Travel tales: the September 11 Memorial site - New York

I have taken a while to write this post, as I've wanted to collect my thoughts about my visit to the September 11 Memorial in New York. I took some photos and will publish some of them here. I have been asked whether I felt comfortable taking these photos. Yes, I did. I took photos - so I could remember the Memorial site, and also 'report' on the site in a factual manner. I did not pose in any photos. Seeing other people pose happily in front of the memorial features did not sit well with me. I understand that seeing photos of the site may be difficult for many people, so if you are not comfortable seeing these pictures or reading my account, please don't read on.

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Today marks the 11th anniversary of the terrorist attacks where 2983 people were killed at the World Trade Centre, The Pentagon and Flights 77, 93 and 175. The September 11th Memorial site opened in 2011 to mark the 10th anniversary of these attacks, and also to pay honor to those who died in the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Centre in 1993. The museum is scheduled to open in September 2012. It is estimated that each day around 7000 people visit the Memorial site.

The visit to the Memorial site was very emotional. As with most people I know, I remember the live footage on the news, and seeing the anguish in the New Yorkers' eyes. Seeing the site brought back those memories, and I felt very sad reading about the events from personal perspectives and seeing the damage done to the buildings.

The visit to the site, and reading the book I purchased, made me reflect on the enormity of the tragedy, and I thought about how the world has changed since then. I also thought about how many people were affected - the victims, their families, the rescuers, onlookers, the whole New York community - and I imagine also some of the family members of the terrorists. My friend Katie came to the site with Mum and I, and she told us about when she found out during a morning at school, and how she could see the burning ruins at Ground Zero every day for months - eventually she had to move her bed to change her view.

After we went to the Memorial site, we went to Century 21 to shop. I felt uneasy being there after visiting such an important and sad place. I saw people shopping in Century 21 like it was the end of the world - rummaging through clothes and filling up their baskets to the brim. Sadly, on September 11 2011, it was the end of the world for some.

 

We reserved our free visitors passes at the visitor's centre - which is a five minute walk from the site. The visitor's centre features a pictorial timeline of events, some personal artifacts from victims and survivors as well as debris and photos and sculptures of tributes to the victims and rescuers.

This replica of the Statue of Liberty featrures badges from the various New York fire and police departments as well as letters to the rescuers.

 
A New York skyline was carved out of some of the steel from the World Trade Centre debris.
 

 
This fire fighter has a tribute tattooed on his back.
 
The visitor's centre also has a gift shop where people can buy postcards, hoodies, books, DVDs, jewellery and other souvenirs. After our visit to the Memorial site, I bought a National Geographic book about the site, as well as a brooch which is a cast of a leaf from the Survivor Tree. All proceeds go to support the memorial and museum.

The Twin Towers are being rebuilt, so it is a construction area around the Memorial site. 3000 construction workers are there at any one time. There is very strict airport-like security when entering the site.

 

 

The Memorial site contains park areas, two pools with waterfalls, the Survivor Tree and at the time of visiting, the partially built museum.

Below is the South pool at the September 11 Memorial site - it contains names of 441 first respondents, 695 names of those who died in the south WTC tower, 40 names from Flight 93, 59 names from Flight 77, 125 names from The Pentagon and 60 names from Flight 175. The North and South pools are set in the footprints of the original twin towers of the WTC. 

 Some of the names around the pools were of females and their unborn babies. This was very sad to see.

 This is the museum.

This photo isn't the clearest, so apologies, but I took it through the window of the museum. You can see scaffolding and some concrete steps - these steps are the Survivor's Staircase. This staircase where survivors raced from the building. The stairs were salvaged and moved to the entrance of the museum. Read more about the Survivor's Staircase here.

The Survivor Tree is also an iconic piece of history at the Memorial site. This tree survived the 2001 terrorist attacks, and was removed from the site, smoldering and lifeless, then nurtured at a nursery in The Bronx. It was replanted at the Memorial site in 2010.Read more about the Survivor Tree here.

 

As we left the Memorial site, these brass wall sculptures were on the side streets, paying tribute to the rescuers.

 

And this flag, available for purchase, is made up of the names of the victims of the 2001 terrorist attacks.

For more information about the September 11 Memorial, visit their website: www.911memorial.org.

My fellow Aussie blogger, Louisa Claire, filmed her visit to the Memorial site. If you are interested in seeing the surrounds with her commentary, click here.

I remember when the terrorist attacks happened. I had no idea of the scale of the buildings that had been hit. I had no idea of the enormity of the tragedy. To visit the site gave me that perspective, and the chance to pay respects to those who died and who worked around the clock rescuing survivors and rebuilding the site.

London's calling!

I find myself procrastinating right now. All day actually. I have baked, done loads of washing and dishes, changed my bedding and cooked two meals from scratch. Hell, I've even shelled a coconut with a hammer and cleaver. It's not like I have been unproductive. But I have one column and two submissions to write. But instead I find myself enjoying the music from the 1960s on Heartbeat, a bit tipsy from one bottle of cider, and flicking through my London Encounter book.

Because, today I booked a flight to London!!

