New York & Chicago 2022

 New York & Chicago 2021 (pre-Omicron)

·       2nd trip to United States - New York and Chicago via Dubai
·       Date: 20 Nov to 3 Dec 2021
·       Season: Fall/Winter
·       Flight: Emirates/Qatar & United Airlines
·       Hotel: The New Yorkers, Wyndham, Manhattan; Airbnb, Grove St. New Jersey (many halal food here) and Travelodge by Wyndham Downtown, Chicago
·       No. of Travelers: 2 persons
·       https://www.instagram.com/bookworm.travel/ (can refer to IG Story)
 


Unplanned trip to US in 2021. We were informed by our fellow traveller that the border will open soon both Malaysia and US for tourism. No need travel pass anymore and no quarantine for US. Short story, I and Azlah already has US Visa and still valid for many more years. The 1^st time I went to US was in 2018. From Niagara Fall, NY, Washington DC, Pennsylvania, Florida. This round, Azlah and I decided to visit Chicago for 2 nights since we will spend 7 nights in NYC.

3 weeks plan. Renew passport at end of Oct 2021 and immediately buy the flight tix. Before they announce the opening of the border, return tix flight KL-NY is less than RM3k. After 2 days, it becomes RM3.5k. emmm… and for me, I upgrade Business Class for 1 Sector on my way back from Dubai to KL. Cause me additional cost.

 

So why we choose USA?

1) we had visa ready

2) no quarantine in US

3) free covid-19 test, rtk-antigen, antibody and PCR at any time, anywhere in NYC

4) NYC still have mask on mandatory indoor

5) we love the vibe of NYC

 

Itinerary

20 Nov 2021 (Saturday): Depart from KLIA around 7.30pm.

21 Nov 2021 (Sunday): Arrived at JFK Terminal 4 (Dubai) & Terminal 8 (Qatar) around 8am. We didn’t check that we will arrive at different terminal. Just go for it.

-          Early check in at The New Yorker, Manhattan, next to Penn Station, St. 34. Cost us additional USD75. 75% of the hotel price. Shower, pray and take a rest

-          Walk to Bryant Park, One Vanderbilt, NYC Library, Grand Central to buy Magnolia Bakery, Times Square, Line Store (carik BTS merchandise) and back to hotel, Fifth Avenue area.

22  22 Nov 2021: Breakfast at Best Bagel Coffee. Walking from hotel 34^th St. to Central Park 59^th St. Rent bike and cycling around Central Park. Can see many museum located near the upper Manhattan. Didn’t have a chance to visit this museum. Back to hotel. Check out. Store our luggage at rental storage nearby.

      Take double decker train from Penn Main Station to Newark Airport Station to catch domestic flight from Newark to O’hare International Airport, Chicago. Massive airport. Arrived during sunset. Take blue train to Chicago downtown. Check in hotel.

      23 Nov 2021: Chicago, the Windy City. It was -3c here. Very cold and windy. Breakfast at Dunkin Donut. Walk to Millennium Park. The Bean. Cloud Gate. The Great Lawn, Jay Pritzker Pavillion, Cross the BP bridge to Maggie Daily Park. So many parks here next to Lake Michigan. Walk along Chicago river walk, (Trump Tower) to Navy Pier. Stop at Target. Naik Ferris Wheel and went to Hard Rock Chicago and Starbucks. Tapau lunch/dinner at The Halal Guys and heading back to our hotel. Waking all day long. Tido awal. Malam bangun balik. Jalan2 around the city. Sini byk university, library, public office. Suke pegi CVS Pharmacy and Walgreen. Ade 7E. Panda Express etc.

24 Nov 2021: Breakfast at Dunkin. Walk to Target to buy new luggage for me and painkiller. Sakit gigi. Lunch at Thai food before check out from hotel and walk to Blue Train to catch our flight back to Newark, New Jersey. Flight delay. So arrived quite late in NJ. Catch bus from Newark to Path Station. Take subway to Grove St. NJ. Check in Airbnb.

