Traveling New Yorker

Unique London

2011-03-29T15:04:00.000-07:00

I honestly wasn't sure how I was going to like London based off feedback from friends and co-workers who had been there before. The response was all over the place. A couple people loved it, many were neutral, and some didn't like it. The other city we were visiting on this trip was Barcelona which on the other hand had an overwhelming "OH MY GOD YOU'RE GOING TO LOVE IT" reaction. I ended up loving London! It's huge city that remains friendly and laid back while maintaining a steady pace. We were lucky to have friends who live there and were able to explore beyond the guidebook attractions. Every casual traveler knows the highlights of London: Big Ben, The Eye, Parliament, Tower Bridge etc... which are all beautiful and completely worth seeing. When I travel I always enjoy taking note of the different quirks that each city has to offer. Here are some of unique notes on London:

- Watch out for the pigeons!!!

I'm a New Yorker, I am very familiar with our dirty, ugly sidewalk pets and generally don't enjoy their company. But I have to hand it to the New York birds, they usually give us plenty of room when they fly over our head. Their London counterparts on the other hand will happily graze the scalp of any passerby, possibly as a statement to say "screw you for making me fly out of your way". I constantly found myself challenging the much braver pigeon to a game of chicken. Maybe they're just lazy and don't want to work too hard or maybe they enjoy the excitement of a near collision. Whatever the reason is, I will never take the New York pigeon for granted again.

- Locals don't know street names

A common stereotype about men is that we don't like to ask for directions. I on the other hand enjoy asking for directions, it gives me an excuse to approach a local and the information that they share could prove to be extremely worthwhile. So whenever we were lost in the somewhat confusing streets of London we would ask away. There was only one problem. Nobody else in the city knew where we were going either! Our first night after 8 hours of traveling, standing outside of massive Victoria Station we started pestering strangers about where nearby Belgrave Road was, with no luck. We eventually walked in the right direction and realized we were only a block away. On our last night we got off at the confusing Bank street station in East London and once again were determined to ask anyone walking by for assistance. A few I don't knows - some rushed and some patient, but thankfully a knowledgeable police officer pointed us in the right direction. Police officers actually seemed to be the best people to ask. I asked a cop in a snazzy BMW 5 series where Lisle street was. He had no idea, but helped out by typing it into his high tech GPS system, that did the trick!

- If you're hungry late at night ... go to sleep!

It was our first night in London and we were starving! It was just after 10PM. Ok, let's explore the neighborhood, there has to be a nearby pub open, I thought out loud. Thankfully there was an open pub a few streets down, only problem was their kitchen was closed! We looked at each other in surprise, it was a Friday night for crying out loud. It was the same story at the next few pubs we strolled into. What the hell! We walked over to the area next to the theatre, and our stomach's prayers were answered, as there was a restaurant filled with people eating! We asked the incredibly nice Spanish waitress why this was the only place open at the hour. "We're only open because of the theater next door, this is London!" We explained that we were from New York and that this felt odd. Sunday night after a failed attempt to get into club that required a passport (must have been some new foreign country) we once again found ourselves hungry. The only place open was McDonald's - and damn the place was popping! I swore off Micky D's two years ago but had to give in and chowed down on nuggets. Not a proud moment.

- Look Left! Look Right!

The big white letters at each street corner spelling out either LOOK LEFT or LOOK RIGHT with arrows pointing direction are lifesavers! I'm a fast walker and a pro at navigating Manhattan crosswalks. It's so natural to look the correct way and boldly cross. One simple difference in London, all traffic drives on the left. It seems like something easy to get accustomed to but it really isn't. I'm sure we weren't the first people to realize this, and the city decided to do something about it. I wonder how many mowed down tourists it took to get these implemented, but I'm happy that they are a permanent part of the bustling streets.

- Londoners love New Yorkers!

I'm a big fan of accents. I think they're incredibly interesting and often times I wonder how they became established. British accents are one of my favorites along with Australian. I was amazed by how many Londoners loved my New York accent and the fact that I lived in the city. Some people's eyes lit up and gave me a huge smile upon hearing this news. "Oh my god, I've never been to New York City" a young lady at the counter of a diner said. "I always here about the beautiful buildings, all of my friends love it" she continued. She wasn't the only one, many people that we met across London expressed their love for New York. I wonder how people would react if they said they were from LA or Boston. Would they get the same positive reaction from being from the states? Or is it purely a New York obsession? My vote is for the latter.

- The food is good in London

A few people warned me about the food in London, claiming that it was nothing special. An English guy in a Queens ice cream shop even told me to bring my own food. I enjoyed the food scene in London. It was diverse and had all the options to satisfy any eater. Again, we had the luxury of having local friends who took us to some of their favorite spots, so we cheated a little. One highlight was an Indian restaurant called Masala Zone. They have a few locations across the city, but we chose the location in the heart of Covent Garden. Their specialty was the Grand Thali, where customers choose their curry with multiple side dishes including potatoes, lentils, rice, veggies and sauces. We added a fantastic naan with almonds, soaking it in sauce as a delicious end to the meal. The pub scene is great for food and they serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. The "traditional English breakfast" was particularly enjoyable and only cost around 5 pounds. It consisted of fried eggs, big slabs of bacon (unlike thinner American style), sausage, tomatoes, mushrooms, baked beans and if you're lucky black pudding in the center.

London is a great city, and has the quirkiness, unique flaws and misconceptions that any other city in the world has. There is still so much more to explore and discover, but keep these things in mind once you visit for the first time. I'm sure you will find your own unique London!

