New York City 1st Day
Highlight: Witnessed Club fight + Bar Hopping + Berkeley Friends
Meals: Ippudo Ramen + Tuck Shop
Timeline: arrive at 6pm in NYC, bar hopping till 5am

A blonde hair girl in her mid twenties quickly raced down the cold slippery sidewalk. Noticeably, fresh chilly tears ran down her pale face.

Just a few steps behind, her boyfriend followed. Fresh streaks of blood raced from his forehead down to his chin reminding me of a fight on Madison Ave. In a heart beat, I said to myself, “New York City, I have arrived.”

Ippudo Ramen

Crash Pad: UC Berkeley friends Joe Yang and Jason Lee on 4th Ave. next to famed ramen house Ippudo.

UC Berkeley: Joe Yang + Jason Lee + Rayfil Wong

Dinner Food porn: Pairing well with the cold weather, a bowl of Ippudo ramen meal was utterly perfect. Savory dense broth + fried Jalapeño

Dinner Surprise: While slurping on my ramen, “Hey Rayfil!” Suddenly, I received a giant bear hug from Azza Lulu (1/2 Jamaican ½ Chinese), a friend from Hong Kong.

Drinks: Apple Restaurant, seeing childhood friend Winnie Jim and her posse of girl friends. Winnie found me on Facebook and we recalled our childhood memories in Brooklyn. Next, bar hopped around four other bars with varying themes.

Rayfil Wong + Winnie Jim Apple Restaurant

New vocab: Poppy + Shorty

Post Bar Food porn: With a buttery crust, Australian meat pie did the trick at Tuck Shop.

Gross highlight: rats running around garbage bags on the street

Reflection: The Energy in New York City is INTOXICATING. Love Manhanttan, but be prepared to pay top $$ Bling Bling. A 600 sq foot 2 bedroom around $2800 monthly.