25 Nov 2021: Thanksgiving Day. Breakfast at Dunkin. Take subway to WTC. Walk to the downtown for Macy’s Parade. Ramai giler org. waktu ni dah risau kalo kena covid. Abisla. Mcm mane nak balik. Then pegi Central Park. Still got foliage. Walk to Rockefeller Center, St Patrick Cathedral, Apple Store at 5^th Avenue and take Roosevelt Island Aerial Tram to Roosevelt Island.  Dinner nasi briyani tapau from Pakistan restaurant.  

26 Nov 2021: Black Friday. Shopping Day. Macy’s, Ulta, Amazon Bookstore, Zara, H&M,  Uniqlo back to Apple Store at 5^th Avenue. Tapau chicken wing on the way back.

27 Nov 2021: Walk from WTC to find Harry Potter Store. Take photo at the red stairs at Time Square. Lunch at Birreria (Italian Fine Dining), Summit One Vanderbilt, Hudson Yards next to Hudson River. High Line Park. Flatiron under renovation.

28 Nov 2021: NY announce State Emergency. Walk to Brooklyn bridge and Dumbo. Back to Time Square to take Covid Test. Get RTK-Antigen result in 15 minutes. Negative. Have to wait 24 hours for PCR and it’s negative or not detected. Drop by at Yankees store. Walk along Broadway theater district. Take subway to Union, NJ. Got festival here. Lunch at Luke Lobster. Walk to Washington Sq Park.

29 Nov 2021: Target Store NJ. Final shopping (trust me). Owen Grundy Park, Exchange Place (best view of NYC). Went to 911 Memorial Museum and then Oculus. Tapau Nasi Briyani again.

30 Nov 2021: Morning walk to Liberty State Park, NJ. Went to Walgreen. Colgate Clock. 9/11 Memorial NJ, Morris Canal Basin. Print PCR report and Home Quarantine Letter. Check out from Airbnb at 4pm. Courtesy from our host. Dinner Shake Shack at JFK

1 Dec 2021: Transit in Milan 2-3 hours. Sempat shopping lagi.

2 Dec 2021: Transit in Dubai 4 hours. Have milkshake. Shower. Solat.

3 Dec 2021: Arrived in KLIA at last. Register mysejahtera. Take pink wristlet. PCR test. Immigration. Pick up luggage. Balik naik taxi airport.

 

Rough spending/budget:

• Emirates Return flight RM3,500
• United return flight: RM1,100
• Airbnb: RM4,000 6 nights for 2 pax
• Hotel NY (1N), Chicago (2N): RM1,700 for 2 pax
• Metro Pass 7 days: USD33
• Bike Rental + Subway + Bus + Makan + Shopping: At your own cost.

Pengalaman naik Emirates dari KL ke New York

Emirates Boeing 777 and Airbus A380 Review

It's always my dream and other travelers's dream to fly with premium and reputable airlines especially if it is long haul journey. if cant fly with business class or first class, at least, the economic seat of these airlines will give us a bit comfort and the hospitality of the crews plus the meal. 

Since there is no direct flight from KUL to NY, other than via Singapore (SQ), so it took me and my friend to google and monitor sky scanner for few months since May 2018. We finally book our ticket in September 2019 after analysing all the potential possibilities and time savings from the route that we chose. Since we are travelling east-north (NY) and east south (Florida) of US, we decided to take multicity route

• KUL-Dubai (Transit)-JFK
• Orlando-Dubai (T) - KUL
• Economic Class (Feel grateful already =))
• Ticket Price all in = RM4500

Save us from flying back to NY from Orlando (2 transit), huhu.. we have calculated even if we took return from JFK + domestic flight = it will still cost us at least RM4000 or RM4200. so instead of having so many layover or touch point, we just put extra budget for emirates multi city. Based on my experience, going back is the hardest one since at that time, i damn tired and just want to reach home as fast as i can. So paying additional RM200 or RM500 it fine for me as long as can save hours of traveling and waiting.

