After four long years, World Cup season is here again and that means two things: exciting football matches and festive, happy fans. There is no getting around the fact that sports, especially football, have a unique way of uniting people.

Regardless of controversies, the World Cup is fascinating in so many ways. I used to stay up late (read: 4am) and go to bars just to watch my favorite teams and players because of the difference in time zones. This year, I was lucky enough to fly all the way to Russia to finally experience the world’s biggest sports event live and document the whole experience with Vivo’s new flagship, the Vivo NEX.

The fun starts in the city center. As early as 9am, fans from the world over descend to the Red Square in Moscow to squeeze a short tour of the city before the games start in the afternoon.

Among those crowds are these Peruvian fans taking photos with Colombians who brought their glorious headdresses to Russia.

But the real party doesn’t start until you get to the stadium.

Argentines wear their colors loud and proud…

And these three came prepared to cheer on La Albicelestes’s capitán.

Fans from Brazil caught the media’s attention because of their chants and songs…

And these Uruguayans are still hopeful even after more than 60 years of missing out on the major title…

But this fan from Colombia is in Russia to win it all, with a trophy replica in tow.

Whether your reason is to watch the world’s best in what can possibly be his last World Cup…

Or to support and celebrate your country’s national team…

The best thing about watching the World Cup live is not the colorful, elaborate garb that fans wear…

Or celebrating your team’s victory in those grand stadiums…

It’s seeing people from different cultures come together, wear the biggest smiles on their faces, and overcome their differences.

24 Hours is a series on GadgetMatch.com where we showcase our travels through a smartphone camera’s perspective. It’s also a documented guide on things to see and do in a city in case you happen to plan a trip there.

I’m a fan of both Huawei’s flagship P20 Pro and some sweet irony, so I thought, why not join these two together?

That’s right: I brought the P20 Pro to a country that has no plans of selling it and has the disapproval of the government. It’s a complicated story with many takes and twists, but all that doesn’t really matter to me. I simply wanted to tour New York with the best set of cameras ever equipped on a phone.

Before entering the Big Apple, I was fortunate enough to take a scenic route over the North Pole. Endless layers of ice and water filled my window view, making me glad I didn’t settle for the roomier aisle seat this time.

And here I was, right at the center of New York City! This wasn’t my first time on this side of the east coast, but each visit has been a memorable one — this being no exception.

Yes, more buildings. Rows and rows of skyscrapers and commercial establishments organized in the blockiest of blocks. There are less intimidating sides to NY, but I had work to do.

Here I am taking a break and enjoying the portrait mode of the P20 Pro. When you’re in a big city like this, it’s a good idea to make use of the geometry in the background to add emphasis to your subject. Intersecting lines guide a viewer’s eyes to whatever they point to.

That’s the famous Empire State Building to the far end. While I didn’t get a chance to include the iconic site in my short itinerary, it was always in the background, looming over every shot I took in that direction.

What I was able to get close to, however, was the moon. Yep, with the 10X zoom of the P20 Pro’s triple-camera system, anything’s possible! (That sounded a lot like a paid advertisement but I swear it’s that good!)

Like during my tour through Venice Beach, these green vendors were floating around. Again, I couldn’t figure out exactly what they were selling, but they (and the customers) seemed overjoyed.

Panorama time! And what better spot than at the center of Times Square. Billboards are everywhere here, screaming consumerism and lights bright enough to make it feel like a morning market.

This is perhaps the best spot to take a touristy shot of Times Square. You get a clear look of the George M. Cohen statue with the famous red steps filled with people in the background.

A little-known fact about me: I love visiting churches and appreciating their architecture firsthand, no matter what religion or era. This particular Catholic church has a standout interior, but it’s the exterior that you’ll want to see…

… through a reflection! I couldn’t fit the entire structure on cam, but this shiny building nearby did the trick.

But that’s enough of glass and cement. It’s time to find a different time of green — this time in the solace of Central Park. This is the place to visit if you’re tired of building after building (even though they’re still visible in the background).

This is more like it! Central Park is the ideal spot for both relaxation and getting work done, thanks to the tranquility and friendly neighborhood critters adding life to the scenery.

What’s a park without a picturesque fountain placed at the center? This is me once again taking a break because walking is hard. New York is, without a doubt, a walking city. Sidewalks are abundant and taxi fares are expensive, so it’s best to bring along comfy sneakers to keep your feet from dying. Remember: You only have two of them!

To the side, you might find a street performer if you’re lucky. This man played one of the best covers of Eric Clapton’s “Layla” I’ve ever heard.

