Day 2 @ Dakeng Recreational Farm, Kaoshiung

We started the day by waking up early in the morning even before the rooster in the farm crows. We had a breakfast buffet which was different from the usual buffet we have in Singapore. There was a wide spread of cooked dishes to be accompanied with porridge. It was very delicious!

The main highlight of the day's programme was to experience a farmer's life. We experienced the primitive way of cooking which took hours for the food to be ready. We began with putting bricks together to make a stove and throwing some wood and newspapers into it to start a fire. We then wrapped some raw peanuts, chicken, sweet corns, eggs and sweet potatoes in aluminium foils before throwing them into the stove to cook. Soil was then used to bury the stove to keep the warmth in.

While waiting for the food to be cooked, we went to the fruit farm in a pickup and a 4WD. The ride was fun because we felt as if we were on a rollercoaster. When we reached the farm, Xiao Qiao introduced the owner of the fruit farm to us. She explained how to choose sweet guavas and allowed us to pluck two guavas from the trees. We learned that Taiwan seeks to make their produce highly marketable by having them genetically modified. The modified guavas have fewer seeds. After the fruitful time, we returned to the farm, thinking that our food will be ready. Little did we know that the primitive way of cooking takes at least 4 hours for the food to be ready.

During the wait, our teachers, Miss Yun , Mdm Irni and Miss Koh made us practice our moves for the performance that we are going to perform in Siding Elementary School. The practice went very smoothly as the teachers managed to get everything in good order.

Halfway through, we saw our farm guide waving to the teachers, trying to tell them that the peanuts we had cooked earlier were ready to eat. We unwrapped the aluminium foil and ate the peanuts. Although it was a little bland, we still liked the peanuts we cooked as we had put in a lot of effort in roasting them. We continued to savour the rest of the local produce which were cooked in the similar way.

Soon after, it rained heavily. We thought that we were not able to go to the spa anymore. While waiting for the rain to stop, we went back to the reception counter and painted some ‘piggies’. It was a test of our creativity.

Fortunately, the rain stopped and we were able to go to the spa. Yugi advised us to dip into the hot pool before jumping into the cold pool. After the relaxing and rejuvenating time at the pools, we had our dinner. It was followed by the making of Tang Yuan. We boiled and ate the ‘pink balls’. It was simply delicious even without any fillings. We then had a debrief and wished everyone in the farm good night. We will surely miss the friendly staff (Xiao Qiao & Xiao Jie) at the farm.

Good night,
Crystal Tay & Choy Ting Yi
(on behalf of all the Taiwan-trippers)

Day 2 photos

第二天--大坑农场

这是我们在大坑农场的第二天。今天的天气很凉快，虽然下午下了一阵大雨，但是我们还是玩得很开心。

今天一早吃了早餐后，我们先到果园去采番石榴。那里的阿姨很亲切，除了教我们怎么选番石榴外，还让自己尝试采果子。我们两人一共采了四个番石榴。我们采的番石榴又甜又多汁。因为这些番石榴有经过特别的改良，所以里头并没有很多种子。和新加坡相比，台湾的番石榴好吃多了！

下午的时候，我们还自己动手做午餐。我们先搬土砖，慢慢搭起一个土窑，把竹子和木材放进去后，小樵哥哥就帮我们生火。在这的当儿，我们便用锡箔纸把我们要有土窑烤的食物包好，这些就包括了花生、地瓜、玉蜀黍、鸡蛋和土鸡。虽然做的过程很繁杂，可是我们还烤出了美味可口的食物，大家都吃得津津有味。

之后，我们还上了一堂美术课，学用不同的染料，给我们的陶瓷铺满上色。大家都很有创意，把铺满彩得五颜六色。我们还会把这些铺满带回去做纪念品。

美术课之后，我们就到山泉SPA去戏水。池里的水有42度的高温，可是在雨后泡山泉可真舒服啊！晚餐很丰盛，有鱼，有菜还有汤。我们吃饱，休息了一阵，还动手搓汤圆呢！

今天，我们体验到了农家生活，学到了不少新知识。这一天的收获可真不少啊！

浩端、倩怡以及参与台湾之旅的同学们上

Day 1 photos....

