Day 5 - Jaipur - Neerja Mordi - Jaipur

I woke up, feeling refreshed and energized today. We had a mission today. We visited Neerja Mordi School which had a school for the underprivileged girls too. When we reached Neerja Mordi, the vice principal welcomed us warmly and gave us a brief introduction of the school. What shocked us was the school population of 3000! That was almost 3 times the size of our school.

Introduction by the Vice Principal

 The school has a variety of activities for the students such as cricket lessons, art classes and yoga. One unique feature of the school is the invitation of people who are skilled and famous in the trade to teach and share their successes with the students. This is such a wonderful thing as the students will learn from the greatest and aspire to be like them. Sigh! If only we can do that in our school...

Next , we were split into groups to go into different classes. We were so excited as we can make new friends. They welcomed us warmly into their classrooms. We interacted with them and gained a lot of insight into the culture and education system in India. One example will be the sky high school fees they pay every year. We feel so blessed that the Singapore's government subsidized education heavily to ensure that all Singaporeans have a shot at education. After a short 1 hour, we bid goodbye to our new found friends, not before exchanging emails and giving them a small gift from Singapore.

Interaction

Interaction

Interaction

Next, we went to the most fulfilling mission of our India trip. Nishay School for the underprivileged girls. The mission of the school is to allow underprivileged girls an opportunity to get an education as the culture in India still have an bias over boys. But the school do not want the girls to be spoilt, thus giving them the basic amenities for education.When we reached the entrance of the school, I could see the girls smiling brightly at us. Once we reached the school, there was a student waiting to do the traditional Indian welcome.

Traditional Indian welcome

After this, we sprang into action. We began teaching them origami and balloon sculpting. Although the environment was not possible for us to do what we planned, we adjusted accordingly and did a great job! Our hearts melted when we saw the happy faces. They were easily satisfied with the little things in life. It made us ashamed of ourselves who insisted that our parents buy us the latest Iphone. This made us more appreciative of what we have in Singapore. After awhile, we bid goodbye to hem unwillingly.

@ Work

@ Work

@ Work

@ Work

After the school visit, we went on a cultural tour of Jaipur. We were impressed by the technology of the past which is still applicable to the present. We also went to the palaces such as Amer Fort and Lake Palace to have a feel of the rich architecture and culture which went behind the building of this monuments. We were awed by them.

Lake Palace

 Next stop, the favorite past time of Singaporean, shopping! we went for shopping along the streets of Jaipur. It was a great experience as we got to shop for clothings and accessories. It was a great experience and we love bargaining! Now we understand why people say that shopping is the favorite pastime of Singaporeans.

After shopping, we went to Choki Dhani Village for a traditional Rajasthan dinner. It was an eye-opener as the plates and bowls were made of leaves. The food was unique and very spicy but we were not used to the food. It was definitely challenging for us.

Our days in India are coming to an end. We have to make the best out of the remaining days. Till then.

Student leaders of CHR India Trip 2012

Day 4 - Agra - Amber Fort - Jaipur

My body refused to separate itself from the bed. I dragged myself out of the bed. It was 0530 in the morning. My roommates and I was still reeling from the effects of the loaded yesterday. The beautiful images of Taj Mahal and Agra Fort kept running through my head.

Time flies! We are already halfway through our trip through the mystical India. I was disappointed as I browsed through the itinerary. We will be visiting Amber Fort before going on a long journey to Jaipur. The thought of  the long journey made my stomach sick.

On the way to Amber Fort, we were given a short history of the fort. Due to its rich history, I was expecting to see a grand and imposing fort. I got a shock when I reached there. It was mostly destroyed, except for the few palaces. I was sad and angry at how such an important piece of history is not preserved properly.

Amber Fort

The remaining palaces were beautiful. It can be comparable to the Agra Fort in terms of planning and architecture. They even planned the arrangement of the bedrooms according to the seasons! We also need to respect Emperor Akbar. He could be the first king in the world who embraced different religions and even made provisions for his concubines to practice them. He can be seen as the forerunner for racial harmony!

The long and lonely corridor of history

After the enriching tour of Amber Fort, it was time to say goodbye to Agra before moving on to Jaipur. We got a chance to shop for souvenirs. It can be considered the first time that we got to shop and we ran to the shops like hungry lions. It was a fruitful time as all of us got something for our family members and friends.

We embarked on the long and arduous journey to Jaipur. The roads were bumpy and made it difficult for most of us to sleep. We decided to make use of this time to bond and interact with each other. It allowed us to know each other well, including Mr Issac who entertained us with his acts and jokes.

As we entered Jaipur, we saw a different side of India. It was filled with trucks as it was a major transport route in India. The constant honking of the trucks, coupled with the mining activities that took place created a musical piece, which amused us but was oblivious to the locals. After lunch, we proceeded to our hotel. Along the way, we were amazed and understood why Jaipur was called the Pink City. All the buildings were dark pink in colour and we were informed that it was like this many years ago too!

As we were discussing about this travelogue, we heard a loud boom. As we looked out of the hotel window. A beautiful sight of exploding fireworks greeted us. It was so beautiful that all of us were awed by it. It was a great way to end the day!

Till then, take care.

Student leaders of CHR India Trip 2012
 
 

Day 3 - Taj Mahal - Agra Fort - Local Night Market

After 3 days in India, I began to find my India trip to be more pleasant. I'm adapting well to my surroundings and the Indian cuisine. I look forward to conquer Agra today!

