A packed 2nd w/e in Aug

It seems like yesterday, but it had already been a week plus since my hectic schedule of Bristol and NYC.

06/08/09 - Half day at work. Got off work around 12 + and head down to Hammersmith where we started our journey to Bristol. Managed to catch the last hour of Bansky vs Bristol Museum. There was a bit of a queue but we got in, although we had to literally rush our way around the exhibits. After that, off to the Balloon Fiesta ground. It was the Special Shapes Launch @ 6pm. Disappointingly, there were only 4 huge balloons - Up, Monster, Churchill and Harvey Nichols and none of them were launched. Hanged out around the fiesta ground where there were a lot of different stalls set up selling random stuff from lollipops, hog roast to sunglasses etc. @ 9pm, the Night Glow started. It was basically just making the balloons light up coordinating with the discoey music. Was great fun. Drove around Bristol at night searching for some places to get a drink and ended up at a boat pub. Slept in the car that night to maximise time since we need to be at the balloon grnd again @ 6am. 07/08/09 - Woke up @ 5am and drove down to the balloon grnd again. Got ourselves sorted and waited for the Mass Launch at 6am. The launch was awesome. So many balloons!!! It was simply amazing. How I wish I could be up on one of them! We left the place at around 8 ish. There were much less people compared to the night before. But there were so many people with such cool camera equipments. Had a yummy breakfast at the Boston Tea Party - nice latte :) and then sneaked in to the Banksy Exhibition again to cover off the top floor galleries. We had to sneak in because the queue was just unbearable. Unbelievably long - does ppl in Bristol has nothing to do than Banksy? Left for London arnd half 10. Said goodbye to the gang and took the tube to Heathrow for my flight to NYC.

Continental Airlines was better than I excepted. But then again, I had quite low expectations before this since it was the cheapest flight I can find. The seats didn't recline that much (-10). The food sucks - so much carbo (-10). The personal screen is pretty good (+10). So there you go, it's still a negative rating :P.

Reached Newark around 8ish and got to Hilton arnd 10ish as I eagerly awaited for Amy's arrival. The first thing that caught by attention as I walked from Bryant Park (42nd St - where the bus stopped) to Hilton at 54th st is Magnolia hehe. Thought of stopping and getting a cupcake, but didn't at the end. Next thing was that there was a Halal Food stall in front of Hilton. It's not the food that attracted me, it was the queue. It was superrrr long. Never had I ever seen so many people queuing for a 5 dollar bowl of rice and halal food. After checking in, we head out for some late night food and ended up at Friday's (of all places lol)

08/08/09 - Due to my jet lag, woke up quite early but linger in the hotel room till around 11 before heading out for my first day in NYC. Had brunch at La Bonne Soup - yummy Mushroom, Barley and Lamb soup. Started at Disney Store @ 5th Av and walked (shopped as well) all the way down to Broadway at 30 odd st. Had dinner at Sakagura - very yummy uzaku and sake. Went to 230 @ 5th Av rooftop bar for a couple of drinks. This place serve quite a few malaysian dishes! Nasi Lemak is one of them! Weird! Continued drinking at the hotel bar after Amy thinks it would be safer if 3 of us got drunk, the hotel room is still close enough within reach, lol.

09/09/09 - The day was not sunny but very stuffy. Just like the sky is about to burst in tears. Had brunch in Kyotofu - such a lovely place - loved it so much :). And then head to B&H Photo to witness the chaoticness of this place. Didn't buy anything since I think I need more time to consider which lens I should invest in. Walked around Macy's etc but shopping wasn't fruitful at all. By the time I bought the Coach bag my mum requested, our legs were too tired to continue further. Randomly popped into a restaurant and ordered some refreshing juices before we decide where to eat for the night. Went down to East village to find the vietnamese place we wanted to go weren't there anymore and so went to a fusion Thai place - The Elephant which serve decent pad thai and calamari salad - satisfied. Had drinks @ the Salon De Ning - another rooftop bar at the Peninsula. Cocktails were quite expensive at $22, but all worth it, nice chilled venue and yummy crackers :).!

10/09/09 - Went out to Greenwich early morning, had breakfast @ Sweet Revenge. The chocolate and peanut butter cupcake was superb! And then basically walked almost the whole of greenwich, soho, china town and nolita. Saw a lot of pretty dresses, but can't really afford them unfortunately. Got back to the Hotel around 5 before going out for dinner at 6 and then back to the hotel, pack and get ready for flight back to reality the next day.

...I think I am so much more an explorer now and want to do more and more of it!

p.s more pics @ my picasa web gallery