Day 1 @ Dakeng Recreational Farm, Kaoshiung

We took SILKAIR from S’pore to Kaoshiung, Taiwan. We reached Kaoshiung at about 1.25pm.We were greeted politely by our tour guide, Yuki. We boarded a double-decked tour bus and made our way to Dakeng Recreational Farm. We took a short break at 7-eleven store, where some of us purchased prepaid calling cards and tidbits. We soon reached the farm.It was better than what we had expected it to be. We got the keys to our rooms and rested for a while before meeting at the lobby at 4.30pm.

Then, we followed another tour guide, Xiaoqiao, who brought us for a tour around the farm. We learnt a lot of wildlife like giant spiders and lizards. We also got a chance to smell different types of leaves which are fragrant. We made our way to the top of the hill and had a bird’s eye view of the beautiful scenery of the farm and the surrounding areas, which are mostly mountains and plants. Just as we thought that it was the end, we were taken to the suspension bridge and we were told that we had to cross it to get to the other side. Xavier, the bravest, led the group, followed by Chee Ping, Lawnce and the rest of the group. Despite some pupils who were scared of heights, everyone managed to cross the bridge safely.

We had a steamboat dinner and everyone enjoyed it as we were famished. Our last activity for the day was to make "muah chee". We pounded the given steamed glutinous rice until it became soft and sticky. We were treated to the "muah chee" with grinded peanut. Finally, we were briefed by our teachers.

It was a fun and enjoyable day. We learnt and did things that we could not do in Singapore. It was tiring but we are happy because we learnt many useful things. We look forward to the next day.

Till then, catch the next blog entry tomorrow.

Regards,
Chee Ping & Yuchen
(on behalf of the Taiwan Trippers)

10 hours more!!!

Dear children,

Please remember your sweaters / jackets / windbreakers.
It is said to be cold now.

Let's all hope for good weather too, so that we can go ahead with the activities planned at the farm.

See you all tomorrow morning @ 7am. (Terminal 2)

Good night!

Regards,
Miss Yun, Mdm Irni & Ms Koh

台湾隙顶国小网上留言板

同学们，你们好！我刚游览了台湾隙顶国小的学校网站，发现他们很细心地为我们设了一个交流平台，以便让我们在网上留言，与那里的学生交流。

虽然我们快出发了，但我希望同学在这两天内能到以下的网站去看看并简单地向他们问好。
http://www.pixnet.net/guestbook/ict2007

来到此网站，点按“我要留言”就可以了！现在就开始行动吧！

许老师

Blog updates

Dear parents,

Please be patient with the updating of this blog on those nights at a changed hotel.

The teachers need to go through the necessary check-in procedures with all the pupils and to ensure that they are comfortably settled in their rooms.


Regards,
Miss Yun

Ready? :)

Dear children,

How's the packing preparation coming about?

Are you all ready? :)

Hope you have read something about Taiwan so that you can benefit the most from the trip when our tour guide talks about the history.


Regards,
Miss Yun

Emergency Preparedness

Dear all,

While teachers do their utmost to ensure your safety during the trip, it will be of good knowledge to take note of the following in times of emergencies.

Upon checking into your hotel room,

1. Learn the emergency exit route, so that you are able to evacuate when
o the fire alarm sounds
o after tremors have stopped

2. Place your torchlight by the side of your bed, so that it is accessible when you need it.

Your teacher will brief you again at each check-in.

Regards,
Miss Yun

Preparation for Songs

Dear all,

Siding Elementary will be putting up a performance for us.

Guess it's hard for us not to perform.

Please memorise the lyrics for both songs.

Familarise yourself with the actions for Reach Out for the Skies. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzgH0dbv0p4 (Thanks, Ting Yi!)

We will spend some time after dinner to practise the moves.

