world war 2
If you've seen this video, or if you follow me on Instagram, you'd know that the first place we headed for in South of Japan was Nagasaki.
If you're familiar with the World War 2 or the history of Asia, you'd know that Japan occupied many countries during that time (Singapore included) and they only retreated in 1945 after an atomic bomb was released in Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Nagasaki is a beautiful city, with PERFECT weather. And because of their history, the main tourist attractions in the region were related to the World War 2, namely the Nagasaki Peace Park and Atomic Bomb Museum.
It was a perfect day to visit a park, and so we hit up the Nagasaki Peace Park first. This park was to commemorate the peace in Japan after the war and to serve as a reminder of the importance of peace in today's world. Something I think is absolutely relevant considering all the issues going on in our world now. The golden sculpture above is probably my favourite. It has 7 people holding hands forming what looks like our earth, which symbolises 7 continents living in peace.
- Starts singing John Legend's song -
You can see from the flowers around the park and the way the park is preserved that the Japanese really remember the destruction that ensued with the bombing of both Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and that it really does serve to say, war = destruction, and peace is something the world really needs.
What I WoreCoat - Coldwear | Top - Shein.com | Scarf - Primark | Shoes - Timberland
After walking around the park and seeing the beautiful sculptures and different symbols of peace, we headed to the hypocenter where the atomic bomb landed, and then on to the Atomic Bomb Museum.
Visiting these 2 locations back to back was one heck of an emotional journey. I reckon my emotions would have been less volatile if we ended off at the peace park, as I was near to tears by the end of the museum journey.
These colourful cranes above were found in several places, and from what I know, they represent wishes of peace.
THE CONTROVERSY
In the atomic bomb museum, I finally understood the controversy people talk about when it comes to Japan admitting their involvement in the war. The Atomic Bomb Museum started their timeline from 1943 and it showed what happened to the Japanese after the bomb landed in Nagasaki.
Unlike the Germans the Japanese don't really talk much about their tyranny during that period. This atomic bomb museum gave 1-2 liners about the Japanese occupation, and their conflicts with the U.S. which we all know isn't as "simple" as that.
Since Singapore was once under their rule, from the history lessons I've learnt in school, and war stories I heard from my grandfather (he lived through the war), I know that they definitely downplayed the events that happened before 1943.
Still, it was the most heart wrenching thing. I've been to history museums where I've seen the cruelty of the Japanese soldiers in the past during the war, but what i've never seen is what happened to them after the war. And although some people may criticise and say the way they represent facts and how the war came about is slightly dodgy, I think it's merely one of perspective.
Just like how in Singapore, our timeline ends at 1945, and our textbooks/history lessons don't talk about what happen to the Japanese after the bombing, in Nagasaki, they leave out chunks of their involvement in Asia and begin talking about events that caused them destruction. So many innocent Japanese died because of this, and my heart broke reading about the stories and post atomic bomb effects (from burns to mutations of bodies it was horrible).
Regardless, thinking back to the peace park and how that structure symbolises 7 continents living together in peace, I think we all can take a page out of this history book and learn that war NEVER ends up in anything but destruction, for all parties involved.
Make Peace, Not War
21 December 2015 Nagasaki Peace Park, 2400-3 Matsuyamamachi, Nagasaki-shi, Nagasaki-ken 852-8118, Japan
I know, it all seems a little bit dark and depressing talking about the war, but honestly, Berlin is one of the most interesting cities i've been to.
Going to Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp is a surreal experience. When you first get to the Concentration Camp, you see this BIG Letterings on the gate that says "Work will set you free". And we now know, that work never set the prisoners of Sachsenhausen free. Standing in front of the gate, you can almost imagine the tiny sliver of hope given to the prisoners, and knowing the facts of today just increases your empathy level.
Before we entered, our guide shared with us a brief background of the camp, he told us about the different type of prisoners and different triangles sewed on their uniform to represent the different crimes they were arrested for. Some were prisoners because they committed a crime or an offence, however, some people were just thrown in and labeled under "OTHERS" with the black triangle because there may not have been a legitimate reason to arrest them. The jews were tagged with an additional yellow triangle to single them out from the other prisoners.
It was like they were branded and marked, instead of being people, they were known by triangles and numbers.
After entering the camp grounds, we stood in the centre of what would be the place where the head counts were done several times in a day. I can almost imagine the entire place filled with people in neat rows and standing at attention whilst the guards slowly number them off. The wind was so strong in december, and it started to snow after a while. My face was hurting from the pelting snow and it was JUST FREAKING COLD. The guide made us stand outside as he told us more about the lives of the people in the camp, referencing different things along the way.
