Weblink to photos and videos for India Twinning Programme 5 - 11 June 2010

Dear All,

Please click on the link below to gain access to the photos and videos for the India Twinning Programme 5 - 11 June 2010. Many thanks to Mrs Thia and Ms Ng HK for your contributions.

http://photobucket.com/indiatwinning

or

http://s863.photobucket.com/albums/ab192/MrAdrianTay/SSS%20India%20Twinning%20Programme%205%20-%2011%20June%202010/?albumview=slideshow

If you wish to contribute your photos and videos as well so that all of us can share the many fond memories from the trip, please approach me (Mr Adrian Tay).

8 June 2010 (Day 4)

We went to Cotton Hill Girls’ High School for a brief visit in the morning. This government school had an enrolment of 7000 students and each student enjoyed full subsidies for their school fees. The next education institute we visited was Sanskrit College. We had the privilege to meet up with the principal and some teachers for a time of interaction and sharing of experiences.

After lunch, we set off for Veli Tourist Village to take in the sights. With time to spare before the next programme, we were treated to a shopping spree at a local departmental store Parthas. This was followed by the Kathakali Dance recital at Margi School. The performers left a lasting impression on the audience with their high quality portrayal of the story on humility, focusing even on small details such as eye movements and facial expressions. Before long, night had fallen and another day was about to come to an end. We returned to the hotel for dinner, sharing of reflection and a debrief on the programme for the next day before going back to our rooms for a much needed rest.

7 June 2010 (Day 3)

We set off to Saraswathi Vidyalaya School after breakfast at the hotel. It was their first day of school after a long holiday. When we reached, we were overwhelmed by their warm reception. The chairman, principal and staff of the school received us with open arms. To accommodate our arrival time, they delayed their morning assembly so as to seize this opportunity to introduce us to the whole school. The students were excited to see us. Even the people from the media were there to cover our visit. Many of us felt like superstars for the day.

For the lesson observation, the students were divided and attached to 3 different classes while the teachers were guided to tour around the school which comprised of students from the age of 6 to 18. After which we were treated to a performance put up by their Indian dancers just for this occasion. Mrs Thiagayson thanked them for their hospitality and presented the hand-made souvenirs made by our students to the staff and students of the school.

The school hosted us to a sumptuous lunch with traditional Kerala dishes and encouraged us to try eating without using cutlery just like the locals. Many of us gamely took on the challenge and tucked into our lunch with our hands for the very first time.

The afternoon was spent at the Science and Technology Museum where there were many exhibits on display, and the Planetarium which reminded many of us of the Omni Max Theatre next to Singapore Science Centre.

Before returning to the hotel for dinner, we stopped by the Handicrafts Emporium to buy some gifts and souvenirs to be brought home, as well as the local provision shop Spencer’s for some snacks. The air-conditioner was not turned on in Spencer’s due to a blackout earlier. Instead, all the ceiling fans were operating at full blast to cool the store but to no avail. With a huge crowd in the store, the air inside was stiflingly hot.

Another blackout occurred moments after we had just returned to our rooms. It was pitch dark inside the rooms and along the corridors as well. Fortunately the power came back shortly and brought an end to a very eventful day.

6 June 2010 Sunday (Day 2)

6 June 2010 Sunday (Day 2) After breakfast at the hotel, we set off for a City Tour with our guide telling us the famous landmarks along the way. A visit to the Kankakunnu Palace (Horse Palace), a Travancore Heritage Site, was next on the itinerary. The rain didn't allow us to stay long at the Shangamugam Beach but stopped in time for our visit to the Sri Chitra Museum where paintings of famous Kerala artists were on display. Lunch was at Hotel Magic Days before we were treated to an eye-opening Kalarippayattu demonstration and practice, a Dravidian form of martial arts at the Indian School of Martial Arts. The practitioners of this martial arts consisted of the young and old of both genders. Dinner was at the hotel followed by a time of sharing of our experiences for the day before we all retired to our rooms for the day.

Some sharings from our students:
"I was captivated by the magnificent architecture of the Horse Palace and the many intricate details despite it being built at a time when technology was not so advanced" Suganya of 2N1

"Each painting in the Sri Chitra Museum told a different story. I remembered one painting which depicted a practice from the past which made it compulsory to bury the wife together with her dead husband." Esther of 2N2

"As I walked around the Horse Palace and listened to the guide, I was able to imagine its past splendour and how it was like to be in the past." Tan Eng Kuan of 2N3

"I was most captivated by the Kalarippayattu performance. The performers were very brave and passionate especially when they made some mistakes but kept on in their performance." Ros Hidayu of 2EA


5 June 2010 Saturday (Day 1)
We arrived at Thiruvananthanpuram (Trivandrum) via Silk Air MI498 at around 10pm (which was 1230am in Singapore). A air-con coach came to bring us all to South Park Hotel. After allocating the rooms and a short debrief on the activities for the next day, we were more than glad to check into our rooms. Some girls were fortunate enough to have an owl visiting them outside their window.

Welcome

Welcome to the blog for 2010 Serangoon Sec India Twinning Programme. We will be updating the blog regularly throughout the journey to let you experience visually our adventure in Kerela. Our journey begins on 5th June 2010 and ends on 11 June 2010.