New York City – Family Vacay

Traveling day is always stressful for me, at least until I get to my destination. This time was no different. I woke up super early, finished packing, and thought I had everything—until I realized I didn’t have my headphone charger. Ugh! By then, I was already at the airport, so there was no turning back. 

We were going through the TSA line when my niece’s carry-on got flagged. Tell me why she had an enormous bottle of perfume, even after I told her she couldn’t take it in her carry-on. This little girl tried to sneak it through. So, I told security to throw it away. I didn’t care how much it cost; she disregarded the rules, and she faced the consequences. Periodt. We got through the line and reached our gate just in time for our flight, with only fifteen minutes to spare, despite getting there early.

New York

The flight took two hours, and by the time we landed, my legs and feet were numb. Why is that? It’s been a while since I’ve been on a plane, but I don’t remember that happening before. We landed at LaGuardia Airport, which felt like a bona fide mall. It was eye candy everywhere. After bathroom breaks and refilling water bottles, we grabbed our luggage and headed to ground level. 

There was some confusion about where our luggage would be, but we managed it. We were met by the sweetest Asian woman, Tessa, who helped me purchase MetroCards. The best way to get around New York is public transportation—don’t let anybody tell you differently. She was the only nice person we saw all day.

We stayed in Queens at the Flushing Hotel.

The streets were packed, and there was no way to avoid bumping into people. I guess people felt courtesy phrases like “excuse me,” “I apologize,” or “I’m sorry” didn’t matter or apply. Or maybe it’s me. Am I wrong?

Our hotel was no frills. And I do mean no extras. The only available outlet was in the bathroom. No refrigerator or microwave. No ice dispensers. Everything we drank was warm because no store nearby had ice. I thought that was strange.

The first thing Charmaine wanted to do was find Korean corn dogs. Of course, the one I researched had closed last year. By the time I realized this, I was so frustrated, hungry, and hot. We ended up having our first meal at a food hall. They’re all over Queens—several stalls of Asian cuisine in one spot with seating. The only dining we did was at these halls.

This visit was so different from 2018. I didn’t consider the political climate when I booked this trip. Lesson learned.

We left the food hall and walked around the World Mall. I’d seen this place on YouTube, and it looked bigger on the channel. There wasn’t much to it other than a grocery store selling Asian foods, most of which we couldn’t buy. We bought multiple snacks, including apple soda, which I loved. I quickly realized it has to be consumed right after opening; if air hits it too long, it tastes sour.

We finally found Korean corn dogs and had those for dinner. 

See our video below for Charmaine’s review of Oh! K-Dogs Korean Corn Dogs.

By then, I knew I wasn’t going to spend any more time exploring Queens. Flushing was a mistake—not just because of the crowds. People don’t talk about the red-light district in New York’s Chinatowns. I will say that Queens’ Flushing was off the chain. Manhattan and Brooklyn kept it together. Overall, our first day in New York wasn’t hitting at all.