I turned my suitcase inside out but I couldn't find my tripod selfie stick anywhere. I was so fucking distraught. It was the single key to all of my great photos and now it's gone. I lost it entirely on Gabriel, who was trying desperately to help.
It took a while but I finally I cleared my head and headed for an iced chocolate run, because I'm too wussy for coffee and I refuse to confirm that adults must have coffee. I will milo forever.
It was 6am and still way too early to start a day, so I headed to Williamsburg for The Bagel Store. I've seen their rainbow bagels everywhere but could never tell if it's good. I'll try it for myself.
I hit up the one in Williamsburg first. I reached at 6.15am (they open at 7am) and so I waited damn patiently. The staff knew I was waiting. But 7am rolled by and the staff impatiently told me it's not ready and shut the door in my face.
Now, at a lesser time, I might have screamed bloody murder and threw my drink at his door, but at this point I was just like, 'oh ok fuck you, and fuck your mother, but I'm gonna save my day and go to another outlet.'
I was so calm I terrified myself lol.
So yeah, I ended heading to another near Union Ave. This branch had the kindest folks. The counter guy broke my $100 note for two $7 bagels (I hate myself) and he was so chirpy the whole time.
He left me in such a good mood then I headed across the street to buy flowers for myself, because I'm a girl and a waste of good money. I picked up the most bouquet of hydrangeas and went off to paid.
The sweet shopkeeper then helped me cut the stalk to the length I wanted, commenting it looks gorgeously like a bridal bouquet now. GUESS WHO HAS WEDDING FEVER! Him, of course.
Intended to go home and finish up some outstanding work but I dozed off on the train and accidentally dropped at Jefferson Street. Tapped out of curiosity and this place was, if possible at all, more ghetto than my neighborhood.
But of course because I have no sense of danger, I decided to walk around anywhere despite all the warehouses and industrial sites clearly working their unwelcoming look on me LOL.
Met the sweetest people there who took photos of me awww.
Wow I did not realize how prominent this cloud was till now. But anyway, I really lucked out on the last person I approached.
I angled him into the position I wanted and he snapped it. The photo turned out bad but we got to chatting. He said he's a Thai and that he's been working here for years. And the most amazing bit: he's been a freelance photographer for years now.
He showed me some of his works and I was blown away. I asked if he was selling them anywhere and he sheepishly nodded. So humble!!! Goddammit.
After that he insisted he treat me to an iced latte at a nearby cafe.
He was due to start work at 9 and it was only 8.15, so he had time to kill. He very vibrantly promoted Central Park to me as an unmissable. And he offered to meet me there tomorrow night for photos WHOOP WHOOP I STRUCK GOLD! But honestly I was just very in awe of his courage.
Coming to America all alone, working his butt off, spending his salary on enjoying life here; who could ask for more? He kept checking out the views and offered to take some proper photos of me. I silently thanked God for this man and we headed out for photos heh heh.
There was a naked motorbike right outside the shop.
I mused aloud about posing on it and he gestured me to go ahead. A few quick shots later, this guy came running out of a nearby kitchen and guffawed, 'I see you've met the old girl! Take her for $100! Just take her!' and we laughed and he just ambled away SO CUTE!
He had to leave a little after that. We exchanged Facebook details and he sent me all the photos and I cried inside and I finally returned home, armed with enough photos to cover Clementi top to toe.
Also he bailed in the end for our little photo-shoot because he 'had to go to a party' hahah the helplessness in that refreshingly honest sentence.
Once home, I tried to start on my work but all I did was pose for pointless photos LOL I am hopeless.
Obviously wasn't concentrating on work at home so thought heading out to town would help.
Earlier today, I was devastated when I found out I misplaced my tripod selfie stick on the Staten Island ferry. I was being distraught and Gabriel handled me wonderfully, fully understanding why I was upset and tending to me softly.
I managed to find this electronics store, H&G, that was supposedly known for their wide collection of electronics. At this point, I didn't know if it's only electronics like iPhone and phones, or electronics like video equipment and stuff. But I was so desperate, I headed over to try my luck.
They had it. They bloody had it. And for $20! Fuck me the Gods were smiling right at me. Blowing that $20 kinda sucked me into the spending bug and so I headed to Times Square for some shopping!
I've been getting cat calls all day but I didn't think much of them, until this one guy.
I was at Pennsylvania station and this dude catcalled me for about a minute. I ignored him till he switched his game and said I dropped something. I genuinely believed it and turned, only to find out I dropped 'his name and number'.
....
I was mildly entertained and he continued following me all the way till Times Square till I gave him my number. It was a throwaway anyway so I wasn't too bothered. Left him after a while and went souvenir shopping around the streets.
I cannot stress this: do not do souvenir shopping at any I Love NY stores.
I found that out the hard way when I headed to Chinatown later that week. IMAGINE MY FURY CHRIST. Times Square charged me $4.99 for a pen while Chinatown had 5 for $10.99. I could've shot myself.
I didn't buy anything for myself today. It was mostly to buy things for the family and relatives who gave me money for this trip. Thankfully, my mum activated my DBS card for me so I could splurge back on them without risking my cash float.
Also pro-tip: apply for a Citibank card when traveling overseas. Tengyue was the one who introduced me to this. He claimed it saved his life in Russia and Europe, because Citibank has the best international withdrawal plan. He spits on DBS haha.
But yeah, DBS ended up inflating the exchange rate to their whim and I paid, one of the examples, SGD$140 for a USD$90 purchase. I'm cancelling my card the minute I get back. Conniving fucks.
I wanted to eat something all-American so what better than the giant Applebee's!
Entered the store thinking it was a fast food place but it turned out to be a fancy, mid-level cafe. They had a server who checked in with me every 5 minutes and all. The tipping culture is insane.
I had their steak quesadillas and it was so good, I could've wept.
They were so generous with the whipped cream and guacamole. I could live and die by guacamole. Also I think Applebee's was my best meal of today. Also my only meal LOL I am such a budget eater.
After that I headed home and my feet were so worn, I called it a day. Writing this now gets me really mad: HOW CAN I REST SO EARLY IN NEW YORK CITY. Why am I not out all night. Christ.
But I'm pretty proud of myself that my expenses (outside of the mandatory souvenir shopping) today is my all-time low for NYC, at a whopping $40. If you strike out the tripod, it's only $20.
Sketched out my plans tomorrow and passed out after.
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