It's all happened very quickly. Two weeks ago I met with Changing Faces and the Centre for Appearance Research - both great meetings and I left feeling very invigorated. They both wanted me to spend time with them to see what they do. Last week I had a chat to one of my biggest mentors in my day job. She wanted to know about my Aim for the Stars grant and how I will use it and how she can help me. I told her about the meetings I'd had a few days before, and my goal to branch out speaking and possibly starting a Changing Faces in Australia,

She suggested I take the opportunity to use some of my grant money to extend my overseas trip and go to London for a conference and work experience at both companies. My parents were also keen for me to go to the United Kingdom. It's my heritage, and I have a British passport and I will be able to learn and travel.

So I confirmed work experience at Changing Faces and the Centre for Appearance Research, booked extra leave (seven weeks off work!!), checked out my working eligibility with the British consulate, asked permission from the Aim for the Stars Foundation (I needed to confirm whether this was appropriate use of the grant) and banked my grant cheque.

And today I booked my flight! (I had to change my flight from Australia to LA which took some time and planning, but much cheaper than I worried about). I have never been this spontaneous! I leave on 30 June, spend three weeks in London and fly to Los Angeles on 22 July. I spend two days there where I'll meet my Mum, and then fly to New York for 17 days, including going to the BlogHer conference! I cannot wait.

Of course I am freaking out too. Worried about luggage allowances, how much vaseline I will take, whether I'll get too tired or sore, the weather, whether I'll have enough money. But for the most part of it, I am so excited!

When I am in the UK I will be basing myself in London (for some of the time I'll be staying with a friend who I had stay when I first moved to Melbourne) and meeting up with my family and friends including some within the ichthyosis community.

I feel so incredibly lucky for these opportunities. And so very proud of making this happen. I've developed confidence to approach people and built up a number of valuable contacts who have already provided so much guidance and encouragement.

Yay! London's calling :)

Bill Cunningham New York

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Bill Cunningham New York is a delightful documentary that made me excited for New York and also inspired by a man devoting his life to doing what he loves. I admire him so much.

Bill Is a photojournalist for the New York Times. He rides around on his bicycle and stops to take photos of the fashion on the streets. He is also an octogenarian.

The documentary featured a number of high profile journalism, fashion and art identities commenting on Bill's life - Anna Wintour, Iris Apfel, Annette De la Renta, Editta Sherman, Tom Wolfe and Brooke Astor. I recall reading an article about Iris Apfel late last year, and Bill Cunningham New York made me want to learn more about her. She truly has a zest for life, and an amazing fashion sense.

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The founder of street style in the 1950s, Bill loves seeing what real women wear. He loves clothing that can translate from catwalk to sidewalk. And it's clear when he loves an outfirt worn on the catwalk - he stops to photograph it.

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Although invited to hightown parties bustling with celebrities and socialites he said he most prefers the clothes women on the street wear. Because, unlike celebrities, real women choose their own clothes and style, and this is what makes them interesting. He said people ask him why he hadn't photographed a certain celeb at an event - and his reason is that their style didn't grab his attention.

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Despite mixing with the social scene, Bill doesn't subscribe to living extravagantly. For years he lived in a shoebox of a unit in New York artists' residence Carnegie Hall - until relocated in 2010 due to development. He didn't have many clothes - his 'uniform' is dust jackets garbage men wore - they withstand the damage of a heavy camera around his neck. He also uses traditional 35 mm film in his non digital SLR camera. Hi hearing is failing, but he has an incredible eye for detail, assisting the photo editors with the layout of his columns, below.

He is a simple man - a journalist of scrupulous integrity. He doesn't accept payment for his work, and he also won't accept free meals or drinks when he is at events, citing he's there to work. A friend of his commented she believes he may have been born into wealth because of the simple frugal way he lives, and still sustaining a happy and long life. It's quite extreme really. He's friends with some of the fashion industry's biggest icons, but also relates to the grass roots of the industry - taking part in protests to save New York's garment district.

Aside from his dedication to doing what he loves, for the love of it only - was his acceptance and open mindedness towards New York's diverse community, despite his generation. He's friends with people of all ages, races and sexual orientation.

Another thing I noticed were his older female friends who were ageing proudly - looking glamourous - dripping with jewels and wearing luxurious clothing, and maintaining youthful spirit (Iris Apfel classes herself as 'the world's oldest teenager') but their faces were marked with age spots and wrinkles. It was beautiful to see.

Watching this documentary gave me a sense of excitement about what's to come when I go to New York. I thought about what clothes I will pack (the big issues) and the sights I'd like to visit. I'd LOVE to meet Bill! The documentary gave me the confidence to just be myself (in New York and elsewhere) - for individuality is interesting. Former Nepalese UN leader Shail Upadhya - providing commentary in the documentary, is certainly very happy wearing such individual clothes!

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I came out of the documentary feeling so uplifted, and incredibly excited for my trip ahead. 


View Bill Cunningham's New York Times column here.

Read more about the film here.

I think the season of Bill Cunningham New York is now finished in Australia but you can buy a region one DVD at certain book stores and online. I highly recommend it.