By Ryan Uy
NEW YORK — To the Big Apple with the apples of my eyes!
Have you ever wondered why New York is called ‘The Big Apple’? Well, it has nothing to do with the actual fruit; it also has nothing to do with Steve Jobs; and while they do have apples in their supermarkets, they don’t have apple orchards here, and they’re definitely not known for apples.
New York’s monicker as ‘The Big Apple’ originated back in the 1920s when horse racing was popular, and New York being New York, the highly-coveted prizes were referred to as “The Big Apples”. It was popularized by then sportswriter JJFG (John Joseph Fitz Gerald), and in the 1970s, the New York Convention & Visitors Bureau formally adopted the nickname “The Big Apple” for their tourism campaign to improve the image of New York — which until today is synonymous with this beautiful ‘City that Never Sleeps’.
My first trip here to New York was back in 2002, in my early days of working with the airline industry. The entire journey on board Eva Airways took me more than 24 hours (including transit and layover waiting time) with two stops (one stop Taipei, then another stop in Seattle). In 2003 when I was hired by Cathay Pacific, they, too, offered a two-stop product to New York (one stop in Hong Kong, then another stop in Vancouver in Canada), with slightly shorter layover; still, the entire trip took almost 24 hours. Both Cathay and Eva were using the “Queen of the Skies” B747-400 aircrafts.
The entire landscape of the aviation industry changed when Boeing finally released their B777-300ER (extended range) aircrafts, coupled with advanced flight planning and weather forecast tools. The changes enabled airlines to mount longer “non-stop” flights, connecting cities like Hong Kong to New York. It also addressed the perennial payload problems of airlines flying from the West Coast to Asia because of strong headwinds during the winter season.
We should be equally proud as Filipinos because our national carrier Philippine Airlines had been using these aircrafts to serve our travelling needs for more than a decade now. When the big good news came in March 2015 that Philippine Airlines relaunched its flights Manila to New York (via Vancouver), I was fortunate to be part of that inaugural flight delegation that was gracefully led by our Chairman Kapitan Lucio Tan and First Lady Carmen Tan. The route was well-received by the traveling public; after a few more years, another milestone for PAL came when they received their A350-900.
For the first time, the Philippines was finally flying a “non-stop” flight between Manila and New York, connecting both cities in just 15 to 16 hours of flying time, with an option for flatbed Business Class seats, more Premium Economy seats, or the comfortable economy seats. The beauty of the PAL flight schedule is that it departs Manila for New York in the evening; and arrives back in Manila by dawn — enabling travelers to make a connecting flight to other parts of the Philippines on that same day, without having to stay a night longer in the capital.
Philippine Airlines offers similar schedules for their other flights to the United States (Guam, Hawaii, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle) – something which is good for fliers from Negros Oriental and Siquijor who are currently being served by PAL with morning and afternoon flights daily.
Travel tip: For one to have the same free baggage allowance from Dumaguete to the US, I advise you to purchase your ticket as one set/single ticket. If you purchase your domestic leg and international leg tickets separately, you might think you were able to outsmart the airline. But in reality, you could encounter tag-through problems because your free baggage allowance for each separate ticket will turn out to be “inconsistent”, which could end up compelling you to pay excess baggage charge at the airport. (For example, your international ticket allows you two pieces of free baggage at 23 kilos each. But if your domestic leg ticket was bought separately, it only allows you one 10-kilo free baggage. The extra 36 kilos will be charged as excess baggage.) Plan it well, plan it right.
I don’t know about you, readers, but whenever I think of New York, the excitement and adrenaline rush instantly flow through my body. There’s always something new to be explored, there’s always that experience that will captivate you, there’s always that picturesque place that will warp you into a postcard: the shows and public performances on Broadway that always make one smile, the international cuisine that makes one’s taste buds go WOW; I assure you these memories will remain in your heart for a lifetime.
While traveling for leisure or vacation is supposed to be fun and enjoyable for the family, planning is extremely important. A thorough research is a must, and while the Internet does offer some guidance if one is discerning enough, nothing beats an insider tip from the locals. So here’s my personal sharing of my travel experiences here in the Big Apple and its nearby cities based on my personal experiences, and travel tips as well from my local friends.
