Beauty in the Land of Smiles

Chiang Mai, Thailand 11 – 15 November 2018

On 11 November 2018, 33 students and 4 teachers embarked on an overseas Values-In-Action (VIA) trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand. Some of our VIA initiatives included setting up an English Reading Corner for a village primary school, and creating gardening plots from disused car tyres for the children to grow vegetables. We left Chiang Mai not only with fond memories of Thai culture and cuisine, but more importantly, an experience which everyone can cherish. Let us take you on a photo journey of our experience…

Foreword

“This overseas Values-In-Action (VIA) trip to Chiang Mai was enjoyable and also benefited me with lots of interesting things that I have not experienced before. During the trip, we visited Baan Pa Tan Primary School, where the students were enthusiastic and the teachers were welcoming. Although the kids were mischievous, they taught us some useful Thai phrases and games. Learning their language was beneficial as we could use it at the night market. We also forged lots of memories where we can cherish forever. We helped them to build a small English library so that they can study and improve on the language. We also taught them some English through songs and games. It was a wonderful experience and I hope I would be able to revisit the same place to see the changes.”

–Nadhirah, 313

“This Chiangmai trip was an enjoyable one. The locals were very friendly and respectful to everyone. They willingly shared about their culture with us, allowing us to experience the way they live and the food they eat. The primary school kids were welcoming towards us when we played games with them and taught them English. They also showed us how to be grateful as they showed appreciation for the food they have with a prayer before they eat. This reminds us to not take things for granted. We also did many other interesting activities during this trip such as interacting with elephants and making the ‘krathong’, which is a lantern for the ‘Loi Krathong’ festival. These activities allowed us to have a better understanding of their country, the people, as well as their culture.”

–Foo Jie En, 303

“This overseas Values-In-Action trip to Chiangmai, Thailand, was a really memorable experience. Having to interact with the kids with a huge language barrier, we had to break up our words and use actions to get to know them, to instruct them, to teach them or just to talk to them. Teaching them was so memorable because although I was teaching two girls at the same time, they were both paying full attention to what I was saying. I read them “The Ugly Duckling” and they were repeating it after me. It was an intimate session and I felt really close with the kids. We also helped set up a herb garden for the students to learn more about herbs in future. We then ended the day off with a soccer match. It made me really thankful for the things we have. I am grateful for the language I speak, for the education I am provided with and the living conditions I have.”

–Joyce, 302

“This is the bookshelf that we constructed to help the students of Baan Pa Tan Primary School keep books that pre-schools and primary schools in Singapore donated. The students were very happy when they received the books because the books were in English Language, unlike those they already have, which are in Thai Language. These books would help them improve on their English Language. I was delighted to see how thrilled they were when they saw the bookshelf full of books! I hope that I can get another opportunity to help more students like them so that they can get a better education.”

–Elyhan, 301

“As a Singaporean, there are many privileges that we have taken for granted. The visit to Baan Pa Tan Primary School certainly opened my eyes to how we, although more fortunate, do not make full use of what we have. We made two trips to the school and both visits were heartwarming and memorable. The first visit was a bit more challenging because we had to teach the students English Language. When we discussed the lesson the night before, everyone felt fearful of that session. However, thanks to Mr. Ivinn, who led an ice-breaking session and encouraged us, we slowly opened up and were more comfortable with the students despite the language barrier. The students were such an innocent-minded and fun bunch! The lesson that Lianne, Fifi and I had with 4 students was certainly not smoothly done but we did the best we could using hand gestures, and even using Google translator so that they could understand what we wanted to deliver. The next day, we returned to do some agricultural work. It took a lot of work to transfer the soil to the tyres, which were meant to be “flower pots”. Although back-breaking, it was truly memorable walking back and forth to fill the tyres with soil so that we could set up the herb garden. It was something that we would probably not be able to experience in Singapore. The morning ended with a football match against the primary school students. Even though I was not contributing much in the match, I enjoyed myself. During the game, I noticed that they were not wearing shoes when playing in the field. I found out that they played bare foot because they could not afford to wear their shoes lest they tore them. It was really a stark reminder of how I could learn from them to not complain in times of discomfort but to enjoy the moment. Finally, what made my visit even more memorable was a bracelet of sweets that my buddy had made. She remembered my name and she had given the gift to one of the teachers to hand to me. It was really unexpected! I hope she enjoyed herself and learnt something in those two days that we spent together.”