There was one statement he said that I couldn't forget. He said, "The prisoners stood out here at times for hours and hours with just their pyjamas on. And in January, the weather gets even colder." What I felt at that point in time was not even 20% of what the prisoners were made to go through.
Standing still out in the cold with pyjamas alone during head count is a torture itself. It was absolutely heartbreaking to imagine what those people had to endure.
The concentration camp looked extremely bare, apart from a few barracks that were left behind and preserved after the war. I could almost imagine the entire space being filled with container looking rows of the same shed where the prisoners lived and worked. In the old living quarters that were left behind, we could walk in and take a peak at what would be a prisoner's bunker at that time. It really does reflect some of the scenes in the German Film, The Counterfeiters, that has scenes resembling Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp.
Apart from showing the different sights, there is also a museum with artefacts and pictures giving more information to the visitors of the camp. You also get to see a remake of the triple decked beds that were used in the camp.
Since the entire time, the snow was getting heavier and I was not dressed warm enough, I was either shocked and horrified by the stories told, or trying to imagine how prisoners would be living in the winter without sufficiently warm clothes. I couldn't get the image of them standing out in the cold and having to be completely still whilst the head count was going on, especially as the number of prisoners grew larger and larger.
It all sounds very morbid doesn't it? But I must say the 4 days I spent around Berlin was unlike any other city that I've been to in Europe. The culture and history is so rich, there are so many more day trips to various memorials and concentration camps, that this is nothing but the tip of the iceberg.
It was an extremely educational 4 days, and I'm so so glad to have began my trip there.
It is one of those places that will be remembered for a really long time.
Not having travelled to Europe (before 2014) I was never really well-versed in European history. Especially not about the effects of World War 2 on them. I'm glad they have such memorials and tours to share with other visitors their culture, their past, and allow us to understand and experience history from a different perspective.
Its akin to stepping into a historical book and getting a glimpse of the different events unfold. It was the best 12euros I paid. 12 Euros for a tour like this, i'd do it again in a heartbeat.
If you're ever in Berlin, and especially if you've never been to a concentration camp, do visit the Sachsenhausen Camp. It's so informative, and you really get to understand and imagine how its like in the past, which is way more valuable than what you learn in books.
Or, if you don't have the opportunity to visit Europe, I hope you enjoyed my pictures and that it managed to bring you on the journey I had. Hopefully the stories allowed you to see a different side of traveling, and that it can also be interesting to go on cultural/historical tours like these when we travel to new places.
Let me know your thoughts down in the comments section below!
*This is NOT a sponsored post
Before we entered, our guide shared with us a brief background of the camp, he told us about the different type of prisoners and different triangles sewed on their uniform to represent the different crimes they were arrested for. Some were prisoners because they committed a crime or an offence, however, some people were just thrown in and labeled under "OTHERS" with the black triangle because there may not have been a legitimate reason to arrest them. The jews were tagged with an additional yellow triangle to single them out from the other prisoners.
It was like they were branded and marked, instead of being people, they were known by triangles and numbers.
After entering the camp grounds, we stood in the centre of what would be the place where the head counts were done several times in a day. I can almost imagine the entire place filled with people in neat rows and standing at attention whilst the guards slowly number them off. The wind was so strong in december, and it started to snow after a while. My face was hurting from the pelting snow and it was JUST FREAKING COLD. The guide made us stand outside as he told us more about the lives of the people in the camp, referencing different things along the way.
There was one statement he said that I couldn't forget. He said, "The prisoners stood out here at times for hours and hours with just their pyjamas on. And in January, the weather gets even colder." What I felt at that point in time was not even 20% of what the prisoners were made to go through.
Standing still out in the cold with pyjamas alone during head count is a torture itself. It was absolutely heartbreaking to imagine what those people had to endure.
The concentration camp looked extremely bare, apart from a few barracks that were left behind and preserved after the war. I could almost imagine the entire space being filled with container looking rows of the same shed where the prisoners lived and worked. In the old living quarters that were left behind, we could walk in and take a peak at what would be a prisoner's bunker at that time. It really does reflect some of the scenes in the German Film, The Counterfeiters, that has scenes resembling Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp.
Apart from showing the different sights, there is also a museum with artefacts and pictures giving more information to the visitors of the camp. You also get to see a remake of the triple decked beds that were used in the camp.