Escaping the city while staying within its limits

2010-11-23T18:23:00.000-08:00

Often times I want to leave the hustle and bustle that makes New York City "the city that never sleeps". It doesn't have to be long, as a typical weekend for a 9-5er like me usually doesn't allow for extended travel. A road trip to the beach or the country for a hike perhaps in another state is always nice. But on days when I want to escape without actually leaving the 5 boroughs I visit Red Hook.

Red Hook is a "coastal" Brooklyn neighborhood with a relaxed vibe and numerous local hangouts. Many Brooklynites make the venture east of booming Park Slope to roam around the giant shopping options in the area such as Ikea and Fairway. While these are valid reasons to make the trip, it's the peace and quiet, delicious local eats, friendly faces and awesome views that keep louring me back over.

Here are a few of my picks for how to spend the day in Red Hook

Lunch at the ball park food trucks while watching soccer.

By far my favorite thing about Red Hook, the ball park food trucks are a summer staple to satisfy the loyal soccer lovers who come out to the park to root their local teams on. The trucks, lined up along Bay and Clinton street offer numerous delicious Latin American specialties. My ideal meal is a pork pupusa with a side of fried plantains covered in sour cream, a grilled corn and a pineapple juice. The prices are extremely reasonable, with this mammoth of a lunch costing around $16. There are picnic tables nearby in the park where patrons comfortably chow down while enjoying the game. I found out the hard way that the trucks are only here on the weekend.

Enjoying city views in peace and quiet

Situated directly on the East River, Red Hook boasts sweeping views of the city. Look one way you see the Statue of Liberty. Turn your head to the left and you see the Verranzano Bridge jetting across into the flatness of Staten Island. Turn your head to the right and admire the downtown Manahttan skyline. The best part about these fantastic views is that they are yours to enjoy with minimal distractions. There simply aren't many people around. Walk behind the massive Fairway, past the ferry dock there is a small park with a couple of benches to sit and enjoy in peace.

Eating my way down Van Brunt Street

The food scene in Red Hook is booming and Van Brunt street is home to a couple gems. The first is the Red Hook Lobster Pound. This small shack has plenty of fresh lobsters chilling in their tanks waiting to be served in a few different ways. The lobster roll, served either hot with butter or cold with mayo is my snack of choice here. Generous chunks of juicy sweet claw and tail are piled onto these bad boys and go best with a Maine soda & chips. The friendly family owned atmosphere is extremely welcoming and they have an awesome indoor space next door with large picnic tables.

A few blocks further south on Van Brunt lies Red Hook Mercado which I stumbled into. The "market" is an urban courtyard transformed into an inviting local hangout with different options for the average hungry passerby. The vendors inside change weekly, with specific ball park trucks represented. The weekend I visited there were also local cupcakes and beer to choose from. It quickly became clear to me that this was a spot where everybody knew each other and almost felt like a backyard family barbecue. Like the ball park trucks, this place is only open on the weekend.

Neighborhood Flea Markets

The reason I stumbled upon Red Hook in the first place was because of the first ever neighborhood flea market. There were vague guidelines, but with some strong social media advertising word quickly spread about a range of streets participating in the event. It was a great way to force myself to walk down unassuming streets I probably would have quickly driven by. I didn't buy anything, but it was nice exploring and talking with residents of a neighborhood I was quickly becoming fond of.

What is your getaway within your own city limits? Please share in the comments section!! :)

Photo Essay: Eating with the locals in Manila

2010-04-25T18:40:00.000-07:00

During my 2 week stay in Manila I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to chow down on some amazing authentic Filipino cuisine, snacks and drinks. Here is a photo essay highlighting a few of my favorites through out the journey:

Mister Donut, a nice cheap snack found in the neighborhood Quezon City supermarket.

Delicious home made pork & chicken fried Shanghai (Lumpia). I always smiled when I saw this tasty treat coming out onto the table.

Mini keg of refreshing San Miguel Light, the beer of choice through out Manila.

A little Buko Pandan from Max's to cleanse the palate after a large meal.

This dish was awaiting us as a welcoming to our new living quarters, awesome home made stuffed crabs.

Some more San Mig light, in a different form. Manila loves to drink beer and party!!

Nothing like coming home to some fresh squid after wandering around Quezon City.

When roaming around Manila on an empty stomach a stop at a local Dampa is necessary . A Dampa is a fresh seafood market with an attached restaurant. Customers select their desired seafood and tell the staff how they would like it prepared. Here are a few shots of our lunch at a Dampa located in the Baclaran section of Metro Manila.

Fresh fish waiting their turn to be chosen and served to hungry patrons.

Starting off with some cool green mangoes. A perfect first course during this hot November afternoon.

Buttered prawns. These peel and eat delights were worth the mess.

My favorite dish of the afternoon, clam soup.

The entire family enjoying lunch. Sweet and sour fried Lapu Lapu fish in the center of the table.

Full stomachs after this hearty meal.

Hopefully you won't be starving after reading this post. Have you ever tried Filipino food? If so, what are some of your favorites???

Discovering Local Boston Eats

2010-04-05T18:11:00.001-07:00

A mere 3.5 hour drive from NYC, Boston is a charming little city with a lot of activities to offer tourists. The question I wanted to answer with a hands on approach was, where can I find some good freaking food???

My travel mate who joined me during this trip, Josh, is a native "Cambridgian" (my unofficial nickname for Cambridge residents), whose family was nice enough to house us for our weekend visit - woohoo!! More $$ to spend on the eating situation!!! It's always a pleasure to explore town with a local, as getting lost on the "T" subway system was no longer a concern.

