The learning journey trip to Kusu Island

This year, on 27^th January 2011 itself, I went to Kusu Island with my classmates and teachers.

It was not really fun trip but the history of Kusu Island was really interesting. We were being told that Kusu Island was built by a heavyweight turtle in an attempt to save two sailors whose ships got shipwrecked and turned itself to a large rock. It is also said that one of the sailors was a Chinese and the other was Malay. The Chinese sailor conveyed his gratitude by setting up a Taoist Shrine and the Malay sailor build a Muslim kramat (shrine) to show his gratitude. The Kramats were built to commemorate the pious family- (Father) Syed Abdul Rahman, (Mother) Nenek Ghalib and (Sister) Puteri Fatimah, who lived in the 19^th Century. Devotees to the Kramats would pray for blessings for wealth, marriage, fertility, good health and harmony. The shrines are also popular with childless couples seeking to start a family.

We are supposed to arrive in school that day by 8.30am, I think, as I do not really remember the assembly time. I remembered that on the day, I woke up earlier such that I can have my breakfast before going to school because I am afraid that I will get hungry while I explore around Kusu Island. On normal days, I always have my breakfast during recess time and not when I wake up because I do not have appetite to eat breakfast on early mornings.

After having my breakfast, I went to school by taking public bus. When I reached the school, I saw my friends there chatting happily. They invited me to chat with them. Of course, I went to chat with them. At about 9am, we left the school to a harbour where we took our boat to Kusu Island. While we waited for the boat to arrive at the harbour, my friends and I chatted happily and took some pictures.

On boarding the boat, my friends and I ran to a room which have seat that only about 10 people can sit. I remembered at that time, we chased the boys out when there were boys who wanted to share the room with us. The boys then reluctantly left the room. We are the ‘champions’! =P  We enjoyed the girls time. We took several pictures of ourselves.

After the enjoyment, we settled down and enjoyed the good scenery of the sea. Maybe because of the boat which is moving up and down the water continuously, one of my friend felt nauseous and wanted to vomit. Fortunately, one of us brought a plastic bag along or else she will vomit on the floor.

The sun was scorching hot at the Kusu Island when we reached there, making us perspire profusely. As we make our way to the Taoist Shrine and Muslim kramat, I saw a sculpture of the heavyweight turtle.

We passed by a few food stalls without owner and that was really funny. What was the point of having food stalls when there were no owners?

We also passed by a wishing well on the way there. I was being told that the three bells in the wishing well were for us to throw at, and when the coins hit the bells, our wish will come true faster.

As we explored the Muslim kramat, we saw several tourists praying for blessings for wealth, marriage, fertility, good health and harmony. There was also a childless couple seeking to start a family.

When we went into the Taoist Shrine, we saw a sculpture of three turtles, climbing up a small mountain. As we explored the Taoist Shrine, we saw a lot of turtles, probably because of the history of Kusu Island.

After the exploration, we went to the nearby beach and enjoyed the good scenery and wind. It was really relaxing when the wind blew and we breathed in the cool air.

We went back to Singapore Island after that. Although the trip was not very fun, it was still a good trip as we learnt about the interesting facts of Kusu Island.

The five-day trip to Australia, Perth

Last year, in mid November, I went to Australia, Perth with some of my primary school friends and teachers for five days. A few days before the trip, I was very excited and happy as this was my very first time going to a faraway country and the first time I will be taking the plane as the furthest country I had went to before is only Malaysia and that is because my family is not rich.  

Just on the day itself, I was supposed to arrive in the school by seven in the morning as the bus would be leaving the school to Changi Airport by 7.15am. My father sent me to school by motorcycle and as I had brought two bags – one luggage and one school bag – along, I had to hold one of the bags in my hands. I remembered that it was very tiring to hold it as it was very heavy.

When I arrived in school, I saw my friends sitting outside the General Office chatting happily. As I settled down, I saw my father still outside the school looking at me, probably waiting for me to leave the school. At that moment, my eyes were filled with tears. I did not have the mood to chat with my friends. As this was the first time I am leaving my family for five days, I was reluctant to leave them. However, I wanted to go to Australia too. I was really confused. 

