What's Up Seop?

<<31 December 2009>>

Even though we were in New York for 6 days, we only used up three of the Citypass tickets. So, we thought of selling them to some tourists because this allows them to not have to line up for ticket purchasing. So, they could walk right up to the entrance of museums or the Empire State Building.

We first went to the Empire, but then there already were MANY people trying to sell some tickets there. Not individuals like we, but some people hired by another.

So we gave up on the Empire and headed to the Natural History Museum.

We almost sold it to a Korean mother but her sister did not trust us and it failed. We, then, found two Chinese friends in queue and almost sold them the tickets. But, they asked how much the regular price for the museum is, we said it was around $25. But, a lady behind them told us that it was actually by donation. We suddenly turned into two Korean liars. Had we known that it was by donation, we would not have sold it! We were too ashamed and left...

Ended up killing time, not having earned anything, we went home.

Since we had too much luggage, for the west coast, we shipped over two of our bags to my friend's house.

We hoped no more trouble occurred, but there were more coming.

Before going to the airport, we had to go see a friend of the apartment owner to give him the keys. But, unlike what the owner said, he wanted us to go over there. We could not spare that kind of time before leaving! So, we came to a compromise of meeting on the half way, but that was still, NOT what the owner had said! ('Friend of mine will come and pick up the keys' said the owner when we moved in)

We moved along fast, we had 2.5 hours until the flight and we were planning on going to the airport by public transportation.

We were having an unlucky day, and of course, subway comes so late! So our plan changed. Go to a certain point by subway and take a cab. But unlucky us, no cabs there. So we got back on the train and headed to the airport again. We KNEW we were late.

We had to hope for a delay (it snowed in the morning in New York)

We got to the check in point about 15 minutes late. LUCKY us this time. The plane got delayed half an hour. (By the airline's rule, passenger can only check in at least 20 minutes before. But they let us and we finally were on the lucky side that day.

We got on the plane okay and arrived to San Diego on time.

But, bad luck was not gone on the last day of the year! My host parents, with whom I lived for three years in high school, were supposed to pick us up at the airport got busy that day and we had to get on a taxi. Spent $45!!

To avoid having more bad luck come at me, I just went to bed on the New Year's Eve.

<<29 December 2009>>

Having visited MoMA, there was one more museum we had to go to: Metropolitan Museum.

It is the 4th largest museum in the world after the Big Three in Europe.

It was so cold that day. We covered up as much as we could.

(In front of the Met)

It had a lot of medieval stuff, in which I am not interested. So I did not take much picture. Most of the pictures I took were of paintings.

(A very nice Chess set from the Renaissance)

(This close I was to the almighty painting of Van Gogh - Self Portrait by Van Gogh)

(Wheatfield with Cypresses, by Van Gogh)

('Madam' X by John Singer Sargent)

Interestingly, both MoMA and Met had most of their paintings without a protective glass on them. I asked why and they said it is because they want it to be shown as the artists wanted.

I had to question whether or not these paintings were real. They were too exposed, and I am sure they are worth millions. Does anyone know if these are the originals that they show or not?

My cousin ended up getting sick from the cold, and we stayed home that night! Effing weather.

<<28 December 2009>>

One of the places I had longed to go to was MoMA.

It stands for Museum of Modern Arts. From what I researched, it has many of the paintings that I have seen. Some actually are Gogh's paintings.

It also had several paintings of Pablo Picasso.

When I was looking at these paintings, I thought 'How would I feel if there were Korean paintings here?'

I could have been proud that one of the most prestigious art museum has Korean arts. But, I could also feel very unlucky for the Koreans because it is owned by a foreign museum.

These are some paintings from MoMA:

('Les Demoiselles d'Avignon' by Picasso)

('Boy Leading a Horse' by Picasso)

('Dream' by Rousseau)

('The Sleeping Gypsy' by Rousseau)

('Starry Night' by Gogh)

('Portrait of the Postman Joseph Roulin' by Gogh)

('~~~' by ~~~)

('Dance' by Matisse)

('The Persistence of Memory' by Salvador Dalí)

After being enlightened by some amazing paintings, I headed over to the Times Square to meet a friend of mine. She and I went to I.S.T. (International School of Tianjin) together for a couple of years. She happened to be studying abroad this year and enjoying her break in New York just like I.

Ai (my friend), her friend Kana, my cousin and I ate at a Hard Rock Cafe in Times Square. HRC Cheeseburger was not really good.

(From L to R: Seop, YS, Kana, Ai)

Some pictures of the Times Square:

<<27 December 2009>>

Manhattan from Brooklyn

(HS&YS on the left, HJ in the middle -- a pink figure)

(Funny or not funny?)

<<25 December 2009>>

Got to New York City on the Christmas Day.

All we did was to eat Vegetarian Indian food. Interesting Food.

Dosai, Curry and Uttapam