FAITH ♥

Cambodia

day 1:
when i first arrived in Cambodia,Siem Reap international airport,i realised how small the airport is.it is just the size of one terminal in Singapore Changi airport.Siem Reap international airport is also very nicely decorated by many Buddha statues and plants.on the way to the hotel,i saw many poor people on the streets.i was able to understand how fortunate i am.the people lived in poverty and children barely have any clothes to wear.their houses are also very run down.at the bloom guest house,i was inspired by Diana's story and effort in helping the Cambodians.she gave up her well paid job in Singapore and came to Cambodia to help the poor.at the angkor modial restaurant,i truly enjoyed the wonderful performance put up by the professional dancers and musicians.i amhappy to be able to watch this cultural dance performance as i am able to get to know the traditional Cambodian dance.

day 2:
when we went to the stationary shop to buy stationaries for the children of Kandang primary,i had a hard time deciding what stationaries to buy.i heard that the school was so poor that they do not even print worksheets for the children.the children had to copy their own notes.when we arrived at the village school,i was shocked to see how small the school was.their canteen and toilet was something i have never seen before.they used black board and chalk instead of white board and marker.their classroom walls have not been painted for a long time.after school,the children went straight to the play ground to play.the playground was very run down.they were very grateful for the stationaries we distributed to them and thanked us with both their hands infront of them.when we painted the classroom,i realised how tuff painting was.

day 3:
the dragon fruits at the dragon fruit farm were very sweet.i also experienced harvesting dragon fruits.it was really not easy as the plantation was under the hot sun.i started to feel the heat the moment i stepped into the plantation.i could feel the hardship faced by the farmers when they work in the plantation,under the hot sun.after visiting the dragon fruit farm,we proceeded to Kandang primary to finish painting the school.painting was not easy as i could not control my strokes and the paint was not taking effect on the doors and windows.when we gave the students our old clothes and books,they were very happy to receive.when it was time for us to leave,we had a hard time saying goodbye.i am glad to be able to help by donating stuff to them and helping them paint their school.

day 4:
i enjoyed visiting the different temples especially angkor wat.i have heard of angkor wat,seen angkor wat on television.but today,i went there.i am very happy to be able to visit angkor wat,one of the wonders of the world.angkor wat is 900 years old and has thousands of years of history.there were many ancient carvings on the walls.those carvings represents many different things.when i climbed the 70 degree angle stairs at angkor wat,i was very nervous.i wondered if the people in the past had difficulties climbing that flight of stairs.i also wondered why the king wanted the stairs to be so steep.

day 5:
after visiting the floating village at tonle sap lake,i really felt that i am very fortunate to lead such a comfortable lifestyle.the villagers in the floating village lead a very poor life.most of them are Vietnumese.the Vietnumese are illegal immigrants.however,they can live in peace at the floating village because they were not living on the land.they started living at the floating village since the Vietnum war.when i looked into the villagers house,i could see how small the house was and how poor they were.they had very little belongings.i liked the floating basketball court best because i find it very unique.when we to artisans D'Angkor,i learnt more about the different types of handicraft Cambodia produces.the workers were very skillful in making the different craft works.

overall:
throughout this learning journey to Siem Reap Cambodia,i have learnt alot.i have learnt how fortunate i am compared to the kids in Siem Reap Cambodia,especially the kids in Kandang primary.i have also learnt to appreciate what i have.the children in the village school do not have a choice about what they want.they are happy to get anything we give them.i enjoyed this learning journey to Siem Reap Cambodia alot as it has been a great experience for me to visit a developing country and to know how fortunate i am.

I dont't want it to end!

It was the last day and i feel sad but i was looking forward to what was plan for the day. It was my first time riding a boat so i was pretty scared. When we sailed across Tonle Sap river, it was breath-taking as the sceneries were beautiful and the sight of the floating boat houses were interesting. I sympathise the Cambodians and Vietnamese immigrants who lived in the boat houses as they were very poor. They even asked for donations from the tourists who also sailed across the Tonle Sap river. When i saw the kids on the floating school, i thought about the ones in Singapore. I feel that Singaporeans should be grateful to be living in a first world country.

