Another thing I like about the US (and I don't know if this is exclusive to the East Coast) is that trees and parks are everywhere. Everyone who knows me know that I am a sucker for parks... and I wish we had more of that here in the Philippines. Oh, and did I mention the museums? There are a lot and they don't cost as much as I thought they would, given the number of awesome (and I mean AWESOME) installments and galleries they usually have.

 Here are some photos to tease you:

Graffiti in Philadelphia

Philadelphia Museum of Art

One of my favorites: Central Park

Don't be fooled, it's a casino in Atlantic City

There's more to D.C. that the White House

Heaven for me: Longwood Gardens in Philly

Back to regular programming

I'm back.... for over a week now. And I'm still in denial. I had so much fun that I didn't want to go back. :( Anyway, please stay tuned for more posts as I re-live my 3-week vacation bliss. And now that I'm back, I can't help plan my next adventure! Where should it be?

  Wanderlust: that's one city off my list

 View from the MET steps

 One Friday afternoon in Bryant Park

 Empire state of mind

 Well, hope to see you again very soon NYC

Thank you Mom!

Dear Mom,

When I was young, I remember waking up, sitting on top of our staircase, staring blankly and thinking I wouldn't see you until you come home from work that night. I was a kid and all I wanted was for my mom to be there when I wake up each day.

I know we've been through a lot and we'll always have our differences. But I still love you no matter what.

Thank you for taking care of me when I was sick. Thank you for staying late every night just to review our homework and teach us our lessons. Thank you for buying me things I need and don't need. Thank you for cleaning my room when I'm too lazy to do it myself. Thank you for always saying I'm not fat even if I am. Thank you for listening to my problems. Thank you for always supporting my decisions. Thank you for not forcing from me the answers to uncomfortable questions. Thank you for teaching me to be strong.

Happy Mother's Day!

I might not say this a lot but I love you and I miss you. See you (and dad) in five days!

Your daughter,
Kathy

---------
I'm no athlete but this video hit me right where it matters. Thank you to all the moms in the world! This is for you!

A quick post

And the countdown resumes... seven more days until US trip! 

I hope you can feel the rush of the almost-electrifying excitement running though my body right now.

Nothing gets me more giddy, energized and thrilled than traveling.

Time for some crunch-time preparations!

Spring coat, Forever 21 / Yellow shorts, SM Dept. Store / 

Rayban-inspired sunglasses, SM Dept. Store / Passport holder, Longchamp

Time for some happy thoughts

"It's darkest before the sun rises."  
"It'll only get worse before it gets better."

No, this won't be a rant-filled post. I just wanted to explain why I haven't been posting lately. For the past weeks, my head has been filled with worry, doubts and questions. And as of today, I still haven't found solutions nor answers. Thus, the lack of creative thoughts and ideas which leads back to my blog's lack of entries.

However, that's not the point. Today, I cheer myself up with the thought that in just 2 weeks, I'll be on a plane and on my way to get some much-needed break and time to reflect. So what have I already done in preparation for my big trip? Aside from booking my ticket, buying some travel essentials and starting with my NYC itinerary, I have.. well, not done so much. I have, however, got myself some awesome NYC accommodations in that are affordable (in the city's standards of course.)

With only three days and two nights to spend in the Big Apple, I did some heavy research on the city and in choosing my accommodations, my first priority was safety. I'd be spending my first day with my parents but I would be all by myself in the next two days. Another priority was convenience. NYC has a complex yet efficient subway system so almost every other block has a subway station near it which is good for me.

After weeks of lurking in tripadvisor and reading reviews, I decided to book two accommodations-- one for each night-- in different neighborhoods. For my first night, I'd be staying in the colorful Marrakech Hotel in the Upper West Side and the hip and quirky The Jane in the Greenwich Village on the next night. Both accommodations are considered budget hotels with small rooms and basic amenities, which obviously I don't mind. What both hotels lack in luxury comfort and features, they make up for in convenience, history and personality.

