This article first appeared in BTS Issue 4.
Global Leadership Programme (GLP): SUTD’s premier signature programme offers an at least 8-week, funded, fully immersive summer experience at Stanford University, TU Berlin, University of California, Berkeley, and Zhejiang University.
Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz Island, San Francisco
By Chua Jia Li Julia, Junior (Class of 2021)
Engineering Product Development (EPD)
Ever felt a sense of satisfaction just by being somewhere? That was how it felt to be on the Golden Gate Bridge. It was an indescribable feeling to be able to walk across the bridge and enjoy views of the bay from an engineering marvel. The Golden Gate Bridge once held the record of being the world’s longest and tallest suspension bridge. Its unique reddish orange colour was picture-perfect against its natural topography. We had so much fun just posing and taking pictures on the iconic landmark that half of our day was gone when we got to the midpoint of the bridge. It was truly an unforgettable experience. I cannot wait to revisit the bridge and to experience the inexpressible sense of content again!
Alcatraz Island was one of the most unusual places to visit in the US. Back in the days, it was deemed as an “inescapable” maximum-security prison housing several notorious criminals. Now, it is a museum where we got insights on what it was like being a prisoner or warden there. The Alcatraz Cell House’s audio tour gave us an immersive experience as the narrator described the activities that had occurred in different parts of the cell house and a couple of famous escape attempts. The narration was accompanied by sound effects of gunshots and sirens, it was almost as if we were brought back to the night of the escape! Given the chance, I would love to visit Alcatraz again to explore the rest of the island and learn more about its unique history.
Lower Antelope Canyon, Arizona, and Six Flags theme parks, Los Angeles and San Francisco
By Chong Chin Hong, Junior (Class of 2021)
Engineering Systems and Design (ESD)
Lower Antelope Canyon is one of the most memorable places by far! It is a work of nature and you can’t find it anywhere else in the world. The canyon runs beneath ground level in a desert and creates this magical colour effect that is so beautiful! The canyon is managed by native Navajo Indians and their tour guides are super friendly! A great check off my bucket list but is definitely worth many revisits!
I really love roller-coasters and Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in San Francisco and Six Flags Magic Mountain in Los Angeles are the best! The rides are super addictive (seriously not for the faint-hearted) and there is a huge variety of rides to go for! From backwards-moving roller-coasters to DC Comics themed rides, I sat in the front seat for almost every ride! Warner Bros. Studio is in the vicinity of Six Flags Magic Mountain, so it is super convenient to tour both places!
Yosemite National Park, and Oracle Park, California
By Yeo Ying Xuan, Junior (Class of 2021)
Engineering Systems and Design (ESD)
A great weekend road trip during the summer sessions and be back in time for lessons the following week! Many scenic and picturesque viewpoints including Vernal Falls, Half Dome, Tunnel View and Glacier Point. Be ready to get completely drenched on the Vernal Fall Trail by the splash of the waterfall. There is a large selection of hiking trails catering to hikers of all abilities, and many climbing locations at Yosemite Valley, an expansive playground for
climbers out there!
Oracle Park is located in downtown San Francisco, which is only a 1-hour bus ride away from the UC Berkeley campus. Bask in the atmosphere and experience what it’s like to watch a Major League Baseball (MLB) game in person! Home of the San Francisco Giants, Oracle Park, its dramatic and hyped crowd and their intense enthusiasm for sports is a memory that I will never forget!
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