When it was time to leave Cambodia, all of us were sad but at the same time, we miss our families in Singapore. Throughout this whole journey, i have met amazing friends, learn values of life and also accepting and appreciating what we have right now. This taught us to never take everything that we have for granted as they are others who are living in much worse situations than us. This journey is an eye-opener for me and i am very happy that i am given the opporunity to explore the world and not be ignorant. Not only that, i have so much fun working with my friends and spending this whole journey with them. The teachers were fun and out-going too. This makes the trip more exciting and enjoyable. This is one trip that i can never forget.

Jannah <3

I wanna stay!

When it was time to assemble in the lobby, all of us didn't know the plan for the day but hen teacher told us we were going to the Dragon Fruit Farm. So the journey to the farm was tiring as it was very hot and far. As soon as we reached the farm, I was surprised to see that the whole area was filled with dragon fruits. I was even more surprised when I tasted the dragon fruits because it was sweeter and more juicy that the ones in Singapore. I wanted to buy some but I was afraid it will rot. Lucky for me, teachers bought some. It was not easy to pluck the dragon fruits though. The ones I plucked were not really colourful like the ones my friend plucked.

After that, we continued the CIP in the school. We were given a different task than the rest. We faced difficulties painting it because the paint was really sticky and the doors and windows were unreachable. However, suddenly the other group members wanted to help. It was nice for them to help us but having more people painting it makes it harder to finish the task. The number of people completing the task were too many hence, we took advantage of it as we took a lot of time chatting than painting.

When we gave out the things that we wanted to donate to the children, I was amazed to see that this time they were asking more from us. Some of the villagers even come to the school to ask for the clothes that we gave out. However, i feel happy as some of them accepted the clothes and toys. I realised that they wanted and accepted the things that we do not want anymore.

Finally, it was time to leave. I was sad and I hoped that they will take care of themselves and the school. I think we had fulfilled the task successfully although i think that we could do more like fixing their tables and decorating their classrooms.

Jannah <3

CAMBODIA TRIP !

Day 1

i feel very excited upon reaching at Cambodia Airport as i can't wait to see the school that we are going to paint and also to start our activities at Cambodia. I also feel happy that i actually managed to survive in the flight. My first impression of Cambodia is Singapore is totally different from Cambodia, especially the roads and the way they live. Just now, at Bloom Shop, Diana Shaw gave us a talk about her business. I feel very impressed about her hard work and hardship she has gone through that she almost gave up on her business. Her perseverance has made me sees her as my idol. She has inspired me. I think that my attitude can still be improve after a few incident that has happened today. I actually scream at the top of my voice when i saw an insect. This behaviour is totally appropriated as we attract attentions from other people. In this way, they might think negatively about our school. So, i'll try not to scream when i see an insect.

Day 2

I feel pitiful for the children there as they are not as fortunate as us. One thing great about them is that they are not choosy but content with what they have today. I also feel amazed that after they eaten a bowl of rice, they can still ate another bowl of rice with kfc chicken. To us, kfc food is like a middle-class food as everyone in Singapore can afford it. However, to them, kfc food is like a luxurious food to them, as many of them could not afford it. I also feel enjoyable playing with the children there but it' also tiring. I noticed that the school's food has more vegetables than meats compared to Singapore. In Singapore, we have plenty of vegetables and meat unlike there. What i have learnt today is that we should not be choosy and appreciate with what we have today. Even though they live in such a life, they are still content. I think that our behaviour today still can be improve as there are still screaming from the girls and it should be be avoided. Some of the girls did not follow the instructions from the teachers. They wore short pants which will attract attentions from other people. The consequences is that they might be followed or something bad might happen to them. So, I think they should listen to the instructions.

Day 3

This is my first time plucking a fruit from its tree freshly. It is a very new experience for me. It took my a lot of courage to pluck out the dragon fruit as there are a lot of cactus pins on the branches of the dragon fruits. I feel that i went through a lot of difficulties when painting the walls. When we paint the doors, the paint is too thin. So, i have to dip more paint to thicken the paint on the wall. However, when more people help to paint the doors, we take longer time to finish unlike when lesser people help to paint. I think it is due to the chatting among us. When we talk more, we take longer time to complete the task. If lesser people help out, the faster we can finish painting. I feel sad when leaving the school as i think this is my last time seeing them because i might not be coming back again. I'll miss the fun time i had with the children. However, i still feel content as they like the things that we gave to them and we have painted the classroom for them. Overall, I think we have completed the task. Lastly, I enjoyed playing with the children at there but i hate when i giving out the things to them as they would crowd around us and ask for more things when they already have the thing. I feel unfair for the other children who have asked but didn't get.

