Today was the day to explore Manhattan in New York. I woke up around noon, taking my time to ease into the day. The hostel surprised me with its cleanliness—kudos to the management. The bathroom was spotless and even had a bathtub. I indulged in a long, relaxing shower, appreciating how modern and well-maintained it was. Most hostels tend to have terrible showers, with broken heads that barely produce a trickle of water, but this one was a refreshing exception.
Towards the Subway
Once I was ready, I left the hostel without having breakfast, planning to find a Subway restaurant somewhere in Manhattan. Armed with my trusty subway map, I felt prepared for the day ahead. The only downside was my phone—it was a constant frustration. The battery barely lasted two hours, and my internet wasn’t working anymore since my T-Mobile subscription had expired. With only a few days left until July 7, I decided it wasn’t worth buying a new SIM card.
I caught a bus right in front of the hotel/hostel that took me to the Astoria Boulevard subway station. There were two main avenues leading to different subway stations: Astoria and Ditmars. The distance from the hotel to the subway station was about 30 blocks—far too long to walk.
I got off the bus one stop too late, but it didn’t really matter. I walked back toward the station, taking a moment to snap some photos from the bridge along the way.
Union Square
I was energized and ready to take on the day. Manhattan’s extensive subway system made getting around incredibly convenient. I enjoyed figuring out how it all worked, and though I ran into a few minor hiccups, it didn’t bother me—I had plenty of time. After about twenty minutes, I got off at Union Square. Excitement was building. Since today was my last day with internet access, I used Google Maps to locate a nearby Subway restaurant. On my way there, I couldn’t resist taking some photos of the lively Union Square.
Staten Island Ferry
After finishing my sandwich, I hopped back on the subway, heading toward Lower Manhattan. Drew, the Australian guy I’d met, had given me a handy tip: always take the Queens/uptown subway lines to get back to the hostel. It came in handy. While riding, I discovered the difference between local and express subways. The express trains skip several stations, making it much quicker to reach your destination—or easier to miss it entirely, as I found out the hard way.
After a brief search, I located the Staten Island Ferry terminal. I chose this boat over visiting the Statue of Liberty for a few reasons. First, it was free—no need to pay for a pricey boat tour to Liberty Island. Second, it avoided the long queues packed with tourists inevitably photobombing every shot. Lastly, it spared me the hassle of security screenings. The free ferry to Staten Island offered a great view of Liberty Island and Manhattan without any of the downsides.
A Short Wait for the Ferry
I made a quick stop at a public restroom before continuing my walk. Just as I reached the terminal, the doors closed. “Had to go, didn’t you?” I muttered to myself, realizing I could’ve made it if I’d skipped the bathroom break. Oh well, things happen. I resigned myself to a 30-minute wait in the terminal—not a big deal since the ferry was free anyway. While waiting, I passed the time people-watching and noticed the security signs promoting terrorism awareness. Similar notices were all over the subway, urging travelers to report any suspicious items or behavior. Even airports had similar announcements about unattended bags and people acting oddly, all pointing to a dedicated hotline for such concerns.
The 30-minute wait flew by quickly. When the doors finally opened, a crowd surged forward like a wave heading for the ferry. Determined to secure a good spot on the boat, I made sure to stay near the front. It seemed I wasn’t the only one with this idea—plenty of other tourists were eager to stake out their vantage points as well.
Mixed Perspectives
I ended up with a less-than-ideal spot on the boat, surrounded by crowds. But it didn’t matter—my powerful 30x zoom camera came through. After a bit, I realized the best option was to use the windows inside the boat. This way, I could stabilize my camera and capture steady, horizontal shots. The views were breathtaking. Interestingly, the ferry ride to Staten Island offered a better vantage point of the Statue of Liberty than the return trip from Staten Island to Manhattan, as the distance was greater on the latter.
After disembarking, I took a left, then another left back into the terminal. I boarded the next boat immediately, which seemed to be a different vessel. On the return trip, I didn’t focus on the Statue of Liberty anymore—too far away and I was standing outside. It wasn’t planned, but seeing Manhattan from this angle was incredible! I loved it. By this point, I’d already snapped about 100 pictures of Manhattan and the Statue of Liberty, and the day was just getting started.
Towards the High Line
I spent a total of an hour on the ferries, with each leg taking about 30 minutes. Once back on Manhattan Island, I headed to the subway to check out something Kim had mentioned to me in Fiji—the High Line. My first stop was City Hall.
Once at City Hall I had to walk around towards the Chambers Station. There I took the blue line towards 23rd street. The High Line was located next to the intersection of 10th avenue and 23rd street. While walking to Chambers station I made some pictures of the area. It was about 1 block to the next subway station.
When I arrived at Chambers Street, I took the subway towards Upper Manhattan. I was sure I was on the right train, but it passed the station where I needed to get off. That’s when I finally understood the difference between the express and local subways. I ended up getting off somewhere in Upper Manhattan, near Central Park. From there, I caught the correct train back, a local downtown train to 23rd Street.
Once I arrived, I needed to take a break and use the restroom. I went into a Boston Market, which was a fast-food spot. After using the facilities, I grabbed a drink and relaxed for a bit. Once I finished, I got a refill and headed back outside.
A Beautiful Park
With only the subway map to guide me and my phone battery dead, I relied on street signs at the intersections to orient myself. After a bit of navigating, I made my way to 10th Avenue.
I climbed the stairs and turned left, planning to explore the right side later. The views were incredible, and I loved it. There were a few tourists, but it wasn’t crowded. It was so cool to see how they transformed this old railway into a park. In the past, factories used the line to transport goods around the neighborhood.
