2H Travel Blog for OLJ 2010

[2nd Day - Part 3] Group 5 - What We Did at the End of the 2nd Day Monday, April 19, 2010 5:33 PM

We saw these.

Sleeping in the hotel room.

[1st day] Yong Peng, Lunch and Kampong Pelegong Tuesday, April 13, 2010 10:45 PM

After passing immigrations, we stopped over at Yong Peng for breakfast and to buy food and snacks for the journey. However, our stop-over was a short one and we soonhad to board the bus once more.

After more driving, we had lunch at a Chinese restaurant, where we sat at separate tables of around ten per table. We had food like vegetables, chicken and prawns, to go along with plain white rice. When lunch was over, we made a move for the kampong.

We were all very excited as we caught our first glimpses of the kampong and its people from our bus. The air was abuzz with chattering as we saw, for our first time, what kampong life was really like.

At the kampong, they served us some snacks and refreshments, which were their local dishes. When we were all so tired from the activities, an ice-cream uncle drove his motorcycle over to sell us some ice-cream. Everyone rushed for the ice-cream as it was just so tempting, and it tasted incredibly great in the heat.

[2nd day - Part 2] Demonstrations, Activities, Traditional Games and Handicraft! (Team 4) Monday, March 29, 2010 8:42 PM

Day 2 was the longest day spent at the kampong of all the three days in Malaysia, kampong pelegong. Day 2 is divided into two parts- trek and activities. As the title suggests, we are going to write up on the things we did for activities!

We actually arrived in the Kampong to do the trek first, after about a seemingly three hours long trek, we finally managed to take a rest in the kampong by spending the rest of the day doing activites that the villagers do in their daily life. We first took a rest of about 1 hour at the hospitable village head before settling down at the dining area which also happens to be the place where we settled down.

First off was the basket weaving(: It was rather challenging but worth a try! Thanks to the skillful auntie that we finally got proper baskets! If not, everyone will be like intertwined with the long bamboo sticks used to form the basket! Such small things can do wonder(:We spent about 2 hours weaving. Next was the fun part! GAMES. We played traditional games they were very modified with the things they had. LIke for example, they used coconut balls to play bowling and empty cans as the pins! Also, we played passing the rubber band game where we only had a straw to pass the rubber band through. Lastly, was the game where everyone screamed and shuffled around... It was the game where people had to strap their shoes onto the board and with four persons controlling one board per leg. It was really tough as it required a lot of teamwork!

Despite that, we managed to have fun! I think the main aim of the games is to really promote teamwork and also perseverance. My group was the last in the last game. However, we persevered and managed to finish with the other groups cheering on for us. Despite not winning anything, i really felt that i made an accomplishment. Also, i also learnt that life can be fun too without all the modern technology like us today. Those villagers played these simple games and yet they are filled with joy and laughter. I think this is something we should really learn from them.

[2nd Day - Part 1] Breakfast, 'Waterfall', Farms, Lunch and Activities (Team 3) 4:29 PM

On the 2nd day, we had breakfast in the morning at the restaurant at Klana Resort. We had to leave the resort by 8.30 am in the morning.

We went to Kampong Pelegong again.

We had to pass by this sign which indicated the entrance of Kampong Pelegong. Kampong Pelegong people were hospitable and kind to us. They were friendly and taught us many things. On the 2nd day, we learnt about a lot of things and we toured the place, even beyond the Kampong itself.

We went to see a 'waterfall'. In order to reach there, we had to trek up and down 4 pretty steep hills. It was a lond and tiring walk there and back. This was how we had to go there and back. There were many classes which all trekked there together.

In the end, we could not get to see the real, high waterfall as the rest mof they way up there was through slimy and slippery rocks. It was dangerous and impossible to climb up the rocks with so many people and belongings. Therefore, we all had to content ourselves with a mini waterfall in a small brook.

After that, we walked back to the Kampong to continue our activities from the previous day. We went to have lunch and started on handicrafts. We had to weave a basket out of 7 short thin bamboos and 1 long thin bamboo, all of which had to be wetted so that it would not snap and we also had to weave it tightly and in a certain manner so that the basket, which looked like a hat when turned over, would be able to stand and store things.

