New York, New York
See Gotham through the eyes of Mr Vikram Sivakumar (Computing ’11), who now calls the city home.
The NYC skyline is truly a sight to behold.
In many ways, New York City is a world away from Singapore — quite literally, as getting there can entail travelling on the world’s longest flight. But given that both cities are places where one can indulge in a love for food, art, culture and cosmopolitanism, the Big Apple and the Little Red Dot are kindred spirits. Just ask Mr Vikram Sivakumar, who moved to NYC five years ago with his wife, Ms Dhanya Balasubramanian (Engineering ’13). “My wife came here to study at Columbia University, and I followed suit,” explains the 34-year-old, who works for a management consulting firm. “I visited the city in 2008 when I was at NUS. Frankly, I didn’t like it very much. Public transportation, for example, felt like a downgrade from Singapore. But my impressions changed when I moved here for work a decade later. I’ve grown to love everything about the city: Its energy, people and diversity. Someone once said, ‘You can experience the cultures of the world through one city — that’s NYC.’ I couldn’t agree more.”
Tucking into good Indian food and dessert in New York City.
I love starting my mornings at one of the many cafés that dot the city. Any one will do, as long as it bakes fresh, aromatic and decadent cinnamon buns. If you’re feeling health-conscious, make a beeline for one of NYC’s famous parks. I love
Prospect Park in Brooklyn. It’s massive, green and in the summer, hosts spectacular food trucks. A run in the crisp morning air can take your mind off things and make you forget the hustle and bustle of the big city.
Getting a taste of home is quite easy, given NYC’s vibrant and diverse food scene. Our current favourites are
Semma, a South Indian spot that just earned a Michelin star. For an affordable spice fix, we head to
Lao Ma Spicy, which whips up dry hotpot, or
Pure Thai Cookhouse for tangy Thai food.
In summer, you can jet-ski on the Hudson River.
A small yet mighty establishment is Eileen’s, which has some of the best cheesecake I’ve ever had. It’s a small outfit but I’ve yet to meet anyone who doesn’t like the cake.
New Yorkers love to read, and the city caters to this with its many bookstores. I’ve been picking up “rare” prints of books (think limited-edition books published in the 1950s, or first editions of books I love). Apart from the traditional bookstore experience (Strand is my favourite), there are plenty of rare bookstores to check out, among them Bauman. But these books don’t come cheap!
Soak in the city’s best views at Hudson Yards. It truly has spectacular sweeping views of the city.
Shopaholics will enjoy a bargain at Woodbury Commons, home to outlet stores from Givenchy to Kenzo. People come in with an empty suitcase and leave with a big smile.
The best way to spend a day in New York City:
- 8am Stroll through Central Park, bagel in hand.
- 10am Get lost in a world-class museum — the Museum of Modern Art or the American Museum of Natural History are great picks.
- 12pm Savour a lunchtime pizza slice while walking down 5th Avenue.
- 2pm Spend some reflective time at the National September 11 Memorial and Museum.
- 4pm Wander along the High Line, a 2.4km elevated park, for stunning city views.
- 6pm Have an early dinner at one of the city’s famous homestyle Italian restaurants.
- 8pm Lose yourself in a Broadway show.
- 11pm Sip cocktails at a speakeasy bar, before wrapping your day at a late-night comedy show at Comedy Cellar.