new york! new york!

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in cities, it's definitely more fun to have friends. some of my best experiences in new york were doing what the locals do.

a local brought me to queens...such an ethnically diverse place! street life is bustling and there are an amazing variety of restaurants from all over the world. we had tacos at a roadside stall, dinner at a myanmar restaurant and dessert at a thai restaurant. at this time of the year, sun sets closer to 8pm in new york, so after dinner we watched sunset over manhattan from across the east river at the long-island city. it was a beautiful way the end the evening.

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on my last night in new york, i went to a baseball match at the yankees stadium in bronx. baseball is big in the united states. we had great seats, close enough to hear the crisp sound when the bat hits the ball. the new york yankees were playing against the pirates. each time the home team sends the ball flying into the sky, the spectators would stand up with arms in the air in anticipation of a homerun.

we arrived an hour late and initially it was all confusion to me. in between biting into my hotdog (aka stadium steak)..the standing and sitting..raising my arms and trying not to drop my dinner, i was trying to figure out what was going on, trying to understand the game and the many scoreboards. there was so much to look at, i couldn't keep my eyes on the field. i admired the packed stadium illuminated by floodlights, and stole glances at the agitated (and possibly drunk) spectators cheering, booing, screaming their heads off. i couldn't help but feel their excitement as well. and the kids..so adorable in their baseball jerseys, caps and gloves.. they made me smile. in the final inning, the yankees scored a run, sealing victory for the team. it was euphoric all around and i too was feeling top of the world. the speaker blasted the song `new york new york' and my friend started singing along. while listening to its lyrics, it almost felt like it was for me...describing my anticipation of being in new york for the first time, my travel lust, my search for new experiences and my wonderful stay in new york.

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Start spreading the news I'm leaving today I want to be a part of it, New York, New York These vagabond shoes Are longing to stray And make a brand new start of it New York, New York I want to wake up in the city that never sleeps To find I'm king of the hill, top of the heap These little town blues Are melting away I'll make a brand new start of it In old New York If I can make it there I'll make it anywhere It's up to you, New York, New Yoooooooorrrrrk.........

as the players exited the field, we followed the supporters to the yankees sports bar for celebration. i left with a big smile on my face, the song still ringing in my ears. `new york new york' will never sound the same to me after this great new york experience.