Late last month, I returned to New York first the first time since  graduating and moving California a year ago. I was back to visit friends and see the city again, but most importantly for Chithra’s graduation. The weather was almost exactly the same as in my graduation last year, gloomy and rainy. It was nevertheless still a grand occasion.

Graduation marks a momentous point in my family’s life. My parents are no longer financially burdened by Chithra’s or my education. Chithra and I are now on our ways to carving out our own lives, careers and eventually families.

Watching the Class of 2012 walk across the stage and being back on campus made me truly realize how much I miss college and will continue to do so. I walked around campus quite a bit, reminiscing about college and reevaluating my life and my decisions since graduating. The feeling of being an outsider (not having swipe access to buildings anymore and not recognizing most people on campus) still hasn’t sunk in.

After spending time with my family and friends around Columbia, I moved over to Brooklyn to stay with Sean. Vinny, Sean and Caroline took PTO  for the day and we headed over to BCD Tofu house for lunch and then Bear Mountain for hiking.

The hike started in an abandoned town with a funny name, Doodletown. There wasn’t much to see of the ghost town other than occasional remnants of stairs or foundations. Right at the beginning of the hike, we spotted some beautiful butterflies.

We also spotted cute chipmunks!

Sean and Vinny took the lead for much of the hike.

Beautiful moss on a crossing:

One of the magnificent views along the way:

Feelings of joy from reaching the first starred vantage point on the map.

We could see the city in the distance!

Everyone had to capture the view.

Then, Vinny spotted something interesting below.

However, while investigating it, he fell down and we had to rescue him.

Caroline and me:

We spotted some creepy crawly wildlife like frogs:

millipedes:

and mushrooms that look like expanding foam:

By the end of the day, we hiked a total of 7 miles and climbed over 1500 feet. You can see the RunKeeper data that Sean captured. Mine is missing the first .5 miles of the hike.

After the hike, we went to Manhattan and met up with Leslie and Meixin for ramen at Jin. Too bad I was too tired and forgot to take pictures ):.

The next day, Caroline, Leslie, Sean and I met up in Smorgasburg for a food adventure through Brooklyn and Manhattan! Half of Sean’s sandwich:

Uttapam wrap!

Fruit pop!

Manhattan, seen from Brooklyn.

New York > Chicago.

Sean trying to photobomb a picture of a jalapeno pineapple fruit pop.

Tea from Kung Fu Tea.

We walked over the Manhattan Bridge to Manhattan.

The Brooklyn Bridge and Jane’s Carousel viewed from the Manhattan Bridge.

We made a pitstop bought some macarons at Almondine. They were great.

We took the Subway back to Brooklyn and walked through Dekalb Market on the way to dinner. It is really my kind of market, a large lot with stores and eateries housed inside shipping containers.

Late, we had dinner at Chuko. It was the best Ramen experience I have had and hands down the best vegetarian ramen I have tasted (even better than Totto). If you visit New York or if you live there, the food at Chuko is well worth the trip to Prospect Heights.

Finally, we went to Sean’s apartment to enjoy the view from his building’s roof and rest before Caroline and Leslie returned home.

When booking my tickets, 10 days seemed like more than enough time to spend in New York. It definitely wasn’t. New York, I shall return.