Induction of new member Melissa

Yum yum

Good food n good fellowship :)

Club anniversary dinner

Happy 10th Anniversary to our club!

President Ben giving his speech.

Adopt-a-school 2011: Semban - Day 2

Day 2


We woke at 7am to a cool, crisp morning. Low lying mist lingered on the ground.

Kpg. Rejoi in the morning mist

We gathered at the school ground for the assembly. After Guru Besar Abot addressed the students, he invited Jackie to say a few words.

School assembly

Jenny, Ben

Jackie motivating the students

After that was a brief hand-over of the donated items.

Trying on the futsal shirt

The donated computers and printer in the school's Resource room

To give you an idea of the impact your kind donation has made: In the past, it takes about 1 week for the students and villagers to get a photocopy of their IC or birth cert. The process entails making a long trip down to the nearest town and generally, such a trip is only made once a week. Now, with the donated colour printer and scanner, they can do so immediately from the comfort of the school. 

The school filled us up with a yummy breakfast and then we were off to Kpg. Semban.

Melissa and Derbe with the school's matron and cook

 Kpg. Semban is called "Village above the clouds". After the hike, I've decided to call it "Village of the never ending steps". We kept going up and up and up. Just when you thought you've reached the end of the steps, you turn a corner and there in front of you is another flight of steps.

Through grassy slopes

And rock 'tunnels'

It took us slower ones about 3 hours to hike from Kpg. Rejoi (where the school is) to Kpg. Semban. The villagers were warm and friendly and the view is certainly beautiful.

Some villagers of Kpg. Semban

Mr. Mering and his family hosted us to a wonderful lunch.

After the hearty lunch, we left on the last leg of our trip - the 5 hours walk downhill. We passed Kpg. Bojong along the way.

A waterfall near Kpg. Bojong

By the time we got back to our cars, the sun was just about to set.

In all, we hiked 13 hours in 2 days and met some truly wonderful people. A big thank you to all our supporters. You've made this project possible!

Birthday lunch with Member-at-large Dominic

Fellowship at Spring

Adopt-a-School 2011: Semban Day 1

Day 1

Our journey started at 10^th Mile, where we met up with Batik Boutique Hotel’s group. From there, we made our way to Bengoh Dam construction site to begin our 2 days hike of Bungo mountain range where Kpg. Rejoi and SK Semban are situated.

The road to Bengoh Dam construction site

We met up with Guru Besar Abot ak Singi and Cikgu Redan and the 6 porters. The porters are nothing short of Amazing! Looking at them loading their tambok with the boxes and boxes of the donated items left us speechless. And, they still managed to arrive at Kpg. Rejoi well ahead of us! 

The Kedai Runcit and start of the trail

The porters loading their tamboks

 

 
Our group of 17 started walking at about 1.55pm. As luck would have it, it was a sweltering 35˚ degree Celsius that day. On the other hand, the clear blue sky served as a wonderful backdrop to the view. 

Off we go!

The hike took us up and down mountains, over bamboo bridges and through farm fields. After a brief lunch stop at Kpg. Taba Sait (not including all the other countless stops along the way), we continued on on our way to Kpg. Rejoi. 

One of the bamboo bridge

 

Corn fields

Finally, the sound of a diesel generator could be heard. After 5 hours of hiking, we finally arrived at Kpg. Rejoi. The school welcomed us with jugs of milo and water. Most of us were gulping down the liquid like fishes by then. We were then taken to our quarters for a much needed rest. The more energetic ones went to take a dip in the nearby river.

SK Semban

The girls' quarters for the night

We were really touched by the school’s hospitality. Everyone - the Guru Besar, teachers, matron, cook, staff and even the students - pitched in to make us comfortable. After a wonderful dinner (sorry, no photos because I forgot to bring my camera to dinner), we set up the computers, printer and the other donation items in preparation for the school assembly and hand-over the next day. The electricity supply is so limited that they had to switch off all other electrical items just to have enough power to run the computers! Here in the city, we really take things for granted.

Once the preparation was done, we retired for the night : ) zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz   

1st Joint Installation meeting & Fellowship

27.5.2011 @ Banquet, VIP Room