Project Dawn: Rising Dawn, Raising Hopes
Many teams that have long went and came back with smiles on their faces and tan lines across their arms. All these a tribute both the happiness and hardships met along the journey. Seeing them return with such simple joy and fulfillment left me wanting to experience such a journey first-handed as well. So I too jumped onto the bandwagon and left for Cambodia with an open mind and heart.
The beautiful sunset that greeted us on our first evening at Hope Village.
Fast-forwarding, we were sent off in a similar fashion by a beautiful rainbow that painted the sky on one of our last days there.
I had the opportunity to experience many firsts in my life, such as wall mural painting. An artistically-inclined kid there, Charlie, contributed a great part in this - proof that children worth less in man's eyes are worthwhile enough to be blessed with talents.
At the housebuilding site, which honestly was the activity I least looked forward. It left even the strongest of us worn and tired at the end of each day, but it was inspiring to see everyone trudge on,even in the rain, and the genuine gratitude of the family the house was built for left an impression on me.
What left the greatest impact on me, however, were the kids at Hope Village.
Despite knowing they were unwanted by their families, they're still able to wake up with a smile everyday and live on the simple pleasures in life - love, friendship and faith. It is inspiring to hear the children talk about their ambitions in life and see their determination during classes to work hard and achieve their dreams. Singapore kids could really take a leaf from them. It is heartening to see even the young toddlers share their only piece of candy with someone else, when usually a kid's first instinct is to have it for himself. It's saddening to have to leave them, but at least thanks to Facebook and email, we still can write letters to each other.
Celine with a big balloon, a big smile and an even bigger heart.
As cliche as it might sound, I couldn't have asked for a better team to go on this youth expedition with. Even though everyone's from different faculties and years, I would say most of us bonded quite well among each other. Miss all the singing and talking in chipmunk voices with my dorm mates, playing bridge mahjong and uno late into the night, and unintentionally eavesdropping on the guys' nightly HTHT sessions, due to my close proximity to their dorm and their nightly drunken stupor, thanks to the cheap beer, that induced them to talk late into the night at the top of their voices.
At Angkor Wat, it was a pity though that we couldn't catch the sunset which I heard is breath-taking, nor try climbing the 'Stairway to Heaven'.
11 of us then proceeded on an extension trip after the project, as we couldn't get enough of Cambodia. The R&R was really relaxing and we got to see many different facades that Cambodia had to offer. Got to know my fellow dawnies better on the extension trip.
On the bamboo train at Battambang, which was one of the more beautiful provinces that we were at.
Who can forget the 9-hour long scenic boat ride we took from Battambang to Siem Reap that left our butts aching and necks sore.
Happy faces on the lorry after a night out at the market.
All in, we led a luxurious taitai-ish extension trip filled with good food, buffets, shopping, sightseeing, a concert, a manicure and massages. We were reminiscing on the myriad of things we got to do on the trip that would never get a chance to in Singapore. Such as flirting with the shopkeepers to get bargains, lugging our luggages up 4 flights of steps at motels, listening to Khmer karaoke during bus rides. Also worth highlighting is the different modes of transports we took - bus, bamboo train, lorry, van, tuk tuk, bicycles, motorcycles, and boat.
I really enjoyed myself immensely during these 18-days. It was a time well spent, albeit the doubts we all had in our minds over the small, temporal impact our contribution had. However, seeing the smiles and hearing the laughter of the Khmers really reminded us that it is the little things in life that truly matters.
If given another opportunity, I wouldn't mind embarking on another expedition project, probably either to Vietnam or Thailand the next time. Living such a sheltered and comfortable live in Singapore, it is really an eye-opener to venture out of our comfort zones to live and interact in communities less fortunate than us so as to be able to experience the simple pleasures in life.
One with pure joy and happiness,
smiles and laughter,
bridge and massages :D
rainbows and sunsets.
etched in memory
Monday, July 12, 2010
Not gonna write you a love song
Math tells us three of the saddest love stories: Of parallel lines, who were never meant to meet. Of tangent lines, who were together once then parted forever. And of asymptotes, who could only get closer and closer, but could never be together.
etched in memory
Monday, May 24, 2010
Variations on The Kanon
Variations on The Kanon, by Pachebel. With a few mistakes that I prefer to think of as 'impromptu improvisations' :D
etched in memory
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Project Dawn: Rising Dawn, Raising Hopes
Many teams that have long went and came back with smiles on their faces and tan lines across their arms. All these a tribute both the happiness and hardships met along the journey. Seeing them return with such simple joy and fulfillment left me wanting to experience such a journey first-handed as well. So I too jumped onto the bandwagon and left for Cambodia with an open mind and heart.
