WARNING!
There is gonna be a lot (close to 200) of pictures posted.
After all, I spent most of my traveling time in the US. Therefore, if there is any
reason that you are not able to bare with me at this moment,
you are free to view this some other time ... no need to rush!
For your convenience, I will leave this page up for a long time.
And for those who are in their jolly mood to view my photo essay...
ENJOY YOUR RIDE!
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TO MANHATTAN, NEW YORK: THE FIRST FEW DAYS
Landed in Manhattan. Was supposed to land on JFK, but the weather was quite
bad that I ended up landing on Newark. It was raining and cold. Not to mention how
weird I felt being in Manhattan *not* as a student/residence, but as a tourist O_O
My friend, Peggy and Didi (her brother), was worried sick that I arrived late.
Nonetheless, I have arrived safely and felt my days in the city would be as memorable
as my awesome college days. It's been 2 years since the last time I was in the city.
On the first daylight I decided to take the subway all the way from the
Upper West side to my beloved Union Square.
Top: The exterior of one of the exits of the Union Square subway station.
Bottom: The new establishment on one side of the square.
DSW the department store, Forever 21 the clothing store and the Foods Market.
In a few days, I would use the third floor of the DSW building to watch over ...
my friends who would come to the park across the building to be surprised.
The building I used to stay in through my college years.
55 East 9th St Apt 6K, anyone who is dear to me must've known
this address by heart. There are just too many unforgettable sweet
memories unfolding in this place with numerous of friends.
Some of my school's campuses throughout the city.
This is the downtown campus of Parsons, very close to my apartment.
Top: The Astor Place subway exit. Another of my olf neighborhood.
Bottom: Kim's Video in Saint Mark's Place, also known as another Little Japan.
Used to buy quite a lot of anime or manga-related stuff there.
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THE D DAY
This is the view from the 3rd floor of the DSW building across the Union Square park.
Was surprised to see that my dear friend Christine, has managed to gather some friends
who were about to get the surprise of their life, since the purpose of my trip this time
is to surprise my old folks that I revisited the city after 2 years.
Hope you can see who is who in the picture :P
It was funny how me and Christine had to keep contact with each other in secret
like secret agents, talking in codes and things like that so people couldn't
guess who she was talking to. Once she gave me the cue, I went down to the park,
walked from the side behind the bench they were sitting at, and then it happened.
Everyone was gawking, and later I was surprised as Sun came from behind.
Left to right: Sun, me, Rob Mumra, Christine, Amy, and Leonard.
Too bad Amy couldn's spend the rest of the day with us.
The awesome post-war-themed menu from this Japanese restaurant
we went to in Saint Marks' Place called KENKA.
At the end of each meal, each customer would be given a little cup of
powdered sugar so later everyone can make their own cotton candy with
the restaurant's famous cotton candy machine.
Sun made the perfect shape of the cotton candy, mine came out
like a mini pine tree.
The oh-so-typical Chinese (Americanized) dish, General Tso's
Chicken from Harlem. So unbelievably red and sweet @_@!
The time when I surprised Anna (figure on the left) in the bus station where the two of
us and Christine were gonna leave by bus to Virginia. In the middle is Christine's mom.
Anna was TOTALLY shocked to see me show up on the station it wasn't even funny!
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TO VIRGINIA: ANNA'S RESIDENCE
Anna, Christine and Mimi.
We have arrived at the Dongs' house.
After arriving in Virginia, Anna's parents were also shocked and excited
to see me... Too bad I couldn't catch that on camera!
Anna driving to the airport to pick up Akiko and Rikayo.
Throughout this stay, Christine has been Anna's co-pilot.
Akiko and Rikayo. Shocked to see me....
At Anna's mother's Chinese restaurant, Dynasty.
(Top pic) Left to right: Akiko, Christine, me, Anna, Anna's mom and Rikayo.
(Bottom pic) Left to right: Akiko, Rikayo, me, Anna and Christine.
Akiko and Rikayo falling asleep on our way to Colonial Williamsburg.
The entrance of Colonial Williamsburg.
Some of the sceneries from the Colonial Williamsburg. It was a theme park where the
town's layout and everything else in it were set in the American Colonial time.
Christine and Anna in the male's colonial style hats.
Us in front of an aristocrat's house.
Akiko and Rikayo. Their first time at Walmart.
Before going off to Virginia Beach, we went to IHOP (International House of Pancakes)
for breakfast. The best place to have the good'ol American style breakfast.
.... Getting ready to sunbathe, except me.
Christine borrowed my digicam for fun, and look what she found!
A dead jellyfish. Never seen one before....
Christine, amazed by my giant menthol stick.
Us at the entrance of the Water World USA. My first time ever to go to such a place.
Us at a teppanyaki restaurant Mr. Dong took us to.
He is the one in the middle.
Anna and Mimi, her son.
Before, Anna and I were out canoeing on the lake at the house's backyard.
We tried to canoe with all our might to row on a straight line but to no avail.
Luckily, Father Dong was out to the rescue.
Father Dong with a mask on, along with little Anna.
My first Burger King meal after years. Complete with onion rings too!!
I was in heaven.
Top: The view of the seafood restaurant the Dongs took me.
Bottom: The restaurant, with Bubba princess at the door.
The complete family members of the Dongs, with Mimi.
ON TO PART 2