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San Francisco (USA)
By Peter Lee
Golden Gate Bridge is probably the most prominent symbol of San Francisco - the highest point of the bridge stands a
magnificent height of 227 metres, with its car way at 67 metres above the water. The bridge was the pride of Joseph B.
Strauss whose persistency led to the approval and support in constructing this challenging structure to resolve the
transportation between San Francisco and Marin County, in the midst of economic depression. Guess what it took to construct
this gigantic structure which has since withstand the merciless attact of earthquakes and other natural disasters?
Yes. It took 516,000 cubic metres of cements, 100,000,000 tonnes of steel and 130,000 kilometres of metal cables. The
supports at both side of the car way are made of metal cables of diameter 1 metre! It took five years and nine lives before
the bridge was successfully completed. Other than being the landmark of the region, Golden Gate Bridge is, unfortunately,
also the notorious haven for suicide seekers.
If you come to San Francisco, you shan't miss the elegance and vibrance of Golden Gate Park. It is a 5 kilometres long and
800 metres wide greenery. The park was once a sandy patch extending from the coast. Today, its oasis feature well reflects
the achievement of human technology. It is probably the largest artificial garden in the world today.
Situated behind the location of California Academy of Science
is the unique Shakespeare Garden. The collection of flora
and plants in the garden is exclusive to those mentioned and highlighted in the plays and poems of William Shakespeare only.
About 150 varieties are collected in the garden. Across the Strybing district is a thematic botanical park dividing into
Biblical plantation, Asian plantation, etc. There is another special feature here - the fragrance park. The fragrance park is
an extensive display of fragrant flora and herbs. The park was originally designed for the blinds in mind - allowing them to
appreciate nature through the sense of smell. The introductory boards of the plants are all displayed with the language of
blinds.
One shall not miss the Panhandle and Haight Street at the end of the Garden. San Francisco was undoubtedly the capital of
hippies and Panhandle district is where you find the traces of the hippies era. In the sixties, the hippie movement advocated
the values of love, peace and joy in the midst of cold war and a typical sense of loss of direction among the youths. This
avant garde movement pull 500,000 youths from all over USA to Pandhandle and Haight Street for the Summer of Love in 1967.
They devoted their summer to poems, musics, speeches, dances, love and, not least, LSD. However, the experimentation of this
movement was not successful. The district became the haven of drug traffickers until the end of 80s instead.
Today, Haight Street is a vibrant street packed with cafes, budget restaurants, bookshops and old fashion shops. Visit No
1660, this little fashion shop best illustrates the culture of hippies. You may be able to pick up some remains of that era
for memorial purpose. Afterall, most people have ideals when they were young and all people were once young. No 1601 Haight
Ashbury Free Medical Clinic was once the favorite clinic of the hippies when they happened to overdose or other lesser
diseases. Today, it is a centre of support for AIDS patients.
If you were a youngster in the 60s, San Francisco is your nostalgic destination, especially if you loved to hum Sound of
Silence or Scarborough Fair.
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