The beautiful sunset that greeted us on our first evening at Hope Village.
Fast-forwarding, we were sent off in a similar fashion by a beautiful rainbow that painted the sky on one of our last days there.
I had the opportunity to experience many firsts in my life, such as wall mural painting. An artistically-inclined kid there, Charlie, contributed a great part in this - proof that children worth less in man's eyes are worthwhile enough to be blessed with talents.
At the housebuilding site, which honestly was the activity I least looked forward. It left even the strongest of us worn and tired at the end of each day, but it was inspiring to see everyone trudge on,even in the rain, and the genuine gratitude of the family the house was built for left an impression on me.
What left the greatest impact on me, however, were the kids at Hope Village.
Despite knowing they were unwanted by their families, they're still able to wake up with a smile everyday and live on the simple pleasures in life - love, friendship and faith. It is inspiring to hear the children talk about their ambitions in life and see their determination during classes to work hard and achieve their dreams. Singapore kids could really take a leaf from them. It is heartening to see even the young toddlers share their only piece of candy with someone else, when usually a kid's first instinct is to have it for himself. It's saddening to have to leave them, but at least thanks to Facebook and email, we still can write letters to each other.
Celine with a big balloon, a big smile and an even bigger heart.
As cliche as it might sound, I couldn't have asked for a better team to go on this youth expedition with. Even though everyone's from different faculties and years, I would say most of us bonded quite well among each other. Miss all the singing and talking in chipmunk voices with my dorm mates, playing bridge mahjong and uno late into the night, and unintentionally eavesdropping on the guys' nightly HTHT sessions, due to my close proximity to their dorm and their nightly drunken stupor, thanks to the cheap beer, that induced them to talk late into the night at the top of their voices.
At Angkor Wat, it was a pity though that we couldn't catch the sunset which I heard is breath-taking, nor try climbing the 'Stairway to Heaven'.
11 of us then proceeded on an extension trip after the project, as we couldn't get enough of Cambodia. The R&R was really relaxing and we got to see many different facades that Cambodia had to offer. Got to know my fellow dawnies better on the extension trip.
On the bamboo train at Battambang, which was one of the more beautiful provinces that we were at.
Who can forget the 9-hour long scenic boat ride we took from Battambang to Siem Reap that left our butts aching and necks sore.
Happy faces on the lorry after a night out at the market.
All in, we led a luxurious taitai-ish extension trip filled with good food, buffets, shopping, sightseeing, a concert, a manicure and massages. We were reminiscing on the myriad of things we got to do on the trip that would never get a chance to in Singapore. Such as flirting with the shopkeepers to get bargains, lugging our luggages up 4 flights of steps at motels, listening to Khmer karaoke during bus rides. Also worth highlighting is the different modes of transports we took - bus, bamboo train, lorry, van, tuk tuk, bicycles, motorcycles, and boat.
I really enjoyed myself immensely during these 18-days. It was a time well spent, albeit the doubts we all had in our minds over the small, temporal impact our contribution had. However, seeing the smiles and hearing the laughter of the Khmers really reminded us that it is the little things in life that truly matters.
If given another opportunity, I wouldn't mind embarking on another expedition project, probably either to Vietnam or Thailand the next time. Living such a sheltered and comfortable live in Singapore, it is really an eye-opener to venture out of our comfort zones to live and interact in communities less fortunate than us so as to be able to experience the simple pleasures in life.
One with pure joy and happiness,
smiles and laughter,
bridge and massages :D
rainbows and sunsets.
Monday, July 12, 2010and i won't forget the ones that i loved
Not gonna write you a love song
Math tells us three of the saddest love stories: Of parallel lines, who were never meant to meet. Of tangent lines, who were together once then parted forever. And of asymptotes, who could only get closer and closer, but could never be together.
Monday, May 24, 2010and i won't forget the ones that i loved
Variations on The Kanon
Variations on The Kanon, by Pachebel. With a few mistakes that I prefer to think of as 'impromptu improvisations' :D
Sunday, February 21, 2010and i won't forget the ones that i loved
