Getting to know NYC: I've discovered self-guided walking tours

Here I am, an NYU student hailing from San Diego. I bleed California blood — but, I hate feeling like a tourist. Tourists are hicks. And I can't be like that here in the Big City.

Then my journalism professor gave us an assignment. She told us we had to take a walking tour. I was going to be graded on this.

I hate the idea of being herded by a tour guide with an obnoxious flag. I'm not a sheep. So imagine my delight when I came across the concept of the self-guided tour. I picked one for Chinatown. There was one packaged nicely in the Galt Technology, Inc. website, an Internet guide site, for those self-sufficient adults who can walk around on their own. 

The first thing you notice about Chinatown, well at least what I did when I went, is the endless rows of shops stretching up and down Canal Street. I bemoaned myself for not bringing any cash with me on the tour — I'm usually a debit card kind of girl. Most of what they sell are accessories: ranging from knockoff luxury brand handbags to scarves to fake silver jewelries. Some others sell fragrances and colognes — be warned, they're most likely watered down.

I walked up Canal Street and turned right into Mulberry Street, passed by a lot of grocery stores here. I made a mental note to stop by them again. The tour took me across Bayard Street, around cute Chinese kids playing together with their Yu-Gi-Oh cards while their moms gossiped in front of the grocery stores, and I was at Columbus Park.

As I was reaching the park, Mulberry Street curved around. The tour said the curve was known as "Muberry Bend" and described it as part of the Five Points, one of the most dangerous slums in the city during the 1800s. Columbus Park replaced the area in 1896 and now it's a family-friendly park with elders performing Chinese Opera and kids playing basketball and volleyball on the courts and fields. Big change if you ask me.

The tour then took me to Worth Street where I turned left and found myself looking at the arch that signified I was in Chatham Square. This area, also known as Kimlau Square, is a large open intersection with a lot of dimsum places around the area, like Dim Sum Go Go on 5 East Broadway and Golden Bridge Restaurant on 50 Bowery St.

The arch, also known as The Kimlau Memorial Arch, was erected in dedication to Chinese Americans who fought and died for freedom and democracy. It was named after Lt. Benjamin Ralph Kimlau, a WWII aircraft commander of the 530th Squadron.

After a round of confusing turns, I ended up on Pell Street staring at the Edward Mooney House. How did I end up here? It's the oldest row how in the city, dating back to 1785. Personally I've never noticed this building until today, and I'm not sure why not. It is painted bright red, bringing even more color to the vibrant area. It houses Confucius Pharmacy, Summit Mortgage Bank and Louie's Newstand.

I finally finished the tour famished and my knees wanted to collapse under me. Weaving through the dense foot traffic of Chinatown gave me a headache and in the end I wanted to find shelter in my dorm away from the hectic busyness of it all. The only thing that bothered me was the constant turns and change of direction. Turn here, turn there, turn everywhere. I was overwhelmed by being steered one way then another. It definitely took away from the entire experience. But the tour was informative in its own right, with just enough background information that didn't leave me weighed down with details.