Regards,
Miss Yun

Daily Attire

Day 1 (Fri) : Blue T-shirt ; Long jeans/pants

Day 2 (Sat) : White T-shirt ; Long jeans/pants

Day 3 (Sun) : Red T-shirt ; Long jeans/pants

Day 4 (Mon) : school uniform (If weather is wet and cold, wear own top & bottoms.)

Day 5 (Tue) : own top ; own bottoms

Day 6 (Wed) : own top ; own bottoms

Day 7 (Thu) : CUSTOMISED Yellow T-shirt ; own bottoms

Day 8 (Fri) : CUSTOMISED Turquoise T-shirt ; own bottoms


* Note:
1. All tops must come with sleeves. (No basketball jerseys / spaghetti straps)
2. All bottoms must be at least knee-length. (No shorts)

Miss Yun

Links to Places in Taiwan

大坑农场 (Dakeng Farm) www.168big.com.tw

隙顶国小 (Siding Elementary School) www.sdps.cyc.edu.tw

焢窯 http://www.pumpkin.idv.tw/pot/pot.htm

Reach out for the skies

Dear pupils,
You may view the video clip of the song, Reach out for the skies.
Do learn the moves for the chorus of the song.



Reach Out for the Skies
(G)At a time when hope was low
The journey seemed unsure
But through it all
We’ve kept the flame alive

(B)Now standing proud and tall
Our spirit strong and free
Building on hopes and dreams
It’s here we want to be

Chorus:
(ALL)Let’s reach out for the skies
With wings we soar up high
Our dreams we’ll all achieve
We’ll make our destiny
Let’s reach out for the skies
With wings we soar up high
Our dreams we’ll all achieve
Let’s soar and reach for the skies

(Boys)When I think about my dreams
The future it may be
The time has come for me
To strive and to achieve

(Girls)With hopes within our hearts
As one hand in hand
For family and our friends
Let’s do the best we can

Chorus
(ALL)Let’s reach out for the skies
With wings we soar up high
Our dreams we’ll all achieve
We’ll make our destiny
Let’s reach out for the skies
With wings we soar up high
Our dreams we’ll all achieve
Let’s soar and reach for the skies
Our dreams we’ll all achieve
Let’s soar and reach for the skies
We can touch the skies...

Mdm IrNi

Medical Kit

Dear all,

Please prepare the following in your medical kit.

Medicine for

1) Fever (Paracetamol)
2) Running nose
3) Sore throat (Lozenges)
4) Diarrhoea
5) Motion Sickness
6) VITAMIN C (should start consuming now to build up resistance)

Please show the above items to the teacher in-charge of your group next week.

Miss Yun

Preparation for Trip ( on Friday )

Dear all,

I will be briefing you on Discipline on Friday after the Sports Meet.
We will prepare an item on that day too.

Date: 16 May 2008 (Friday)
Time: 1.30 pm to 3.30 pm
Venue: Room 204

Things to bring:
1) Consent form only.


Miss Yun

Lyrics for Singapore Town

Click http://www.singsingapore.org.sg/songs-lyric.asp?sid=24 to listen to the song.


You could take a little trip around
Singapore town
In Singapore city bus
To see Collyer Quay and Raffles Place
The Esplanade and all of us

Chorus:
Because in Singapore, Singapore
Their hearts are big and wide you'll find
Because in Singapore, Singapore
You'll find happiness for everyone

Let's go down to the riverside,
it's an unforgettable sight
To see the sunrise on a faraway isle,
turning darkness into light

( Repeat Chorus )

The buildings are climbing all the way to the sky
And there's a hundred other people who are striving
For people like you and I

( Repeat Chorus )

Submission of Passports

Dear girls & boys,

Please bring along your passport & $11 (for 2 customised T-shirts) this Saturday when you come for the briefing with your parents.

Miss Yun

Pre-Trip Briefing

Please be informed that there will be a briefing for parents and pupils on next Saturday, 17th May 2008 @ C4 from 1-2pm.
See you there!

Mdm Irni