About my epic NYC trip

Home is where the heart belongs. A piece of my heart has never truly left NYC —My favorite city in the whole world where I spent my early to mid 20’s at, so, I went back to NYC to reconnect with old friends from late June to mid July this year.

Those previous years of living in NYC as a young, curious woman was one of the most exciting, colorful, and interesting chapters of my life so far. I don’t want to talk about any specific encounters in details, because some things are better only left for involving parties, and, privacy is extremely important. All I can say is: I am so grateful to have the opportunities to got to know, and got involved with people from diverse backgrounds, including members of the queer community, through different types of connections. My connections with bisexual, lesbian, trans, and economically oppressed people show me there exists so many different ways for people to live their most authentic lives, and fight for their values and members from their own community…

I left NYC at 26. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the challenges of securing a job that fits me well as an non-U.S. citizen, and my family’s strong desires to live closer to me so that we could take care of each other, I said (temporary) goodbye to NYC, and moved back to East Asia. Now I am living a stable, financially independent, intellectually curious, yet vastly different life from my past life in NYC. It’s ok though;). We go through, and value different things at different stages of our life. As long as we keep learning, improving, persisting our affirmations, and treating our loved ones gently and with dignity and respect, we are destined to have a fulfilling life;).

I looked forward to this trip for so long, and booked flight tickets on March, three months before my trip. At that time, I told one close friend in NYC that I would visit during the summer. This lovely friend and his wife were so kind and told me I would stay at the extra room in their apartment during my trip. Yay;). Sounds good! However, about one month before my trip, this friend told me they had a lot to deal with as recently officially married couple, so they could not host me. I smiled and told them it was all good;). As a master of manifestation, I told myself: Hey! No need to worry. I am sure the housing situation will be solved very soon. Some other friends will host me during my trip! I have good energy and I only attract good luck. And…I was right. I contacted another friend - A. A told me he did have an extra room at his apartment, and he would love to host me. So, the problem was solved;)).

On my flight to NYC, a couple and their 1 year-old daughter sat in front of me. The cute, young baby kept looking at me, smiling at me, or even moved her hands towards me…She was such an energetic baby. I smiled back and interacted with her from time and time, and had wonderful conversations with her father. Two other people who sat next to me were quite friendly as well…I kept telling myself: I will have an amazing trip. I always get what I want effortlessly, when I was on the plane.

It only took me one day to overcome jet lag, including the 12-hour time difference between NYC and where I live. One friend was quite surprised when he heard this…During our phone call, he said: Well…Good for you! This means that a piece of heart has never truly left NYC. That’s why you overcame jet lag so easily. I said: yes. You are right;).

So, during my 16-day NYC trip, what exactly did I do with all my friends here? Once again, I don’t want to write things in too many details. Some of the amazing experiences can be summarized below;).

Honestly, I can write so much about what it means to revisit New York City 🏙️- my favorite city in the whole world, my home away from home, after being gone for a little over two years.

I loved to live in my friend A’s Bushwick apartment comfortably and happily, had deep conversations about a wide range of topics with him from dating, intimacy, to emotional and physical vulnerability, and so much more daily, shared meals with him together, and woke up from energetic Latin music every morning!! My friend lives in a Latino-majority neighboorhood. Most family here have young children. Everyone I encountered at this neighborhood were friendly and nice.

About halfway of my trip, I had a fun adventure in Albany, NY by taking sensual, 100% confident, and authentic boudoir photos with an woman artist for the first time. This whole experience was so…empowering;). The photo attached to this blog post is one of the photos from my boudoir photoshoot;). I like it a loooot…a looot.

I enjoyed eating delicious East and Southeast-Asian food in Bushwick, Brooklyn and Midtown Manhattan;).

It was so healing to reconnect with old friends and ex-lovers (still my friends) in Union square, Harlem, Astoria areas, and getting to know the recent changes in their professional and personal lives, for better or worse or complex or messy.

I enjoyed meeting up with three new, lovely friends for the first time!

I saw 12 different people during my 16-day trip, but I still did not get to see all my friends!!!

The feelings of all of New York City 🏙️’s diversity ( vibrant LGBTQ 🏳️‍🌈 community included), openness, boldness, triumph, art, and constant fight for liberation are deeply embedded into my soul whenever I am in this sleepless city 🏙️.

The city carries emotions and unique stories from each person who has spent long enough time here, mixing all of them in colorful rainbow 🌈 colors.

So, how does it feel to be back to my favorite city 🏙️ in the world ? I deeply believe …in my bones, my skin, every cell of my body, and in my heart 💜, some parts of me have never truly left this city 🏙️.

Memory always finds a way to carry me back 😉. About two days before I was about to leave NYC, I found myself crying with tears out several times. I cried mostly because…good time went by so fast, and I truly missed this city, including my chosen family here, before I left. I got emotional with a strong sense of nostalgia inside me. The emotional pain of missing a place that I do not live here full-time was real. Despite my difficult emotions, I still kept telling myself: It’s ok. Everything works out well for me effortlessly. I will be back, and I will…I will be back to my favorite city with some of my favorite ppl in the whole world.

I had a good flight back home. I sat next to a young mother and her 3-year old daughter. One air hostess mistakenly assumed I was the 3-year old girl’s bigger sister, and said I looked so young…Well…I am not her sister, but thank you;).

See you again next summer, dear NYC. Next time, I will see ppl I did not get to see this time, including a lesbian couple. Next time, I may stay at my friend A’s apartment again, and then spend about one week at a safe, relaxing house 🏠 close to the beach 🏖️ with a few queer women. Maybe I will stay at Denver, Colorado for a few days with a long-term online friend and her family as well;).

See u later, NYC 💜🏙️✨.