A chapter in my life open

4/12/04, my plane touch down on Singapore's ground at 3/12/04, 1330. that was a happy moment for my teammates and i, after staying in Vietnam for the past 18days, seeing Singapore, our homeland is a joyous thing;) Now i am back, thinking about the past 18days, these are the thoughts and a replay i would like to share...

the first day we all reach Da Nang, Vietnam, everyone was in a exhilariting mood, not knowing whats lie in front of us, the unknown seems tempting. We settle down in a house, used by 16 of us, and 10guys in another 2 bunks. I stay in the 2 bunks. We experience heavy downpour almost everyday, and fish and vege every dinner, (i never really enjoy strong seafood) hee, and it make me depress, luckily, we all got cans and more cans of meat, so after every dinner, if my frens and i feel hungry, we will open a can and enjoy the chicken or pork, Yummy;), that keep me alive though.. And everyday of the 18 day, we were split into 2 teams, 1 team went to site to work, and the other do washing of the house and market. This rountine ran on for 1 week and 5 days or more. The flood change everything...

the 12th day...we were all dining in a restaurent for our dinner, being a sunday, and its our free day. Just after dinner, our teamleader, Mr Ong, our lecturer, inform us that our site and home is flooded, and its grim. The team was thrown into shock for the first time.. We quickly take the bus back to salvage whatever we can and evacuate. On the way, there was flooding everywhere, and the water was rising.. When we reach the village, what awaits us was the cold and clammy water to our waist level. We got out, with a little shock and flu, and some cuts, that i have to put iodine on, but the whole team was alrite. We stayed in a hotel that night, it was pretty good, hot water, air con, tv and a very thick bed;), it was a blessing in disguise, but at the cost of the village and site. Our sch and site was totally in water, thus from the 12th day we cannot go back to work. and from this day onwards, we kept moving and moving...

We moved to a guest house the next day, and spent a night there. Our programme change to the orphanage, where we go there and played with them.No more sitework.. The next day we receive info that we are illegal to stay at the guest house, and had to move out. All the bags and stuffs were all thrown out, all mixed. I can say this was the breaking point for the team, homeless, stuffs all mixed up, hungry, depressed, cold, whats bad that some of us had no underwear to wear, which make us more frustrated...

Our programme went on, which the team find conforts in the children in the orphanage, and forgets about the hardship and stress that we are all facing.. Our teamleader and facilator talk to the police chief, and they allowed to let us stay in the Police Barracks, where they kept all the ak-47s and stuffs, haha, isnt that a great place? just rite with the police. We went to the orphanage for the last time, and there was much tears when we had to leave.. i feel sad too, really wish i can do more for the children.. Finally, the farewell party came, and the whole team dress up for Prom night;) (show you all the photos soon, i promise) we danced, drink, and party like no tmn, and it was time again to leave.. We flew to Ho Chih Minh City the next day, and when we arrive, everyone;s in a mood to shop and kill. So was i.

Its a very beautiful city, much like Singapore, but the traffic is madness. I can cross anyhow i like, bo juin hoa(means no one care);) the bikes are everywhere, with cars. We went shopping that day, the team went the Orchard road, while i went crazy and went to the Bim Tam market to open fire on the killing spree. haha, i went there and bargain all the way through, many a times i make the shopowners angry haha.. but some quite happy to have a challenge. Went to explore the city with my teacher that night, and the night view was magnificent. Watch HBO and CNN in hotel, the hotel was 4 stars, totally great;) oh yeah, we had dinner too, 30dish buffet..

tried all the exotic dishes, maggots, worms, Half life chick in egg, snails, pig's brain and tongue, everyone thinks i am crazy haha.. to try the egg, with the chick still in it. Am i mad? haha.. had a rest in hotel, and the next day we took the plane back to Singapore. Thus end the trip....

After 18days in a foreign country, learning the cultures and making winks at gals, haha.. i like Vietnam, for its rich history and their courage and patrorism for their country. Its their"never say die" atitude that captures me, the vigilance that they have. Also, the food, the people, the children in the orphanage... now i am back, i can say that i see Singapore diffently, like a observer, from a new perspective..

I now had a obsession, that is i wanna go backpacking next hols, with only a map and my trusty bag, i will go to foreign countries and back , to take pics and learn more about them. I will do that;).. Till then.

PS: i will get the photos up ASAP.. its pretty nice;)