WW : NY Transit Museum at Grand Central

The latest exhibition at NY Transit Museum here at the Grand Central...

New York's Transportation Landmarks

Let see some interesting displays :)

Grand Central in the past..

Join us on (almost) Wordless Wednesday and link up here :)

Ngabuburit a la New Yorker (ala ala)

Tanpa terasa, Ramadhan yang penuh berkah ini sudah memasuki hari-hari terakhir.
Cepat sekali ya...
Rasanya baru kemarin kita memulai rangkaian ibadah puasa yang insya Allah penuh dengan rahmat-Nya dan kini sudah akan segera berakhir.

Ngabuburit a la New Yorker (ala ala )

Meskipun puasa kami di NY kali ini lumayan panjang, 17 jam saja, karena di tengah musim panas, namun Alhamdulillah semuanya berjalan lancar, termasuk untuk Abang Bo yang hingga saat ini   baru 'bocor' 3 hari :).
Alhamdulillaaaah...

Selain tentunya memperbanyak ibadah, bulan  puasa adalah waktu yang paling baik bagi kita untuk mendekatkan diri pada Yang Kuasa. 
Namun seringkali, puasa juga diidentikkan dengan ngabuburit.
Bener ngga? :)

Puasa dan ngabuburit jadi seperti paket hemat yang tak terpisahkan. Ngabuburit, yang berakar dari bahasa Sunda, pada intinya adalah kegiatan yang biasa dilakukan menjelang maghrib atau waktu berbuka puasa. Correct me if I'm wrong, but that's exactly what I have in mind about ngabuburit :).

Saat ini pasti teman-teman di tanah air banyak yang sudah mudik atau tengah bersiap-siap untuk mudik. Berhubung kami tidak mudik, jadi share cerita ngabuburit aja deeeh...semoga belum terlalu terlambat :).

Kalau di Indonesia, saya dan Rudi suka ngabuburit di sekitar rumah.
Biasanya saat akhir pekan karena kalau hari kerja mostly kami berbuka di jalan. Maklum...balada para penghuni Jakarta yang harus menikmati kejamnya jalanan ibukota yang berjuta-juta kali lebih macet saat bulan puasa :). 
Di akhir pekan, biasanya kami 'berburu' jajanan untuk berbuka atau takjil. Dan Rawamangun, daerah tempat kami tinggal memang surganya jajanan. 
Aaaah, jadi kangen tahu jeletot, sate padang mak syukur, bakso gepeng, cakwe Medan dan teman-temannya :). 

Satu yang kami hindari selama di Jakarta adalah berbuka puasa di luar. 
Terutama di mall. 
Ya ampuuuun...sampai sekarang masih kebayang macet dan stressnya. Udah haus, lapar, lemes....mau parkir susah, cari makanan berbuka susah, duduk pun susaaaah :). Apalagi mau menunaikan sholat Maghrib. Tidak jarang antrian wudhu sangat panjang dan mushola pun penuh. Tapi percaya deh...ternyata semua ini kami rindukan lho :).

Karena New York bukan Jakarta :)  (ya iyalaaaah....)

Terus ..kalau sekarang bagaimana? 
Selama di New York, kami memang memiliki waktu yang lebiiiih panjang sebelum berbuka, terutama di akhir pekan. 
Jadi, kalau ngabuburit di NYC ngapain aja?

Banyak bangeeet...
Karena NYC memang penuh dengan berbagai pilihan menarik, baik yang berbalut budaya dan sejarah, wisata kuliner dari hampir segala penjuru dunia, budaya kontemporer yang hip, sampai pusat keramaian yang mungkin tidak ada di tempat lain.

Jadi...kesimpulannya kalau ngabuburit di NYC bisa ngapain aja?
Alriteee....untuk yang ingin tau tempat-tempat yang kami tuju untuk ngabuburit atau kegiatan yang bisa dilakukan, alias ngabuburit a la New Yorker (ala ala), check this one out..

Oh ya...sebelumnya disclaimer dulu kalau ini bukan berarti kami menobatkan diri jadi New Yorker sejati yaaa...karena (memang) masih ala ala :).

So, let's see what's in store...

