Early NYC Mother's day weekend with folks 2006

Recently on a weekend (first weekend in May), I went to New York with my parents. It has been a good four years since we went together. Last time it was everyone with the exception of my brother who lives in Washington to visit my sister's godfather in Staten Island. But whenever my family visited New York in the past, it was basically kept to walking around Chinatown and not much else.

It all started out I wanted to take my mother to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens when I went over Easter Weekend. I know how she adores flowers. Plus spring is a lovely time with all the flowers in bloom. I invited her and it turned out my dad had some time off from work. Since I cannot take too much time off during the week, we decided to just do two days and one night. Well getting an inexpensive room for three people in the CITY is near to impossible unless you want to do the hostel beds (not an option with the parents). Even staying at a Comfort Inn cost $250+ a night in midtown very ridiculous if you ask me.

I met up with my parents when they took the bus in from Barnstable at 8:15am on Saturday. We just missed the 8am Chinatown shuttle. We decide to go to the nearby Mei Dong bakery to get some congee, buns and water as snacks for our ride down. We take FUNG WAH and at $15 a person one way, you can't beat the price to get to NYC (granted you are dropped off in NY Chinatown). My parents remarked how many people who were not Chinese taking the bus. I told her, it is no longer a hidden secret as it once was.

We see the sun come in and out throughout the morning (to stay strong for the afternoon) as we are driving down. My dad complains of wanting to have a rest stop. I told him there is always one stop but I never know where in Connecticut. The thing with my dad, though I love him to death, he has a tendency to complain and nag alot. He means nothing by it, but it can test the patience of a saint and I sometimes equate my mom as one to deal with my dad on a daily basis. He sure drove me bonkers when we were in Vegas together last Fall.

The pollen is killing me and I am sneezing, eyes are watery, with a runny nose all day Saturday. It is hell and my dad jokes he is immune. Mr self proclaimed superman even starts sneezing and my mom who doesn't normally have allergies does too. It is worsened when we are walking around Brooklyn Botanical Gardens later in the afternoon.

First off, we alight from the bus, then head to a dim sum place. It is a big one off on MOTT STREET and the name eludes me. It is a big place on a second floor with escalators taking you there. We are seated at a table with five other people to "share" it. One dad with two kids and two older ladies have their dim sum. We are famished and proceed to order all the dim sum we can as we see it pass us by. My dad cannot resist making comparisons and talking about the dim sum. Through the years, I have learned a place is good if the chefs can make the basic stuff well same as for any other chefs. The siu mai (open faced dumpling with pork and shrimp), har gow (shrimp dumpling wrapped in translucent wrapper) or chang fun (rice noodles stuffed with either beef, shrimp, pork or fried cruller topped with soy sauce) are important. Then we get the other stuff. Overall my parents thought the meal a bit pricey and quality not up to par as Canada. (Canada does have the TOP dim sum I have ever tasted in my life especially in Toronto and Vancouver -Richmond).


We get wrapped in a discussion with the two older ladies seated next to us. Turns out they are both almost 80 both being 77. But from the looks of them, they do not look older than their late 60's. My dad has to ask how they do it. Daily walks and eating healthy and keeping a your mind active. I must say it is cute to hear their conversations swapping stories on their lives. My parents have been in the States for over 40 years whereas the older ladies have been in the US only for 30 years. We are stuffed and bid these two kind ladies a fond farewell and embark on walking the streets of Chinatown towards the subway.

My dad and mom are marveling on the quality, quantity and variety of fruit and veggies and we even get some mini egg cakes (20 for $1) before hitting the Canal Street Metro station. I tell my folks we should get the $7 one day Metro Pass. One thing I must complain since we used a machine, if you want to buy more than one, you have to do it individually. A pain and waste of time you ask me! My parents feared using their credit card so I was stuck feeding bills and as a result we got cheated out of $1 when we put in a $10 bill. When we asked for a reimbursement, we were told to get the machine number and write the transportation authorities. Not worth the effort we decide. From there, we take the "A" and switch over to the "2" to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens (the Brooklyn Museum Stop).

The entrance fee is only $5 each and we spend 2 hours taking photos and walking around the gardens. The sun is out and hot. I am sweltering as I am carrying my stuff, wearing layers (which I am thankful to have later on at night when the temps drop to the 40's with a strong gusty wind). My mother is oohing and awwwing about the flowers. I am hoping the Cherry Blossoms are still about (as the Cherry Blossom Festival was the prior weekend) Unfortunately they are gone and the tulips too. But we hit upon a beautify PEONY garden of vibrant pinks, white, purple and burgundy and reds. According to my mom, the Peony is the Emperor of all flowers in China and the National Flower of China. It is her FAVORITE flower and she had me shoot numerous photos of her and the blooms. I am glad I got to put a smile on her face.
We walk around and take breaks when needed when my mom is feeling tired. She had a rough time last year with cancer and other health problems needing other operation. Her progress has been amazing over the last year I am very proud of her. Plus this trip was an early Mother's Day present. I find time is a precious gift you cannot always give to be with our loved ones.
My parents love getting to the Conservatory area with the funky blooms and cacti that we see from Lion ear flowers (very cool) to other bamboo or banana leaves and orchids spread out in the other indoor gardens.

