After exciting first two days in New York, we started our day with full enthusiasm. We once again had to settle with an American breakfast though this time we went to another eating joint, which was adjacent to our hotel, called ‘Deli’ and has multiple outlets in the city.
We started our journey once again with the subway and got down at Central Park. We crossed the Central park on foot and its beauty in daylight was even better. The lush green grass really looked scenic. We reached the Metropolitan Museum of Art or MET and here again the security was quite tight. Now comes the interesting part of paying the money to enter. There is no ticket as such here but 'recommended' donations of various amounts. It was 20$ for adults but 10$ for students. I fell into the student category, thanks to my International Student I-Card. We diligently paid 50$ and moved in. Later, we realised that we are NOT obliged that amount. We could have paid just 5$ each and moved in. Nevertheless, a lesson learnt :)
This museum is just amazing with art ranging from wood to sculpture to painting to musical instruments to Egyptian etc etc etc....We did not realise when did we spend time there. The most famous thing about this museum is that it houses the very first painting of Michelangelo. As expected, photography is allowed everywhere but this painting.
It was lunch time and it was more than 2 days since we tasted Indian food. Luckily, we found a good one near Times Square which served buffet and Indian tea. Our taste buds enjoyed the food to the max and feeling of freshness just entered our tired bodies.
Next destination was the Empire State Building. We bought consolidated ticket of a skyride and for visiting the observation deck of the building which is essentially the top of the building. The skyride made us sit on a floating platform which gave us a feeling that we are flying over New York skyline. Good fun! The line for the Empire State Building is quite long and one needs to take into account this waiting time. But once we reached the top of the building, the feeling is just too awesome! NY looks just so more beautiful from there with skyline kissing the sky, water on two sides, so many bridges and horizon in the backdrop :)
We started clicking pics and did not realise that we had already spent around 3 hours being up there :P and it was time to move out. We walked back to our hotel and decided to call it a day but my other two friends went out to watch a show in Broadway, meanwhile I caught up with some old friends over the phone who are in the US.
Friday, October 23, 2009
New York continues....
The day started with an American Breakfast in the cafe just adjacent to our hotel called cafe Edison. The options in vegetarian are really limited and since I am an egg-itarian, the options increased a little. One more interesting thing we noted in US. Since all 3 of us always ate together, and whenever we asked for the bill, we were asked whether we want separate or a consolidated billing?! Initially, we felt a little awkward but then we understood the culture and started asking for a consolidated bill right away.
Today, we decided to hit the Grand Central Terminal first thing in the morning. Its the central station in the city of NY from where one can get long distance trains to most of the places. It also showcases the amazing architecture which is evident in NY throughout. There are multiple terminals inside it, just like an airport, which are made according to the direction in which one wants to travel.
We moved out and headed for Chrysler Building. The interesting fact is that Chrysler and Empire State started their construction almost simultaneously and both were trying to edge out the other one as the tallest building at that time. According to initial plans, Chrysler was poised to become the tallest standing structure, but a last minute addition by Empire State builders robbed Chrysler of this stature.
United Nations headquarters was our next destination and there is a tour which can take inside it. The tours keep happening every 20 to 30 minutes and there are tours in other languages apart from English. Our tour guide was from Peru and he took us to inform about the history of UN, how they work, processes followed etc etc. We also saw the General Assembly hall where all the countries sit during a conference. Here, we were informed that all countries sitting position is rotated after every round of talk, thereby giving giving country to sit right in the front :) We were also informed about the various programs for the needy undertaken by UN through UNESCO and UNICEF, their development goals and similar activities.
Once this was over, one of our friend took off to meet someone and we 2 decided to hit the 5th Avenue. We visited the Apple Store near the Central Park, which is quite attractively made. Its an underground store with a glass enclosed entry and transparent elevator which takes one to the basement. Of course, staircase option is also there but life gives a panoramic view of the store ;) Since, I am an avid fan of the TV series The Apprentice, it made a lot of sense to check out the Trump Tower. Its open to public for few hours of the day and houses some of the elite restaurants of the city.
Next destination was Central Park, where all TV serials and movies are shot for any scene depicting any park of the country! Its covered over a huge area covered over 50 streets in length. One can spend hours exploring the park which has vast greenlands, special cycling lanes, playing area and what not!
Once it was dinner time, we decided to check out the famous restaurant called 'Hooters'. It was quite good but not much up to the hype. Since we ate a little too much, we thought of walking down to our hotel. Late into the night, my friend wanted to have some drinks and we went to two bars, found a place in one and spent some quality time there. On the way back, we saw that Times Square was completely basking in its glory with thousands of people enjoying this amazing place of the city. The best thing about Times Square is that one can sit and talk and enjoy the view and will not the time of the night. It is always so crowded, be it 11 in the night or 3 in the morning! We finally the left the place at 2 after spending like 3 hours !!!
Today, we decided to hit the Grand Central Terminal first thing in the morning. Its the central station in the city of NY from where one can get long distance trains to most of the places. It also showcases the amazing architecture which is evident in NY throughout. There are multiple terminals inside it, just like an airport, which are made according to the direction in which one wants to travel.