I stopped at the end of the line, where people were sitting on large stairs. I didn’t go down because the view of the street was blocked by a plastic wall. Instead, I stayed on the elevated ramp and took some pictures of the street from that angle. I don’t enjoy taking photos through windows, as they always turn out poorly.
After a brief stop, I retraced my steps toward where I had started. This time, I captured a variety of shots, including some nice close-ups. When I reached the middle of the track, I focused on 23rd Street and zoomed in for a unique perspective. See that concrete truck way in the distance? No? Neither did I—until I used the full zoom on my camera!
End of the Line
I continued my stroll along the High Line, this time exploring the section to the right of 23rd Street. This area looked familiar from the photos I had seen online, and it was just as stunning in person. The only thing I regretted was not visiting earlier in the morning when it would have been quieter and free of crowds. It’s ironic how tourists annoy me, yet here I was, the ultimate tourist, snapping more photos than anyone else!
When I reached the end of the High Line, I noticed numerous buildings under construction in the area. The walkway itself extended alongside a large construction site, but access was blocked by a fence due to ongoing maintenance. A staircase led down to the street, so I took it. Pulling out my subway map, I figured out my next destination. With a few blocks to walk to the nearest subway station, I set off on foot.
The Hamster Bladder at it Again
The walk to the subway station took longer than expected, but it didn’t bother me much. Once I finally boarded the train, I felt relieved (see the third picture above). The heat outside in Manhattan had been intense, and the air conditioning on the train was a welcome escape. I can’t quite recall where I was planning to go—Grand Central, maybe? (This report is being written five days later, after some heavy drinking.) Either way, I didn’t make it to my intended destination. My ever-impatient bladder had other plans.
Manhattan’s lack of public toilets was becoming increasingly clear. Subway stations didn’t have them, and neither did most fast-food restaurants. Eventually, I had no choice but to leave the subway in search of relief. I got off at Columbus Circle (see the fourth picture above and the ones below). Spotting a massive glass window, I immediately recognized the place as a fancy mall. I was 100% certain they’d have a decent restroom, so I headed straight inside.
Mall Exploration
After locating the restroom upstairs, I took the opportunity to snap some cool photos. The mall was a hub of luxury, filled with high-end brands like Armani, Guess, and Gucci—every designer name you could think of. There was also an impressive exhibit dedicated to the World Cup, which got me even more excited about the next match in two days. I made up my mind right then and there: I wouldn’t miss it. My mission was clear—to find a Dutch café and celebrate the game properly with fellow fans.
I spent about 15 minutes exploring the mall before heading back to the subway. On my way, I noticed a massive globe monument nearby and couldn’t resist taking a short detour to walk around it. After traveling for so long, seeing landmarks like this stirred up a mix of emotions—sentimental and joyful. I felt a rush of nostalgia as I spotted Singapore on the globe, the place where this incredible journey began. Thoughts of home crept in; I realized how close I was to returning. At times, I felt ready to go back, worn out from the adventure, but I pushed those thoughts aside. Living in the moment was the priority—I wanted to make the most of every second left on this trip.
Changed Plans
After that brief but uplifting moment of happiness, I descended the stairs to the subway station, heading toward Rockefeller Center. My plan was to visit Top of the Rock, the iconic observation deck offering stunning views of Manhattan and the Empire State Building. I knew I’d arrive too early for the night view, but that was fine—I planned to wait it out to capture both day and night perspectives. However, as it turned out, I never made it there.
I hopped back on the subway and got off at Rockefeller Center. As I emerged onto the street, I noticed it was raining. The weather had shifted so quickly—it had only been about 10 minutes since I was underground!
Times Square
As I stepped outside, I had no idea where to go (see the first two pictures above). I wandered aimlessly for a bit until the rain picked up, forcing me to take shelter in a Starbucks. While there, I bought a tumbler for a friend in Indonesia. Luckily, the rain stopped after just five minutes. Determined to find Top of the Rock, I resumed my search, convinced it had to be nearby. “If only I had navigation,” I thought to myself, but I had no intention of buying a new SIM card for the short time I had left in the U.S. (That’s right, the next country was calling!)
Suddenly, I spotted a street that felt familiar—Broadway. Glancing to my right, I saw the bright lights of Times Square in the distance. “Why not check it out while I’m in the area?” I thought, changing course without hesitation.
In front of the Panasonic screen, there was a large staircase filled with tourists, so I decided to join them. It offered a great vantage point for taking photos of the area. Too bad everything was so massive—I couldn’t fit it all in one shot with my camera, haha.
Another Downpour
I was completely mesmerized by the flickering advertisements around me. It was so epic, and I didn’t mind at all. What I did mind, however, were the sheer number of tourists. There were so many. After enduring it for about 15 minutes, I got up and walked toward the crosswalk by the big stairs. While waiting for the light to change, the rain came pouring down—big time. I made it to the subway just in time and felt a sense of relief. Looking back, I saw the tourists all huddling together, and I couldn’t help but let out a small, slightly smug smile.
I decided it was enough Manhattan for today. I was tired, and the weather wasn’t helping either. Top of the Rock could wait for another day. Back underground, I made my way to Queens, which took about 40 minutes. Once I reached the final stop at Astoria-Ditmars Boulevard, I hopped on the bus to the hostel. I double-checked the route with some locals to be sure. The lady on the bus was so kind to let me know when to press the stop button for 72nd Street. I almost pressed it too early, which would’ve meant an extra 50 meters of walking, since the bus stops were almost at every corner on that boulevard!
Back at the hostel, some time was spent planning and typing. Tickets were arranged, and calculations were made. By the time everything was done, it was already 4 a.m. when I finally went to bed. Sleeping in the next day was the plan.