We decide to go to FLUSHING to get dinner and relax. It is 5pm and it will take us a more than an hour to get there. We make it to 42nd switch over to the "7" to Flushing Main Street. My parents have never really taking the subway this much ever. So this is an experience for them.
We walk up the stairs to Flushing Main Street. I declare I am desperately need to get some allergy medicine. I am not having a good of time as I should due to the fact I am sniffling constantly, sneezing and with red, watery eyes are not helping at all. We go to Duane Reade and then walk a few blocks around the Metro station. We decide to hit the Flushing Mall there and eat at the food court. We are full from dim sum and do not know where to eat or what to eat. We get a bunch of stuff and the prices are good. Thank goodness I studied Mandarin in College. I get to use it here as Cantonese is not used.

My eyes grow big as I spot in Chinese a few of my fave Taiwanese faves (thanks to my good friend Tina for introducing them to me). I got a "gwa bao" ($1.45) a white bun burger with fatty pork, sugar, peanut and pickled veggie or "Pi gu fan" fried pork chop with tea egg, pickled veggie, boiled napa and rice with pork sauce (only $3.95) and Oyster Pancake($3.50) oyster in egg batter mix deep fried with sweet red sauce on top. My dad gets some "dao jang" warm soy bean milk --he declared to be delicious and seafood tofu chigae and some dumplings. This is a hodge podge dinner but we are happy and I am content. My dad was needling my food choices saying I should get some more exciting stuff. Then later changes his tune saying it is ok. There is never any winning with my dad, he always has to have the last word. It is his way or the high way. (UGGGH in frustration).

After having our meal, we walk more in Flushing (the most I ever did prior). I just kept going to one Taiwanese place before and that was it. So it was good to explore. The competition is fierce and prices are great. We got 2 apple pears for $1.00 and walk down more stores to see the same pears for 3 for $1. In Boston Chinatown, the same pears are $1 each. They are juicy, sweet and delicious having the both good qualities of pear and apples. YUM!

Satisfied, we hit the train to head back. I am a bit discombobulated and get off at 42nd and Grand Central Station. So to make the most of it, I take them up to see the renovated station. Granted, my mom and dad never stepped foot before into it. We took the "S" to Times Square.
My dad was excited to walk around Times Square. He was reminiscing when he was poor and young he and his cronies to avoid spending hotel money, they went to the "xxx" 24 hour movie theater and grabbed some zzz's and called it a night. Now after Giuliani and Disney coming in, he was impressed and loving it. My parents were surprised to see Beijing welcomes you sign for the upcoming Olympics there in 2008.

We walk around as it is 10pm and they are marveling all the young people and families still walking around Times Square. Not that long ago, people and families did not walk as freely and you did not feel as safe either.

Now it is 11 and we decide to get to our rest place. After realizing all the "1" trains go straight to 145 street we walk from 96 ST up Broadway to 103st to our Hotel. We bunk there for the night and arrive just before midnight.


Day two and final day of our NYC early mother's day present (May 7th) and it is a lovely Sunday. It is not as hot as Saturday but cool and sunny. Wake up and grab a good bagel in the neighborhood (very efficient set up) been around for a few years. Love it! Then cross over to Central Park (being on 105th street already) we decide to embark on a walk to Chinatown. We start at 9:15am and make frequent stops for my mother and dad.

I am impressed how my mom survives the walking. Last year at this time, she was in a weakened state due to the operations and constant visits to the hospital that her health was shot. Flash forward a year later, she is walking over five hours (throughout Manhattan). They comment how many walkers and runners abound within Central Park. This is only the second time I get to walk around. We do hit the Jackie O Reservoir amongst one of the places and walk by the infamous "Tavern on the Green".

I do decide to stop by Columbus Circle (end of Central Park around 60th and 59th street) to see the Time Warner mall. There is a Bouchon bakery (closed) , Samsung store, huge Whole Foods and other great stores from pricey to J Crew. My parents thought the mall was very nice. Then again , they both admitted that it has been a LONG time since either of them have trekked through NYC. My mom since the 60's and my dad since he visited with his cronies in the early 70's.

Then we crossed over to walk down FIFTH AVENUE. I noticed alot of new editions and renovated spaces, we stopped by Trump Tower, eyed stuff outside of Cartier, Tiffany, Saks, H & M, Henri Bendel, Gucci, Louis Vuitton to name a few. We liked that there were benches every few blocks (never saw them before) that allowed my folks to rest a bit. We even sampled the inexpensive Papaya Hot Dog (can't beat the $1 for one hot dog price!).

Then we merge onto Broadway and head over to Union Square. The annual Asian Heritage Celebration was held there and we meandered amongst the crowd checking out the various tables of different Asian Organizations from AIDS awareness, Dragon boating, Media groups, Theater, Television to live performances on the main stage and areas to grab a bit to eat. A festive crowd and great place to get some information about organizations in the city.
From there, we hit SOHO a little bit but decide to get lunch in Chinatown at BIG WONGS. My dad got a tip from his friend the HK style BBQ stuff is not bad. We enjoyed their long noodle with shrimp and beef (chang fun). My dad loves the beef tendon with noodels, my mom got the won ton noodles with roast pork (char siu) and I got a preserved egg , pork congee (rice soup) as I felt I needed something not too heavy. Add in a plate of bitter melon stir fried with pork in black bean sauce ---yum--over rice. Now that I am older, I like the bitter melon. My mom tells me it is great aid in digestion!!

We try to get onto the 3:00pm bus but the line is way too long. We end up on the 4pm and start lining up at 3:30 because it is so busy.

We get back into Boston at 8:15PM. Good timing and head back to my place after getting some take out to eat for dinner. A good ending of a short weekend trip with the parents. This marked the second trip I did alone with my folks. The other time was to Vegas back in the Fall as a treat for both of them.

I am trying to cherish the time I have to spend with them as much as I can. I am lucky to have both of them. I try to remind myself these thoughts when they are both driving me nuts (at times).