It has been a pleasure travelling with such a fine group of students who have embraced the challenges of the Big Experience. Together we have built a house, explored three countries and bartered using four different currencies. Many days were long and difficult and students faced the challenges of travelling in a large group, eating different cuisines, processing a lot of information (sometimes formal and heavy), and self-managing sleep, money, clothing, and relationships. The blog below, chronicles each day’s events and gives a small insight into the experiences we have had. Each student will have their own perspectives and take-away moments along with their own story to tell. As we arrive back into Melbourne and begin to consider more deeply this wonderful opportunity, the real big experience starts now. A seed has been planted and over time the lessons and values learnt will hopefully flourish in our everyday lives.
A huge thank you goes out to all the people behind the scenes who organise this trip. Also to the local guides who shared their passion and knowledge about their regions. Our main tour guide, Billy, was sensational with the rapport he built with the group and the incredible way he painted pictures of politics, history and culture through his story telling.
I have really enjoyed managing this blog – taking and choosing the images to represent the day and showing off the joy of the students and the beauty of the countries we travelled through. Thank you to the readers for following and I hope you enjoyed the small window offered to look into daily adventures.
Thanks also to Soriya Ung who kept everyone healthy and fit. We had minimal sicknesses and injuries due to her care and treatment. She will return an almost full medical kit that may be short a few band-aids!
Finally, a massive thank you and acknowledgment goes to our fearless leader, Robyn Marshall, who was always first to rise and last to bed and in between she injected energy into the group everyday and gave the Temples the best opportunity to make the most of the Big Experience.
That’s all for the TLC Temples 2017 Blog. We have arrived at Tullamarine safely and are about to take our final group bus ride. See you at the South Road gates!
Chris Hyde, Soriya Ung, Robyn Marshall