 I looked down at the floor and pretended looking at a booklet as I was afraid that my friends and father would see that I was crying. About five minutes later, I had calmed myself down and hence looked out of the school to see my father for the ‘last’ time for that particular five days but unfortunately, he had already went home.

         

On the way to Changi Airport, I chatted with my friend named Clarin who was sitting beside me. As she chatted with me, I did not think about my family anymore, which was quite a good thing or else I might cry again. We treasured the time to know more about each other. It was really fun listening to her life story.

   When we arrived at the airport, it was still early hence our teacher allowed us to explore the airport but before that, we took a group photo. 

The things sold there was very expensive! Luckily I ate my breakfast at home or else there will be a hole in my pocket. About an hour later, we went into the plane. It was very cold in the plane, thus I wore on my jacket. In the plane, I played the electronic games provided by the plane. The stewardess was very friendly. She was extremely polite when she asked me what I want to eat.

          When we arrived at Perth airport, it was really hot. It seemed that the air-conditioners in the airport were not on, thus I took off my jacket. On that day, we met our bus coach, Uncle Bob. He was very friendly and the English he spoke was very fluent. He had a big tummy. He then sent us to a hotel where we will be staying for three nights to place our luggage or else we will have to carry our luggage wherever we go.

After placing our luggage, Uncle Bob drove us around Perth. As he was driving around Perth, he introduced to us the different places in Perth. We had a great time talking to him. 

At night, Uncle Bob brought us to a pizza restaurant to have our dinner. The pizza was so awesome! My friends even ordered for more cheese!
After eating dinner, we were sent back to the hotel after spending the whole day outside.

On the second day, we went to the Perth Zoo. The zookeeper was also very friendly. The zookeeper introduced to us the different animals in the zoo. After the introduction, we were given a map and a task, which is to find out the different details of animals and to write them down on a piece of paper provided to us. We were divided into groups and a teacher was assigned to our group. We were to compete ourselves with the other groups and the criteria was to fill up the paper and the first to return back to the original location will be the winner. Very unfortunately, we lost the competition. But never mind! At least we put in our best to finish the competition. After the game, the zookeeper brought us to a room where small creatures were living in. After some basic introduction, she brought out a snake and taught us how to touch the snake which was to use two fingers – the second and middle fingers – and gently slide past the snake’s body. Although it was quite disgusting, I still touched it. After that, my mischievous friends used the method of touching a snake to touch Uncle Bob’s big tummy.


After that, at about 4pm, we went to have our early 'dinner'. After the 'dinner', we went to the nearby beach to enjoy the wind but our teacher did not allow us to step on the beach as they were afraid that the sand that were stuck on our shoes after stepping on the beach will dirty Uncle Bob's bus. And that was really sad... D= But at least, we could enjoy the wind... :P
Because of the early 'dinner', our teachers brought us to a supermarket for us to buy some snacks just in case we get hungry at night before sleeping and so, if we get hungry, we will have the snacks to eat.

On the third day, we went to a school in Perth. It has a name of Peter Moyes Anglican Community School. 

Unlike schools in Singapore which have the students' bags with the student, the Australian students' bags are placed neatly on a shelf outside their classroom.

The first thing we did there was to present a few PowerPoint slides to the Australian teenagers for them to know more about Singapore.

After presenting the slides, we went to explore the school. We went to different classes with different ages of students. The primary one kids were very cute!

After that, we went to their hall that has NO doors for a dance that is known as their PE lessons. Their instructor was vey muscular!

The Australian teenagers were awesome at their dance but we, the Singapore teenagers, failed at the dance, most probably because we just learnt the dance. =P

After the dance, we went to their field to have a baseball game. During the game, we took turns to play the game but it was really difficult. We have to be quick in our actions or else we might lose. Of course, I played really badly in the game. It was such a shame…

After all the activities, a piece of cake as given to each of us by the principal of the school and the cake tasted absolutely nice. While we ate the cake, we talked to the Australians and exchanged our contact information, including our facebook name. We enjoyed the time doing that as the kids were very friendly and polite.