Day 1: Philippine Airlines flight arrives New York by midnight — which is good in managing jetlag. Most likely, you’ll arrive in your accommodation by dawn. It’s best to get a full sleep as much as you can. By mid-day, do some light exercise by window-shopping or taking a slow walk in a nearby park. You’d need to prepare for Day 2!
Day 2: The MET + Central Park + Broadway. Start your day early with brunch, then proceed to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The artifact collections of the Museum will make you think twice if you still want to go to Egypt. For those who love art, you’d need to prioritize which one you’d want to appreciate with more time since the Museum has a collection of over 1.5 million works divided in 17 departments. If you’re pressed for time,. I think it is best that you explore the MET combined with a tour of Central Park. After dinner, proceed to Broadway to watch a play to cap the night. This time, we watched The Book of Mormon musical which satirizes a religious belief. Although it’s not recommended for people who are easily offended by religious jokes.
Must-eats: Our brunch was at Katz’s Delicatessen; their pastrami sandwiches will fill you up for the entire day.
Day 3: You’re most likely to wake up late after a tiring Day 2 hence post-brunch, I suggest you explore the neighborhood of Dumbo in Brooklyn where you may want to have your picture of Manhattan bridge from Washington Street, with red-bricked buildings on both sides, and enjoy the classic view of Brooklyn Bridge while strolling the Park afterwards. For those with kids, there’s the 1922 Jane’s Carousel, housed in a glass pavilion.
From there, take a few minutes walking to the entrance to the walkway of Brooklyn Bridge, then just take your time strolling along with your loved ones while enjoying the beautiful view of the Statue of Liberty, the New York skyline, the Manhattan Bridge, and the classic picturesque structure of Brooklyn Bridge.
We then proceeded to the campus of New York University, and rested a while in Washington Square Park, blending well with students and the locals — which I prefer, than being in a touristy place.
At the other end of Washington Square Park is the famous Central Park of New York. We decided to just enjoy 5th Avenue, and took our time walking from 1st Street up to 55th Street, visiting shops that caught our interest along the way, passed by the Empire State Building, the Flat Iron, the Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick Cathedral, the National Library of New York, and many more, like the Steinway & Sons studio.
One thing I have observed back in Dumaguete is the number of families who own a piano. If you are one of them, you might want to drop by the Steinway & Sons studio here in New York, and try their pianos.
After dinner, I assure you a very good night’s sleep after clocking in 20,000 steps.
Must-eats: Peter Luger Steak House for brunch. Their dry-aged beef steak is one of the, if not the best, steak I’ve ever had. They only accept cash or debit card. For budgetary purposes, $200 is good enough for three persons. But if you really want to enjoy it more, you can budget $100/person. It might interest you to know, the owner of another great steak restaurant called Wolfgang’s Steakhouse was the former headwaiter of this Peter Luger Steak House. (Maybe that explains the various similarities between these two great steak houses.)
For those who prefer something “light” in terms of the meals and the budget, then L’industrie Pizzeria would be a great choice. It’s just three blocks away from Peter Luger Steak House, and it’s simply wow! A slice of pizza costs $5 a piece, and a $15-20 budget can fill up your bellies. (If you’re wondering which one we tried, we had both Peter Luger Steak and L’industrie Pizzeria with my growing boys.)
For snacks when you are nearby the Rockefeller Center, you can drop by Magnolia Bakery for their famed banana pudding.
For dinner, you may want to try Jollibee in Time Square. By Day 3, you may be missing our “national food chain” already, right?
If you can, and if you have the patience and perseverance to get a spot, you may want to go back to Brooklyn, and try your luck at Lucali (brick-oven pizza and calzone). This is one of the reasons that will encourage me to go back to New York, and try my luck to dine at Lucali.
