NY to LA

After grabbing a bagel for a quick, on the go brekkie, I took a taxi to La Guardia Airport for my flight to Los Angeles where I was going to meet my best friend from Tokyo, Teri!

After some trouble finding the check in counter, I finally got to the gate only to find a bunch of people (more than usual) waiting. I sat down and watched the news, finding out that all flights to Chicago had been cancelled from 5am because of an accident at Chicago Airport (I was meant to stopover in Chicago). However, I was extremely lucky, and my flight was the first one given the ok to depart for Chicago that morning. So we took off on time, at 10:30 and flew out over Manhattan and the Grand Canyon (forgot to take a photo)..

..and eventually got to LA!

I never realised LA was so spread out..

I was greeted at the airport by Teri and her sister who dropped us off at Teri's college, Loyola Marymount University (her campus is so nice!!).

Top of the Rock

Just behind Radio City Hall is the Rockefeller Centre.

And from the top of the Rockefeller centre, you can see this amazing view. 

The other side featuring the giant Central Park.

I unfortunately chose one of the cloudiest days to go to the observation deck (and cold and windiest too).

New York really is quite the concrete jungle..

My fish eye lens turned one of the buildings rainbow

Afterwards, I found the line for the Halal Guys food truck, apparently the best in nyc.

It didn't disappoint! (It tasted a lot better than it looks)

MOMA

Thanks to the fact my sister works at MoMA PS1, I was lucky enough to get into the Museum of Modern Art for free (muchos gracias Cara). So not only was I super happy not to pay the $25 entry fee, I continued to get even more excited as I kept spotting artwork after artwork that I recognised! 

I started on the top floor with the Christopher Williams exhibition: A Production Line of Happiness.

First work I recognised, Marcel Duchamp!!! (aka King or should I say Queen of Dada)

Next up, Vincent Van Gough's "The Starry Night"!

And Salvador Dali's "The Persistance of Memory"!! This was one of the first artworks I ever studied, all the way back in Primary School!

Then I spotted Picasso's "Les Demoiselles D'Avignon" and nearly passed out! You don't understand how many quotes and symbols I memorised for the HSC about this artwork.

I continued to be surprised as I kept stumbling across more and more famous works.

Friday Kahlo

Robert Rauschenburg

Jackson Pollock

Jasper Johns

Joseph Cornell

Any Warhol

Claude Monet

Man Ray

And other works I loved!

Méret Oppenheim

Charles Ray

This..

..which was in fact this close up.. 

I can't even begin to describe how amazing MoMA was.. It was just so cool being able to finally see these works 'in the flesh'. Probably one of my favourite places so far in NYC, I still get excited just writing about it!

Coney Island

Today I took the subway down to Coney Island.

The view of Coney Island beach and the pier.

This guy was busking on the boardwalk, surrounded by his birds.

The Wonder Wheel

Running writing, or a roller Coaster?

Shake Shack, the high line and sushi!

The famous Shake Shack at Madison Square Park.

So yum!

Frozen salted caramel custard... I died and went to heaven.

Steps to..

The High Line!

Crazy architecture seen from the High Line.

After walking the High Line, I did a bit of shopping in the Garment District then met Cara, Raul and Randy for sushi!