We moved out and headed for Chrysler Building. The interesting fact is that Chrysler and Empire State started their construction almost simultaneously and both were trying to edge out the other one as the tallest building at that time. According to initial plans, Chrysler was poised to become the tallest standing structure, but a last minute addition by Empire State builders robbed Chrysler of this stature.
United Nations headquarters was our next destination and there is a tour which can take inside it. The tours keep happening every 20 to 30 minutes and there are tours in other languages apart from English. Our tour guide was from Peru and he took us to inform about the history of UN, how they work, processes followed etc etc. We also saw the General Assembly hall where all the countries sit during a conference. Here, we were informed that all countries sitting position is rotated after every round of talk, thereby giving giving country to sit right in the front :) We were also informed about the various programs for the needy undertaken by UN through UNESCO and UNICEF, their development goals and similar activities.
Once this was over, one of our friend took off to meet someone and we 2 decided to hit the 5th Avenue. We visited the Apple Store near the Central Park, which is quite attractively made. Its an underground store with a glass enclosed entry and transparent elevator which takes one to the basement. Of course, staircase option is also there but life gives a panoramic view of the store ;) Since, I am an avid fan of the TV series The Apprentice, it made a lot of sense to check out the Trump Tower. Its open to public for few hours of the day and houses some of the elite restaurants of the city.
Next destination was Central Park, where all TV serials and movies are shot for any scene depicting any park of the country! Its covered over a huge area covered over 50 streets in length. One can spend hours exploring the park which has vast greenlands, special cycling lanes, playing area and what not!
Once it was dinner time, we decided to check out the famous restaurant called 'Hooters'. It was quite good but not much up to the hype. Since we ate a little too much, we thought of walking down to our hotel. Late into the night, my friend wanted to have some drinks and we went to two bars, found a place in one and spent some quality time there. On the way back, we saw that Times Square was completely basking in its glory with thousands of people enjoying this amazing place of the city. The best thing about Times Square is that one can sit and talk and enjoy the view and will not the time of the night. It is always so crowded, be it 11 in the night or 3 in the morning! We finally the left the place at 2 after spending like 3 hours !!!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Credit Card v/s Debit Card
Recently, I went to eat dinner with a friend of mine to celebrate a long due party from his side. At the time of paying the bill, he took out his debit card and did the payment.
Once it was done, I asked him that why uses debit card and not a credit card. To this, his reply was that since debit card instantly debits money from the account, its easier to keep a check on the spending.
And this is the exact reason I personally don't use a debit card. First of all, personally I believe that holding a credit card does not make you a reckless spender and debit card stops it. If that is indeed the case, then someone has a shopping problem and needs medical help :D
According to me, there is no good reason to use a debit card over a credit card as a credit card is much better and here are the reasons for the same.
1. Since my account is instantly debited when using a debit card, one loses interest on that amount for not one but 2 months. The amount might seem to be small on the face of it but add all the amounts for a month and then calculate the loss. And for people who are thinking that how one loses 2 months interest, here's the maths. Suppose one spends on 29th of a month, the credit card statement will come by 15th of the next month and the payment needs to be done by 5th of the month after that. So, if one had used my debit card on 29th itself, the money is debited but credit card payment is done in the next 2 calender months.
2. Credit card gives more control in terms of security any day! God forbid, if someone loses debit card, then the account is under threat but credit card prevents one from that too.
3. Using credit card gives one reward points too which can be redeemed later on, which is not the case in a debit card.
4. And credit card allows one to spend much more than my account balance if the limit is quite high. This is really useful in case of emergencies and some bulk purchase if one needs to do.
So, personally I see no reason of using debit card apart from it being used to withdraw money from the ATM!
Once it was done, I asked him that why uses debit card and not a credit card. To this, his reply was that since debit card instantly debits money from the account, its easier to keep a check on the spending.
And this is the exact reason I personally don't use a debit card. First of all, personally I believe that holding a credit card does not make you a reckless spender and debit card stops it. If that is indeed the case, then someone has a shopping problem and needs medical help :D
According to me, there is no good reason to use a debit card over a credit card as a credit card is much better and here are the reasons for the same.
1. Since my account is instantly debited when using a debit card, one loses interest on that amount for not one but 2 months. The amount might seem to be small on the face of it but add all the amounts for a month and then calculate the loss. And for people who are thinking that how one loses 2 months interest, here's the maths. Suppose one spends on 29th of a month, the credit card statement will come by 15th of the next month and the payment needs to be done by 5th of the month after that. So, if one had used my debit card on 29th itself, the money is debited but credit card payment is done in the next 2 calender months.
2. Credit card gives more control in terms of security any day! God forbid, if someone loses debit card, then the account is under threat but credit card prevents one from that too.
3. Using credit card gives one reward points too which can be redeemed later on, which is not the case in a debit card.
4. And credit card allows one to spend much more than my account balance if the limit is quite high. This is really useful in case of emergencies and some bulk purchase if one needs to do.
So, personally I see no reason of using debit card apart from it being used to withdraw money from the ATM!
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