New York 2009 -- 2010 Part I

[picture credit: weheartit]

During this period, I will stop unfolding all my late folders of 2010 and go a step further back into the past. I will be updating on my New York trip over Christmas and New Year of 2009 to 2010. Gosh! I seem to be constantly living in the past.

I know this is really late. In fact, "late" is a euphemism. If there's a higher intensity word for late, do let me know. I would gladly add that to my vocabulary bank.

I have been doing my photo editing since I came back last January and then it got stalled for a long time due to other commitments. Hence, you would see instances of inconsistencies, bad editing and watermarking on the photos as I was still experimenting with Photoscape at that time.

There might be instances of photolog in these updates as I'm getting quite annoyed with my insensitive keyboard to input text in my posts.

Let the Big Apple roll!


~*Day 1 & before (24th December)*~

In the wee morning of 24th December 2009, I boarded the plane with Charlene to travel back in time where after all the transiting and all, it would still be Christmas eve in New York City.

The long haul bonded us even closer and I'm so glad to have a friend in her. No doubt she can be quite an ass at one time and a bitch at another (just like me) but she's still one of the sweetest bitch galfriend ever!




Our plane touched down in the late afternoon of the 24th.

I was really excited to see shovelled snow everywhere, to breathe in the fresh winter air and feel the icy winds from a narrow opening via the cab's window.




I've been a tropical gal by heart and winter really excites me.

Stop rolling your eyes at me, all you four-seasons-people.

We had a slight traumatic experience with the cab driver which I won't elaborate here.

Finally, we reached Ronald McDonald House where the Cynthia, Jase and Charmaine were residing.


The warm and cozy lobby



After rounds of squealing in delights and big bear hugs, we got ready for our Christmas eve dinner at a Chinese restaurant nearby.







Back at RMH, the kids showed us their gingerbread house which they did during a Christmas programme. RMH often organises activities for the residents. There were other gingerbread houses put together by the other residents too. These were all on display in the communal dining room. We were marvelling at how gorgeous and creative some of them were!




Running to and from the communal lounge and the dining room.




Our humble accomodation for the trip




Beautiful christmassy decorations everywhere instantly put me in the warm and fuzzy mood.




The sofa bed became big char and my bed for the rest of the trip. The kids were so cute! They each showed us the fleecey blankie that they "sacrificed" for us. We only had head pillows and the kids thought that we might feel uncomfortable without a "hugging" pillow or bolster and so handed us their soft toys. Char didn't need to hug so I had both balls! One to prop up the sinking spring at the head and the other to hug.



With that, we retired for the night with sweet dreams of Christmas.


~*Day 2 (25th December)*~

Christmas morning!




Making rough plans for our trip. Travelling with kids in toll is not simple and so we had to plan really well. I would love to visit NYC with the hubby the next time as there were still so much more to cover.




It was time to open our presents!




Hand made cookies from the kids! They were not only delicious but also oozing with so much love! We also got different coloured beanie bears to go with the tins too.




Teaching the kids how to build following the coloured step by step instructions.




A hearty American breakfast (complete with bagels) provided by RMH. From that day onwards, I kept looking forward to breakfast every morning.




There was a Xmas lunch party in the house scheduled to start at 2pm. We were all so full from brekkie but it was something we all looked forward to. Look at the Christmassy spread!















Next was santa's gift presentation at the lounge.






I was such a pig coz after eating my fill, I just lay on the bed and slept part of my jetlag away.

When I awoke, I saw Japanese takeaway for dinner. An unused carton box was transformed into a japanese low table while we pretended to be sitting on tatami mats. Don't we look like a Japanese family having dinner together?



After that, I got bo liao and started dolling cyn up. I told her that she had been too stressed so looking pretty would lift her spirits up. Without waiting for her to protest, I whipped out my eyeliner and started lining her eyes and putting on fake eyelashes. The result? She thought she looked like Snuffleupagus.

We chatted throughout the night. Char and I got hungry so we peeled off the foil from our chocolate lollies and stoned for the sake of an ugly picture of us looking so listless at 3am while the kids sleep at all sorts of unglamorous poses. In actual fact, we were quite awake and sleepless at 3am!



Char is so gonna kill me for putting this up! LoLz


~*Day 3 (26th December)*~

On boxing day, we watched the Christmas Spectacular performance by The Rockettes at RadioCity. Once more, it was an event organised by RMH.









Waiting in the queue under the slight drizzle, what can 3 bimbos do but to snap pictures of ourselves.




The show was spectacular indeed!




I took a few videos throughout the performance but I didn't upload them as there are many similar ones on youtube too.

The inside of Radio City reminds me of a posh casino. Don't ask me why.




After that, we walked around Rockerfeller Center for a while before the rain got heavier and we had to head indoors-- not before we take a snapshot of the real xmas tree.




Soup lunch at Hale & Hearty






my little precious moments babes!







There was a Japanese salon located there and it was high time char and I needed to trim our hedges which was sweeping across our eyes and forehead.

Having fun in the salon!




This collage chronicles our hair cut process.




Here's us after our hair cut



I love my bangs! I love how she cut steps downwards and layered the sides for a wispy frame rather than a blunt cut of a hedge that extended sideways. On the downside, it was also the most I've ever spent on a haircut that only includes fringe and sides. It was USD $30 not inclusive of tip of course. To think that I normally spend less than SGD $5 on my fringe in Singapore.

Currently, I'm glad that I've since found a $3.50 one which cuts the fringe exactly the way I want it. Yes!


Cyn and the kids headed back home while char and I explored the city.

I love sponteneity!

Char and I just walked in the drizzle to a destination to nowhere. Each time we got too cold or if we decided to visit an approaching building, we would zip into that particular building to explore while warming up. Char was pretty familiar with NYC so I felt super safe with her.


Some sights from our walk... we also took a subway down to Macy's coz I was in the mood for some girly shopping trip.




Our dinner that day



I hope to update part II soon!