Throwback: 28th March - 6th April 2014 (OCP to Luang Prabang)
Wednesday, September 10, 2014 | 12:57 AM | 0 ruler breaker
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| Group photo over at Terminal 2 before boarding. |
Finally, I'm here posting about my 9 days Overseas Community Project trip over at Luang Prabang, Laos, with Temasek Polytechnic in late March. I know this post came in a little too late, but, I guess I should post it since I'm free.
Day 1 - first day
Set off to Terminal 2 from home and met the other #teamLaos2014 students. Checked in, took group photos and bid goodbye to all family members. Ohya, talking about it, I remembered we saw another group of volunteers who are going over to Laos for OCP as well. And coincidentally, we are on the same plane, heading to the same location. Headed in to the gate first with Jordy, cause we have got nothing better to do, and we just sit there and chill while waiting for others.
Times up! Ready for boarding~ Didn't manage to catch much sleep, because I'm busy snapping selfie. What's new? It's RUIJIA~ As soon as we arrive the airport, the moment we step out of the airplane, WAHLA~ The temperature is a huge difference! Even though the weather is somewhere around Singapore's weather, but it's better cause it's not that humid.
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| Group photo on Laos Airline |
Headed over to the Domestic Airport, which is much smaller, and it's not well furnished. Spent an hour there before we took our domestic flight over to Luang Prabang.
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| Taken at Domestic Airport - Vientiane |
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| TP #teamLaos2014 together with the other group of volunteers from all over Singapore. |
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| Before boarding Domestic flight. |
As soon as we touched down at Luang Prabang, a coach is already waiting for us outside the airport. Loaded all our luggage and off we go to our accommodation. Passing by those streets, those alleys, those hills, those mountains, what comes into my mind is, "what a great escape to somewhere so natural." But seeing those deforestation, makes me think "I escape Singapore because of the haze, end up, there's haze here as well..." Reached our hotel, unloaded our "barangs barangs" and checked in.
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| Hotel Saysamphan |
Headed out again to grab our dinner over at their "town" (which was where we spent our 9 nights at). Was suppose to dine together with the team at the restaurant and go with the "tradition routine" But due to the lack of ingredients at the restaurant, many choose to go over to other place to dine. I stayed with 5 of my team mates to enjoy our dinner. Of course, while waiting, they decided to change some of our allowance to the local currency. Shared their local beer "Beer Lao" with one of my team mate, Gary.
After dinner, went to shop around at the night market before headed back to the hotel to rest. And that's basically how I ended my day 1 in Lao. More photos of Day 1 are uploaded on my Facebook, click here to look at them.
Day 2
Reported at the lobby as early as 8am. Headed out for sightseeing, visited temples, and also the school that we would be painting for the next few days. Met those kids there, and there's this cute little boy (whom I believe is mixed blood, cause he look quite like Caucasian) most of us go crazy over him, and we kept asking him to take photo with us. Visited our all time favorite shopping mart, Wan Jia Long, and found that teddy bear which cost so little. Headed back to hostel/hotel to put our groceries and off for dinner at the usual night market. Photos of Day 2: here
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| GroupAB |
Day 3
Visited the famous waterfall over at Luang Prabang, Kuangsi Waterfall. Get into the stream, and fell. Wasn't even suppose to get water, but who cares. And the fell wasn't done on intention, it was an accident. Got soaked, and that's when I see who really cared in the whole group :) 患难见真情, that's what they say. After the waterfall, we headed to some wholesale market (I think) to walk, still thought we could get something there, but everything was so expensive, and so common (cause we can get it at the night market at a cheaper price) Back to our favorite super mart, then to dinner. Spent our night over at Jy's room, to talk about the teaching materials of Group A. Only managed to return to room at around 4am, after lots of fun and laughter. Photos: here.
Day 4
The real mission starts today, headed over to LYU (Lao Youth Union) to teach the locals some techniques that they could use during their work. But of course, today's mission for group B was to assist group A while they're teaching. But most of the time, I was taking selfie and taking photos with two of my groupmate, Jy and D. Look at the photos here and you'll know what I'm talking about. Spent our night and dinner time over at Jy's so as to complete our work. Instead of helping them, I'm there taking photo, listening to music and eating. #lifeofajellypig
Day 5
Today's group B's turn to do the teaching. And of course, things goes pretty well. AND OF COURSE, RUIJIA NEVER FORGET TO TAKE SELFIES. After teaching at LYU, we went over to a "tuition" center, to visit the teenagers. Selfies here.
Day 6
Start of the hectic days. Headed over to the primary school, and started to be a labor. But what makes the painting process more enjoyable, was the kids who are so cheerful and helpful. They'll take the paintbrush and help us. I believe they want to make a little memory with us. Back to the hostel pretty early, and we ended up playing "running man" with the peeps. Of course, we are not supposed to do that. But we are too bored, so we just "YOLO". Small little memories with the kids here.
Day 7
Continued with our painting. And of course, we only have to touch up cause most are done beforehand. Met a cute little baby, and he's so chubby! After finishing up our work, headed back and prepare for the night with the LYU students! Had soccer match, and dinner together. We had a blast, cause we sang together, we danced together, we drank together. That's how we bonded! But shit happened that night, quarreled with someone I don't want to quarrel with.... Party party here!
Day 8
Headed back to that primary school, and looked at what we have done for the past few days. Took a photo as a memory. Then we headed down to LYU, for the closing ceremony. That moment of sadness overwhelmed a few of us, which made us teared. The friendship we had with the Laotian, are unbreakable. As soon as the ceremony ended, it's time for dinner. And what happened after dinner, was dessert time! Roam around the street to search for dessert, and TADAH, we found a cafe! Pixies here!
Day 9
Last day in Luang Prabang, went for sightseeing again. Headed to Elephant Village, and took elephant ride. Even though the ride was a little costly, but it's worth the money. The touch with the animal, the closure with the nature, it's really worth the price. After the elephant ride, we took a long tail boat across the river and to the temple opposite. Climbed up and down the hill to explore the temple. After that, we took a long ride from the temple back to the town. Last visit to the supermart and grab whatever we can bring back home. Last dinner at usual, and this time round, Shir, Bev, Jordy and I was planning to spend all our cash on food. Packed back to the room, and had our "buffet". Didn't really do shopping because there's nothing much for us to buy, so we just sat at the restaurant while waiting for the others. And suddenly, thunderstorm came. Blackout occurred, and heard from the others, the night market was in a mess. What a last memory... Beautiful scenery and of course, my face will be here.
Day 10, final day
Time to pack up our feelings, and return back to reality.
Goodbye Luang Prabang, goodbye the awesome friends we made there.
And hello Singapore, hello reality.
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| Last group photo |
Labels: #teamLaos2014, Temasek Polytechnic
