24:26 empire.state.building

good morning new york, another new day, it's going to be cold and raining later...

first set our foot on 5th avenue southbound to empire state building

after 10 or more blocks we are right here at the corner. i have been up there before so we are going to save it for top of the rock this evening, it is for my niece's sake that we are here doing the been here, seen and done that moment...

at the entrance of empire state building, an art deco design interior

on our way out after the quick post card photo shots

23:26 a.stroll.on.brooklyn.bridge

though i have been to nyc for a couple of times, but i never walk the bridge so far, this is my first ever experience walking across from brooklyn to manhattan...

i finally set my foot on brooklyn bridge

the beginning of the bridge

the manhattan elements started to surface, the noise, the traffic, the human crowds, the tourists...

some wedding crowds, i salute the ladies in their dresses, it was freezing cold ...

and also lady with high heel who keep cursing because the heel stuck into the wooden gap of the bridge...

the view is quite spectacular

a 30 min walk under the cold breeze, not a very pleasant experience but worth the view and effort, now i need something warm to keep my body warm

23:26 brooklyn.heights.promenade

view of lower manhattan from brooklyn heights promenade

the financial district clearly stands out in the view

and the brooklyn bridge that connects lower manhattan to brooklyn

would really like to linger longer here but the weather is too cold and windy to stand for too long...

now this is the bridge that we are going to take a stroll back to manhattan

couldn't resist the postcard moment...

was trying to convience my niece to eat the ice cream from this famous brooklyn ice cream factory, but she refuses due to the cold weather. i remembered i tried their ice cream two years ago when i last visited nyc for work, the ice cream here is really yummy... i wanted to go in to check the flavors but the line was too long until the door is blocked... perhaps that's the best way to refuse the temptation, i can't have them all by myself anyway, so nope, no ice cream...

so off we go, marching back to manhattan!!

23:26 dumbo.brooklyn

dumbo of brooklyn, an up rising and coming hip area for art galleries, we came here to hunt for late lunch before crossing the bridge back to manhattan

the brooklyn bridge from a distance

walking around brooklyn heights/dumbo area, most warehouses are converted to either restaurants or art galleries...

lunch at one of a local caf�s, only local patronising this caf� as people taking time to browse/read newspaper at the bar area while sipping their coffees. the caf� is small but intimate with a relax atmosphere. i ordered a brunch of egg benedict's with a lump of crab cake and a glass of bloody mary, both are delicious and a good pick me up after a rather cold and long walk in and around manhattan and brooklyn.

23:26 brooklyn.columbus.park

this is probably the most delightful moment of the entire trip, brooklyn is indeed a quick escape of the busy and bustling manhattan. it is also very spacious here, free of noise and crowds when we exit the subway station... what's welcoming us is a local community market that selling organic products and locals buying their weekly groceries.

as we were walking towards the brooklyn bridge and came to long spacious boulevard, see it's almost empty

and then we discovered a nice spot for the forest gump shot, just at the bench along the boulevard...

walking further we came to columbus park, again empty and only a few families with kids playing baseball game with the father

as it is noon and there's no wind, the temperature becomes a bit pleasant and we really spent quite a bit of time in this 'insignificant' park. we both didn't rush or hurried things just took our time in making some nice pictures inspired by the space and quietness of the moment.

me and my niece, can you tell that there is almost two decades different in age?

my moment of bliss... the people behind me added some fun to this photo, hello resident of brooklyn, you are more relax than those in manhattan and i take on the relax and laid back attitude of the moment too, thank you!

23:26 meet.the.lady

after the shutter connection, we are here at the southest tip of manhattan...

at the battery park, deciding if we should take the free ferry or the tourist one. the tourist's queue is too long so we opt for a free ride instead

the free service doesn't call at the statue of liberty but who cares...

lower manhattan skyline from the staten island ferry

meeting the lady...

and the lady behind me on the return ride back to battery park

a rather sunny day, it would have been great if the temperature is a little higher...

23:26 time.square

early in the morning at time square, didn't i said that the hotel is just 2 blocks away from time square? it's a beautiful, sunny morning but very cold at freezing point or even below with the wind factor...

enjoy my cup of coffee with time square neon light behind me, the morning has been quite and thus not quite stressful navigating through this part of the city

the signature post? how many people been to time square and have not done this? this is not my first time here but definitely first time posing like this (as per the series hero - my name is hero nakamura, i am here to save the world)... i am just inspired by my niece who did this and beyond...

me and my niece at time square

walking toward the new york subway station...