This trip was a quick one due to time constraints thanks to my 40 hour work week lifestyle. Arriving Friday night at Midnight and staying until Sunday evening, time was somewhat limited. Luckily wandering around new surroundings makes me hungry, and allowed me to indulge in some local Boston eateries.

Saturday started off deliciously, as Josh's parents whipped up an amazing hearty breakfast consisting of large buttermilk waffles, scrumptious crispy home fry style potatoes and yummy bacon. Talk about the good life! I personally enjoy breaking up the bacon into pieces on top of the waffle. There's something amazing about those crispy, porky and syrupy bites that wows my taste buds. With a full and happy stomach, I was off to explore Beantown.

After a surprisingly fast and simple 3 transfer train ride from Cambridge via the T, we arrived in downtown Boston. The first stop was spending a few hours at the popular New England Aquarium, which lived up to its high expectations, but looking at all of the seafood - um I mean sea creatures was making me hungry! It was time for a lobster roll.

Quincy Market was a short walk from the aquarium, and a nice way to avoid the bitter weather to enjoy some indoor eating. The specific part of the market we entered had tons of choices as we passed pizza, Chinese food and steak sandwiches among others, but my growling stomach passed the memo to the brain that Lobster roll was the way to go. I decided to try New England Chowda Co. as they had a great special offering their large lobster roll along with a small soup & soda for $15. Within a minute I was presented with the entire plate of seafood. It certainly looked large at first glance, but I quickly noticed that the "roll" took up a lot more space than the chunks of lobster inside of it.

The meat had decent flavor, but was heavily coated with excessive mayo through out. There was also a couple lettuce leaves on the sandwich which I instantly removed. Each bite had too much bread to lobster ratio for my liking. Oh well, not every place in Boston is going to make an amazing roll. The Lobster Bisque on the other hand was tasty. I should have been a little weary with the emphasis placed on "Chowder" in the name. When it was all said and done I finished the entire roll without problem. I mean come on its lobster on a bun, how bad can it get???

Later that night it was off to Somerville, a 10 minute drive from Cambridge for a barbecue adventure at Red Bones, one of Josh's favorite local spots. This place was popping! We arrived around 8:30 and were placed on the waiting list where our party of 7 found ourselves with 90 minutes to kill. Luckily Davis Square, which was the area of Somerville we were in had plenty of bars and cafes on its strip. We chose the laid back Diesel Cafe to sip on some coffee and shoot some pool for the fair price of $8 an hour.

The time passed by fast and before we knew it our table was ready to go. We sat downstairs where a pretty big and loud crowd was drinking, double fisted style at the bar and an equally large amount of people were chomping on ribs at their picnic style tables.

The menu was huge and had so many tasty sounding items for all meat lovers to choose from. I decided to go with a special 1/2 order of Memphis style ribs and 1/2 order of St.Louis style ribs with sides of coleslaw and onion strings. Memphis and St. Louis were two towns that I couldn't argue with when discussing ribs, thus making my choice simple.

We started out with some cornbread, to warm up our jaws for the excessive amounts chewing that was about to come. A sweet offering and well deserved after an hour and half wait.

In a few short minutes the waitress came out of the kitchen with piled high plates of meat, and was heading in our direction. My smile grew bigger and bigger with each step closer she walked. $19 bought me a HUGE plate of ribs along with generous sides. I was very glad I ordered 1/2 of each kind which allowed for variation. 4 types of bbq sauce accompanied the meal - bold, hot, sweet and a strange looking fourth that I stayed away from. The Memphis style were bigger and meatier and went great with the bold and hot sauces. The St. Louis were a bit smaller with a dark and delicious coat of smoked goodness on top. Alternating between the two allowed me to have the best of both worlds. The big pile of napkins to my right became my best friend, as my face was smothered with barbecue after each rib.

The coleslaw was a great refresher in between meat and fried onion bites. The onion strings themselves were an amazing complement, sliced ultra thin and battered just right. I made the mistake (which I felt later on) of over stuffing myself with Red Bones' goodness. As the pictures tell, this was an enormous plate of food. I finished all but 3 ribs and left a little coleslaw underneath. I happily finished my leftovers for dinner the next day. Red Bones is a must stop for any rib lover wandering through Boston. I know I will always go back if in the area.

Sunday morning ... err afternoon we decided to stay local in Cambridge and walked down to bustling Harvard Square. Vietnamese was on the agenda for lunch, and Le's restaurant in the center of the square came highly recommended. Le's was a spacious place with plenty of room left for the straggling early Sunday afternoon crowd. For some reason I do not often eat Vietnamese, which is something that should change!!! For appetizers the table shared spring rolls, both crispy fried along with the healthier alternative, summer.

I only sampled the fried rolls, which had a perfect crisp to them with the standard pork and vegetable interior. As far as the entree, my brain appeared to think much larger than my stomach, as I boldly ordered the large Pho Ga (Chicken Noodle Soup, as the menu read). A no frills choice, I know ... but it's good for the soul, right??

Le's does not mess around when they say large! This bowl was enormous, and filled so high with broth that it hid the noodles deep below. I was very satisfied with my super-sized portion of Pho Ga. I mixed a couple of the bright red hot sauces from the center of the table to add a little flare and spice to the dish - which after a couple of coughing chokes was successful. I tried really hard, but could not finish the entire bowl. Next time I will order the medium. We took a couple of addicting Vietnamese Ice Coffee's to go which served as a sweet little dessert to take around town. Beware though, you will crave these suckers after a few harmless first sips.