After all sorts of activities in the school, we went back to our hotel. But before went back to the hotel, we took a few photos.

My friends, teachers and I went to a farm, which have a name of Windmill Farm, on the next day and spent one night there. The owners of the farm were a couple, both in their forties. I really admire them as they are able to manage the big farm with their own hands and did not employ any people to help them. 

At there, I saw orange and peach trees and get to taste the fresh peach. It was really sweet. I also get to ride on the horses. At first I was very afraid that I would fall off the horse. But after the horse started to walk, I found that it was very fun to be riding on it. After that, we went to feed a baby twins kangaroos. While feeding them, I heard from the female owner that their mother was killed in a car accident. We then recalled that we saw a dead kangaroo on the way to the farm on the day when we went to the farm. Then, our curiosity grew. We asked the owner, “Why was the mother kangaroo outside the farm? Isn’t she supposed to live in the farm?” The owner then answered us that when the kangaroos grow up and is able to take care of themselves, they will be let out of the farm to have ‘freedom’. We felt that the baby kangaroos were very pitiful as they lost their mother at such a young age. D=

At night, the farm was extremely dark. We have to walk really carefully when we go back to our rooms after dinner as there was no street lights.  I remembered that my friends and i who shared the same room chatted till midnight 3am. We got so much to talk about that we did not even finish chatting when we fell asleep unknowingly, perhaps we are too tired. 
After the days in Australia, we will be going back to Singapore. Hence, we sang a song for Uncle Bob to thank him and the song was : Bob the builder....

 My friends and I was reluctant to leave Australia. However, we still have to leave.

The trip to Australia was really really very fun and I really really enjoy it. I will really look forward to another school trip to other countries. If I had another chance, I will want to go to Perth again with my family! =D

                                                      

A time when I regretted lying

It was a sunny and beautiful day. The sky was sapphire blue, and the bright sun was shining radiantly in the middle of the sky. The clouds floating in the sky appeared like cotton fluffs, conjuring up a myriad of shapes and images. After eating my delicious breakfast, I went to the living room to watch my favourite show on the television. It was the last episode. I had waited for one week to see it, as there was only one episode per week. The show was becoming more and more interesting. As the show was ongoing, I was getting more and more excited, as if I was playing hide and seek with my friends.

Suddenly, my mum called me out loud. I asked her, “Yes?” She replied me, “Come and help me out with my cooking!” “Wait! Let me finish watching this show,” I answered her. She added at the top of her voice, “Don’t wait! Quick! Come and help me straightaway!” as though she was using a mike.

I felt really annoyed at the moment. “I just wanted to finish watching the show, is it a crime? She was so unreasonable.” I told myself in my heart. I replied her again, “Ah!!! Mum! I am having a stomach ache, probably I ate too much just now! I need to go to the toilet! I will go and help you immediately when I come out of the toilet!”

That was actually a lie. I did not know why I said that out. Perhaps I wanted to watch the show too much. Half an hour later, my mum called me again, similarly asking me to help her out. At that time, the show had ended. Hence, I reluctantly went into the kitchen to help. “My dearest daughter, do you know why I wanted you to help me?” Mum questioned me affectionately. I replied her, “I don’t know.” She then continued, “When I was young, my mum told me that it is important for a girl to know how to cook as when we grow up and get married, we have to cook for our family. So I wanted to teach you now such that you would not find that it is very difficult to cook in future.”

...
“Mum… I… lied to you just now. I didn’t have a stomachache and I lied to you because I want to watch the television show… Sorry…” Mum did not say anything. I looked up at her. I apologized repeatedly for one minute. My mum then told me, “I wouldn’t blame you, because I know that you know you are wrong and is regretful…”

                At that moment, I realized that my mum loves me and was not the kind of character that I thought that she was – unreasonable. She was actually very reasonable and did things for my own benefit and not for her benefit. I should not have thought that way at all and should not have lied. I really regretted lying.