Adventures in South Korea: N.Y.C.

Yes, I know. Once again, I'm posting another trip that did not happen in Korea. HOWEVER, I'm going to make another exception because I did meet up with a Korean friend (twice) while in the Big Apple. He is a friend from high school that would meet with me everytime he came back home to Korea during school breaks.

I took this trip with an alumni group from my high school. My mom, aunt, uncle, and a previous teacher were on the trip with me. Parents of former classmates and people from my home church in Houston also came along. I was the second youngest of the bunch, which made for difficult moments (especially after exploring the globe on my own the last few years), but overall I had a great time. I'm extremely grateful for everything we got to see, though the amount of walking was terrible. I've even been going to the gym everyday this summer... so imagine how the older groupies were doing! :)

Jumped right into sightseeing night one! Times Square.

I loved the tile in all the subway stations. It was exquisite!

We had a three course meal in Little Italy. Perfect appetizer.

Check out this pasta platter. Best meal of the trip.

Mom, Mr. Stuenkel, and I. He was the trip planner. He was also one of my high school teachers! He did a great job executing the trip... and pouring lots of wine that evening!

Little Italy.

We had cannolis for dessert... and they were perfect.

Washington Park... where Mr. Stuenkel and I were pulled into a street show. It was pretty hilarious. They had a guy flip over our heads (us and five other people!).

Loving all the color... and loving life because of how much wine was still in my system.

Next morning: World Trade Center Memorial and 9/11 Museum.

It was breathtaking.

Freedom Tower with it's recently opened observation deck.

The 9/11 Museum was unreal. It gave me goosebumps reliving that day in my mind. This was the actual 'Survivor's Staircase'.

The iconic flag that hung down from a building near the trade center. It has been patched in several states since then.

No day shall erase you from the memory of time. The blue was based on the color of the sky that day.

Time to go up in the Freedom Tower.

First look at Lady Liberty.

Manhattan, you're insane.

My favorite picture of us :)

Down to St. Paul's Chapel.

Historic churchyard at St. Paul's.

Trinity Church.

Walking down Wall Street.

Classic.

The Bull. So many people.

Wicked in the afternoon!

This was my second time attending Wicked My first time was in Korea and it was entirely in Korean. So, seeing it in English was a PLUS :D

Mom bought us some cocktails :) I had a Glozmopolitan and Mom had an Ozmopolitan.

Dinner after musical: Rosie O' Grady's. Fried calamari.

Lamb chops.

Chicken Oscar.

Chocolate Mousse.

Running around a giant Toys R' Us. A robotic T-Rex.

Optimus Prime!

King Kong on the E.S.B.

Lego Liberty.

Paul Lee! We had a great chat with Mr. Stuenkel that night.

Next morning, Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

Manhattan morning.

There's the pretty woman.

Selfie with the Mother of Exiles.

Old torch.

View from pedestal.

Ellis Island.

Actual size of her face.

National Museum of Immigration.

Registry Room.

Grand Central Station.

Ceiling hosting constellations.

Some amazing pizza for lunch. We even tried a slice of teriyaki chicken.

Next, the Museum of Modern Art. It was AWFUL. I literally said, "Why? What? How is this ART?!" the entire time...

The ONLY redeeming quality of the museum was this gem. It's always been my favorite.

Mom and I ate dinner at Stardust. The waiters and waitresses sing as they served!

Adult almond milkshake. Excellent... and strong. Hehe.

Sliders and waffle fries.

Handsome :)

Off to Macy's and the Empire State Building.

Surprisingly, the inside wasn't any different from your average Macy's. If anything, it was probably the ugliest Macy's interior I've seen... but, it is massive! Several stories and there was at least one restaurant on each floor.

So cool!

Group photo Mr. Stuenkel purchased.

Amazing view at night. Too bad it was crazy windy and rainy by the time we reached the top.

Late night snack at the local deli: turkey salad and avocado sub.

Spinach pie :D

MASSIVE choco-chip cookie!

The weather wasn't good enough to go to the top of the Rockefeller Center that morning, so we ventured over to the Today Show. It was a fun change of plans.

Martha showing us how to plant herbs.

The ROCK.

Inside St. Patrick's Cathedral.

Unfortunately, it was undergoing a major makeover... so no good pictures.

Radio City Musical Hall tour. That building is awesome! All original furniture in the make-up room.

Wannabe Rockettes.

They were getting ready for a graduation ceremony. What an unbelievable place have a commencement.

Lobby.

Retired Rockette costumes.

Intrepid Museum.

The Original Katz's Deli for dinner. It was so expensive! Legit pickle platter.

Katz's Brew. Very, very good.

Latkes (potato pancakes) served with sour cream and applesauce.

Reuben sandwich with pastrami. An entire sandwich was $21 (plus more $ for pastrami!) So, Mom and I split one... luckily, a half was more than enough food.

So fun.

Interior. You could order at the bar (the line was super long the entire time) or you could sit and have table service.

Afterwards, we went to Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. Here's Johnny!

Jacob.

Edward.

E.T.

Jimmy!

George.

My childhood. I always wanted to be Baby Spice.

Another wonderful part of my younger years.

Hulk, smash!

Iron.

Lionel.

Crazy height. Yeah, I'm talking about mom...

Michelle! I religiously played her computer game.

Ga.

If only...

Our last full day was beautiful. We got to the Top of the Rock early in the morning. It was lovely.

Central P.

Killing time in Times.

Circle Line Cruise around Manhattan. Here is the Brooklyn Bridge. That's all you get... I fell asleep maybe 1/3 of the time and was eating a pretzel another 1/3.