Menikmati New York Public Library

Buat saya, ini tempat yang paling juara :). Karena suka sekali membaca dan NYC ID membuat saya sekaligus menjadi anggota NYPL, maka tidak salah tempat ini menjadi tempat favorit. Sudahlah adem (maklum di luar udara musim panas sudah sangat terasa), buku-buku yang bisa kita nikmati banyak sekali. Ditambah, tempat ini kereeeen banget buat foto-foto :). Jangan-jangan faktor terakhir yang buat saya rajin main ke sini hehehe...

The classic collection

Rose Reading Room

Abang lagi baca apaaa sih :)

Menjelajahi Grand Central Station dan Grand Central Market

Ini salah satu rute saya sehari-hari, setiap naik subway :). Maklum, di NYC, seperti juga di Jakarta, saya commuter sejati yang mencintai transportasi publik :).

Dan Grand Central Station adalah tempat cantik yang sayang untuk dilewati. Ingat film Men in Black II with Will Smith starring it? Ada salah satu scene yang menggambarkan dua agen tersebut menyusuri stasiun keren ini untuk mencari sang alien yang hilang :). 

Dan dengan model arsitektur yang begitu megah dan detail, saya selalu menikmati saat-saat berada di tempat ini. Believe me.. you will be wowed and amazed by the time you set your foot here :)

Grand Central Terminal, taken with my phone...mistakenly known as Grand Central Station :)

This historical site is truly a beauty... Representing the grandeur of American design, architecture and engineering as the plaque said it.

Meskipun hampir setiap hari lewat sini, tapi saya selalu menyempatkan diri mengambil foto lagi dan lagi di berbagai sudutnya. Karena memang stasiun ini sangat besar, dengan 44 platforms dan 67 tracks yang melayani para travelers yang menggunakan Metro-North Railroad dari Westchesters, Putnam dan Dutches counties di New York State plus kota lain seperti Fairfill dan New Haven di Connecticut. 

New York Transit Museum di Grand Central Terminal

Salah satu tempat favorit saya di sini adalah New York Transit Museum, yang sering menampilkan display sejarah transportasi publik di kota New York.  Saat ini sedang ada display mengenai NY's Transportation Landmarks dan sebelumnya, pernah ada pameran quilt dengan tema Grand Central juga. Keren deh..

                                    

Selain itu, di sini juga ada Grand Central Market, pasar seru yang banyak menjual makanan, minuman, bunga dan barang-barang khas NYC dan banyak resto asyik di dining concourse.

                                            

Ngantri seru di the Halal Guys

Ada yang sudah pernah mendengar nama The Halal Guys yang kondang ini? Buat yang sukaaa  dengan gyro and chicken (itu lho, makanan khas timur tengah yang seperti daging kebab lengkap dengan nasi, selada segar dan saos putihnya yang enak bangeeeet :), maka siap-siaplah antri di 53rd St. and 6th Avenue, NYC.  

Mau jam berapa pun ke sini, biasanya selalu ada antrian karena memang makanannya enak banget. Sudahlah enak, halal pula..pas banget untuk menu berbuka puasa :)

Tuh...udah malem aja masih banyak penggemarnya :)

Cari bukaan makanan khas Indonesia di Elmhurst, Queens

Sudah bukan rahasia lagi kalau masyarakat Indonesia banyak yang bermukim di Elmhurst, Queens. Jadi tidak heran kalau restoran Indonesia pun banyak dijumpai di daerah ini. 

mie bakso komplit di Java Village...bikin ngileer :)

Kalau sedang malas masak, saya, Rudi dan anak-anak selalu ke daerah ini. Ada banyak restoran favorit, antara lain Java Village, Sky,  Asian Taste dan Upi Jaya. 

sate padaaang...

Yang terakhir khusus jualan masakan Padang. Jadi, kalau kangen dendeng balado, ayam pop atau sate padang selama di NY, amaaaaan :). Mantaaaap kan...

ada yang mau?

Jalan santai di Central Park dan Rockefeller Center

Rasanya kalau sudah mampir ke Central Park, selalu bahagia deh. Soalnya memang taman luas kebanggaan sekaligus jantungnya NYC ini memang asyik untuk didatangi. Walaupun puasa, duduk santai sambil menikmati hijaunya pepohonan rindang dan danau buatan yang ada di banyak sudut Central Park tetap menyenangkan. 

bisa tidur-tiduran di Central Park :) 

Atau menemani Bo et Obi bermain di Alice in Wonderland statue plus berfoto ria di Belvedere Castle. Pokoknya, Central Park pas bangeeet buat ngabuburit :).