In the camp, was a mini "site plan" that the guides could use to illustrate the process where by people were brought from one room to another, to be shot, and how they decided to hide the victims face from the guards and only revealing the neck, so as to prevent the guards from being traumatised/feeling the after effects of shooting someone alive. Prisoners were told to line up against the wall as if to measure their height, and at that moment, they'd be shot in the neck, their body disposed and water will run to wash away the blood stains. The prisoners were deluded into thinking they were there for a health check up or something normal, and the next prisoner would always be unaware of what just happened in the room when they stepped in.
 |
| Another punishment tool used on prisoners to hang them by their limbs if they disobeyed. |
Since the entire time, the snow was getting heavier and I was not dressed warm enough, I was either shocked and horrified by the stories told, or trying to imagine how prisoners would be living in the winter without sufficiently warm clothes. I couldn't get the image of them standing out in the cold and having to be completely still whilst the head count was going on, especially as the number of prisoners grew larger and larger.
It all sounds very morbid doesn't it? But I must say the 4 days I spent around Berlin was unlike any other city that I've been to in Europe. The culture and history is so rich, there are so many more day trips to various memorials and concentration camps, that this is nothing but the tip of the iceberg.
It was an extremely educational 4 days, and I'm so so glad to have began my trip there.
It is one of those places that will be remembered for a really long time.
Not having travelled to Europe (before 2014) I was never really well-versed in European history. Especially not about the effects of World War 2 on them. I'm glad they have such memorials and tours to share with other visitors their culture, their past, and allow us to understand and experience history from a different perspective.
Its akin to stepping into a historical book and getting a glimpse of the different events unfold. It was the best 12euros I paid. 12 Euros for a tour like this, i'd do it again in a heartbeat.
Tour information:
SANDERMANs New Berlin Tours
Sachsenhausen Memorial - You get 1 Euros off when you buy it whilst on their free walking tour.
Click HERE for more information
If you're ever in Berlin, and especially if you've never been to a concentration camp, do visit the Sachsenhausen Camp. It's so informative, and you really get to understand and imagine how its like in the past, which is way more valuable than what you learn in books.
Or, if you don't have the opportunity to visit Europe, I hope you enjoyed my pictures and that it managed to bring you on the journey I had. Hopefully the stories allowed you to see a different side of traveling, and that it can also be interesting to go on cultural/historical tours like these when we travel to new places.
Let me know your thoughts down in the comments section below!
*This is NOT a sponsored post
A Glimpse of WW2 - Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp
29 January 2015 Sachsenhausen, Oranienburg, Germany
This is so long overdue, but I guess thats alright since I haven't been visiting many new attractions.. I think. Time passes so fast here that its kind of hard to keep up.
Just had a wonderful weekend with Jovian and Germaine coming in for a short visit :) More about that next time! Its nice to revisit attractions again with friends. Even though i've seen them its a different experience when there are others around!
Okay, back to my Normandy Trip. Here are the photos of the D-day beaches that we visited :)
The walk up to Pointe du Hoc
The guide was telling us how this was one of the guns/launchers used during WW2, and this little guy, probably 5 years old went: "THATS A GUN?!" to his mum and repeated the question twice because he didnt believe his mother's "yes it is". Adorable.
German soldiers would hide/take cover here during the war, or like use it to store ammunition or something.
Pointe du Hoc over looked the English Channel. It was such a view. Plus the historic events that was attached to this place, after watching videos/looking at images from the war memorial, its as though you could picture the warships coming towards the shore.
This was Omaha Beach
This area is so unoccupied, and its probably just me, but it was nice to see beauty and flowers grow in places that bombs used to be dropped, where there were holds in the ground formed by the the shells of the bombs.
The Pointe du Hoc
Place where the german soldiers went to watch/guard the area. From that high up, you could literally see any military ship coming in from MILES away.
More places where soldiers would take cover.
The area was so open and vast, that if bombs were dropped, there were just so few places soldiers could hide, hence the insane death toll numbers.
Country side houses on our way to Juno Beach
Flags mounted along the walkway near Juno beach in remembrance of the people, the lives that were lost, and the events that took place here.
Juno Beach
On this structure names of those who sacrificed their lives were carved, and at the foot of it you can see how their relatives(?) people in general left things in remembrance of them.
TOURIST DOING THEIR THINGS. LOL. This is one of the tanks that were used during the war.
We also visited the American Cemetery and Memorial. That place was just so serene, so peaceful. The grass were perfectly cut, the trees were as green as can be. Everything was so neatly lined up and well maintained.
This is known as The Spirit of American Youth Rising from the Waves
Behind the statue, it was this huge area with 150 000 names of the soldiers whose bodies were never found
Their names and rank were carved in alphabetical order on the walls around the perimeter of the area.
Flowers at the foot of some of the panels.
