New York | DAY 4: (Pt. 2) Boba Guys + Departure

Read Part 1 HERE !

​There was a distinct reason behind our purchase of a single drink at Nohohon. It was in preparation for a (much warranted) pre-flight Boba Guys run.

Bidding farewell to St. Marks, the path was retraced back to 8th and Broadway. During this Vitamin D-filled walk, I came across my first ever K-Mart. In my head, it was the American equivalent of our H Mart - a Korean superstore that offered clothing items in addition to foodstuff. Various times had it been mentioned in Fresh Off The Boat, further contributing to my curiosity. That said, one could imagine my response at discovering its status as an outdated Sears/Zellers. Sigh.

I had difficulties pinpointing Boba Guys' Waverly Place location at first. The neighbourhood appeared commercialized, with large, flat tiles (and zero trip hazards) to prove it.

​The Canal Street Market location had been empty at our time of visit, but this one featured a winding line up that curved outside of the store's air-conditioned quarters and onto the dominion of NYU (New York University).

We joined the lineup of bubble tea - or should I say boba? - enthusiasts, praying that the wait would not hinder our late packing plans. Majority, if not all, of the surrounding citizens hailed from a similar demographic group: mid-20s, dark hair, and Asian descent. For a moment, it felt like I was in LA again.

​The lined moved at a snail-like pace, approximating 10-15 minutes to reach the order counter. 

Another five minutes or so passed before drink orders could be retrieved.
In retrospect, the crafting of drinks was probably the swiftest process amongst them all. What hindered the smooth flow of traffic were indecisive customers that struggled to arrive at decisions howbeit the cashier's knowledgeable suggestions.

Drink listings had not seemed to differ from its other location. But, then again, I barely cast the board so much a glance as my mind had already been set. From the very start, it had been the Thai Tea. It was another one of orangecane's recommendations, along with a beverage that we both exhibit ridiculous fondness for. The half tapioca/half grass jelly mix was my preferred route.
Snack selection and styles of monogrammed merchandise did vary slightly though.

​The drink came to $5.50, which was undeniably pricey considering that this was pre-conversion. Accepted forms of payment included cash and card, but alas, fifty-dollar bills were exempted from this policy. Thankfully, a lovely potato came to my rescue and covered the cost. (Oops!)

Generally, sugar level adjustments were not permitted as the formula had been sweetened beforehand. The girl behind the cashier, being friendly and flexible, offered to lower the amount of condensed milk instead. Much appreciated was this gesture.

​Boba Guys' Thai Tea was exactly as I had imagined: a wondrous burst of rich, aromatic properties grounded with a drizzle of condensed milk and the ideal amount of ice. Chewy tapioca pearls and slippery grass jelly paired exceedingly well with the concoction.
We had barely rounded the corner to 8th Street Station when I realized the dimunitive amount remaining in my Large-sized cup. Stunned by a sense of guilt and awe, it was clear that the Thai Tea was not a contender to be undermined.

It was a short-lived bubble tea journey, but it was also one that had me craving for upwards of two weeks afterwards.

Rushing back to pack the remainder of my hauled items was the next task on the list. This was done promptly, and the trip to LGA was made. I was grateful in that the journey was nothing like my SuperShuttle experience to LAX. Of the allocated three hours, we arrived just short of thirty minutes. Thank goodness! 

​Though the drive to LGA terminated without issues, security procedures were a massive pain. The staff's actions were highly questionable - as questionable as they were of us. Entering the bag scan room along with us were less than ten people, yet somehow we were held back due to excessive nitpicking unwitnessed on any other inbound/outbound flight to the States. It wasn't a safety precaution; it was just unnecessary.

The waiting quarters themselves were just as despicable as the other tiled spaces in the airport: filthy and nasty. Assuming the role of one of New York's smaller airports wasn't a valid excuse for consistently smelly bathrooms (even with the cleaning carts forever parked outside), an evident shortage of charging stations, and positively revolting "filtered" water.

Despite my constant complaints about Pearson's pricey airport food, I'd take ten-dollar pretzel-and-Perrier combos over the depressing scene of American renditions of Auntie Anne's and Gateway any day.

Tales of Never Again, New York shall conclude with this entry. However, if you're still wondering why the series has been dubbed so, feel free to refer to Day X: An Afterword when it becomes available.