Even though I hate the Red Sox, Bruins and Bill Belichek's Patriots I have to admit I really like the city of Boston. Smaller, cleaner and less crowded then my beloved NYC, Boston packs a lot of personality to go along with its good food. As always the case, traveling around with locals is the best way to find good eats and hangouts and this experience was no different.

Jet Blue gives back to their Twitter followers

2010-03-10T19:40:00.000-08:00

To celebrate their 10th birthday, popular airline Jet Blue decided to give back to some lucky fans this week. Their first "gift" was offering $10 flights from JFK to its original 10 destinations. This deal offered flights to cities such as: Oakland, Orlando, Salt Lake City and Tampa. Of course the deal offered this past weekend had a catch, you had to fly out on Monday, March 8th or Tuesday, March 9th. Nevertheless I'm sure this deal saved many customers a lot of money.

Today Jet Blue sweetened the pot and decided to give away nearly 1000 tickets scavenger hunt style around Manhattan. The company cleverly posted updates on twitter, stating their location and instructions on specific items to bring in exchange for free tickets. With San Francisco, Vegas and Chicago on my domestic travel list I decided I was going to join in the festivities and try my luck if the location was near my job.

The first location was posted on Twitter at noon explaining to bring a birthday card for Jet Blue to Broadway & Dey street in the financial district. This was too far from my office, but I stayed glued to twitter for updates on the next location.

2 hours later the second location was posted, this time the free tickets were on 11th st and University place and you had to bring something airplane related. I borrowed my co-workers' frequent flyer card and ran out thinking I would be one of the first ones to arrive.

BOY WAS I WRONG!!! THESE PEOPLE WERE AT THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME!
There was a gigantic line bending around the block filled with young people carrying peanuts, headphones, ticket stubs and anything else airline related. I knew I wasn't going to win but decided to hop on at the end of the line. There were a few hundred people in front of me and literally a minute later a Jet Blue representative came down the line to kill our dreams by announcing that they had ran out of tickets for this location.

The representatives hailed down a couple cabs to head to their next destination. The mobs of hopeful people swarmed around them, some begging for tickets. It was quite a scene as the reps smiled while dodging through the crowd. It reminded me of a movie star leaving a shoot trying to avoid autograph seeking fans. Despite the herds of desperate travelers there was a fun atmosphere happening here. It was an excuse for friends to hang out and try their luck to possibly score free tickets, right before spring break for the college crowd.

I applaud Jet Blue for thinking outside of the box and coming up with this fun and creative marketing plan. The execution via social media was extremely efficient and hit the young college demographic head on. They proved to the community that they are generous, and will possibly gain market share in the process thanks to word of mouth. The airline industry often lacks personality, so it was nice to see Jet Blue reach out to their fans in a creative way. 2 Thumbs up!

Ben's Chili Bowl ... The Real Deal???

2010-03-07T15:35:00.000-08:00

Washington DC is a great weekend trip for New Yorkers looking for a change of scenery without sacrificing the city lifestyle. I drove down to Maryland with my friends Chaz and Vikky where we were lucky enough to have housing accommodations and were meeting with our other friend Suzy, a DC native to show us around town. After wandering around landmarks it was lunch time and Suzy instantly recommended Ben's Chili Bowl on nearby U street. Ben's is one of DC's most famous establishments, as I have seen it on various travel and foodie television shows discussing its rich history. It was the moment of truth, and I wanted to see if the food at Ben's Chili Bowl lived up to its hype.

After a short ride on the efficient Metro system we arrived and quickly spotted the bright red, yellow and white building. To no surprise there was a line out the door. Thankfully it was a beautiful March afternoon and we did not mind the wait. The line moved quickly though and after 1o minutes we were ushered inside to another line. Suzy and I quickly grabbed a corner table while Chaz and Vikky ordered. The place was packed, but had plenty of seats. A few booths and tables occupied the front of the restaurant along with some stools right next to all of the cooking action. In the back was a larger seating area that catered to parties with 6 or more people. The ordering process was organized and turned out to be very efficient. The outdoor crowd is brought in slowly, which is a smart way to avoid chaos inside. After ordering the staff notices where you are seated and brings your order over to the table. The overall process is stress free and faster then it originally appears.

The bustling atmosphere inside Ben's was great. It was packed with what seemed like a mostly tourist crowd of families, friends and couples. In the background soulful music was loudly playing, as well as hard working staff members shouting out orders.

Okay, decision time!!! I went simple and ordered the classic chili dog with a side of fries.

The chili dog was a standard size but smothered with flavorful chili! Only a tip of the hot dog was showing. The generous portion of chili on top was very smooth and had lots of tasty spice. It all came together very well once combined with the hot dog, mustard and finely chopped onions. I finished it in about 5 bites and managed not to spill any, but make sure to have napkins nearby in case of chili overboard!

I made the bonehead decision to accompany my dog with a side of regular fries but got to sample my friends' orders of chili and chili-cheese fries which were both very good. I personally enjoyed the chili fries the best, as the addition of cheese made the fries a little too heavy - but were great for a couple of bites. Definitely be prepared to eat these fries with a fork!

I was representing my New York Rangers in DC by wearing my jersey (the game was later that day) which caught the attention of one employee walking by. This dude was big, and looked pissed off! He asked each of my friends individually:

"Is this guy with you???" with a very stern tone.

We laughed as he explained that this was "Ovi's town which means no Rangers, No Penguins, just Caps!"

