Trip-of-the-Day

Day 1

Started the day hiking up Gunung Panti. This trek was only confirmed the day before in the evening so I was not mentally prepared for it. The initial trail was tough, it was like climbing endless large steps one after the other! We had a lot of fun though, and the view at the top was great!

We drove along the coastline to Sungai Rengit, that was one scenic drive! We visited a fishing village and the beaches at Desaru.

Gathering-of-the-Day

Met pQ & Fred, Sep & Shawn, rZ and ZX for dinner this evening!

Events-of-the-Day

Started the day with sports at my bro's place! We played tennis, basketball and went swimming!

In the evening, hung out at Harry's. Been a while since I've been to a pub!

Kid-of-the-Day

It's babysitting day today! Niece sick again!

Gift-of-the-Day

Finally got to open my present from HY! It's a Kindle Touch! *woot*

Picnic-of-the-Day

Headed for a picnic at ECP with pQ and Fred. The usual way to finish the abundant food from Christmas - pQ's tummy! We tried this awesome frisbee I got for Christmas. It really works - high accuracy, high speed, good for noobs.

Place-of-the-Day

Visited another section of the Punggol Waterway this afternoon! It's family day again today!

Celebration-of-the-Day

It's Christmas Eve! My favourite day of the year!!! We had our traditional family gathering and the exchange of gifts. Look at the self-made decorations!

Arrival-of-the-Day

Watched Puss in Boots as a solo kia today! 

My father arrived in Singapore this evening and we had family dinner at Seafood Paradise. 

Prognosis-of-the-Day

Acid levels are normal so likely due to nerves! Doesn't really matter what the cause is, as long as it's going away.

Had a Christmas gathering this evening with HY & friends!

-of-the-Day

Dinner-of-the-Day

Cooked dinner for HY, Jan and Pat this evening!

Trip-of-the-Day

Day 9

The morning was filled with painting of the door and performances by us and the students of Fajar Hidayah. We dropped by the fishing pond to feed some fish on the way to the airport.

We spent the day in transit in Medan, eating to our hearts content and shopping for the famous kueh lapis and comb cake.

This was a rather fruitful trip. Just struck with a thought - empathy vs sympathy, I'm thinking empathy is a far greater driving force in getting people to step up to help others.

Trip-of-the-Day

Day 8

Today's the last day at Fajar Hidayah. We had a food exchange. These young kids can sure cook. Their kuehs are excellent! 

In the afternoon, we had a forum with their university students. They really love taking photos. We had dinner at a seafood restaurant which had a breathtaking view - a view of the sunset, water and mountains.

At night, we resumed work on the door!

Trip-of-the-Day

Day 7

For some reason, there was an error in the transfer of the photos I took for the rest of this trip. Some problem between the iPhone and the laptop. As such, I lost quite a bit of photos.

Anyway, we spent the upper half of the day sightseeing. We attempted to go to the tsunami museum but it was either blacked-out or closed for lunch. We did visit other sites like the tsunami garden which had a view of a huge boat stuck on land after the water levels dropped. We also saw another boat stuck on a roof. This boat saved 59 people. We also visited the mosque which was the only surviving structure after everything else (and I mean everything) was leveled by the tsunami. For the locals, the tsunami was a warning from God, calling them back to him.

Later in the day, we resumed work on the wall and door. Did the painting of the wall this evening.

Trip-of-the-Day

Day 6

Spent more time setting up the corner.

We were tasked to build a wall and door to provide security for the learning corner. Learned how to use the radial saw and jigsaw today. Also learned to chisel. Manual labour is tough. Kudos to carpenters, construction workers and all manual labourers.

Trip-of-the-Day

Day 5

My duty for today is to prepare all three meals. 

Breakfast: Crepes

Lunch: Pasta

Dinner: Hoi Sin Chicken and Spinach

Animals are a common sight - goats, cows, chickens, ducks, geese..

Trip-of-the-Day

Day 4

In the morning, we headed to a kindergarten at Lamteh for an interaction session. We taught them how to brush their teeth and taught them to play Poison Ball.

This afternoon's interaction with the students at Fajar Hidayah was sports-based. We played volleyball with the girls while the guys played badminton. I've forgotten how painful whacking the ball can be. I must admit that this was the mildest, most non-competitive game I've ever played - winning was of no consequence.

Trip-of-the-Day

Day 3

More craft and interaction today. We had elementary school students to draw flags of the world.

Trip-of-the-Day

Day 2

There wasn't enough time to buy logistics yesterday so we had to continue the hunt this afternoon. We spent some time doing some craft for interaction and for the learning corner which we are to set up. If my memory does not fail me, there was interaction time with the students. The session today was making models of famous architecture. I went out to buy logistics so missed the interaction session this afternoon.

Trip-of-the-Day

Day 1

I've arrived in Banda Aceh! Not too much on the agenda, it's the settling-in day. We spend the day discussing the schedule, doing a bit of orientation and buying logistics. The view from the room I'm bunking in is spectacular. Our accommodation is the Fajar Hidayah Integrated Boarding School. The students are all orphans due to tsunami in 2004.

Exercise-of-the-Day

HY and I went off-road cycling at Tampines. It's really fun but I need to practice more! Covered in mud!!!

NOTICE:

Off to Banda Aceh from 11 to 19 December 2011! Will not have access to the internet (so no whatsapp either)!

Gathering-of-the-Day

Met my Cedar 4/O folks today, some I haven't seen for ages! Love you guys man!

I feel alive again.

-of-the-Day

-of-the-Day

Song-of-the-Day

Hmm-of-the-Day

Choices choices choices. Thankful that I have the freedom to choose!

Dishes-of-the-Day

More shopping for today! It's the Christmas crowd!

Jalan Berseh Food Centre is open again! Managed to try the Pork Jelly as well as the Shark Meat at Lao Liang Cold Trotters & Shark Meat. Interesting!

Trip-of-the-Day

HY and I went on a day trip to Johor (mainly Desaru). We visited Crocodile Park and Desaru Ostrich Farm! Realized that ostriches are pretty cute! Lunch was at Sengat Seafood Restaurant.

Countdown-of-the-Day

23 days to Christmas!

Shoes-of-the-Day

I got my first pair of hiking boots! Good shoes with a great price tag (S$132.90)!