through the eyes of the a70

From atop Empire State Building. Click for larger image.

They say the first impression is really important, and first time being in a city is no different.

I arrived in New York City for the first time. It was also my first time traveling alone, that in itself I think will be an experience.

When I stepped out of Penn Station just a few hours ago, I looked upwards, looked left, looked right. Wow this was different. There were cabs everywhere, there were bright lights everywhere. People, walking at a fast pace. Homeless people, business people, students, all mixed together.

And standing at the corner waiting for the light to turn green, I looked right, and there it was, the Empire State Building, just like I had seen hundreds of times on TV, in the movies.

The subway station was crowded. It was old, it was hot, the stations were under-maintained, and I could barely make out what the conductor was saying, perhaps not even English. There were a whole mix of people of different ethnicities, but everyone seemed busy doing their own thing, talking on the phone, checking their email, eating M&M’s, listening to music. But even at 10pm, the city was still very much alive, stores and restaurants were still open.

Overall, it’s been very different. As I am about to head to bed, and can clearly see the Statue of Liberty from this 5th floor apartment, I think to myself why I did this in the first place – traveling and seeing the world in a totally new perspective is awesome.

Soaking in every single possible experience.