Travel -go back to Taiwan?

If you are already in USA, and you would like to buy a round trip tickets. Here is something I used to do.

1. Check the tickets price online.
http://www.cheaptickets.com/

2. Call 2-3 agents to see how's the price for UA or AA. UA is usually the cheapest one.
Here are some I got from my friends.

縱橫旅遊: 212-334-4222 -I bought once, the price is good!
李美娟: 718-321-0233, 888-661-1488 -My roommate likes it.
Helen:718-353-3376
Candy : 212-334-8333
愉小姐:1-800-8782828
萬通MS. Li: 718-463-6628
女的9177091297
Markus 7185047337

3. Check the price in China Airline. Agent will usually give you at least the same price. So, you can buy it by yourself. China Airline is much expensive, but if you like fly directly, then it is the best.
http://www.china-airlines.com/en/index.htm

Travel-mapping

New York is pretty much like Taipei. (Or I should say it in an opposite way. But since Taipei is where I came from. So, at least I can say this way. ) There are tons of tons of taxi on the street. But the most convenient way for people who live here should be subway. They can take you to anywhere. It's my favorite, except how it looks like.

If you come to NY, you will need to know how to see the map of subway.

• http://www.mta.info/mta/maps.htm
• You can also get a map in any subway station.

And you will also need another map, yahoo.

• http://maps.yahoo.com/

It's very easy to use, just enter the address you would like to go, and click the public transaction, then you're done.

Metro North

http://as0.mta.info/mnr/schedules/sched_form.cfm

Live in NY- Sublet

o Which place is the dangerous?

***Manhattan
In the West Side: the place north than 125st. (greater than 125st.) is not that safe. Try to avoid there.
In the East Side: the place north than 96 st. (greater than 96st.) is not that safe. Try to avoid there.
(I am not pretty sure about the neighborhood: south to the 110 st. north to the125 st., east to the central part west, west to the Amsterdam Av.)

***Queens
I know a lot of people live in Elmhust Av. , that is a nice neighborhood, about 30 mins to midtown Manhattan. There are all resident area, I will say, there is no night life. And generally won't have a lot of people walk on the street during night time. Be sure to go home earlier...

***MAP:get a map to see where you are

• http://www.mta.info/mta/maps.htm

o HOW much is it?
***Manhattan

• Around Columbia-average $850 (a room in a 3 bedrooms apartment) also depends on the size of the room
• Downtown-average $1800 (a room in a 3 bedrooms apartment)
• The north the cheaper! bur remember north than 125 st. is not good.
  

***Queens

• Elmhust Av.-average $550 (a room in a 2 or 3 bedrooms apartment)

o craigslist (http://newyork.craigslist.org/)

• look at sublet, room share section for seblet or roomshare with others, you can choose the nighborhood and price range
• In New York, good deals will be gone in about 10 mins. You probably should take a look at craigslist everyday: http://newyork.craigslist.org/, and contact them immediately if you think it’s good.
• In craigslist, almost every post show where it is in the end of the posting, Yahoo map website (http://maps.yahoo.com/ ) will give you an idea about where the room is.

o If you want to live around Columbia University, Ideal location is about south to the 86 st., north to the 125 st., west to the Riverside Drive, and east to the central part west. (I am not pretty sure about the neighborhood: south to the 110 st. north to the125 st., west to the Amsterdam Av., and east to the central part west.)

o Chinese Student website: http://groups.google.com/group/CUCSSA?pli=13

o Taiwanese Student bbs: ptt3.twbbs.org-try to find the board for Columbia or NYU student.

o Columbia Taiwanese Student yahoo group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TaiwanStudent/

(Signed in before you see the bulletin board)

o Columbia Teachers ollege Taiwanese Student yahoo group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TCTSA/

(Signed in before you see the bulletin board)