Ok. Done with introduction, lets have some insight on the aircraft and the services rendered by Emirates.  

1st leg from Kuala Lumpur (KL) to Dubai Airlines (Boeing 777)

The first flight takes 7 hours 20 minutes. Plus 4 hours ++ stopover in Dubai. 

21 Nov 2018, Tuesday.

We took night flight. So, we Jama' or Combine our Maghrib and Isyak prayer in Dubai later.

 My travelling mate, Hani from Sabah. She bring and share her secret flying tips using Young Living Essential Oil, Peppermint. Seriously really help me go through the journey.

During our 1st leg, the seat is fully functioning. seat area not bad. spacious for asian but of coz not as spacious as premium eco or business. but lot better than budget airlines.

Got pillow and blanket (we didnt steal), earphone. during the 1st leg, we didnt get any travel pouch from emirates. i expected that one since i didnt bring my sock and bedroom slipper with me. end up cold feet from KL to Dubai.

Seat = 3-4-3
Since there are 2 of us. we decided to check in together and choose the window and aisle seat. so nobody will seat in between. Flight is running at 80% capacity. so plenty of space.

Since travelling to NYC will consume about 26 hours long, i make sure my skin is fully pampered and not dry. Plus NYC is cold as winter came earlier than usual. So for this trip, i pack in my hand carry, wet tissue, aloe vera gel, hand cream, night cream and face misk and lip balm (turkey airlines balance), face powder and mask (use this during Dubai to NY journey)

Temperature in the cabin is cold and you need a sock which i didnt bring. so have to use my blanket and wrap my feet and body. but better cold than hot.

Movies? There have like hundreds of movie, musics, dubai documentary and Al-Quran mp3. i manage to watch (while sleeping) 3 movies but never see any ending. everytime i start watching i end up loss in my dream. i seldom sleep in flight cause the panic i used to have. feel so nervous. but, the essential oil really help.

Since it is night flight, we were served with Dinner and Light Snack. There is instant noodle provided at the 

 We took grilled perch and red pepper source . of coz during the flight u can ask for drink as much as u can.

Love the glow in the dark on the aircraft ceiling. 

Salmon Bagel for light snack before landing.

Btw, they have free wifi up to 2 hours with limited capacity. but after log in, i end up sleeping.. seriously fara..

Actually a few day before flying, we receievd email from Emirates, an option to upgrade to business class but since we are budget traveller and i didnt expect this at the beginning, i decided to stay in economy. maybe in future, there will be an opportunity to fly business especially towards europe/ US.

We arrived in Dubai around 10.30pm. 4 hours layover, so i perform my prayer i had a light snack and hot choc while waiting for our long haul flight to NY.

2nd leg from Dubai to JFK, New York (Airbus 380)

Date: 21 Nov 2018 (early morning/after midnight)

Arrived in NY: 22 Nov 2018  (morning) 

This is the best part. flying from Dubai to New York with Airbus 380. Been eyeing to fly with Airbus 380 for quite sometime. This handsome and big aircraft really attracted me. 

Our flight depart at 230am. Actually, while waiting for the flight, we almost fall asleep waiting at one corner. We were so ignorant and forget to check that Dubai Airport is a silent airport. meaning they dont do any announcement. must be alert on ur flight and watch the departure screen. 

if you notice, the screen look like iPAD. nicer, wider, clearer, sharper compared to the one in Boeing 777.

 Keep looking at this screen. cant wait to arrive. as usual watch several movies but not the ending. perhaps 6.

The menu this round in 3 part of paper. We are going to have another dinner due to timing, snack in between and breakfast before landing .

As usual, i always take western meal when travelling. Btw, all the food served are halal in emirates flight, so no need to ask for muslim meal. Food is nice.

Cutlery set, in steal, not plastic. 