Marrakech Hotel

It's Morocco smacked right in the busy streets of NYC!

And the bonus? The subway station is right in front of you 

and you get your own in-room privtae bathroom. 

Snap, snap and more snaps!

The Jane

With a wonderful view of the Hudson River, it's originally built 

as a hotel for sailors, which explains its cabin-inspired rooms. 

It's where the Titanic survivors used to stay in.

Oh, and did I mention it's just a few blocks away

 from a Barney's CoOp and Magnolia Bakery?

These are enough to keep me happy and excited for the next few days. I couldn't say this enough but I really CAN'T WAIT! Hope these hotels live up to my expectations. Actual reviews to come soon after my trip!

Five weeks until...

... my three-week vacation in the US.

With work piling up everyday, I haven't had the chance to feel excited and start on my NYC itinerary until this long weekend. With only three days and limited funds to spend in the Big Apple, I realized it's tough to fit all the sights, foods, and shops I want that's why I'm not sharing the itinerary yet. I'm pretty sure I'll be making some changes on it in the next weeks.

Anyway, I'm not looking forward to start the work week tomorrow and wishing I can spend every single day in my room. Unfortunately, it's not an option for me. Ugh. Blck. Tck. Man, I wish this week would be good to me. (Oh, please let my hormones be the reason for whatever I'm feeling right now because if not, I'm in pretty big trouble.)

To end this post, I'm leaving some Instagram photos (I'm totally obsessed with it- Instagram for Android rocks) to remind me about what's waiting for me in a few weeks.

Travel comfortably in style!

Spending time in airports and riding airplanes can be fun and exciting when you have the luxury of flying with the best airlines with amazing first-class seats.  However, for budget travelers, traveling can be exhausting and inconvenient especially on a long-haul flight. This is why I am not looking forward to my 22-hour flight to NYC in May. The only thing I'm excited about is having four hours to burn in Hong Kong International Airport before my connecting flight to JFK and my very first experience with Cathay Pacific. So to make my flying experiences tolerable, I have one rule that I always follow: fly comfortably with style. To achieve this, I have my list of must-haves:

1. Big carry-on shoulder or cross body bag
When traveling, you need a bag that will carry all your things and will free-up both your hands (no short handle totes!) so you can run around the airport without hassle.

Coach Bag

 Canvass Tote from Kate Spade

2. Comfortable clothes
Because I get cold easily, my fail-safe airport outfit includes a soft sweater or a cardigan over a basic shirt. If I get to my destination and it's warm, I could just pull-up the sleeves of my sweater or take off my cardigan. Meanwhile, if I'm going somewhere cold, I could just add another layer of jacket, gloves and a scarf. It's also important for me to wear comfortable bottoms. No skirts for me as I usually fold my legs into an Indian seat position whenever I'm tired. Cotton/linen pants, stretch denim or leggings are my top choices.

Stylemint's Benson Waterfall Cardi

 Stylemint's St. Clair Sweater

3. Minimal Accessories
I get that wearing accessories can add personality and style to a typically normal ensemble. However, taking them off and putting them again whenever you go through security can be tiring for you and annoying for the people behind you. In the end, you'll save yourself from more inconvenience and hassle so leave the belt, chunky necklace and arm bands. At the very most, I only wear a pair of earrings and a watch when I travel.

 Timex Originals Easy Reader - big classic watches are awesome!

4. Flats
There's no way I'm going through airports in heels. They may give me additional height but the pain I will have to endure from walking through check-in, immigration and to the boarding gate is not worth it. A pair of black ballet flats is my favorite.

 

Yosi Samra flats

Posh Pocket Shoes

Feast your eyes: best-in-class airlines

While researching for the lowest fare for my MNL to JFK flight, I thought it was fun to take a break from bargain-hunting and check out the most posh and sophisticated first class seats from different carriers. It's your very own private hotel room in the sky. Prepare to feast your eyes, ladies and gents!

1. Singapore Airlines

2. Emirates

3. Qatar Airways

4. Thai Airways

  

5. Cathay Pacific