Today, I woke up around 7:30 a.m. to rainy weather and a chilly temperature of 5 degrees Celsius. I braved the cold and took a refreshing shower, although I was surprised to find that no one else seemed to be doing the same. The communal bathroom was impeccably clean, and I, as a Thai person, may have had a greater appreciation for its tidiness than others (proudly so!). Afterward, I headed down to have a typical American breakfast in the capital city (how fancy does that sound?). The breakfast here was simple, with a buffet of bread, tea, coffee, fresh milk, yogurt, and cornflakes for us to choose from.

After fueling up with breakfast, I was ready to explore Washington D.C. on foot. Despite being the capital city, D.C. isn’t very big and it’s easy to walk around and explore the city. The sidewalks and crosswalks are well organized, making walking a breeze. The weather was chilly but pleasant this morning, although a bit humid due to the recent rain. Nonetheless, I walked comfortably without encountering any flooded areas, and the atmosphere in the city was surprisingly quiet and serene, despite being a workday. My first goal for the day was to visit the highlight of Washington D.C.: the White House, which was about 1 kilometer away from my hotel. It took me about 15 minutes to walk there.

The name “The White House” is undoubtedly familiar to everyone. It was the residence and workplace of the President of the United States since 1800, during the time of President John Adams. It is located on Pennsylvania Avenue. The building was designed in the Neoclassical style by an Irish architect named James Hoban and took eight years to construct. The interior spans approximately 5,100 square meters and includes a total of 132 rooms and one swimming pool. The White House was destroyed by fire during the War of 1812 and was subsequently rebuilt. Furthermore, the rooms and interior spaces have been modified several times according to the preferences of each president. For American citizens, visiting the interior of the White House is not difficult. However, for foreigners, access must be arranged through their embassy, and a long waiting period may be required for security reasons. Therefore, it is almost impossible for foreigners to visit the interior of the White House. Nevertheless, viewing the exterior is still possible, and security personnel at the gate are responsible for safeguarding tourists who come to take pictures up close

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I spent some time taking pictures in front of the White House, and then I wandered around to take some shots of the view from behind (The Eclipse). Later that evening, I returned to see the atmosphere at night. From behind the White House, I walked to another landmark of Washington D.C., the Washington Monument. It took me only about 10 minutes to get there. The Washington Monument is an obelisk made of marble, granite, and sandstone, standing at 169 meters tall. It was built in honor of George Washington, the first President of the United States, and is the tallest structure in Washington D.C. Designed by Robert Mills, it was completed in 1884 and was registered as a national historical landmark in 1966.

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While I was walking around the Washington Monument, it suddenly started pouring rain. I had to quickly find a place to take shelter. I looked left and right and saw a building nearby, so I ran over to it. It turned out to be the Smithsonian National Museum of American History: Kenneth E. Behring Center, which wasn’t originally in my plan. However, seeing a long queue of people waiting to get in made me curious about what was inside. Despite the heavy rain, no one seemed to mind waiting, which made me think that it must be something special and interesting. The best part is Admission was free! In the end, it felt like I stumbled upon a hidden gem. I highly recommend visiting this museum if you ever get the chance. Looking back, I can’t believe I didn’t include it in my plan earlier!

Once inside, I discovered that the museum houses important artifacts that showcase American society, politics, culture, science, and military history. The building itself, designed by renowned architects McKim Mead & White, is a historical gem. Visiting the National Museum of American History was like traveling back in time, learning about the country’s origins, and tracing its journey to the present. As someone who wasn’t initially interested in history, this experience changed my perspective. The museum is open daily from 10.00AM to 5.30PM.

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I spent almost an hour wandering through the museum, exploring the history of America from its early days as a predominantly rural country, to the development of the railroad system, and finally to space exploration. It was fascinating to see how the American people have progressed over the years. As I walked through the exhibits, I encountered numerous groups of schoolchildren and students eagerly learning about their country’s past. Later on, just after noon, as the rain was gone, I made my way to another iconic location that everyone knows, the US Capitol, also known as the Capitol Building. This is where the members of Congress and the highest legislative body of America convene, much like the Thai Parliament in Thailand. Designed by William Thornton in the Neoclassical style, the Capitol Building was completed in 1800 after seven years of construction. The building stands at five stories tall, with a magnificent dome towering 82 meters high, making it one of the most beautiful capitol buildings in the world.

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At around 1 pm, I began to feel hungry, so I decided to look for something to eat in Washington DC while strolling around the city. This place is really pleasant to be in, with its calm atmosphere and city block layout similar to New York. I walked around without getting lost and had lunch at McDonald’s like I always do. Afterward, I took a break to rest my tired feet and continued my journey to the Georgetown area at around 3 pm. I walked as I always do, even though it was about 3 kilometers away because I still had some time left before sunset, and I fell in love with walking and exploring Washington DC 🙂

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I wandered around Georgetown, a charming community located in the northwest of Washington DC, near the Potomac River. The neighborhood is known for its Federal-style architecture, trendy fashion and design stores, and cool eateries along Wisconsin Ave and M Street. In addition to the shopping and dining, you can also stroll along the river and enjoy the scenic view. Georgetown was definitely a highlight of my solo trip to Washington DC.

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I walked along Georgetown and then turned out to go for a walk along the riverfront, passing in front of the Thai embassy in Washington DC. I have to say that the evening view by the river was incredibly beautiful. Moreover, today was a Friday evening, and people were out relaxing and shopping at the nearby shopping mall, which was quite crowded. Teenagers came out to skate on the ice rink, and adults sat outside, hanging out. It was so chill, and it seemed like a great time for the capital city

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As the sun began to set, I walked back to the heart of the city once again. As I mentioned earlier, I went back to take some pictures of the White House at night, and on the way, I also enjoyed the atmosphere of the city on a Friday night.

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After enjoying the nighttime atmosphere to my heart’s content, I took the opportunity to grab something to eat before returning to the hotel to pack my belongings neatly. I had to do this because I would be leaving tomorrow. Today was a day well spent exploring and even though I was tired, I felt satisfied with the experience. It gave me the energy to face life again and the feeling of leveling up after this trip to USA alone was indescribable. At least I proved to myself that I could step out of my comfort zone and go out to explore things I’ve never encountered before. Moreover, traveling to a country like USA which is not easy to navigate, but not too difficult either, is a journey to the land of freedom that taught me so much. 🙂

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Written by : SHIPY SIWARIT TIASUWATTISETH

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