We visited the magnificent Taj Mahal and the impregnable Agra Fort. Along our way to Taj Mahal, we were so excited that we were on the edge of our seats. When we reached Taj Mahal, I was feasting on the beauty of the gates that leads to Taj Mahal. The monument was humongous and I had never seen such a huge gate in my life before. But that was not the end. As I entered the gate, the sight of Taj Mahal took my breath away. It dawned upon me why Taj Mahal is considered one of the world's seven wonders. Coupled with the research I had done and the story told by the guide, it makes the Taj alive. We were all wondering how powerful love is. What made me even more amazed was that Taj Mahal was built a few centuries ago without the usage of modern technology. All these made the image of Taj Mahal etched in my mind forever.

Taj Mahal

Next stop, Agra Fort. I was pleasantly surprised how the Mughals planned their fort. They provided all forms of defence against any attack on the fort. The fort was majestic! We saw the place where Shah Jehan was imprisoned in his own fort. It was touching as he was able to have a clear picture of Taj Mahal in his imprisonment. We were able to see the differences in taste of the different Mughal emperors. It was amazing how these structures still all humans in the years to come.

Agra Fort

We had a chance to experience the local night market. It was a beautiful chaos where order is not the menu of the day. The incessant honking and touting by the hawkers create a sense of alertness in our mind. Some boys got the same shoes while some girls got saris for a bargain. It was a sense of accomplishment for everyone as they tried their hands on bargaining.

After the night market, we went to try out their fast food restaurant, KFC. it was similar to ours in Singapore. The only difference was the chilli sauce. We had a great time hanging out at KFC. After the great time, we headed back to pack our bags and prepare for the long and arduous journey tomorrow.

Till then.

Student leaders of CHR India Trip 2012

Day 2 - Delhi - Gurgaon - Agra

As I opened my eyes, I realized I am in India. The lingering smell on my clothing made me miss my home. I miss my parents and Singapore but I looked forward to my experiences in India. I understand the need to move away from my comfort zone (my home) as it will help me to discover the wonders of the world and develop as a leader.

After a sumptuous breakfast, we went back to Pathways School and met up with my new friends. We were delayed for two hours because of India's "famous" traffic. Although we were late, they were still gracious in welcoming us. We attended a leadership talk by a teacher. We were exposed to a whole new definition of leadership such as the importance of body language and personality, which we tend to neglect as a leader. It makes me realize that being a leader is not only about leading a team but rather being a role model for all to follow. It etched deeply into my mind as I continued my journey as a leader.

Leadership Talk

We attended an English lesson on Nursery Rhymes. we were pretty amused by the fact that we are learning something which we learnt in our primary school days. I was surprised by how nursery rhymes gave me a new perspective of how you should perceive things. "Never judge a book by its cover." We need to look and think deeper in order to achieve an accurate judgement on any issues. Therefore, I was introduced to how certain things are being taught in a different way in a different country.

Interesting English Lesson

After lunch, we proceeded with a six hour journey to Agra. Over the bus journey, I realized that we bonded more over games, jokes and admiring the scenery that was presented to our eyes. It dawned upon me that bonding takes place when the mask of a person is taken off and you understand the person even more.

Thank you! Pathway School

We reached Agra and we are amazed by the hotel that we are going to stay. It is a colonial building that was converted into a hotel. Looking at the hotel gives me a sense of nostalgia. It makes me anticipate what I am going to see tomorrow. Taj Mahal - the love story of India. Agra Fort - the glory of Mughal Empire.

Till then, take care.

Ciaoz.

 

Day 1: Singapore - Delhi - Gurgaon - Delhi

I am filled with excitement as I boarded the bus to Changi International Airport. I was having mixed feelings as the bus left Christ Church Secondary School. As the silhouette of my parents became smaller and smaller, I was happy but sad. Part of me was excited to go for the trip but part of me misses my parents.



We reached Changi International Airport Terminal 2 at 1130. We met up with students who came with their parents. The atmosphere was electrifying as all of us could not wait to board the plane. We were happy to see present and ex-teachers coming to see us off. It was capped off nicely when we saw Mr Clement Lim at the airport. He prayed for us and then we checked in.

At 0130, we boarded the plane. We headed for New Delhi. We touched down at New Delhi at 0505 (India Time). The first thing that greeted us as we alighted from the plane was how organized Delhi Airport was. It was a pleasant surprise. What made us even more proud was the fact that it was a Singapore company, the Changi Airport Group which made this happen.

As we cleared the customs, we headed to the bus. The first thing that greeted us was the lingering burning smell. I think that the high level of pollution in India has resulted in the lingering burning smell. As we headed towards our hotel, we had a front line view of the famous India traffic. We marveled at the amount of cars that are on the road. We were amazed and attracted by the state of chaos caused by the heavy traffic.    

Pathway

Food!!!

After we checked into the hotel, we had a quick rest and changed to our formal wear for the trip to Pathways School, Gurgaon. As the driver lost the way, we did not make it in time to see the performance that had been staged for the school's Anniversary. However, the staff and students of the school were gracious in receiving us. We had a wonderful meal where the student leaders of the school served us as we sat cross legged on the floor. We were impressed by the warm attitude of the student leaders and the way they carried themselves as they interacted with us and the teachers. They spoke fluent English and were friendly with us; we even exchanged email address so that we could keep in touch. This is sure to be the beginning of some deep, long lasting friendship. Finally, the student leaders brought us around to tour the facilities. And what facilities! They even have a swimming pool and an outdoor ampitheatre. We thanked them for the warm hospitality that they accorded to us and we cannot wait to see them tomorrow.

Till Then

It was a tiring but fulfilling day and I cannot wait to see the rest of India in the following days to come.

Therefore, Au Revoir..Till Tomorrow.

Student leaders of CHR India Trip 2012