–Fatin, 302

“This picture shows a school in Thailand, Panyaden Internat ional Schoo l, wh ich i s bui lt u s ing environmentally sustainable resources. This pavilion we were seated in is made from bamboo, which grows faster than trees and is a strong material. Even though it was a hot day and the pavilion was not air-conditioned, it was cooling. During the school tour, we saw that the students were provided with a green environment to study in, and learnt the importance of the 3Rs from a young age. The students are also taught the importance of living in balance with Mother Earth. This visit taught me about the power of innovation. I learnt that mankind needs to be creative and use natural resources to create something that would benefit us for generations to come.”

–Wilbert, 311

“Despite the language barrier during this overseas VIA trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand, all the people we met were very patient with us. This trip also allowed us to be immersed in their culture, and to experience what their lifestyle is like. During the trip, we visited Panyaden international School. Most of the buildings are constructed using bamboo, which is a strong material. We were told that their buildings made of bamboo survived a huge thunder storm whereas structures made of other materials collapsed in that storm! We also learnt that it takes at least a year to complete a building. When we went on a tour of the school, I noticed that the children there were enjoying themselves as they played at the playground, which was made with environmentally-friendly materials.”

–Lutfi, 313

This was clearly seen in the school’s infrastructure and curriculum. The beauty of a place is not only derived by the decorations or the high-rise colourful buildings, but also the health of the place. Comparing Chiang Mai and Singapore, I think that Chiang Mai is healthier due to the effort and the emphasis among the youngsters that greenery is key. Thus, we are still able to see great wide smiles on their faces till now. I learnt that in order to save the world from global warming, there needs to be a collective effort put in by the people. In Singapore, youngsters may be too obsessed with technology to be concerned about any greenery in the city. Hopefully, this trip would encourage us to be less obsessed with technology and to pay more attention to the nature around us.”

–Teena, 304

“This picture shows that Chiang Mai is an e co -f r i end ly city. Everywhere we are able to see the effort that they have p u t i n t o h e l p s u s t a i n t h e greenery. It is a growing city and hence you would t h i n k t h a t t h e e x i s t e n c e o f g r e e n e r y i s common, but when I visited the Panyaden I n t e r n a t i o n a l School, the principal s a i d t h a t t h e students are thought many ways on how to be eco-friendly.

“This overseas VIA trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand, has made me realise that every small thing matters and we must enjoy it. During the trip, we visited Panyaden International School, an environmentally-friendly school. The building above is an example of eco-friendly architecture, which is built only with natural materials such as bamboo and earth. One of the teachers of the school told us that it takes about a year to build one classroom. However, the design and material are sturdy enough to provide safety as it survived a huge storm, which caused other structures made of metal to collapse! When we walked around the school, I saw a lot of students playing and enjoying their playground, which is also made out of bamboo. Sensing their joy and seeing them being at balance with the environment shows beauty in the land of smiles.”

–Mika, 311

Bamboo is a very unique material as its growth is faster than that of timbre. Bamboo is also stronger and sturdier than timbre, hence when put together, can withstand strong winds. During our visit, we were told that the bamboo roof remained intact despite the area being hit by a storm! The principal kept reminding us that it is important to be environmentally-friendly, hence their students were taught from a young age. Living in balance with the environment is also important, which is why the school is built out of natural materials.”

–Hazel, 312

“ I d i d n o t expect to be able to visit a school mad e o u t o f bamboo so when w e w e n t t o P a n y a d e n Inte r nat i o nal School, I was really in awe. It i s r e a l l y interes t ing to see that it is p o s s i b l e t o c o n s t r u c t a school out of mainly bamboo a n d e a r t h .

"This picture depicts us gathering soil to set up a herb-nursery in Baan Pa Tan Primary School. This was an extremely daunting task, which would boil down to a few factors. Firstly, it would be due to the fact that the weather was scorching. Secondly, the area from which we had to collect the soil and the nursery was quite a distance away. Thirdly, the soil was rather heavy as well. Despite all these difficulties, we managed to complete the assigned task and I feel we had worked together well. Knowing how tired we were, the teachers were nice enough to buy us ice cream. That truly put a smile on our faces. Thus, I feel the phrase ‘beauty in the land of smiles’ is apt in this situation.”