It was all in good fun as my friends and I laughed about it while struggling to finish the remaining fries . I loved that somebody noticed that I was an outsider by my jersey and it showed the hockey craziness of DC that I sometimes question.

Ben's Chili Bowl is the real deal. Great food, great atmosphere and a place to kick back with friends. If you don't believe me, you can ask this guy ...

5 ways to save $$$ while cruising

2010-02-23T20:37:00.000-08:00

For many travelers cruising has become a top option when needing a break from reality. The prices may seem intimidating at first, but when it comes down to crunching the numbers going on a cruise doesn't have to break the bank. Here are 5 ways you can save money on your next cruise.

1. Putting 4 people in a room

If you are traveling with 4 or more people and want to save money, it is essential to maximize the number of people per room. The default settings for most online booking sites is 2 people per room, but many rooms can sleep up to 4 people. This includes the windowless interior rooms which is the cheapest option aboard. The key is that the 3rd and 4th passengers pay a highly discounted rate. The savings occur after you split the total cost of the room 4 ways.

Let's look at an example when booking the same interior room on the Carnival Miracle for 8 nights on Expedia.com. Our room is in on Deck 1 and falls under category 4A. The price is $779 per person.

Price of the room for 2 people: $779(cost) * 2 (amount of people) + $162.74 (taxes + fees) = $1,720.74 and therefore $860.37 per person.

Price of the room for 4 people: $779 (cost for first 2 passengers) *2 + $449 (cost for 3rd and 4th passengers) * 2 = $2456 + 325.48 (taxes + fees) = $2781.48 and therefore $695.37 per person.

Sorry for all of the math! But it clearly shows that by adding the two extra people to same exact room each person saves $165.

2. Cruising from your home city (or a nearby city)

There are many departure ports that sail to various destinations both north and south. New York City and Northern New Jersey offer itineraries to the Caribbean, New England, Canada and even transatlantic excursions to Europe. Of course Florida boasts a large selection of destinations due to its close proximity to the Caribbean. Aside from the greater NYC area and Florida, here are some other US cities that offer cruises to the Caribbean:

Baltimore, MD

Boston, MA

Charleston, SC

Galveston, TX

Mobile, AL

New Orleans, LA

Norfolk, VA

If you live in or around any of these areas you will likely be able to enjoy more cruise bang for your buck while saving money on airline tickets and avoiding stressful airport procedures. If you want to cruise to destinations such as Mexico or Alaska, there will be plenty of options on the west coast to leave from.

3. Skip the shore excursions

When docked at its location the ship offers a wide range of activities for all ages and interests, called shore excursions which come with a steep price. While some excursions such as swimming with dolphins sound amazing, they are very expensive. Some cheaper shore excursions could include lunch in paradise at a pristine white stand beach for the afternoon. There are times, with a little pre-trip research where you can get to the same destinations as the shore excursion without paying the high bill.

For example, when my friends and I went on a Norwegian cruise in 2008 that stopped in Tortola (British Virgin Islands) there was a shore excursion that offered lunch at picturesque Cane Garden Bay. I had done my research and already knew that Cane Garden was one of the nicest and most popular beaches in Tortola. We decided to go there on our own, and only had to pay round trip taxi fare. It was well worth missing out on the lunch to save a bunch of money.

4. Take advantage of all the free eating options aboard

Arguably the best part of cruising is the all-inclusive food options on board. Amazing food is all over these floating cities in the form of sit down restaurants, buffets, bistros and bars. No matter what you're craving and what time of day it is, you are covered. The ship will also offer various "premium" eating options where each consumer will have to pay an additional surcharge. These restaurants are spread out through out the ship and can feature such venues as steakhouses and sushi bars.

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure most of these restaurants serve excellent food, but if you're looking to save money, avoid them! There are so many free eating areas on the ship that serve fantastic food. Trust me, you will never go hungry & you won't have to worry about racking up the bill.

5. Drinking while exploring

If you like to drink and order your drinks on the boat, expect a very large tab at the end of your vacation. Think about going out to your city's most trendy neighborhood, how much would you say the drinks are? $10? $12? ... Well that's about how much you will pay for mixed drinks on your cruise. Come on, with all the free food on board the organization has to make profit somehow, and overcharging for drinks is one key way. If you must drink on the cruise, stick to beer which will probably cost $5-$7 each.
One option to score cheaper drinks during your cruise is to drink while visiting the ports. Once away from the dock area, there are bound to be cheap bars and restaurants. Why not kick back with some local residents and enjoy some ice cold cheap drinks at the neighborhood watering hole.

Cruising is an awesome way to spend a vacation, so don't be afraid if the prices initially seem high. Do your research, search multiple cruise lines and sources and follow these rules in order to enjoy this high seas without emptying your life savings.

Have any of you been on any cool cruises lately? If so, do you have any other money saving tips?

How to get around Manila

2010-02-20T14:07:00.000-08:00

The craziness of the streets in metro Manila can be very overwhelming for a first time visitor like myself. Pedestrians, passenger cars, taxis, huge buses, trucks, jeepneys, motorcycles and tricycles all come together to clog Manila roadways. All of this without the comforts of traffic lights, crosswalks and clear road lanes can turn a simple trip into an experience for an outsider. Jaywalking in busy Manhattan streets is a cakewalk when compared to navigating around Manila intersections. It's normal life for the locals, who use a "Frogger" approach to dodge vehicles in order to get across the street. After a couple of days I was getting pretty good at it - it just takes a little practice!

If agile walking does not sound appealing to you, here are some different ways to get around Manila ...