But of course, I couldn’t get away from the essence of New York, which are the structures that surround the massive park. Behind every tree is a building ten times as tall.

On my way out, I found Argosy, which is New York’s oldest independent book store, having been around since 1925. It’s filled with books, prints, maps, and paintings both new and old — but mostly old. Going inside for that library-like smell alone is worth the long walk!

When the sun goes down and people begin going home from work, the bright lights of the Big Apple turn on. But while the view from below is grand and all, it takes a rise to the top of the city for a more eyegasmic experience. There are two choices for this: the Empire State Building or Top of the Rock.

For this particular trip to NY, I chose the latter, and what a sight it was! The P20 Pro’s night mode got to show off its full potential here, bringing out the beauty of the big city and its array of lights. It’s debatable which of the two skyscrapers has the better view from above, but from what I’ve been told, Top of the Rock is the place to be when capping off a tour around New York City.

24 Hours is a series on GadgetMatch.com where we showcase our travels through a smartphone camera’s perspective. It’s also a documented guide on things to see and do in a city in case you happen to plan a trip there.

Even if you’ve never been to Shanghai, you’ve most likely already seen the view of the city’s photogenic skyline from Waitan — or The Bund to foreign tourists — on your wanderlust-filled feed.

If it’s your first time in China’s cosmopolitan city, by all means go and see it. It’s definitely a must and one of the world’s most beautiful skylines. But this article will skip that and show you other things to do and see in a city that has so much more to offer.

Shared bicycles

Dockless bike rental is one of the “four great modern inventions” of China. Mobike and Ofo bikes are literally found everywhere in the country — they don’t have designated parking. If you have the respective apps and accounts set up, you can easily grab one of them on your way to your next destination, which, in my case, is brunch.

Seesaw Coffee

Find time to stop by Seesaw Coffee in the beautiful Jing’an Design Center and sample their baked goods. They don’t have cold brew but their hot tea and iced milk chocolate are really good.

The ZenFone 5Q’s wide-angle lens was made for this extremely photogenic place!

Oriental Pearl Tower

There are a lot of ways to see Shanghai, and while the iconic Oriental Pearl Tower isn’t the tallest building or the highest view deck in the city, it offers a unique perspective through this glass floor that goes all the way around the tower. Yes, walking on glass might give you the heebie-jeebies but it’s worth it, especially if you have that extra-wide-angle lens 😎

Yu Yuan

Tourists flock to Yu Yuan not just for the extensive traditional Chinese garden and the potential photo opportunities, but also for the street food, souvenirs, and shopping.

This Instagram-famous garden is huge and is one of the most crowded sights in Shanghai.

Jianbing

Wide-angle selfie at work in the old Jewish quarters while waiting for our order

I’ve been to Shanghai a couple of times before, but it’s on this trip that I finally discovered my favorite Chinese street food. Bing, also known as jianbing, is actually a street breakfast food but fillings can vary depending on where you get it.

This one from the old Jewish quarters area had fried chicken strips dipped in spicy sauce so it was a great late lunch. I honestly still dream about this bing to this day.

Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum

When most of the world closed their doors on Jewish refugees, Shanghai was one of the few cities that welcomed them. Entering Shanghai back then did not require any visas so European Jews, most of whom penniless and escapees of concentration camps, found a temporary haven in the city for almost a decade.

While they were in Shanghai, the Jewish refugees managed to live a normal life — opening businesses, offices, and even clinics.

Century Park

If you visit Shanghai in spring, make sure to include a park in your itinerary so you don’t miss out on all the trees that only bloom once a year.

Century Park in the Pudong side is one of the bigger ones that have beautiful cherry blossom and magnolia trees — perfect for those wide-angled selfies!

Nanjing East Road

When the sun goes down, walk through Nanjing East Road for more street food, shopping, and souvenirs. This pedestrian street can get a little crowded at times, but nothing spells modern China more than rows and rows of neon signs.

Charlie’s

I love restaurants with a simple proposition and Charlie’s in Nanjing Xi Lu (West Nanjing Road), is one of those. Outside the building, painted in bold letters below its logo, it says BURGER. SHAKE. TAP. If you know me well, you know I can never shake off my burger cravings. So yes, I’d tap that.

Traveling in China can be daunting especially for first-timers, but Shanghai makes it easier. It’s a hybrid of western and Chinese culture, it’s more open and modern, and relatively foreigner-friendly.

24 Hours is a series on GadgetMatch.com where we showcase our travels through a smartphone camera’s perspective. It’s also a documented guide on things to see and do in a city in case you happen to plan a trip there.

This feature was produced in collaboration between GadgetMatch and ASUS.