Belvedere Castle :)

Selesai dari Central Park,  bisa jalan ke arah Rockefeller Center. Kalau ada waktu bisa juga naik ke Top of the Rock observation desk. Atau stay di sekitar Rockefeller Center juga asyik...Kalau musim dingin, di tengah ada ring untuk ice skating, tapi saat summer banyak tempat lain yang bisa dilihat, termasuk Lego Store yang besar banget :). Makanya jangan salahkan Bo et Obi kalau tempat ini menjadi favoritnya mereka.

                                 

Bersepeda ria di Astoria Park

Ini jadi salah satu kegiatan favorit Bo dan Udi akhir-akhir ini.
Walaupun sedang berpuasa, namun mereka berdua sering menghabiskan waktu bersepeda di Astoria Park yang memang memiliki track khusus untuk sepeda dan hanya berjarak 2 blok dari rumah kami.

Foto-foto cantik di Astoria park yuuuk :)

Biasanya mereka mulai bersepeda dari jam 7 malam hingga jam 8 malam. Jadi udara sudah tidak terlalu panas dan bersepedanya punya hanya sebatas 1 jam saja. Pulang ke rumah pas menjelang berbuka :).

Mau lihat betapa Bo menikmati bersepeda ria di sini? Ada videonya nih :)

Menikmati Unisphere dan Corona Park, Flushing Meadows

Kalau tempat yang satu ini, sudah sempat saya post beberapa waktu yang lalu. Bisa dibaca di sini. Dan Corona Park memang salah satu tempat yang ramai dikunjungi, di segala musim. Taman yang satu ini sering kita datangi karena tidak terlalu jauh dari rumah dan di bawah Unisphere adalah tempat paling asyik untuk berscooter ria. Bo et Obi really enjoy their scooter rides :).

Pastinya ada banyaaaak sekali tempat asyik yang bisa dikunjungi dan dinikmati di NYC selagi menanti waktu berbuka. Beberapa tempat yang saya tulis di atas hanya sebagian kecil saja. Nanti saya sambung dengan tempat-tempat asyik lainnya yang bisa dikunjungi di sini :).

Kalau kamu, ngabuburitnya ke mana ajaaa?

Giant Ferris Wheel in Times Square

You might be wondering where exactly this giant ferris wheel is in Times Square.

As if Times Square is not crowded enough with those huge billboards, blinding lights, street performers and constant noises.

Aha...in Times Square indeed ..
The intersection of the world :).

We finally got a chance to try it in one of the long weekend days we enjoyed some time ago.

Originally, I promised Bo et Obi to get Sponge Bob's toys, but then we ended up lining up for this lovely giant ferris wheel in Toys' R Us Times Square. 

Yes, Ferris Wheel :).

the giant ferris wheel

We have come to this store many times but never really tried it.

and we realized that it would be fun indeed to try it.

So, we went to the lower floor, bought the tickets for USD 5 per person (kids 2 y.o and under are free) then lined up waiting for our car.

the ticket

There are several cars in there, including toys story, megablocks, fisher price and my little pony, Obi's favorite. She really wanted to ride the wheel on that car but we couldn't choose the car. So whatever we had in front of u will be ours. That's the rule.

At that time when we lined up, it was not very crowded, so the kids were okay and not really that crancky for queueing too long.

While waiting, we were looking at those cars and hoped for the little pony one. But I have said to Bo et Obi that whatever  car we have, that's what we'll take.

Once you are hopping to your car, the staff from the store took your photo that you can purchase after the ride. Perfect for souvenirs for those who just come to NYC, I suppose.

colorful cars..

We managed to get the M&M's car and it's super cute as well :).

Once we buckled up, we were ready to go up ...

Bo was slightly nervous when we were on top but I said stop looking down and tried not to move around. It was a bit wiggly, but if we stayed still, it's pretty nice and safe.

These are some snaps from above :)

Obi was enjoying the ride :)

cheeers....look at Bo's face :)

Hellooooo Mr. Superman :)

Do you like Ferris Wheel as well? or you prefer other attractions?

The lights..

And My Rabb is the light of the heavens, the earth and our lives... 

Satu pojok indah di tanah kelahiranku, Lampung...

One amazing sunset on our way back home to Lampung

Tertiup rindu tak berbatas untuk-Nya...

Semoga Ramadhan kelak kembali bersua...

