After a more than 20-hour flight from Bangkok to New York City, and dropping off my luggage at the hotel, I still had some time to explore. During this trip, I stayed at the Blue Moon Boutique Hotel located on Delancey Street in Lower Manhattan, not far from Chinatown. The hotel was reasonably priced and just 250 meters from the Delancey/Essex Street Subway station. On the first day of my trip, I arrived in the early afternoon and had some time to warm up to the city that never sleeps, which is known as the most famous city in the world. Therefore, I wanted to make the most of my time and not waste any time. Let’s get started on our trip!
The first place I decided to visit was Times Square, which is known as the “largest and most famous” colorful area in New York. I believe that many people are familiar with this name or have seen images of Times Square on the internet or TV. However, when I went to Times Square, I just wanted to stroll around and enjoy the chilly atmosphere along with the colorful lights and grandeur of the city of New York. I started by taking the subway line-F from the Delancey St Station direct to Uptown 34 St – Herald Sq station. Upon arrival, I found Herald Square, which is the intersection of three streets: Broadway, 6th Avenue, and 34th Street. The name “Herald Square” comes from the name of the old New York Herald newspaper office located in this area. This area has many restaurants, as well as famous department stores such as Macy’s or brand-name shops. There are also small gardens and beautiful photo spots to take cool photos. It can be said that this is a good way to warm up and prepare to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of being a “New Yorker” because people are bustling here, and everyone’s fashion looks quite open. In addition, the architecture of the buildings is something you can only see here, which opens your eyes and ears to the world (including opening your wallet, on my first day I spent a lot of money in this area 🙂 ).
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After I strolled around at Herald Square, I continued walking down W 34th Street, which was easy to navigate since the street names were in numerical order and intersected in blocks. My destination was the Empire State Building, which used to be the tallest building in the world at 443 meters high since its completion in 1941, until the World Trade Center was built in 1970 and broke that record. It held the title for almost 40 years! Walking around the Empire State Building was an incredible experience, as it felt like I was in a scene straight out of a Hollywood movie set in the heart of New York City. The weather was cold, the sky was clear, and as it got closer to dusk, I put on the song “You Give Me Something” by James Morrison and let the music fill my ears…it was a moment that surpassed even my wildest dreams.
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As nightfall descended, it was time for me to go see the colorful lights in Times Square (around 4pm when it started to get dark). Times Square is one of the most famous landmarks in the world, known as a center for commerce, entertainment, and bright lights in the middle of Manhattan, stretching from W 42nd st to W 47th st. In the area of Times Square, there are countless shops selling a wide variety of items, including branded goods, souvenirs, and sports merchandise. Another famous attraction in Times Square is The Broadway Theater, where those interested in theater can go watch a performance. Additionally, this area also has beautiful landmarks accompanied by the vibrant lights of advertisements and billboards, making it a great spot for cool photos.
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As I was walking around Time Square, hunger suddenly struck me! I realized that I hadn’t eaten anything since I arrived and spotted a McDonald’s on my left, so I walked right in without hesitation. At that moment, the notorious Jet Lag hit me, and I began to feel drowsy and wanted to sleep on the table (since it was already 12 hours different of my home time, and I didn’t sleep much on the plane). So, I decided, “Let’s finish eating and head back to the hotel to rest. I can tackle the day tomorrow morning. I’ve already gone everywhere I planned for today.” Then, I hopped on the nearby Subway and headed straight back to the hotel.
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When I returned to the hotel, it was already around 6 pm. I took a shower, rested, and fell asleep without realizing it. I woke up almost at 6 am the next morning, and I have to admit, I was really tired. I barely dreamed and slept like a log. But I also admit that it was a great joy to go out and experience the world again, living out my dreams. It’s a happiness that I can’t quite explain, but I can only say, “You have to experience this kind of happiness for yourself.” … Bonne Journée! 😛
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Written by : SHIPY SIWARIT TIASUWATTISETH
Shipy-Ship 
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