Some of us made a few baskets and we joined them together. to form a 'basket sculpture'. Making baskets was indeed fun!

The below 'sculpture' was supposed to be a lady wearing a flowery hat and with a basket. It was combined by 3 girls' baskets.

[3rd day] Breakfast, Shop, Mall, What we did on the bus (Team 6) Friday, March 26, 2010 10:13 PM

On the 3rd day, everyone woke up and started packing our things. It was our last morning at Klana Resort. We went for breakfast at the hotel. Then we did our final packing and all of us waited at the hotel lobby.

When everyone had gathered, we set off to Yong Peng. On the way there, we watched the movie, "Fame". According to Mrs Lim, this film was a remake of the original made a LONG time ago. Then, we visited a shop called YoYo Native.

This shop sold lots of interesting foodstuff. For example, Green Tea Coffee, Cuttlefish, Fish Crackers, Beh Teh Soh and lots more. We had a 5% discount card each. All of us bought lots of these snacks to bring home for our family and friends.

After that short shopping spree, we took the coach to Bukit Indah Jusco to go shopping. On the way there, we watched Hotel for Dogs. After about one and a half hour, we reached our destination.

That shopping mall was really big and spacious with lots of shops. I feel that going to the shopping mall on the last day is something that should always be done. It gives lots of time for us to bond closer as classmates and friends.

Overall, this trip was a fun and insightful experience. Also, through this learning journey here, we have realised how much we have taken for granted in Singapore. Despite our all our complaints we may have in Singapore, home is still the best place to be.

Welcome address, Kampong Tour, Dinner and Pictures of hotel (Team 2) Thursday, March 25, 2010 9:07 PM

When we arrived at Kampong Pelegong on the first day, we were greeted by the Pnghulu, malay for village headman. He welcomed us to the kampong and led us to the place where most of our activities were held at.

The village headman giving his welcoming speech to make us feel at home at Kampong Pelegong.

Then, we were introduced to one of their traditional instruments. We had to learn from the villagers there how to play a short piece of music and then perform for the other half of the group.

Our friends trying their hand at playing the gamelan instruments.

After that, we had a kampong tour led by the penghulu to introduce us to the surroundings of the kampong which was entirely different from that of Singapore. During this tour, we had the chance to touch the sap of the rubber tree. It was a sticky, creamy white substance.

A typical house at the kampong.

After dinner, we left the kampong and headed for a shopping centre to buy food just in case we were hungry at night and then went straight to Klana Resort. In the bus, the teachers instructed us to wash up and be in bed by 11pm. We collected our room keys according to our groups in the bus. As we arrived at the resort quite late, not many people were around.

Us Sunday, March 14, 2010 3:47 PM

Team 1: Esther, buddy from GHS (Theresa), Sarah, Valerie, Kallista, buddy from GHS (Asa)
Doing on: [1st day] Gelang Patah, Yong Peng, Lunch, Pictures of Kampong Pelegong

Team 2: Nadiah, buddy from GHS (Kylie), Jia Xin, Carolyn, buddy from GHS (Janette), Yan Ni, Su Jin
Doing on: [1st day] Welcome address, Kampong Tour, Dinner, Pictures of Hotel & What they did

Team 3: Isabella, buddy from GHS (Christie), Ogin, Wei Xi, Wen Hui, Dilys
Doing on: [2nd day] Breakfast, 'Waterfall', Farms, Lunch, Activities

Team 4: Melissa, Priya, Sita, Shengmin, Sylvia, Nikki
Doing on: [2nd day] Demonstrastions, Activities, Traditional Games and Handicrafts

Team 5: Zhen Hui, Rena, Umairah, Alethea, Anita, Gabrielle, Arinna
Doing on: [2nd day] Farewell, Dinner, What they did in the hotel

Team 6: Lim Yun, Amanda, Claire, Amelia, Jocelyn, Pamela
Doing on: [3rd day] Breakfast, Shop, Mall, What we did in the bus