Tips for Indians, Traveling first time in New York

Here are some useful tips from my experience if you are a first time visitor to USA from India.

1) 7-Day Unlimited Pass - If your travel duration in USA is more than 5 days, I will strongly recommend you to purchase this 7 days Metrocard pass. This will cost you around $39 and this pass is good for unlimited subway and local bus rides until midnight, 7 days from day of first use. You can also have 30-Day Unlimited Ride MetroCard as well depending upon your travel stay. Subway Network is very wide in New York. A single ride cost you $2.50 and because of their widespread network in New York, Subway is a great way of commuting from one place to another. You can save money and hassle both by opting for 7 days pass.

2) The Subway Network works differently than what we have here in Delhi Metro. On the same platform, you will find same train (N, R, S etc..) coming from left and right. Which one to choose? Better to get a printed version of Subway Network map with you and confirm from others about the place where you want to reach. People are quite friendly and they help you.

3) Using Automated Machine - Below is the snap of automated MTA Vending Machine. You can use this machine if you want to recharge your Metro card. In my case, I found it little confusing in first chance, but from 2nd and 3rd trial, you can get familiar with it. It accepts currency coins as well as currency notes. The machine accepts cash quite fast and you need not to insert the notes number of times. The mechanism is good.  It has the option of single ride, specific amount to be added and other options as well. If you want a single day ride or need 7day/30 day pass, you can purchase it from nearby counter (every station has that). When stuck anywhere, ask for help from nearby person.

3) Try spending some time in TripAdvisor and read about the places famous to visit in New York. You will get lot of advise and feedback about which things are to consider while planning for the site visit. 

4) If you are a vegetarian person, I will suggest you to take lot of fruits (you will get different kind of fruits over there), salads, flavored yogurt (look for egg contains). I will also suggest you to look for any Indian restaurant nearby. There are plenty, (though I have found only 1 near my hotel) and get their phone number for home delivery. Because it could be possible that you might reach late due to work (site seeing). So better to get the home delivery in hotel before you reach. Check for the ingredients as all items clearly mentions the ingredients used in making.

Day 2 - Brooklyn Bridge

Day 2 (5th July) - My first stop on Bus Tour was - Brooklyn Bridge, One of the most famous Landmark in New York.

"The Brooklyn Bridge is a bridge in New York City and is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. Completed in 1883, it connects the boroughs of Manhattan and Brooklyn by spanning the East River.  Since its opening, it has become an icon of New York City.

The Brooklyn Bridge has a wide pedestrian walkway open to walkers and cyclists, in the center of the bridge and higher than the automobile lanes.

The bridge has been shown in films such as Annie Hall, Gangs of New York, Kate & Leopold, It Happened in Brooklyn, I Am Legend, The Dark Knight Rises, and The Avengers." - Wikipedia

"The Brooklyn Bridge connects lower Manhattan and Brooklyn. You can access the pedestrian walkway from Brooklyn at Tillary/Adams Streets or a staircase on Prospect St between Cadman Plaza East and West. You can access the Brooklyn Bridge from the Manhattan side near City Hall Park at Park Row and Centre Street."  - http://gonyc.about.com

When I reached there, it was quite windy. There was strong wind blowing. 

Here are the snaps:

Way to Brooklyn Bridge

The atmosphere was quite good. 

About weather - Well initially I didn't feel anything unusual in terms of weather.  I arrived in Brooklyn bridge with T shirt. 

However after roaming there for about 1 hour or so, I felt like November in India. Temperature was around 23'C and I coming from 40-45'C (back in India) felt the wind chilly.  One reason why it was chilly out there - because of overnight heavy rain in Ney York city. I decided to wear the sweater to overcome this new climate. 

Day 2 - New York Bus Tour

Day 2 (5th July): On the 2nd day of my trip, my office colleagues arrived in the hotel. However they had their own travel plans. Since all of them were married, few of them wanted to visit ToysRUS to buy toys for their kids, then 2 members wanted to visit some museums. For me, it was like - I will go with you to the place where you are going.  It was like obligation. I didnt want to go to ToysRUS, neither I wanted to visit any museum on 2nd day itself.  I decided to visit the city myself without waiting (or looking) for anyone else and I must say this was a wise decision. I learned a lot by travelling alone. First from India to New York and then here... I really liked exploring the things by my own. It gave me confidence, self belief and patience. Really it was a great learning.

I inquired from hotel, that I want to visit the city and they suggested me about Bus Tour and also told me that I can get the bus from Times Square.

What's next then. I took the breakfast from Hotel (quite a nice breakfast in $14), went to nearby Subway station at 39th avenue, took the N train to Times Square Station as I checked on Google Direction and arrived at Times Square.

Learning: One of the most important thing which I learned during my 10 days stay in New York was to start the day with a healthy meal in breakfast. In my case (before this trip), I used to skip breakfast or have it light. But here in New York, breakfast was the only complete meal which I used to have in the entire day. The area where I put in - Indian restaurants were quite far away and by the time I reach there, they were all close. Also, another thing was I am vegetarian and it's very difficult to have complete vegetarian food there. So I learn not to skip breakfast ever and always prefer a healthy breakfast because the energy that you get early in the day from your breakfast will remain with you in the entire day.

Just as i came out of the metro station, I met Big Bus representatives who offered me 2 days Big Bus city site seeing tour including 1 extra day tour (that also included 1 night tour as well). What's up then. The deal was good and I decided to buy this. It cost me $59.

As I boarded the bus, it took us to different roads in New York. The guide was very good and he was narrating story of each landmark in different roads. The first sight seeing location which I decided to visit was Brooklyn Bridge

Here are the snaps:

Looking at me?

Tour Guide: He was very good.