{TRAVEL}: BROOKLYN BRIDGE

October 13, 2014

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Nothing feels more satisfying than crossing an item off your bucket list, especially the item that has been on the list for 15 years. In my case, "Brooklyn Bridge" is the "item" that I have been dying to cross off.

Having that plan in mind, I tried to squeeze time in between the shows on day 7 of #NYFW and made my way to this iconic place by any means. After 45 minutes traveling the underground (Subway, that's how New Yorkers call it), all by myself, changing 2 different trains, and finally I arrived at Brooklyn Bridge.

The weather was incredibly beautiful that day. The sky was blue, the air was crisp, and the leaves started changing color for Fall. It was the perfect time for me to visit the bridge. Seeing the Brooklyn Bridge many times in the movies, I thought I should be familiar with it by the time I got there. But the truth is, no movie can tell how it feels when I get a chance to touch, feel and see the bridge up close, with all my senses. I looked up to the bridgehead, looked down to the busy street, and looked over the Manhattan skyline. I couldn't help but have a selfish thought: "If only I could stop the Time Machine and enjoy this beauty all by myself, a little bit longer".

I was not only magnetized by the beauty of the Brooklyn Bridge, but also greatly inspired by the true life story behind this Gothic-styled bridge. Just in case you don't know, Brooklyn Bridge was an initial idea of German-born engineer John Roebling. In 1869, he wanted to build a spectacular bridge to connect from Manhattan to Brooklyn. There was no other bridge at that time, thus everyone (even the experts) thought it was a crazy and impossible idea. They advised him to forget his plan. But Roebling's passion and intuition kept telling him that he was right, he did not give up. The only person who supported him was his son, Washington Roebling, was an upcoming engineer. Together, they prepared the plan, hired people and made things happen. Unfortunately, John died in a tragic accident only a few months after the bridge was started. His dream vision was then transferred to his son. Washington carried on with the project as he did not want to disappoint his father. However, he was also suffered from paralyzing injury that left him brain damage and immobile. The only person he could communicate to was his wife- Emily Roebling, using his fingers and codes. Everyone thought the Brooklyn Bridge plan would fail, but the Roebling family proved them wrong, once again. Emily spent 11 years assisting her husband to communicate with the engineers and to keep the project going. On 24th May 1883, Brooklyn Bridge was completed and opened for 150, 000 people crossing over.

How many people have crossed the bridge today? I don't know the number, but I do know that the Roebling's determination, dedication and sacrifice have changed the lives of so many people in New York. They were the true life examples of never giving up, even when the whole world seemed to be against you.

If that story is not inspiring enough to make you visit the Brooklyn Bridge just once in your lifetime, I don't know what will.

I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity that brought me here. Not only was I able to witness the Brooklyn Bridge in reality, but also, I had this golden memory captured in photos, by a talented friend and photographer, Funmi Arjie. Thank you so much for being a part of my wonderful story with the Brooklyn Bridge!