Thank you :)

Friday Morning Ride at Queensboro Bridge

It's Friday...

Yaaaaaay... 

One last day before the weekend is here and I will have extra time for my petite famille.

This morning we all went together as Bo didn't have his morning summer class and I signed Udi up for a NYC ID appointment at the UN Headquarters.

So, instead of booking online and waiting for at least another 3 weeks, we decided to walk in to the pop-up registration that happened to be set up at the UN HQ. How convenient. I'll share more details on NYC ID later.

Then there we were... All the four of us driving along through Queensboro Bridge to midtown Manhattan.

And what a clear blue sky...

Here's our Friday Morning ride at Queensboro bridge.

Join us on Skywatch Friday and enjoy great photos of captivating skies in many corners of the world.

Have a fabulous weekend, everyone...

Thank you :)

Welcome to the American Museum of Natural History #3 Dinosaurs

Aaarrgh...

The claws are hanging high, ready to snap whatever standing in front of it...
The head is slightly tilting to the upright, checking what's coming from behind.
And the smile... those jaws are grinning widely, letting out the roar we are so familiar with...

Yuuuup... I'm talking about the dinosaurs.

Well, we're not back to the era when all these giants were alive and kicking. Or in the middle of the movie theater clinging our hands on our seats as the t-rex were viciously chasing their dinner.

We were on the 2nd floor of the American Museum of Natural History here in New York.

Fossils Hall, to be exact.

Welcome to the American Museum of Natural History #3 Dinosaurs

I have to admit that when I first asked the kids and Udi to come and visit this museum, dinosaurs are the main attraction that I used to lure them in.
And as always, it worked its magic.

We started our dinosaur tour from David H. Koch Dinosaur Wing. 

And by the time you enter this hall, you'll be amazed to see those giant structures fulfiling the room.
The exhibits we have in this hall belongs to Ornithischian Dinosaurs, those which are classified as bird-hipped dinosaurs. In short, they have similar structure as big birds, if I'm not mistaken. 

Like this Stegosaurus, for example

Do you see how big they are ... although they are obviously not the biggest one.

It's amazing that Stegosaurus can manage their big body with one small brain and even with this huge structure and fierce look, they were actually herbivore.

Stegosaurus...

There is something misteriously attracting many, if not all, of us to these extinct giants.

Well, as we no longer see them alive,  anything to do with them successfully intrigued us. At least in my family's case.

The eggs, the bones, their tracks, the magnificent structures, even the replica of it all have kept us digging for more and more information.

wanna have some eggs :) ...

As you can see above, we had Stegosaurus. 
Below, we saw Triceratops, which is also classified as Ornitischian dinosaurs.

Those large frills are their trademarks, including their horns. 

aaaargh...Bo et Triceterop and his scooter :)

Another highlight of this hall is Corythosaurus.

In the photo below, Corythosaurus is the one on the wall...that looks like big bird running with its hind legs.

While two big ones here are Anatotitan or the duck-billed dinosaurs.

Another major group of the dinosaurs is Saurischia Dinosaurs, or the reptile-hipped dinosaurs. Some of the examples of there dino are Velociraptor. and again, the famous T-rex.

Say hi to uncle T :)...photo is taken from here

You see...there are definitely many types of dinosaurs, not only T-rex that is notoriously famous :)

It's also very convenient to get more information from one of the monitors provided there..

Very handy for me who have almost-zero knowledge about dinosaurs except what I got from the movie :). And kids love to check it out, too ...

After the visit, for sure my kids are getting more  and more obsessed with these giant creatures.  And we were lucky enough to find one colorful children book Bones, bones, Dinosaur Bones by Byron Bartan.

And the kids instantly love it... Asking mama to read it again and again before bedtime :).

bones, bones, bones.

In this floor, we have many more exhibits showcasing primitive animals, advanced animals like mammoth and saber-tooth cat, and many more.

Our visit to American Museum of Natural History, especially the dinosaurs parts, is indeed a very rewarding one. Would definitely come back and explore more :). Truly one museum in  the long list of NYC attractions that you shouldn't miss :)

Do you or your kids like dinosaurs as well? Which one is your favorite :)..

American Museum of Natural History  (AMNH)
Central Park West, 79th Street, New York City, New York, 10024-5192
Phone: +1 212 7695100
Open daily from 10 AM - 5.45 PM, except on Thanksgiving and Christmas 

Thank you :)