–Rakhshan, 301

“This picture shows us helping Baan Pa Tan Primary School build a herb garden. To do so, we had to first flatten and clear out the bed of weeds. Instead of pots, we upcycled car tyres. In order to fill the tyres up with soil, we had to go back and forth the dirtpile repeatedly. During the process, we got down and dirty. It was a little laborious , but it made the activity meaningful and fun. Who knew that getting close to nature could actually bring all of us together instead of loitering in shopping malls enjoying the air-conditioning or being on our phones constantly? This activity helped us gain a better understanding of agricultural. At the end of the day, I felt accomplished and happy that we did something good. I learnt that as long as we are determined and change our thinking to a more positive one, there will always be light, no matter what the challenge is.”

–Min Min, 303

Celine

“This picture shows us helping the students of Baan Pa Tan Primary School in Chiang Mai, Thailand, set up a herb garden. To do so, we had to carry dirt from one end of the school to the other end by using a limited number of pails that we were provided. With our collective effort, we were able to fill all the pots and plant all the seeds. We were so happy and relieved that we were able to complete the task. Thailand is indeed the ‘Land of Smiles’ because of their friendly citizens, especially the students who we interacted with during the trip. We were able to experience joy in those beautiful smiles of the students and the people in Thailand. At the end of the day, the hard work, sweat and complaints helped us to grow to be a better person. Hopefully it was a meaningful learning experience for everyone to pay it forward and to do something to make someone else smile everyday.”

–Celine, 304

I felt a sense of connection with the elephants when feeding them at the elephant camp. Each elephant was unique and had their own personality. When we went for bamboo rafting, I saw that the elephants were used as transportation. Elephants are being used for elephant-riding because it is an important source of income for the elephant-riders as well as a boost to the country’s tourism. However after seeing how the elephants were controlled using bull hooks placed behind their ears when being ridden, I think that the elephants are abused, which totally changed my perspective about elephant-riding.”

–Wai Hung, 312

“ I m m e r s i n g ourselves in nature helps to clear our mind s, re l ieve s stress and makes our mood happier. The beauty of the land is a better s c e n e r y a n d f re s h e r a i r, a s compared to the b u s y c i t y o f S ingapore. That day, we got to interact with the f r i end ly g i ant, which is a species o f e ndang e re d a n i m a l . T h e elephant is a part of the Thailand culture.

We had the chance to feed the elephants at the centre, and I was intrigued that they did not try to escape though they were not chained to the ground. We learnt that the elephants were separated from their mothers at a young age and chained to the ground to tame them. Hence, they have been conditioned to stay where they are once there is a chain on their foot. When we went bamboo-rafting the next day, I observed that the elephants which were used for elephant-riding were mistreated. The elephant-riders would pull and drag the elephant by its ears or mouth to get them to move to a certain direction. In my opinion, the people could be less abusive with the friendly giant.”

–Sean, 311

“ T h i s p i c t u r e s h o w s a n elephant in the Tha i E le p hant Care Centre, a p l a c e w h e r e people could visit and interact with the elephant. I l e a r n t t h a t e lep hants may have difficulty m o v i n g t h e i r bowels and hence need to be fed w i t h s o m e medicine, which w e h a d t h e chance to make.

"This picture shows how friendly the elephants were to us. Elephants, also known as ‘chang’ in Thailand, are one of the most well-known and important animals in Thailand. Elephants are mostly being hurt because of humans trying to enjoy the scenery and have fun by going elephant-riding. One of the things that man does is to remove their tusks and blinding them in the process of poaching. I think that we must all protect the elephants before they extinct.”

–Husna, 312

“One of my favourite activities during the VIA Chiangmai Thailand trip is the visiting of the elephants, during our visit we got to learn more about the tradition of elephant-riding and the process behind it. Often seen as casual and fun activity, we got to learn about the cruel business of elephant-riding there where they used a hook to cause pain to the elephant so that it would be easier for the rider to control the elephants. We also got the chance to feed the retired elephants and make their food and medicine for them. Through this experience we got to learn much more about the diets of elephants and what they have to be put through for the enjoyment of humans.”