1. Jeepneys

This neat form of transportation was one of the first things I noticed when I arrived. There are a plethora of them in every neighborhood, and are often times full (with some daring riders even standing on the back). They reminded me of shuttles and are a popular and inexpensive way to get around town. They fit around 10 people and can be hailed down like a taxi. The coolest thing about the Jeepney is the individuality each one of them has. They all have a name which is clearly labeled on the front and sides.

This Jeepney is named Revelation:

They are very colorful and often times have lots of chrome and logos. Riding them can be a little frightening at high speeds, as the back is completely open. Rest assured though, there are handles to hold onto.

The inside of the Jeepney:

2. Tricycles

Tricycles are faster than walking, but overall remain a slow form of transportation. These man-powered vehicles are an effective way to travel down small streets. The driver peddles on the left while passengers relax on the right in the shaded sidecar. The sidecar is designed for 2 passengers to ride at a time, anything over that is stretching the roominess.

They are cheap and can be haggled down (but don't get too greedy). They are very easy to find, with lines of operators waiting at various locations. A good option if you need a break or feel like being lazy in exchange for a small fee.

3. Motorcycle Taxis

A convenient and faster alternative to tricycles are motorcycle taxis. They are very similar, with room for two passengers in the sidecar and space for one adventurous rider who wishes to sit behind the driver holding on for dear life. These could also be hailed down randomly in the street if vacant. Since the motorcycle taxis are quick, they ride on major streets along with all of the other vehicles on the road. The one downside to this is the smog build up. It pays to cover your mouth and nose while riding, and I noticed that some locals wore masks over their mouth to help protect against the smog.

4. Sky Train

The sky train is often the quickest way around Manila, especially when traveling from one neighborhood to another. They are fast, clean, safe and easy to navigate. Depending on your destination you will sometimes need to take a quick taxi ride to and from the sky train station. When on the train you can clearly see all of the time you are saving, as the train shoots past the crawling vehicles on the traffic filled expressway beneath.

5. Taxis

Taxi's are everywhere and easy to flag down. The problem is that Manila's traffic is so bad that often times taxis seem unbearably slow. Nevertheless they are an essential way to get to certain places, and are inexpensive when compared to prices in the states. Manila cabbies are often cowboy drivers, so be prepared for a wild ride with sudden stops.

It's nice to have have options when traveling around Manila. No matter what your time restraint or location is there is always a way to get around town. When traveling to nearby cities such as Batangas (about a 2 hour ride) express buses are the best way to travel. When traveling to other islands such as Romblon, long boat rides are usually the most direct way to travel. But when trying to navigate around Manila, there are plenty of choices to choose from.

So I ask the question to all of you, what is your preferred way to travel around your own city?

A Taste of Philadelphia

2010-02-10T10:23:00.001-08:00

Quick ...

What is the first thing you think of when you hear Philadelphia?

Screw the Liberty Bell and the Eagles, I always think of one of my favorite foods, cheesesteaks! Meat, whiz and onions on a roll, so simple yet delicious. Here in Manhattan I have found my local haven for cheesesteaks at a tasty little shop called 99 miles to Philly. They are consistent and I usually leave very satisfied and full, but with the homeland of the cheesesteak only a 2 hour drive away I had venture out and see if the meat is tastier on the other side.

I woke up one morning, slightly hungover and hungry. The "Cheesesteak tour" was a small trip that I had been wanting to do for a while, and on this chilly yet sunny January morning I knew the time had come. I called a few friends up who were down and quickly browsed Philly eats online to have some sense of direction.

I looked up the proper ordering etiquette - I did not want to sound like an out of town New Yorker or anything like that. Come on Peter you can do it ... "1 whiz wit!" Which is Philly slang for a steak with cheese whiz and onions, piece of cake! Now it was time to choose our stops. The two places that instantly came to mind were Pat's and Geno's ... the old school rivals situated across the street from each other. I was surprised to discover that many Yelpers were unhappy with both places, with numerous complaints about dry steak and rude service - two things I was not about to follow through with after a 2 hour drive! I made the executive decision to overlook these "landmarks" and narrowed it down to 3 places.

After some strange directions from my GPS we arrived at our first stop in the northwest suburb of Roxborough. Roxborough had its own rivalry brewing between neighboring joints Dalessandro's and Chubby's. Dalessandro's was the first place to grace our presence.
Dalessandro's was a small place that fit around 10-12 people at the "bar" and had a few tight fitting tables, one of which we were lucky enough to snag. The woman at the counter was extremely friendly, and did not judge my non-Philly way of ordering.

"Um yes, two steaks with onions and cheese whiz please." The atmosphere got to me, I couldn't order like a local Philadelphian without buckling under the pressure.

She was very accommodating, offering us extra baskets since we were sharing. After a few minutes it was the moment of truth, and man they don't mess around with the size of their hoagies!

The first bite into this bad boy was complete bliss, the meat was chopped perfectly and packed a ton of juicy taste. The onions were thinly chopped and dispersed through out the sandwich with a healthy plop of delicious whiz on top. They recommended the sweet peppers on the table, so we topped it off and consumed. Our plan was to only eat halves at each place, to avoid hoagie overload. I was so tempted to order another sandwich, it was really that good! Dalessandro's set the bar really high.

We were hoping nobody saw us run literally across the street to our next stop, Chubby's. Chubby's was bigger and looked like a highway stop diner with both bar and booth seating. We hopped in a booth and quickly ordered our 2 steaks with whiz and onions and waited patiently.
After about 15 minutes the "delightful" waitress brought us our steaks. They were slightly smaller than their rivals but looked good. One clear difference about Chubby's steak was the larger onions that rested on top of the meat.