Day 4: They say you’ve never been to New York unless you have hang out on Times Square in midtown Manhattan. So Day 4 is Times Square Day! Other than enjoying the lively view at Times Square with their building size billboards and the street performances, one could normally find time to visit the M&M Store, Hershey Store, the big Sephora outlets for some skincare, and if you see the Krispy Kreme signage light turned-on, you might as well drop by, and enjoy some freshly-made honey-glazed doughnuts for free! After hanging out for about an hour in Times Square, it’s now time to proceed to the next attraction.
Similarly, you’ve never been to New York if you haven’t seen the Statue of Liberty on Staten Island. So from Time Square, take the subway to the South Ferry Terminal, and take the free ferry to Staten Island. Make sure you’re seated on the open space front area, or the right side open space of the ferry for you to enjoy the full view of the Statue. Other than enjoying the free ride, I honestly prefer this ferry ride than being on Liberty island itself where the statue is located because truly, some things are better appreciated from afar. Upon arrival in Staten, you can just take the same ferry back; you just have to exit the ferry, and go back inside the boarding gate to take the free ride back to the South Ferry Terminal. If you prefer to visit the Statue of Liberty up close, which I’ve done on my first trip to New York, by all means you may do so; just purchase your tour tickets from the bookers outside the Ferry Terminal.
Upon arrival back in NY City, you may walk towards World Trade Center Memorial. Along the way, you can stop by the famous Raging Bull of Wall Street, have fun taking pictures on whichever part of the bull you find interesting. Good luck, too, if you can have a purely solo picture with this icon.
After viewing the World Trade Center Memorial and some interesting artistic buildings nearby, we took the subway towards Hudson Yards where the iconic honeycomb-like structure called the Vessel is located. It’s such a beautiful piece of art, do explore the 154 flights of stairs, and record 2,500 steps in that structure alone.
Then you can proceed to the starting point of the High Line, admiring the beautiful buildings along the way. The High Line is a 2.3-kilometer long hybrid green public space that was transformed from a mid-1800s freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side.
It now features more than 500 species of plants and trees, where public programs, community engagement, and world-class artwork and performances are held free for all.
The High Line is touted as a “global inspiration for cities to transform unused industrial zones into dynamic public spaces”.
The High Line experience makes one realize there’s always a way to repurpose old things, buildings, and spaces to make them relevant, beautiful, and functional again — with enough vision, and a touch of art and ingenuity.
By the time you reach the end of the High-Line, it’s about time for supper, and you’re in luck because by then, you’ll be arriving in Chelsea Market where there’s plenty of food outlets to choose from.
Must-eats: Los Tacos that claims to make the No. 1 tacos. I tried the Asado Tacos, and it cost $5 a piece. I also ordered their bottled Mexican Coca-Cola made of cane sugar. You won’t get filled by taco so I suggest you try other food outlets as well, as there’s a lot to choose from.
As we need to leave some reasons for us to go back, and visit New York again, we decided to explore the nearby states of Pennsylvania and Washington — for my next Travel Tip sharing.
Some worthy reminders:
1. Driving in New York is easy since the roads are wide, and are mostly one way. The City is also planned like a grid type, with the latitude named as Avenues, and the longitude named as Streets. The Waze app is functional, and highly-recommended.
2. Parking. You need to download parking apps such as Parkopedia, reserve the parking space way ahead of time, and it comes out cheaper. You just need to make sure that you enter in the correct parking facility because they tend to be located close to each other so be very particular on what’s written on your parking reservation. Some parking spaces on a particular address may also have a different address for the entrance gate.
3. Right-size cars. New York charges extra for big cars such as Ford Explorer and vans. Worse is that some parking facilities cannot accommodate SUVs due to elevator limitations.
4. Uber is easy to use, more economical, and more convenient for a party of four, especially if you’re with an elderly.
5. Bike sharing is conveniently located but is pricey at $5 for 30 minutes. E-bike is for $5 to unlock, then $0.38 per minute of use. They also have scooters for rent. Best for you to download the app while still in the Philippines because once you are in the US, the OTP (one-time password) for Philippine-registered phones won’t work.
6. The subway train already accepts credit card tap for entry-exit but sometimes it doesn’t work so you need to buy your tickets from the machines. Kindly note that their tickets will expire in 2.5 hours, so don’t rush into buying many tickets. Instead, just buy one each time you need, or just reload.