–Ziying, 302

“I learnt the meaning of leadership through an unpleasant experience that happened on the second last night of the Chiang Mai, Thailand trip with the school. Upon reflection, my actions were really stupid and I really regretted not thinking before acting. I have learnt from Miss Teo that leadership does not apply only in a particular organisation or group, but that leadership is carried out everywhere and all the time. A leader does not only excel, but also leads by example. A Queensway leader serves others and helps others along the way. This photograph means a lot to me because I enjoyed my afternoon at the elephant camp and had the best time during the trip. This photo was taken on the most enjoyable day of the trip, because I was free of regrets, disappointment and anger. It only takes me one second to do wrong but also one second to stop myself from doing wrong. I know what I lost cannot be found again but I hope that the teachers would give me a second chance. I hope that I will be able to gain the trust of everyone again.”

–Keverne, 311

We also visited the elephant care centre, where captive elephants get to retire at after “working”. Some of these elephants are very old. We got to feed them snacks of bananas, and also learnt how to make laxative medication and vitamin balls for the elephants. We also went to the Baan Tong Luang Hill Tribes Village, and visited the Karen Long Neck Village. The women’s necks were elongated using coils. They handmade many souvenirs like spring bracelets, pencil cases and shawls. With all the rich history, culture and activities to enjoy, Thailand has all the beauty in the land of smiles.”

–Ken, 304

“The orchids at the Orchid and Butterfly Park were in various colours and shapes. The butterflies were a l s o b e a u t i f u l . However, during our v i s i t, w e s aw a b u t t e r f l y w i t h deformed w ings, which probably came about when people t r i ed to get an “insta-worthy” shot and grabbed them by their wings! The scent of the orchids were so strong and s w e e t t h a t I would’ve plucked them if it were not for the fine.

“River rafting is not a common activity that you see everywhere. However, in Thailand, also known as the Land of Smiles, rafting is in fact one of the modes of transportation for the locals. Us ing a raft to t ravel to your destination may seem tough, but it is all worth it once you get to experience the beauty and peace of nature as you travel along the river.”

–Joann, 301

think of it as fun but they do not think about the elephants. The elephants were actually being kicked by the person controlling it from time to time and to ensure that the elephants are obedient, a bull-hook is placed behind their ears to control them. The tourists may not know it, but it is actually animal cruelty to ride on these elephants. In this picture, clearly the beauty was the elephants, but look what tourists are actually doing to them. The locals there encourage elephant-riding as they see it as an opportunity to earn some money. However, instead of encouraging the locals to think that this "business" will continue to do well, tourists could all play a part and choose bamboo-rafting to enjoy the exact same view while having more fun and enjoyment with fellow friends or even family without causing any harm to those beautiful animals.”

–Elvis, 302

“This picture was taken when we were at t h e E le p hant Camp experiencing bamboo-rafting. You can see the fun and joy that we were having on the raft teasing each other and also being able to experience how locals travel from o n e v i l l a g e t o another. However, at the back, elephants are being ridden by the tour is ts and t h e s e a r e o n l y m ino r i t y o f t he elephants that have been ridden on by people. The tourists

“It is interesting to experience how the locals travel to different villages by a bamboo-raft. This is a mode of transport for them to not only travel back home but also to travel to the market or to work. The rafts and paddles are made from bamboo while the seats are made out of wood for stability. Bamboo is a very unique material as its growth is faster than that of timbre. It is also a very strong and sturdy material, which when put together is able to support the weight of up to 10 people per raft. The ride was very scenic and I was able to slow down to appreciate Mother Nature during the bamboo-rafting session. The bridge where the villagers could cross over the river bank was also covered beautifully with leaves and flowers. The tranquil and beautiful surroundings will surely bring smiles to everyone.”

–Fifi, 312

“During this time of the trip, we were originally supposed to ride on the elephant but the plan was scraped because it harms the elephant. In order to get the elephant ready to be ridden by man, they are trained from young by being beaten into submission and pierced with bull-hooks. Even during the ride, the rider controls them with a bull-hook that is placed behind their ears! To me, that is animal cruelty and there is no need for us to enjoy ourselves by causing discomfort to the animal. Instead of elephant-riding, all of us went bamboo-rafting. Everyone enjoyed the ride and all of us were happy too. I also learnt that the raftman does not earn much from steering the raft, so besides taking the raft, we could help them earn a bit more by giving them a tip. Also, everyone had an incredible time on the raft because some of us actually rowed the raft and had our pictures taken. I am pretty sure all of us managed to sightsee on the raft instead of on the elephant, hence there was no need for any of us to ride the elephants. If humans do not wish to be treated that way, then the friendly giants should also be treated with respect!”

