Chilling in the Chill!

New York Baby! The city that never sleeps even in the icy chilly nights! The city that makes people feel warm even when it is -24C outside! The city that breathes, the city that dreams, the city where dreams come true!

So how does one dream in the coldest of cold cosmopolitan city of the world? It is simple, don't sleep! This is the only city where you can see your dreams with eyes wide open, the only city where you can walk through your dreams! float through your dreams and even chill in your dreams!

From the tropics of the east, I embarked on a journey to the dream city! Little did I know that this beautiful city will welcome me with cold hands! But I was prepared, very well prepared! Here are a few tips I followed:

1. Prepare with at least 4 layers of clothing, especially if you are from the tropics of Asia!

Start with the modest thermal wear, move on to your layer of clothing that you usually wear in your home country, then do not forget the sweater, now wear a jacket or overcoat!

2. If you wanna be sure! wear one more layer of your normal clothing, a top or a shirt before you wear the sweater

3. Do not miss out on the gloves, snow gloves and of course an extra pair always helps, specially when you want to play snowballs!

4. Finally carry ear muffs, a cap and 2 layers of muffler.

5. A hoodie also helps

Now that we have set our armor in place, the mission is to conquer this world! Ok do not get carried away, you will be overwhelmed by the hospitality :)

The city offers a plethora of sightseeing to be enjoyed indoors! Yes people, in a cold afternoon the one thing that would save your blood from freezing would be the heater inside Museum of Natural History!

You can imagine my relief when I walked into this museum from the subway...aah! pure bliss.

So Day1:

Start with a good 3-4 hour rest, now that is an irony isn't it, you are excited and I am asking you to take rest... this is needed to keep your head warm (not cool) and body relaxed to brave the weather!

Enjoy a good breakfast (usually all hotels have breakfast complimentary and it would be DELICIOUS & SUMPTUOUS). 

Before you start you need 2 critical applications on your phone (dont forget to get a smartphone it is a good investment), a. TripGo, most accurate and best app to travel from one place to another within NYC and also extends upto Newark!

b.MTA Trip planner, this is an efficient and great source of information regarding the MTA trains, including PATH

*Note: for budget travelers do not stay beyond Newark. and stay as close as you can to Newark Penn station. A good place would be Best Western Robert Treat Hotel.

Now that we have sorted the apps and clothes and breakfast, lets start.

Plan for the indoors on the first day to take it slowly, a good place would be American Museum of Natural History. You need a minimum 5 hours to enjoy the Museum including a half hour show of your choice.

The subway station to the Museum is 81st  You can also walk from 72nd St station (it aint so far, the cold can bother you but run along and enjoy!)

After the Museum tour, you might want to checkout Empire state Building! Yes people, the iconic landmark of the city!

But here's a choice, if you take the NYC Pass (not to be confused with New York Pass) you can actually view Empire State building both morning and evening! But it has to be done in the same day!

Therefore for the NYC Pass holders, I suggest go to Rockefeller center, yeah baby! the birth-place of every sitcom that you ever loved....Enjoy the evening scene of New York City right from the terrace of the Rockefeller building! The nearest station is 47-50th Street. You can take the A and then D train to reach from 81st to 47-50th st.

Enjoy the breathtaking view from Rockefeller center, be romantic! It is a place with which you will fall in love immediately. Don't forget to check out the Ice Rink outside the building when you finish the tour!

Walk around, feel the wind chill on your face (Oh! only your eyes, nose and part of cheek should be exposed!). Check out Radiocity hall, NBC news center. And if luck may have it you might see something crazy, as I saw a building on fire!

Now it is time to unwind and reach back to your den and cherish the beauty that has amazed you!

Day 2:

NYC pass holders, start with Empire state building. The nearest station is 34th Street - Herald Square and the 33rd Street at Park Avenue. Herald is best if coming in from NJ.

See the beautiful morning (if you are up early and ready to brave the chill) from Empire state

You only need maybe 2-3 hours up there...and then the entire day is ahead of you.

Next stop visit Madame Tussauds. The nearest station is 42ND ST - TIMES SQ. It will take you about 3 hours inside, unless you do not want to do a duckface with each celebrity :). For the record, I spent exactly 4 hours, that is a lot of duckface hours :D...

Next walk around times square, not as much as you want, the wind will get the better of you. However, enjoy the lighting of the advertisement hoardings.

It is at this point, you start feeling nostalgic about the city. And that is the irony, even if you are a newcomer to New York, New York is never new to you!. Every movie, every TV show, every form of media has covered every aspect of the city in a way it almost feels as if you are home.

NYC pass holders, end your day by going up the Empire state building and cherish the view of the New York neighborhood. One side you will see Queens and Brooklyn, while on the other side you would see, the old but gold, Jersey City

Once you are down from this massive structure, you will have the most satisfactory sleep of your night. A night where you saw a dream far bigger and fascinating than the one you would have ever dreamed before!

Day 3:

Start by going to World Trade Center. Walk around the corner to reach the mother of all shopping!, Century 21. Yeah girls, Century 21, is a wholesaler for all big brands, whether Gucci, Prada or "I do not know what brand is this" you will get everything in here for a steal!. For guys, shop until you drop! I know that is not something guys do! But this is the only place where guys can shop and not feel so girly. 

After that, walk towards wall street, and check out the NYSE. The place where money goes up faster than sound and comes down crashing in a flash!. Watch out for the bull around the corner of NYSE. This is probably the only time you would admire a bull at close quarters. Next walk towards battery park and enjoy the snow covering. This park is green as grass in summer and white as a bridal-wear in winter.

Take the cruise, and visit the symbol of freedom. The symbol of the american dream. Liberty herself. Do not miss out on the Immigration museum on your way back through Ellis Island. 

Finally end your day walking on the Brooklyn bridge after returning from Liberty Island.

Day 4, day 5 and any other day: 

Do not work too hard on yourself, enjoy the city, enjoy the time you spend there, do not be in a rush, cherish every moment. 

Finally, WALK AROUND NEW YORK. Even if it is cold, you wouldn't regret it! The city always keeps you warm at heart!