At last, we got this pouch. Actually this is special pouch in conjunction of Dubai Expo 2020. so they are issuing 6 or 8 color with different design but if combine will become 1 big picture. This roud we got blue. Not a bad pouch but i still need lip balm and slipper.

 Snacking = we had cheese and tomato pizza.

For breakfast. nothing much to say about the food. food from premium airlines are usually decent and acceptable. For snacking throughout the flight, you can take chocolates, cookies and drinks provided at the pantry anytime.

Other fantastic thing about Airbus A380 is:
1- can fit more than 400 passengers
2- the window look like hajar aswad stone in mecca
3- seat is wider than Boeing 777. feel the distance when talking with my friend seated at the window.
4- can stretch our leg under the front seat.
5- toilet is spacious also. hehe. but didnt take any photo inside the lavotary.
6- they had usb port and power point 3-pin plug to charge our gadget

Finally, around 7 am in the morning, we landed in JFK Airport. went through the immigration and customs. pick up our luggage and then walk to the subway to take train to Jersey City. Long journey. really tired.

Return 1st leg from Orlando, Florida to Dubai (Boeing 777)

Date: 3 December 2019 (afternoon)

Now, is time to go home... we want to go home fast, but going to miss the travelling time. what to do. Orlando Airport basically serving international and domestic flights. For emirates, this is new route. lucky us. just right on time. they are high demand from middle east and india for direct flight to Orlando, Florida. especially to the theme parks and museums.

From Orlando, we fly with Boeing 777. thought it was A380 but since the volume from Orlando is not as high as to NY, Emirates only provide 777. missing u A380.

Got starbucks in Departure Hall. Plus, massage outlet, souvenirs, tshirt, books etc

Yeah, another pouch. different color and design. earlier i got blue,now orange. same content.

 Menu for luch and snack and breakfast

 Lunch menu

Breakfast menu. 

In between, they give pizza. but i am too sleepy to eat. just grab and put in my bag. didnt eat until i reach home.

Snack in between, got chocolate, cookies, juices.

2nd leg from Dubai to Kuala Lumpur (KL) (Boeing 777)

Date: 4 December 2019 (night)
Arrival in KL: 5 December 2019 (evening)

This flight is a disaster as the seat is fixed and cannot be push to lean my body. and i notice all the seats. so we end up seat straight until the end of 7 hours journey. stress giler. call the crew but they also unable to adjust the seat. adding to my exhaustion.

 ok, last menu.

Meal for Dinner. 

Got another light snack, but didnt take picture. extremely tired. 

Overall:

i can rate 4-5 stars for the first 3 flights. But only 3 stars for last flight because of the stupid seat.

but never regret to fly Emirates especially when they have promotion price. its worth it. usually, the return ticket for new york is RM5500,if multi city, can reach RM7000. 

but during september promo, the return is below RM3500 and for multi city trip like us, RM4500 instead of RM7000. of coz it is not cheap,but it is still reasonable for premium airlines like Emirates. 

And to proof that i still trust them, i book another flight for my coming London trip, again with Emirates. this round with my family. hope they enjoy and love the experience as much as i do. 

I can be reached at my instagram or Facebook page: bookworm.travel 

Thank you for reading.

xoxo

3.4.2019

Cara Memohon Visa ke Amerika Syarikat (USA)

VISA AMERIKA SYARIKAT (USA)

Actually, dah lama research pasal nak apply visa ke USA. Plan nak ke New York, US ni sejak 2013 kot. Macam-macam blog i bace, dari Hanna On Earth blog (dulu die ade blog), raja azrul blog (yang ni quite detail la cite pasal visa. basically i follow step die) dan ade few malaysian yg migrate dan menetap di US. So i bace blog2 diorg. Akhirnya, dimakbulkan Allah swt, sampai la saya ke New York. Basically, sy nak share sket pengalaman saya waktu apply visa ke US. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) & Answers