–Shaniz, 311

Tvesha

“While beauty could be natural and man-made, most people consider natural beauty to be more attractive. But is that always the case? Natural beauty is attractive when nature is free and happy. However, are the elephants free or happy? Sure they are natural beauty, but in Thailand, they could be feeling more tortured than free. Bull-hooks are used to get them to obey instructions. The pain they get is unbearable. For what? Human pleasure. Torture is just not the way. Making another organism suffer to make yourself happy is perhaps the most inhumane thing to do and isn't it ironic since it's done by humans? Seeing the elephants like this definitely doesn't make me happy. So in this frame, what is the beauty that made me smile? It is the man-made bamboo-raft instead. Bamboo is a renewable resource and grows very quickly! Bamboo-rafting is clean and efficient too! However, the best part of this "beauty" is the people. It brings a smile on our faces and gives true pleasure which no amount of elephant-riding could give. Beauty in the land of smiles is seen on our faces during the bamboo-rafting.”

-Tvesha, 301

“This trip has been a fulfilling and eventfu l one. Thanks to the very welcoming and friendly locals, I was able to create memories full of smiles and joy. Through the ‘Loi Krathong’ Festival, I was able to interact with the locals and was even able to experience their culture which is something that cannot be achieved if I had not been on this trip. Seeing the happy smiles on their faces as they taught us how to make the ‘krathong’ made me even happier and more than willing to help them. It was a very pleasant and meaningful time for me.”

–Lianne, 302

“Visiting the longan farm was not the most exciting part in the trip but it was one of the most rewarding. I experienced what was like to be working in an uncomfortable environment, which is part of the life of a farmer. We used natural materials like banana leaves and stem to make ‘krathong’, a buoyant, decorated basket. The process of making one is time-consuming even with so many of our help, and I cannot imagine only 2 farmers making 10 of them! However, they did it happily and with no complaints. In the end, the finished product lights up a hope in them as ‘loi krathong’ is meant to deliver hope and wishes of the people. The end-product is what matters but without the process, it cannot happen. We were all smiles because despite the tedious process, we felt a sense of accomplishment in completing ten ‘krathongs’ despite the language barrier with the farmer!”

–Thae Mone, 304

“The ‘krathong’, which is mostly made out of leaves and assorted with the prettiest of flowers, is a symbolic item to the Thai people. Though it seemed like a common practice when our school visited the Thai village, it is actually only made sometime during the month of November in celebration of ‘Loi Krathong’, a festival that falls at that point of time. During that festival, the Thais make these ‘krathongs’ and make a wish before letting it flow on the river, almost similar to wishing upon a shooting star. This is definitely not a common practice in Singapore, which adds up to the unique beauty of Thailand, the Land of Smiles.”

–Jeyashri, 302

“This trip to Chiang Mai was really an amazing one. The people were very friendly, kind and respectful towards us. They are always putting on their smiles, making us comfortable and making the trip enjoyable. The locals were more than willing to interact and share their culture with us, allowing us to learn and experience their beautiful culture such as making the ‘krathong’ as part of the ‘Loi Krathong’ festival. It was a genuine pleasure to be able to interact with the locals. Thailand not only has natural beauty but also many beautiful people!”

–Eileen, 304

us were making the ‘krathongs’, the rest of us were using cement to make a pavement with and for the locals. I personally feel that the cementing was a rather fun activity despite it being rather tiring. I found this picture to be my most favorite as it is really beautiful. The phrase "beauty in the land of smiles" is apt here as the sunset is really a true beauty and it sure did put a smile on the faces of me and my peers.”

–Amanda, 301

“ I n t h i s picture, what can be seen is the beautiful s u n s e t i n C h i a ngma i . T h i s w a s taken at the s p o t w h e r e ‘krat hong s ’ , lanterns we made u s ing banana leaves, were released. When half of

Hopefully this trip has taught all of us to: •  find a need and meet it, •  find a hurt and heal it, •  make a new friend, and •  be kind to every kind. Let’s all be the change we want to see in the world. We may not be able to help everyone, but everyone of us can help someone, so let’s pay it forward and make someone’s day everyday!

Photos taken by Mr Feroz, Mr Justin, Miss Teo Yong Chin, Ms Jasmine Tay and Mr Ivinn Lim (Tour Manager)