The most heart breaking part was seeing the words:
"COMRADES IN ARMS WHOSE RESTING PLACE IS KNOWN ONLY TO GOD"
and
"HERE ARE RECORDED OF AMERICANS WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE SERVICE OF THEIR COUNTRY AND WHO SLEEP IN UNKNOWN GRAVES"
Carved above the 150k names. The average age of the soldiers was 19/20. Same age, different era, different place, such different lives.
A map showing how the ships came in from the different beaches and the military's route of attack
Those whose bodies were found were burried on this plot of land with white crosses lined up in PERFECTLY straight rows. It was such a surreal sight. It actually felt a little uncomfortable and disruptive/disrespectful to walk on the grass and take pictures.
The tour guide said there there were a few brothers that fought the war together and were buried side by side on this plot of land. And a 6 sided Star of David in place of a cross were given to the Jewish-American Soldiers.
There were three recipients of the Medal of Honor. Those crosses, like the one belonging to Theodore Roosevelt Jr. were carved in gold lettering. I didn't walk through all the crosses to find them, but here is a picture of it on wiki.
Overlooking the Omaha Beach
A high point on Juno Beach where soldiers could watch if there were military boats coming in
It was nice being in the country side. Nice to take a little trip to experience another sight of France and to indulge a little in its history.
Canadian flags lined up seen from afar.
Juno Memorial
More names of the soldiers who sacrificed their lives
And that ends of the D-day Landing themed trip to Normandy. Historic trips always make me appreciate life alot more. I remember I used to hear stories about Japanese Occupations from my grandfather, and the things they did to survive through the period.
Seeing the suffering and events that took place in France (Europe) you realise how damaging and scarring that period was, and how this place is such a sacred ground for the Americans, Canadians, French etc.
While I was just reflecting alone about how hard life used to be during world war 2, and how much torture and hatred there was during that time, it just hit me, that these things that we see at memorials, the pictures of the wars, these images are some peoples' reality. The unrest going on especially in the middle east, ukraine, and other parts of the world... It was just a heartbreaking thought.
I'm not one to be very vocal about such things, plus I'm pretty ignorant about politics and world events. But at times like these, you slowly realise that people are only humans, finite, and broken.
On a more personal note, it was nice to meet the people on the trip. The average age group of the people on this trip was probably 40. And I think there were 3asians, including myself out of the group of 50 people. It was nice to talk to these older couples, hear what they've done in Paris, tell them about my life, school, and what I'm doing at work. Their ideal traveling includes having a great meal, taking things slow, enjoying the moments, so unlike us young people - we pretty much rush through everything just to SEE IT ALL.
Another thing, growing up in Asia, its always about working hard and doing what you're suppose to do, what will make your parents proud, what would get you the best CV, the best grades etc.
Meeting people from The States and Canada, it was nice to hear things like "Your course gives you a wonderful opportunity!" as much as I have almost no expectations/faith in what is promised in my future by REP, hearing somebody from across the world say that, somehow seems to validate (just a little) the hardwork and struggles/uncertainty.They also told me to "Enjoy when you're young", "Keep chasing your dreams" and "Study hard!"
It was nice especially when they said to me "good luck in everything and keep chasing your dreams" its probably the first time somebody has ever told me to chase my dreams.
Even though at this point, I still think i'm probably going to live the life I'm SUPPOSED to live for the rest of my life, its nice to have hope that one day i'll have a dream, and that I could actually chase after it. Its never too late to have new dreams isn't it? Or have we lost the opportunities? Have we already gone down the wrong path and there is no turning back? I'd like to believe not. I'd like to believe I still have the ability to dream.
Technically, living in Paris IS living my dream. My dream when I was a young teenager: To live alone in another country, to visit Paris, NYC, London, all the great cities. I sort of let that dream die the moment I stepped into college. After certain failures/setbacks. Thinking that i'll just do what gets me decent grades and live the typical life.
I guess being in REP, though has brought me a lot of agony and dragged my confidence down to the pits, right now, it has just made my dreams come true. Sure living in Paris is not like what my 13 (even 15 or 18) year old self would imagine, but its great. Its wonderful. Its really an enriching experience, to be out of my comfort zone AND in a different country. This is a chance to decide how my life will go in the future, learn to accept myself (i think this is going well!) and learn to love myself/be proud of myself.
It isn't about pleasing everyone, it isn't about getting the first class honours to make your parents proud, it isn't about getting straight A's so your siblings will think you're a good example. Its about being proud of yourself, and being happy with your own achievements. Because that can never be taken away from you.
Normandy Trip - Part 2: Beaches + American Cemetery and Memorial
2 August 2014 Normandy
Subscribe to:
Posts
(
Atom
)
