One of my favorites things about New York City is that wherever I go, I’ll find something that makes me appreciate the world and people around me. I often have that feeling when I’m at certain subway stations, especially Union Square, where there is always an eclectic mix of street performers showcasing some incredible talent. They turn an otherwise dreary wait at the subway to a wonderful performance of human connection and raw talent. New York City is home to the world’s most esteemed arts venues and events, but it’s in these subway stops where you will often find the most unexpected and pleasant surprises.
First off, apologies for my long, unexplained absence from this blog. The real world has caught up with me once I found a job after graduation, and I have to admit, I’m struggling to find time outside of work and my limited weekend social outings to regularly update my blog. But I truly want to try my best at reviving this, especially since there is so much to write about New York.
I’ve been here for about 4.5 months, which have absolutely flown by, and I still have yet to feel that I’ve explored most of the city. As someone who just moved here from the comparably small city of Washington, DC, what attracts me most about New York is the distinctly different character that each neighborhood, and even particular streets, emanate.
There isn’t ONE New York – there is a plethora of them, waiting to be discovered at the turn of every cross-street. As a proud Upper East Side resident, I’ve discovered that my neighborhood has a slightly slower pace and residential atmosphere, with many more families and older residents than other parts of the city. And the fact that the majority of the city’s most well known museums are congregated in this area along Fifth Ave adds another layer of sophisticated and cultured aura.
Oh, and we also have a nice part of Central Park right by us – the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir – and another smaller, lesser-known park called Carl Schurz Park on the East End. When the weather is nice, simply taking a stroll at these parks will make my day. That’s one of my favorite parts about this city – when you want to, you can venture into the most urban parts of this concrete jungle and enjoy all its offerings; but when you feel like taking a break from the city life, there are so many parks close by that make you feel as if you’re in another world, where time has slowed down and where the air is a tad bit easier to breathe in.
Not gonna lie, I was a bit skeptical about living in New York when I took up a job here. But not even after a month, I had fallen in love with this amazing city. If you ever have the chance to live in New York City, don’t pass up on it, because you’d be missing out on the experience of a lifetime.
Now that I’ve graduated from college (really?) and have had a bit more free time in my hands, I’ve finally been hitting up some places in DC that I’d been wanting to visit. Last Sunday, I went to the National Arboretum, a 450-acre green space run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Located in northeast DC, the arboretum boasts of a plethora of plant species and beautiful gardens that you absolutely do not want to pass on, especially when there’s no admission charge!
Although it was a little bit out of the way, the arboretum was easier to get to by public transportation than I had expected (see below for directions). But for those who don’t have wheels, your best bet is to go on the tram tour, since it’s impossible to see most of the arboretum on foot. The $4 tram ticket was definitely worth it, as we got to listen to the audio tour while passing through the collections of gardens, such as Azalea, Asian, Dogwood, Boxwood, etc. My eyes were enjoying a feast of their own – May is definitely a great time to visit since all the flowers are in bloom.
One of the highlights of the arboretum, as I’m sure many would agree, is the site of the National Capitol Columns. The 22 Corinthian-style columns stand with a stately grandeur in the middle of the meadows with a small pool in front of it, completing a picturesque scenery that seems to come out of unspoilt wild land in ancient Greece. The columns were originally built as part of the east portico of the Capitol building, but when the dome was completed in the mid-19th century, it was bigger than previously envisioned by the designer and so the columns would not have adequately supported it.
Another must-see at the arboretum is the National Bonsai & Penjing Museum. I honestly knew very little about plants before I went, and still don’t know much, but I now have a new-found awe for bonsai and penjing, which are the Japanese and Chinese names for miniature trees, respectively. Some of the ones on exhibit were over 300 years old – can you imagine that? These “artistically trained trees” varied in shapes, sizes, and colors – yes, some even had flowers!
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Another smaller, hidden greenery in DC is the Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens, also located in northeast DC. According to Lonely Planet, it is the only national park in the country devoted to water plants. So there I went with my friend on a warm, spring afternoon. It’s metro accessible, and although one glance of the neighborhood would tell you you’re no longer in northwest DC, it is safe during the day.
The aquatic gardens is much smaller than the arboretum – about 4 acres, so it’s perfect for a stroll. When you get to the gardens, make sure to go to the visitors center/bookstore first to get a brochure map. Listed on the map are two main routes: the ponds and river routes. Both routes ultimately lead you to the Anacostia River, and you can get a nice, calming view while sitting at one of the benches located at the end of the river trail. But only on the ponds route will you see different kinds of lilies and catch a glimpse of small fish and turtles in the water. And the Canadian geese as well – although beware, they make threatening hissing sounds at you when you get near them.
