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We had a relaxed morning, since we had arranged to travel out to Long Island to visit Minuk's uncle Pak Kokok and family (aunt Terry and cousin Tim).
We made the short walk down to Gantry State Park, which runs along the East River. The best skyline view of Manhattan can be had form this park. Best in the morning of course, when the sun is from the east. There are great views of the iconic skyscrapers, the Empire State, and the Chrysler, which frame the blue slab of the UN building.
We made the short walk down to Gantry State Park, which runs along the East River. The best skyline view of Manhattan can be had form this park. Best in the morning of course, when the sun is from the east. There are great views of the iconic skyscrapers, the Empire State, and the Chrysler, which frame the blue slab of the UN building.
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The Park is also the location of a famous sign advertising Pepsi Cola. It has now been overshadowed by the glass towers of new apartment buildings, taking advantage of the grand vista of Manhattan.
A couple of blocks back from the river though, the gentrified area peters out, and the lower rise commercial and traditional apartment complexes re-establish themselves as the dominant built structures.
A couple of blocks back from the river though, the gentrified area peters out, and the lower rise commercial and traditional apartment complexes re-establish themselves as the dominant built structures.
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We returned to the apartment for an early lunch, before setting out to catch the train out to Ronkonkoma on Long Island. This involved taking the subway from our local subway station at Court Square, connecting with the Long Island Railroad at Jamaica-Sutphin Avenue, where the AirTrain can be taken to JFK airport.
The trip to Ronkonoma takes another hour, passing through the town of Hicksville on the way. At Ronkonkoma we hail a cab to take us to Pak kokok's home at Loretta Court. Pak Kokok, Aunt Terry, Cousin Tim and Terry's sisyer Aurora were home. Pak Kokok is 85 this year, and quite frail, whilst Terry is still a lively powerhouse. We spent the afternoon talking, discussing times past, with an emphasis on Sastrowardoyo doings in the 60s.
Though we had already eaten, Aunt Terry and Aurora had laid on lots of food, including pasta, seafood, garlic bread, and tasty spring rolls, made from scratch. So we were full, both of conversation and food when the time came to leave late in the afternoon.
The trip to Ronkonoma takes another hour, passing through the town of Hicksville on the way. At Ronkonkoma we hail a cab to take us to Pak kokok's home at Loretta Court. Pak Kokok, Aunt Terry, Cousin Tim and Terry's sisyer Aurora were home. Pak Kokok is 85 this year, and quite frail, whilst Terry is still a lively powerhouse. We spent the afternoon talking, discussing times past, with an emphasis on Sastrowardoyo doings in the 60s.
Though we had already eaten, Aunt Terry and Aurora had laid on lots of food, including pasta, seafood, garlic bread, and tasty spring rolls, made from scratch. So we were full, both of conversation and food when the time came to leave late in the afternoon.
We took home extra food, and got a ride to the station from cousin Tim. Missed the train by a minute, so spent an hour in the thankfully air-conditioned waiting room. It was nearly 8pm by the time we got back to our apartment.