Old New York, NY: Weekdays (I)

Finally! it's time to go shopping on a weekday in Manhatten! Got up early, grabbed an everything bagel by a Deli on Fulton St & it's 2 hours of shopping at Century 21.

Day 1: Downtown manhatten: Lunch on Stone St: 50 Broadway: 34th St Fashion district: Dinner @ Kunjip K-town

Didn't even take a step into Macy's... after walking all day..

Day 2: Morning at Katz's Deli, old time NY favorite, recommended by Anthony Bourdin. A visit to the Rockefellar center where my fav store: Anthropologie is located! Lunch @ SOHO garden with Maggie Mcgrath (whom I've known since freshmen Psych 101.) The last time I met Maggie was 2 yrs ago, and she's been doing a lot more designing and some production. Only walked on broadway: SOHO and had to rest our feet. Stopped for a plain frozen yoghurt with granola @ forty carrots. hmmm yum! Time is precious every minute! Went uptown for broadway tickets but weren't that lucky, even after standing in line for over an hour! My unfamilarity with restaurants in Times Sq led us to Pongsri, which I've been to, couple years ago. Pad thai tastes so much better in NY. The 3F high M&M world store ended up as our last shopping stop!

Old New York, NY: Weekend

Prior to the whole business trip, I was already imagining being back in NY. Right after KAI certification, met up with University of Michigan, Martha Cookie: Charisse for a lovely catch up @ Cheesecake factory: King of Prussia, just a 15 min drive from my hotel in Malvern, PA. Charisse and I met when we lived at the Martha Cook Building in 1999. Gee, it's been 10 years!

Charisse hasn't changed much, from a doctorate student in piano performance to being a University professor, she's still young, high spirited & fun!

Across the bridge to Brooklyn!

Hopped on PA chinatown bus and arrived at NY within 2 hrs on that friday evening. Poor Yumiko was down with a flu, left my luggage, grabbed a burger & headed off to Hisae's for one night. Since Yumiko & Hisae are both living in Brooklyn, I was given the opportunity to explore parts of the neighborhood. I travelled with a map! Not just a manhatten map but with Brooklyn subway lines. Felt natural to be back, figured my way around quickly, and packed up my schedule.

Sat: Breakfast @ Hisae's, Gift shopping for the twins, Tulinh's baby twins party @ Chinatown Brasserie, A visit to Albert's apt, Awaiting Cliff's arrival at Newark at night.

One of the twins: & always awake ~baby Sophie

Sun: Coffee & Morning walk around Carroll Gardens, Brooklyn Heights Promenade, through the Brooklyn Bridge to Manhatten, Cityhall and a subway ride back to Brooklyn for Brunch @ Le-Petit Cafe: Brooklyn, Afternoon walk around Cobble Hill, Shopping on 5th & Union Sq, Dinner @ Saigon Grill

KAI certification course

5 days of intensive course, tougher than any of my graduate courses at columbia, given the hard core theory + british accent + highly systematic way the course was taught. There were only 8 of us, most are experienced consultants, some professors -to-be...etc As the only female, only taiwanese, most inexperienced in the coporate world, it was great learning between all of us.

Dr Kirton & his theories on Adaption- Innovation- everything related back to the way humans "think".

yay! finally certified!

Back to States: Day 1 & 2

Yes, Back to a familiar airport, LAX. Newly renovated, slightly newer, no particular feelings about it. It felt so weird, going through the visitor line, having my photo taken, fingerprinted. Anyway, this was the longest flight ever, making 2 stops, Osaka Kansai Airport & LAX before arrival at PHL philadelphia.

Good Morning Sewell, New Jersey

Wild bunnies were seen hopping on the great lawn!A glimpse of Philadelphia townhall on the way to lunchZip a bag up! Only sold at Quincy market in Boston!Finally, a stop by King of Prussia, dinner at Legal Seafood & checked into the hotel room, surprise! it's old country style.

Top 10 things to do in New York City

1) An Afternoon picnic + boating at Central Park
2) Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge
3) Stroll down 5th Ave with the Best Frozen Yoghurt from Bloomingdales
4) Pri-fixe lunches at top reviewed NYC restaurants
5) After dinner drink plus jazz at a basement restaurant
6) More than 2 bites of NY cheescake at Venieros
7) Brunch brunch & brunch at Sarabeths
8) Venture into Alice`s wonderland for scones & a cup of tea
9) A night saved for a Broadway
10) Shopping without limits