warm summer nights are so magical in nyc, especially chinatown (but that's just me).

we tried cong ly for some bùn (vermicelli noodle salad) and pho, a c-grade kind of place that probably scares off a lot of people (e.g. tourists), so it's decently empty most of the time.

the food was very good, and so much cheaper than other places that are better known and written

up about in the vicinity. will definitely go there again!

then after a long stroll around the area, in and out of all the nooks and crannies of the magic

that is chinatown, we stopped in for some little dessert at quickly :

i got watermelon shake, m got a papaya shake with tapioca pearls.

then we noticed a whole tray of cream cakes in the back from the day's sale, so we haggled and got a huge amount for $2! (normally 8 pieces for $2)

a really nice ending to a perfect night. :)