How to get to the arboretum: Take the Orange/Blue line metro to Stadium Armory and transfer to Metrobus line B2 – get off at Bladensburg Road at Rand Street.
How to get to the aquatic gardens: Take the Orange line metro to Deanwood, and walk about 10 minutes.
Sources: Lonely Planet’s Washington, DC City Guide and the U.S. National Arboretum Visitor Guide
In 1997, when my mom planned our month-long family trip to Europe, she relied largely on the library and the travel agency to help book hotels and map out our itinerary. Fast forward to 2013, people no longer need to leave their house to plan and finalize a trip. We are able to find online reviews that give us a picture of locales ranging from swanky five-star hotels to hidden coffee shops. And if we wanted to have a more unconventional experience, we could even browse through online profiles of potential hosts who would offer their couch or even a nicely furnished room for travelers.
None of this would be possible without lower communication and transaction costs, a participatory culture driven by a gift economy, and properties that combine interests-driven and people-oriented online communities together.
Then
Now
Lower transaction costs bring people together
With the communication tools that the internet provides, it has become infinitely easier to form groups and connect with others. As Clay Shirky points out in Here Comes Everybody, lower transaction costs have enabled the creation of more activities and group efforts that would not have been possible otherwise, such as people uploading photos to Flickr in the immediate aftermath of a major event (2009). In the same vein, online platforms such as Couchsurfing and Airbnb help connect travelers in need of accommodation to those who would love to host them. If it weren’t for Couchsurfing, how would those looking for free lodging be able to find the locals that are more than happy to say “mi casa, su casa“? They would have had to work through intermediaries such as friends and travel agencies, which is more costly and hasslesome. So as a result of lowered transaction costs, there are more and more people that are able to come together to create new kinds of travel experiences and opportunities.
Participatory culture driven by a gift economy
Launched in 2010, Gogobot is one of the hottest social media travel apps/sites out there. It builds on other travel-based networks such as TripAdvisor and Lonely Planet, but with certain user-friendly improvements applied from Henry Jenkins‘ theories:
Convergence of interests-driven and people-oriented communities
Along with Gogobot, there is a plethora of other social network sites that have served as both travel guides and platforms for travel communities to flourish. The latter purpose is particularly crucial for the longevity and measure of success for these niche travel networks, as they all have a relatively similar system to set up a “public or semi-public profile, articulate a list of other users with whom they share a connection, and view and traverse their list of connections and those made by others within the system” (Boyd, 2007). By enhancing features of member authenticity and accessibility, the sites become “stickier,” as people join not only to seek for travel information, but also to leverage one’s own knowledge to help others out, and thus form communities that are based on latent ties but have the potential to grow stronger.
Check out how Hong Kong is using social media to leverage its appeal as a travel destination:
The other side of traveling with social media
Besides looking at the positive impact that social media brings to travelers, it is also important to look at the adverse effects of staying connected. According to MDG Advertising, about “74 percent of [American] social media users check their social sites [on vacation] and 72 percent of adults are likely to use their mobile devices during their trips.” Although it is certainly convenient to know what your friends are doing and to read up on a restaurant while lying on the beach, being too attached to your smartphone or iPad during a trip may defeat the purpose of traveling. If your entire family spends a night plugged in at the hotel, is that still an ideal vacation? In Alone Together, Sherry Turkle quotes a Shakespeare paraphrase to describe what happens when your online life takes over and replaces your offline activities: we become “consumed with that which we were nourished by” (Turkle, 2011, p. 227). So once you’ve read the reviews and made all the logistical plans, laying off social media for the duration of the trip may do you more good than you expect!
To top off the post, here’s a video made by EyeforTravel & Digital Visitor that gives us all the stats on social media+mobile device usage for travel purposes, as well as what trends we’ll be seeing in the future!
A view of Praça Dom Pedro IV (Rossio), a popular meeting place located in downtown Lisbon with a number of historic businesses and popular sights nearby. The next time you plan a trip to southern Europe, consider visiting the often overlooked city of Lisbon. It is an absolute hidden gem with friendly people, a beautiful array of architecture, and amazing beaches that will leave you wanting to come back for more.
Traveling is a Lifestyle 