Day 4

I learnt that we should appreciated the food there we have during this Cambodia trip. The children in the school could barely get good food each day. In Singapore, we should not complain the taste of the food. So, i will learnt how to appreciate the food i have in Singapore. I also learnt that we should be punctual during this trip. If the we are late, the others will have to wait for us and the event will be delayed. So, in Singapore, we should be punctual in reaching school in time. I also learnt that we should be respectful at the temple as we need to respect what the Cambodians beliefs. In Singapore, we should also respect different races such as the Muslims have to fast a month before Hari Raya. So, the other races should not eat in front of them during their fasting period. The shopping in Cambodia is different from Singapore as we can bargain the price of them items we bought. I bargain most of my stuff at the shop and i succeeded. One of the experience i have during the touring of the temple is climbing the tallest staircase at Angkor Wat. It is a very new experience for me as i took alot of courage to climb up and down. I am also amazed about how they build those temples and its history behind it.

Day 5

Today, we went to the Tonle Sap Lake, i think it is the biggest lake in the world. Next, we also went to the Artisans D'Angkor. Im impress with the sculpture they made. It's really beautifully done. After that, we went for our last minute shopping and then depart from Cambodia. Overall, i have a wonderful time at Cambodia. If i got a chance again, i would want to go there again!

By: Azirah Bte Maskus

cambodia trip

On the first day, when we first touch down in cambodia the only thing i know was that it was very hot. It was almost the same temperature as singapore just that here it is even hotter. After that we went to board the bus to Angkor Home Hotel. when we first enter th hotel we went straight to the bar area where we sit down while writing down detail of the people sleeping together for the 4 days we are in the hotel. the hotel was very peaceful and there was not much noise except for ours when we first came in the hotel. Aftewr getting our card keys for the our room, many of us could not wait to see how our rooms would look like, we ran up the stairs as quickly as we could and making alot of noise which echoed through the whole hotel. when me and azfar first went in to our room we were very excited and we start to look around our room familiarising the room which we are going to stay in for the 4 nights. Next we went to the paint shop to purchase the paints for the primary school which we are going to paint for the 2nd and the 3rd day. when we are there the teachers are purchasing the paints while many of us were doing nothing and hanging around. After which we went to the bloom guest house where we meet diana saw and we are able to know how the guest house was built and she has been taking in cambodian woman in order to allow them to have salary for their family. Next we were planning planning to shop at the old market but unfortunately it was going to rain so we could not shop. As it was during this time a woman actually begged me for money, i tried my best to ignore her and luckily mr thara asked her to go and not harass us anymore. i felt sorry for her as they are not like singaporean, they do not have much money to support for themselves. after that we went back to our hotel before getting ready to go for diner.

On the second day, we went to Kandang primary school to paint their school. the bus ride was 1 hr long. once we reached there i could see many students still studying in their classroom and i could see that their classroom was not ours it is very dirty. after lunch we went to paint their intereior of the classroom and it was very tiring as it was my first time painting we ended work at about 4 plus and we are getting ready to go back to our hotel and after that to dinner. we took quite smetime to clean the rollers and it was very tiring to clear off the paints.

On the third day, we went to the dragonfruit farm wnd we can see how they harvest the dragonfruit and after we start trying on harvesting the fruits. after that we went back to the school for finishing where we left off during the second day but this time we are painting the windows and the doors. after painting for sometime i am starting to feel very dizzy after taking in too much of the paint. we finish erverything at about 4 plus also then we went back to our hotel before going for dinner again. during dinner i was able to eat boiled snail, the taste was quite blend and i use the chili with it to eat.