I sunk my teeth into the hoagie, and was a little disappointed. The meat lacked the flavor of Dalessandro's, and the bread was a little rougher. I was not a big fan of the larger onions either, but hey this is a freaking Cheesesteak! So of course I finished my whole portion.

Despite our stomachs putting their no vacancy lights on we were determined to make one last stop before heading home. That stop was at Tony Luke's in downtown Philly. A little stroke of unluckiness hit us, as we happened to arrive just as a home Flyers game was ending. Long story short, there were a lot of hungry hockey fans in front of us. We waited on the long winding line, placed our order and had the luxury to wait another 20 minutes before it would be ready.

This damn thing better be amazing!

"Peetahh" screamed out the tough looking girl behind the counter as I scurried up and snatched my brown paper bag. This steak definitely didn't have the overflowing meat like the previous two, and was very neatly packed.

This steak was very good, it was almost a breath of fresh air to have a smaller sandwich at this point. The whiz was evenly distributed and meat was lean and tasty. It wasn't exactly worth the 40 minute wait, but with the close proximity to the sports stadiums I could see why it's a Flyer fan favorite.

After it was all said and done it was a fun trip. There were plenty of joints we didn't visit, but the joint I will return to if I am ever in Philly is Dalessandro's.

4 hours of driving for 3 Cheesesteaks sure is a trek, even for the biggest food fanatic. How long would you travel just to eat food?

Trekking to Trunk Bay

2010-02-08T17:44:00.000-08:00

St. John's Trunk Bay in the US Virgin Islands(USVI) is a beautiful stretch of beach that offers fantastic snorkeling in amazing surroundings with a few pleasant surprises. It's very easy to reach from St. Thomas, a 20 minute ferry ride followed by an adventurous 10 minute taxi ride. This is complete paradise, a setting resembling a dream wedding ... or a corona commercial. Yeah that's right, you gaze at that hot girl in the bikini walking by and I'm going to squirt this lime in your eye! The calm and pristine water is filled with a diverse group of colorful sea creatures. The bay's famous underwater snorkeling guide gives swimmers a little bit of information about the various sea life they are looking at. Make sure you are a good swimmer, as it gets deep quickly as you follow the guided path below. For a small charge flotation devices are available, and are a good idea even for active swimmers who want to tread and take a quick rest for a minute. To ease peace of mind, active lifeguards are on duty - something that isn't standard at many USVI beaches.

While snorkeling we saw the typical array of Virgin Island fish. There were Parrot Fish, Yellow Tails, Sergeant Majors and Sturgeon Fish among others. I didn't have to search far at all to find fish, there were plenty to go around, and some were very brave and not shy to braise my sunburned body. During our second trip out into the water to swim with our new friends we encountered something very cool, wild stingrays! The stingrays came very close to shore, and all of the tourists (including me of course) ran back to get their cameras and take pictures. Certain geniuses (a nice way to put it) thought it would be a good idea to chase after them tail first, and they scurried back further into the ocean.

I wanted to swim out and follow one of the stingrays from a comfortable distance, close enough so that I would see it clearly while leaving it a enough distance to make it feel comfortable. It was just me and the stingray, watching him and his little cleaner fish pal slowly mingle around the sand. It was very peaceful watching its wings flap elegantly as it calmly went about its business. After some negative media spotlight, it was clear to me that stingrays are naturally friendly creatures, but should be left undisturbed.

Trunk Bay is one of St. John's biggest tourist attractions. It was obvious that the crowd was primarily made up of vacationers staying on St. Thomas, St. John or in town just for the day from a cruise ship. I don't mind this because it makes for decent people watching, but the beauty of Trunk Bay is that you have the option to be secluded. It is a relatively long strip of sand, and most of the people camp out around the snorkeling trail (where conveniently, bathrooms and food are as well). It makes sense, all of the amenities are close and it's a short walk back to the taxi. So if crowds aren't your idea of a fun day in the center of paradise, simply walk a few minutes down the shoreline and find a nice spot away from everybody else and enjoy the laid back Caribbean atmosphere alone.

Here are some of my tips to get the most out of your Trunk Bay experience:

Bring your own lunch. The food is not good and is expensive, but if you do opt to eat at the bay, remember that Caribbean attitude is very laid back so your food will not arrive instantly.
If you choose to snorkel, invest the couple of dollars and purchase a flotation device. I am an above average swimmer, but it gets tiring after a while. The flotation device allows swimmers to use less energy and take quick breaks when they please.
Get there early for a prime spot. There are limited spots that offer shade, and those are usually the first to go. I would suggest sitting in the middle of the beach, as the area closest to the concessions and taxi stand get crowded.
Don't be afraid to snorkel away from the underwater trail. That's where the wild stingrays were hanging out.
On the way to the bay, ask your taxi driver to stop at the scenic overlook for a minute. It will block traffic, but the view is breathtaking!

Bangkok Street Food

2010-02-02T18:41:00.000-08:00

When roaming around the streets of Bangkok on an empty stomach, sampling neighborhood street vendors is a must do for the thrifty food loving traveler. There were some things that I was a little hesitant about at first, because of the following reasons:

The language barrier. Sometimes it was tough to order in English, but local consumers who spoke English helped us out. Just remember to be patient and kind, and most likely you will end up receiving what you want.
Not being able to tell what specific items were (if signs were in Thai). For example there were deep fried balls of some kind of meat on a stick.
Perceived cleanliness of equipment and freshness of ingredients.
Not many other tourists around (which actually is a great sign for authenticity).