• Kos Visa / Fi = USD160 x Current Consular Exchange Rate 
• Bayar Online via JomPay i.e. Maybank2u
• Validity Period = 10 years
• Visa Type: Non Immigrant / Tourism Visa  B1/B2
• Online application form: DS-160 (Personal Info + upload Gambar Visa US)
• No flight ticket required BUT need to have accommodation info (booking pay later)
• Appointment for Interview at US Embassy, KL 
• If approved, immediately leave your passport with the embassy and will receive passport and visa within 2 weeks or lesser
• If pending approval (like my case), bring back passport and gather additional information within 2 weeks and email the info to given email address. Within 1 week, approved, can submit visa to US Embassy through registered courier appointed by the Embassy, ARAMEX.
• Pejabat ARAMEX, dekat Jalan Tandang, Seksyen 51, Petaling Jaya 
• Website:  http://www.ustraveldocs.com/my/index.html?firstTime=No

Ok. Now, we can begin. 

Step 1: Form DS-160 

Kena isi form ni dulu untuk dapatkan APPLICATION ID. ID ni penting untuk pakai waktu set appointment interview kat embassy. Contoh Form DS-160 yang lengkap boleh download direct dari website di atas. Ni cume extract sebahagian saje. 

No Application ID di sebelah kanan tu penting. screen shot before move to next page.

Lepas tu kena isi details pasal PERSONAL, WORKING BACKGROUND, EDUCATION, FAMILY, ACCOMMODATION BOOKING etc.

Better cakap pegi sorang except mmg beli ticket sekeluarga. kalo pegi dgn kawan, consider seorang.

Kalo die tanya, ade kenal sape2 in US, cakap x kenal,xde. Kalo nak melawat sedara mara, mmg byk la soalnye, siap ari bulan lama process. die mintak sedara mara yg  kat sana utk bagi information. lagi lama.

Lepas tu upload photo. Gambar kena pegi amik kat kedai gambar, bagitau nak buat US Visa, background putih. ckp clear2. lepas tu mintak softcopy. kalo nak backup, mintak hardcopy 2 keping ke, in case embassy mintak. tapi, saya dulu x mintak pun.

Last sekali keluar page, Confirmation page. Bawak page ni (better bawak semua page lagi selamat untuk interview session nanti).

Dah siap, boleh dan submit online dan set appointment date. 

Step 2: Set Appointment 

Kena masuk website ni http://www.ustraveldocs.com/my/index.html?firstTime=No untuk set interview. 

1st kena ade email. waktu isi DS-160 tu pun patut dah ade email. pakai email yang same, create USER ID and Password. Yang ni sume pandai kan.

Bawah ni rate untuk Visa Fee. USD160 x USD4.20 . waktu sy dulu USD4.30 kot. Rate berubah2. tapi terlebih bayar much better than terkurang bayar. Kalo terkurang, kena buat baru and bukan top up. And yang lama, die x refund. Ade dlm guideline.

Untuk details for each transaction, boleh refer dekat list di bawah (dlm website ade).

Ni log in page

Then, click new application 

Dan ade a few step. Sebab sy dah pernah apply, so saya x boleh nak abiskan step ni, sebab nanti dikira renewal of previous visa. Sebab US Embassy ade rekod saya 10 tahun. Saya apply 2018, so valid sampai 2028. 

DS Confirmation No. ni yang last sekali,lepas dpt CONFIRMATION PAGE. kat situ ade No. Confirmation. Jangan confuse ngan APPLICATION no. Tak Sama tau. 2 nombor berbeza. 

Lepas tu ade la a few page yang korang kena isi, sampai jumpe:

- Date for interview

- Time for interview 

Kena datang awal 15 min untuk queue. Tak sure boleh tanya Auxilliary Police. 

Step 3: Interview Day

Hari interview kena bawak document yang diarahkan oleh US Embassy. Tapi saya bawak extra:

1- Passport

2- Confirmation Page

3- DS-160 

4- Harcopy gambar visa

5- Employment Confirmation

6- Slip gaji 

7- Business Card 

Beratur, tunggu giliran kat luar. Bila dah sampai time kite, baru die bagi masuk. Better datang x bawak any bag, sebab sume bag kena tinggal kat laur including handphone. purse and doc visa je boleh masuk. 

