The return to New York City proved to be much more different to our time in Manhattan. A change of perspective if you will. Staying with one of Juliet's Canadian friends Brad, in Brooklyn, outside the main city, I learnt to truly appreciate NYC for the rich mix of cultures that it is. Whether it was a feed influenced by a night of heavy drinking or an early morning dabble, the endless number of Latin American grocers meant we would never go hungry. Brooklyn is on...

We were fortunate enough to be met at the bus terminal in Hartford, Connecticut by my friend Katie, whom I studied with and hadn't seen in over a year. She was so happy and even slogged out the 2 hour return trip to Danbury (Near NY) to bring us to her home. We were so lucky to be able to stay with a real family, and all the benefits that come with that (home cooked meals, real showers, real beds etc). Something that myself and Ju are extremely grateful for since...

After the bumpy ride out of NYC, we finally arrived in Cambridge, MA at 1130pm, just out of town and were super down for a late night feed. We headed to the hostel in Everett, north of Boston and hit one of the only places open at 1am - Mike's Roast Beef. Everett proved to be an empty, simple neighbourhood with a few stores and restaurants, quiet by day and even more of a ghost town by night (we spent 6 nights there in total). I was feeling slighlty apprehensive...

The 32 hour flight certainly ruined me, although Asian people really enjoy nuts (and duty free), so I was only too willing to bring my 500g bag of pistachios to the "party" (thanks Lisa). I was desperate to get to Shanghai City for a much needed stretch and dumpling feast. A nice girl on the plane provided me with directions to the city, however it was a 3 hour return trip, I was sure I'd get lost and soon realised I would be cutting it fine to catch my flight to...