Getting Out of the House...

Being admitted to Singapore Polytechnic via DPA has gifted me with two wonderful opportunities to do my learning beyond the classroom in just the space of my first two weeks of school. To others, this may not be of much significance. But to me, a girl on wheelchair who rarely goes anywhere save school and church, this is extremely significant.

My first outing was to Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve on 6 February 2009. After being hemmed in by concrete skyscrapers all year long, I felt a long-forgotten sense of freedom at being reconciled with nature. The various tree and flower species of the mangrove habitat that I had learnt about in my secondary school geography textbooks came alive all around me and I even saw a monitor lizard and kingfisher within close proximity. The guide leading my group was very informative and through him I garnered knowledge of natural medicines that could be found in the forest.

I had nothing but praises for my trip to Sungei Buloh, but the one to Malaysia was even more fantastic. For the first time in more than ten years, I was presented with the opportunity to travel beyond the boundaries of Singapore—thanks to SP! The one-and-a-half hour journey to Mawai Eco Camp itself was wonderful, being able to see the vast spread of palm tree plantations on both sides of the road and simply no buildings at all for tens of kilometres, a sight that I never got to see in Singapore. Upon reaching my destination, I was thrilled to know that I was going to take a dinghy across the river—for the first time in my life! It was an amazing experience! So enthralled by the rustic setting of the place was I that I could not stop snapping photographs. The open-concept long houses built by the Orang Asli were beautiful to behold and even more fascinating to be in. These houses are unique in that they have no wall panels to obstruct the scenic view of the surrounding forest and are fitted with canvas beds on wooden poles. Looking through the gaps between the wooden floorboards, I saw the grass beneath and I became very careful with anything I was holding, for fear of dropping them through the openings. Long houses are built above the ground, which means that you have to climb some steps to get up there. This would have prevented me from getting into one if not for the help of the SP staff and a couple of fellow DPA students who made this obstacle cease to exist. Lunch was provided at the cookhouse at half-past-one, right after the camp briefing and making of beds. There, I tasted some of the best mutton ever. It was simply sublime, done just right, succulent and tender. I also had my rice drowned in generous amounts of the gravy, which turned out to be utterly delicious. Shortly after lunch, the campers broke off into different groups for different activities and I had the pleasure of watching the group that was to cross the water obstacles. While the students were either labouring over tight ropes or falling off a skinny tree trunk into the water, a dozen or so monkeys invaded the cookhouse and rummaged through the dustbin for scraps of food. How interesting the sight was! They came and went so quickly that I could scarce snap a photograph of them. After watching the students for a little while more, the time for me to leave came and I once again had to take a dinghy back across the river.

Now that I am back in Singapore, with a whole load of pleasant memories from my two enjoyable trips, I would like to thank Ms Angelvin for driving me to and from Sungei Buloh and Malaysia. Without her help, these trips would never have been possible. Thank you, Ms Angelvin!