After a day of exploring the Grand Palace we were starving and stumbled upon a small sidewalk “restaurant” with a large cooking pan set up in front. I took a look at the menu and quickly ordered the vegetable noodles, which cost a mere 30 Baht (about $1 US). A young girl who appeared to be in her mid teens was our chef.

She greeted us with a warm smile and proceeded to cook right in front of us. A few minutes later she presented me with a very generous portion of noodles, which was very tasty and spicy! I enjoy spicy food but after walking around all morning and into the afternoon in 90 degree weather I resorted to adding a little sweet chili sauce to cool it down a bit.

This was definitely an eye opening introduction to the quality of street food offered in Bangkok.

The sky train stations offer some eating options as well. We opted to try waffles at Anne’ Shop, a small stand which we later found out had multiple locations throughout the train system.

It was mid afternoon, so it was probably off peak hours to buy a waffle. The waffles we had didn’t taste extremely fresh, but were decent. They were sweet and didn’t need syrup. One unique ingredient infused into the small waffle was corn. These waffles are a good option for a quick and cheap breakfast snack while rushing to catch the train.

In the midst of the hustle and bustle of congested and exhaust filled Silom road in central Bangkok, we encountered a breath of fresh air … well not exactly, but fresh milk tea! An excited young girl walking home from school strolled past us, taking a big sip of a bright orange iced tea. We immediately turned around and approached the cart she had just left. We smiled and said hello to the woman behind the cart. “One iced tea please” we asked with eager smiles on our faces. She gave us a confused look and replied with a “huh?!?” expression. I looked over to the sign on the side of the cart, but there were no words in English to point to. We tried saying “orange” and “tea”, when finally she asked us “milk?” Yes!! We shouted with glee and smiled. She smiled back and started to make our bright orange masterpiece. Very sweet yet delicious, our milk tea refreshed us and gave us some energy to keep walking around and exploring.

Chatuchak Market is the biggest outdoor weekend market in Bangkok and one of the city’s most famous destinations. It draws a lot of bargain hunting tourists, but I was delighted to see a good mixture of locals as well. After a few hours of browsing, haggling and buying we were ready to eat. There were a few food options all in a specific area away from the shops. We decided to stop at another restaurant with a similar large pan in the front and a shaded seating area behind. I looked at the menu and saw “Dungken Noodle”.

Back home in the states my favorite Thai dish is “Drunken Man Noodles”, and I thought to myself this must be the real deal and ordered it with chicken and a milk tea on the side. The silky texture of the broad noodles was just right and packed a significant amount of heat. It looked so simple, yet was extremely delicious!

So if you ever find yourself in Bangkok or any city for that matter, follow the locals and don’t be afraid to try the street food!

It’s a great way to save money when in comparison to eating out at a restaurant.
The food is really good and made fresh right in front of you. Be on the lookout for spots with a bunch of locals. Think about the city you live in and where you would want to eat, that’s what they’re doing!
Stay away from the flocks of tourists. Some of the restaurants do have good food, but for the most part lacked the authenticity of the food at the stands. They seemed to cater to the foreign palate.
There is a friendly and often times family run atmosphere. Always remember to stay calm, be patient and smile often.

Welcome!!! :)

2010-01-26T19:27:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Traveling New Yorker!!!

I created this blog to share my experiences as an eager young traveler and encourage fellow adventurous people to get up and explore this beautiful world!!! A few months ago I returned from an inspiring 16 day excursion to Manila and Bangkok. All it took was an amazing two week experience to be hooked on the "travel bug". It's incredible how much I learned from this trip, both about myself and the art of traveling. I like to think that I am a smart traveler, incorporating a balanced blend of tourist and local activities. For example, when in Bangkok, exploring the Grand Palace was amazing as I battled fellow foreigners for my beautiful photo outside of the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. Yet at the same time, an evening watching the sunset while getting lost on a ferry boat filled with commuters and discovering a quaint village on the outskirts of the city proved to be just as rewarding.
Flying 19 hours away and taking two weeks off of work isn't easy for the average 9-5 working American. I will also focus on travel on a smaller scale, which are good options for a weekend road trip getaway. Nothing beats getting out on the open road with a car full of buddies where getting there is half the fun! The northeast offers laid back cities such as Boston and Toronto which are great long weekend excursions and offer tons of activities that satisfy all interests. Being a crazy hockey fan (Let's Go Rangers!) I have often traveled to these cities to simultaneously catch my Rangers in action.
When I travel I like to experience life in that place how a typical local would, mixed with a bit of interesting "touristy" activities to learn about history and witness natural beauty. When it comes to eating food it's local all the way though. This takes some research at home and a lot of observing once arrived. I think of the places I would want to bring my friends who visit the city. To me nothing beats a great slice of pizza from my favorite local joint or a simple bar that offers a big tasty burger and generous selection of beer. Or to a homey neighborhood joint that consistently delivers great food and makes me leave with a smile on my face and a happy stomach. I'm excited to share some of my stories, filled with pictures to go along describing the experience. Hopefully some of my experiences will teach and inspire anybody who decides to pack up and explore. I will update as I find new opportunities to get away, as well as some great places and events I find in the city.I'll welcome any suggestions, criticism and stories that anybody out there would like to share. It's all about learning more and becoming a smarter traveler, so please feel free to share anything on here.

Thanks for checking the Traveling New Yorker out, and get ready for some updates soon!

Peter :)