On the fourth day, we went to the to visit the angkor thom. over there i could see the structures of how they build the temples and we start to explore the interior of the temple. the view was amazing as i could see structures i never seen before in singapore the material they use to build it and some parts were destroyed by natural cause they are now trying restore palces in the temple so that people can see how it is going to look like with everything intact rather than being broken into many pieces. after lunch at KFC we went to the angkor wat temple where it is the largest temple in the world and it is also the symbol for cambodia. there is 1 thing that shock me was that that their starcase was 70 degree steep and the normal people, the brahmans and scholar have to use it in order for them to worship the god. while the king use a 45 degree steep of staircase to get up to worship the god. in order for us to see the interior we used th 70 degree steep staircase to go up. on the way up was still ok for but on the way down i have this feeling of dropping down but i mange to get down safely. after this we went to shop at the market finally and i bought some things for myself and for my friends. after this we went for dinner and we go to the night market to have our 2nd round of shopping but this i did not buy anything.

on the last day we went to the tonle sap lake where we ride on the boat to see our the cambodians who live near the lake live when the lake is flooded. after that we went to see the crocodile and we have a chance to see how the crocodile eat on the fish which were hung down using the rope for it.
it was very feroucious as it try to eat the fish. it pull down the fish with all it might and in the end is able to feast on the fish. after that we went to artisans D'angkor as we could see how they teach those people between the age of 18 to 25 art and craft so that next time when they go out to earn money by making art and craft. after that we went to the airport to check in our luggage and we have the transit at vietnam before finally going back to singapore.

i miss cambodia very much as their life there fascinates me as in singapore we are not able to see much of these stuff going on here. i also learn that we must appreciate the things around me as not many people has the privilage to have many of these stuff and opportunity.

by: peterson

Trip to Cambodia

Hello everyone, Syafiq here. I am going to tell you about an experince in Cambodia which I went on the 7 -11 June 2011. During the trip to Cambodia, I met many friends that are very friendly and very kind to me.

I enjoy the very 1st time boarding an airplane which was one of my fear because i am afraid of heights and I overcome my fear. HEHEHE:) In the airplane I met many some friends whom I do not know during my school years haha. After 2 and half hours of flight, we finally reach Siem Reap Airport. At the airport, it was very different from Singapore which was air-conditioned all over. In Siem Reap airport, it was alot of open surface and filled with natural air and I knew how they save energy and electricity over there. After we board the bus to go to our hotel which was Angkor Home hotel. When we reach the hotel, all my friends was very happy because they could feel the air-conditioned room coming to them haha. The weather in Cambodia is the same with Singapore. After we were registered to each of our rooms, we must go to the paint shop to buy paint which we are going to use to paint Kandang Primary School. The paint shop is in the town area of Cambodia. On the way in the bus, our tour guide, Mr Thara explains to us about his home town. After we have bought our things, during the trip I could see how humble and kind of the people in Cambodia. We went to the Bloom shop to meet Diana Saw and know about the history of how she built the Bloom Guest house. She was very kind and have help many people in Cambodia.

Woke up at 6 am in the morning and was verry tired because of the Jet Lag that we have haha. After all of us had our breakfast we went to Kandang Primary School to paint the school. During our journey we save a lot of village people doing chores on their house compound. I felt very sad because all of their houses were made of straws. We started to know the students and principal of the school. Before our lunch everyone was planning how to paint the school because it was very big.....after we have finish painting halfway because we are continuing the following day, everyone was happy that we get to go back to our Hotel rooms early.

Wake up as per normal and had our breakfast, we went back to the school and all the girls started to scream because they saw one cute boy named Sumkong if i am not wrong. He was 14 years old haha. Before we started painting we were giving out our old clothes and other stuffs that we have brought to Cambodia such as soft toys and etc. During painting the windows of the school, everyone was complaining because we are using oil paint and it was very sticky and could be removed by thinner or gasoline. As for me it was normal but i did complained a bit. After painting we went back to our hotel.

Wake up and everyone could not wait to see the biggest temple made of sandstones which is the Angkor Wat. During the visit to Angkor Wat, I could see that the steps are 45 to 70 degree. I wonder how the Kings and Queens could climb the steps. The Temple was a very big place. I wish I could visit the place of history again. After the visit we went shopping and went back to the hotel.

Last day in Cambodia and everyone had a sad face. Before we went home to our Homeland, we went to Tonle Sap Lake. It is the biggest lake in the world if i am not wrong. We went there to see how they live above the lake, there was many houses. After the visit to the lake, we went to Artsans D Angkor to see how they craft wood and stones. After the visit we went for lunch and went back to Singapore. Everyone was happy including me. I am going to miss the place. I wish we could go there again sometime.

BY: MUHAMMAD SYAFIQ BIN FADZIL