7. Google Maps is very useful, and functions well in New York. It will guide you to the places you need to go to, however you want to: by car, train, bus, walk or bike.
8. I use Maya.net for my eSIM data plans whenever I travel abroad, it’s very convenient and cost-efficient.
Last but not the least, there’s no such thing as Know-it-All. Instead, I am an advocate of Learn it All so when you’re lost, be humble enough to politely ask for help. Again, whatever status you might have in your kingdom, you need to leave your crown in your bedroom’s closet, and remind yourself that you’re one humble visitor.
As I prepare to return to Dumaguete City — while our public servants are busy campaigning to win the elections next month so they may wholeheartedly serve the community — I can’t stop but think on the things we can learn, and hopefully adapt, from New York City:
1. A humane sidewalk for the people. The only sidewalk that’s properly designed in terms of width, depth, properly-paved is the one along Lee Plaza and Uymatiao building facing Perdices Street. All the rest of Dumaguete, even Silliman University sidewalks, even the one in Capitol itself are just too narrow, and could cause a sprain, if one is not careful enough. In some parts of Dumaguete, one would even need to use instead the road just to walk safely.
- Cleanliness and CLAYGO culture. One thing missing in Dumaguete is a well-designed and well-designated segregated trash bins that are strategically located along the main sidewalks. The only prominent trash bins I’ve seen are those donated by Welison & Lesley Luy Po at the Pantawan. I guess the possible excuse is that there’s not enough sidewalk space in the first place so where can the trash bins be placed, right? Perhaps hanging trash bins to utilize the spaghetti black wires of the City? I need not say this but if you walk from Silliman Portal up to Foodnet near Daang Taytayan, I bet you’ll not be able to easily throw your trash in well-designed trash bins. We also have yet to imbibe the culture of Clean Up as You Go.
- Consistent bike lanes and community bikes-for-rent by Citibank in strategic locations. Dumaguete is home to well-known bikers in the Philippines — from the Barba brothers to the Tindak Group led by Bobby Duray. Many triathletes and Dumaguete have been hosting marathons and triathlons yet, up until today, there are no bike lanes in the City. It would be great if the local government unit and the Department of Tourism, in partnership with banks, or a deeply-rooted generous family in Dumaguete could come up with a rentable bike and e-bike concept deployed in strategic locations within City and nearby municipalities. My two cents worth of suggestions are: Airport | Seaport | City Hall area along Burgos Street | Silliman Boulevard area | Robinsons Mall | Valencia Square | Bacong Church | Sibulan Seaport | RUSI area.
- Vehicle-free zones and/or Vehicle-free days.It pains me whenever I see these raging trucks with 20 footer containers and buses racing through the famous boulevard of Dumaguete. It’s not only an eyesore but is an accident that’s bound to happen, God forbid. They don’t have speed limits, they rush as if they are in a hurry to catch a plane. I think it would good if the boulevard will have a car-free day every Sunday, or if it can be made into a car-free zone every night. Doing so will encourage people to visit the place hence, promoting a healthy lifestyle of walking after supper.
- Maximized flow of traffic. New York is way busier than Manila, much more than Cebu and Dumaguete yet, they made most of their streets one-way. And it makes a lot of sense. I believe there’s an opportunity for Dumaguete to study the rightful flow of traffic by implementing directional one-way flow of traffic to alleviate the worsening traffic situation. The ripple effect of making roads one way only will enable our community to solve all the problems above because we will now have wider pedestrian sidewalks, more space in the sidewalks to have trash bins, and less traffic by encouraging more people to bike than drive hence, enabling some streets to be car-free.
So what about traffic lights? Oh, well, it’s election season so I’d leave that discussion to the experts but my simple mind tells me that maybe, if we make a one-way flow traffic system then perhaps, the politics behind the traffic light issue will turn red, ultimately making it stop.
I sincerely hope that in the coming elections, we will have genuine public servant leaders who are health- and environment-conscious, with sustainable gentle hearts and strong-willed leadership style that will carry out these simple yet long-term reforms for the sustainability of this beautiful City of Gentle People.