Lepas guide ade screening barang. Pastu walk towards embassy office. Ade lagi body scan and bag screening kat entrance dlm. 

Pastu beratur utk counter pengesahan passport. Lepas dah confirmkan passport, baru gerak ke counter interview. 

Die tanya, soalan yg sama dlm ape yg kt isi kat borang. First time, pegi ngan sape ke. Keje ape. Dah keje berapa lama kat company skrg. 

Sy silap yg kat sini lah, sebab sy transfer inter-company (jadi sy kire 1 group,sy sebut 3 tahun. tapi dlm borang sy, 7 bulan (subsi terkini). Sy nervous sgt ari tu. So,tuan puan, jangan stress2. soalan die senang je. 

Kawan sy yg duduk lama kat US ckp, once die dah panggil interview sebenarnye die dah pre-approved sebab US dah cek kite punye details. Savings, online social media, sume hutang piutang kite die dah tau.. Interview just for formality.

So kalo approved, macam kawan2 lain, tinggal passport, lepas 2 minggu, samaada die pos or u collect sendiri. Yang tu, kt kena pilih waktu isi borang, POSTAGE or PICK UP at designated office.

Tips: Kalo die tanya nak pegi mane, cakap nak pegi kawasan yg normal tourist pegi. New York San Francisco, California etc. Jangan la sebut Chicago, sebab pakcik T......P sensitive. Ade member, x dpt visa, sebab die sebut nak pegi Chicago. Ni kawasan office basically. Beautiful architecture. Tempat yang ade silver bean yg cute tu. 

Pending Approval

Macam saya, pending approval. Die x kate fail, so saye kena bagi additioanl info seperti surat merah dibawah. Sume tu senang accept Passport number. Yang ni saya sampai pegi immigration putrajaya. dlm 3 hari die siapkan surat list kan all the old passport number yg sy ade. Kalo u all ade simpan passport lama ok la. saya dari kecik ade passport. so nak cari 30 tahun punye record mmg jenuhla.. So terpakse pegi Immigration Putrajaya. Sebab pengesahan government lagi menyenangkan pihak Embassy. 

Lepas saya dah submit all the doc. Saya tulis email bagitau saya tersalah sebut waktu interview. explain pasal Group of Companies and etc, lepas tu 1 minggu, die close case saya dan saya diarahkan untuk courier passport saya pakai ARAMEX courier. ARAMEX Courier 

Lepas 4 hari, saya dapat passport saya balik with VISA. Yahoo!! Alhamdulillah. 

 

Lepas tu, ada lagi.. Bila ade kes PENDING APPROVAL kat Malaysia, akan ada isu dekat Immigration JFK Airport. Waktu arrival, kena daftar kat Kiosk ni. Auto Register and mesin tu akan keluar Memo Kecik. Kalo xde issue kat Malaysia, Memo tu cakap "Please proceed to AutoGate" x payah lalu kaunter immigration yang ade org. Lalu ikut mesin, pastu keluar la kat tempat bag. 

Saya, memo saya ade tanda palang, so kena lalu ikut manual kaunter yang ade Officer. Die tanya 1-2 soalan, lepas tu ok. yang die x tanya, jgn memandai nak cite. xde org nak tau. Lepas tu ok. Lama beratur je, sebab org dari negara europe ni siap keluar doc bagai. seram pulak. Alhamdulillah , lepas sy, ok je. xde isu kena tahan sebab pakai tudung. sebab ramai je muslim kat US. Cume mostly middle east not asian. 

Hope it helpful. Kalau ade ape2 nak ty, boleh contact sy pakai instagram or facebook page. 

https://www.facebook.com/bookworm.travel/

https://www.instagram.com/bookworm.travel/

Terima kasih dan selamat mencuba.