Back to my topic, how I managed to get myself to be in the NYC while Trump has banned most Islamic countries' citizen from entering the USA. I guess, luckily I am a Malaysian and being a Malaysian Trump ok kot for now.
How the plan started.
Not to forget to tell you all that this is my solo trip of many trips.
a. Finding the best price for Plane Ticket
I had been browsing for ticket for many months in order to grab the cheapest price possible. Finally in December 2016, I decided to buy and chose Emirates for this trip which it cost me RM 5,800 inclusive preset seat.
Yeay I got the ticket.
b. Finding the best hotel and cheapest price that located in Manhattan itself.
Same process, I had been browsing for many months in many sites to name but I preferred Agoda somehow and I found a reasonably good price that located in 55th Street West of Manhattan which cost me RM 400 a night.
Do you know how dang excited I am at the same time a bit skeptical about the recent news after the appointment of Trump as The President of America. It became worst when my friend in the NYC warned me that I might not be able to pass the immigration. Wow that's sounds creepy isn't it but it did not stop me and my gut is so strong that I will be in the NYC somehow or rather.
Yeay that's my plane that's my plane.
The Gate B19 when it open for boarding, my heart is pumping fast, it could be due to excitement to be in the NYC or nervousness if I would be stopped from entering the NYC. I proceed somehow.
I don't want to elaborate further on the experience to be in flight for long long long hours , I bet some of you are well-versed with that.
Once my flight touched down, my heart started pumping fast again. I keep walking towards the immigration. Hey I forgot to tell I met a lady who is a US citizen and we chatted and she was a bit surprised that I am travelling alone and on my own. Huh ? well I thought its norm for western people?. Ok hurm....I should be proud of myself for doing it.
There she is who was sleeping most of the flying hours.
The moment the plane entering NYC air space, slightly lower for touch down preparation, from the plane can be seen that that day weather is super cold and snowing. Do you know how excited I am to experience it. Gosh I m loving it indeed. I feel like I want to dance in the snow. Haish too bad I m not that daring to do it alone.
Back to the immigration. As I am walking towards the immigration, firstly for a new visitor we need to self-registration at kiosks which we need to scan our visa and passport and to capture our current photo. Well I did that very well and was given a slip for me to present to the immigration personnel. I was line up behind a Pakistanis.My curiosity level increasing then I started to become super friendly from reserved type of person, :) in order for me to interview the Pakistanis. Apparently he is on business trip and a frequent visitor for business. When his turn to ask me and I briefly story him and he seemed surprised as well. Hurm...
After him, so my turn to pass through the immigration personnel, the personnel was asking me where how and no of days to be in the NYC. At first, pretty difficult for me to digest his questions but managed to answer it accordingly. Yeay I passed through.... immediately I post it on FB .....
The moment I m out from the JFK airport building, guess what ? I immediately went out to touch the snow. I saw falling snow....amazing amazing hahahaha saya sangat jakun.
From the airport to the city, at first, I wanted to take the yellow cab taxi and UBER driver offered me USD 90 for a single trip to Manhattan. Damn!.. that's expensive and thank God, as per customer service of JFK airport counter's recommendation I took train and its a free ride from JFK to Jamaica station. Cool huh. Finally I learned how to travel by train up to 55th Street West of Manhattan and surrounding places.
Looks snow isn't it.
What had I done while in the NYC
The above photos are part of places that I explored while in the NYC.
Concern about halal foods... don't worry there are a lot of Egyptian food trucks, Turkish restaurants and vegetarian etc...around the city.
People of NYC are friendly and kind but not that gentlemen enough as my earlier perception that western guys are mostly very gentlemen. Do you know why I said that because when I carry my heavy luggage from the underground station out to the ground, no one offers me a help to carry the luggage up to the ground. Nonetheless I managed it myself successfully. Consequences of the incident, I changed my perception immediately dengan kata depa ni sama jer. Sorry dude its true right
:P
Another amazing experience that my taxi to JFK Airport was a limousine. A classic limousine that I could ever dream to ride it at USD 35 ONLY. cool huh.
:P
Another amazing experience that my taxi to JFK Airport was a limousine. A classic limousine that I could ever dream to ride it at USD 35 ONLY. cool huh.
This is the limo that was mentioned earlier. Cool isn't it.
There were alot of other things happened during my trip but all are amazing experiences which I think I just keep it to myself, let you all to experience it yourself and my advice to others, you can do it whatever you wish to. Go for it! becos YES we can do it!
In approximately 5 days minus the travelling trip which took 2 days, I experienced pretty much and I am proud that I managed to get myself to be in the NYC.
Till then. Cheers and take care
A Perpetual Student & Globe Trotter
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