Washington DC

The past few days comprised the Thanksgiving holidays here in the US, so I tookthe opportunity to travel to Washington DC, the capital of the country. I have been interested in the history of the United States since young and this was the perfect occasion to pay this federal city a visit. I was not disappointed.

I've lost count (almost) of the number of monuments, memorials, and museums that I've visited over the 3 days spent there. My emotions really went on a roller coaster ride, as the things that I used to read about in my American History elective back in university were revisited, but in a much more authentic form. It was just such a mixbag of emotions, as I looked at the various artifacts and read the stories that make up the American dream. I felt excited, awed, surprised, happy, sad, reflective, introspective, exhilarated, moody and impressed throughout the trip.

Took more than 200 photographs in all, kind of crazy I suppose, but more importantly, the memories and the stories behind the different monuments and memorials which I took in will be priceless.

Arrival

The National Gallery of Art. It was open during Thanksgiving day, and I really loved the exhibitions inside. Amazing exhibits, brilliant art pieces. I was especially pleased to see works by my favourite American artist, Jackson Pollock.

Number 1, 1950, (Lavender Mist) by Jackson Pollock

A rather intriguing sculpture by American artist Roy Lichtenstein at the Sculpture Garden just outside the Gallery. The structure is actually sunken in, but in the photograph it appears to pop up instead.

State Capitol Building. This is their equivalent of our "Parliament House", and is a familiar symbol of Washington.

The White House. No prizes for guessing who works inside.

One of my favourite places has to be the Lincoln Memorial, built in honour of President Abraham Lincoln, who of course, was the person who ended slavery in the US, back in the 19th century.

Washington Monument. Dedicated to George Washington, the first President of the USA.

In the 20th century, America was involved in a number of wars, and I took a walk to the various memorials that were built in memory of the soldiers who perished during these horrific events. The feelings of visiting these memorials were somewhat mixed. These memorials are really beautiful, but the thought of the terrible events of the past which resulted in the memorials being built really sends a sharp pain through one's heart. To think that so many lives were lost and families destroyed.... Yet today warfare continues....

Pictures taken at the World War II Memorial

Another place which I have always wanted to visit is actually the Arlington National Cemetery. This is the place where soldiers who died in the various wars, various high ranking military personnel and some politicians (eg. President JFK) are buried. So in this trip, I made it a point to go to this cemetery of utmost significance.

The grounds of the cemetery are sprawling, and the atmosphere solemn but not frightening. I had the chance to watch the changing of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers (my main aim of visiting the cemetery), and this was truly a eye-opening experience. It is kind of morbid but the feeling of paying respects at the tomb, to people whom I've never met before, is really quite beyond description.




This has been a totally enriching and rewarding trip to the capital of the world's most powerful nation.