Waking up from our deep slumber, at first it felt like any other day of our Big Experience trip. However, we soon came to realise that today is Day 17, the final day of our unforgettable journey. Though we were thrilled to finally be reunited with our families, it was impossible to conceal the clouds of disappointment that shadowed over us.
To prepare ourselves for the oncoming flight, we allowed ourselves to sleep in and enjoy the feast in the hotel restaurant. We then went to the Russian Market to quench our remaining thirst for shopping. Its rich history combined with the crowded, complicated maze of shops spectacularly concluded our market stops in the trip. After an hour in the market, we packed our bags and headed off to a delicious lunch. The realisation that this would be our last time packing and eating lunch in South East Asia hit us like a bullet. Everyone was saddened to leave the small yet cozy hotel. As soon as we devoured our lunch, we set our sights to the magnificent Royal Palace. This effectively concluded the magical trip as the significant Palace symbolised all of the beautiful memories made throughout the journey. On this hot day, we ended our time in Cambodia with a relaxing boat ride around Phnom Penh. This hour granted us the opportunity to step back and fully submerge ourselves in the beauty of the city. In the serenity of the moment, we reflected upon the entirety of the trip. We then ventured off to the airport.
Throughout the trip, we learnt of the values of different cultures and were able to compare and contrast those values from ours. Constantly, we were forced out of our comfort zones, leaving us vulnerable but also giving us opportunities to learn and adapt. In Australia, those precious chances were rare as we are not as frequently pushed outside our comfort zones. We were always afraid to be judged when we committed ourselves to new experiences. Fortunately, the trip was full of times where we all learnt more about ourselves and the world around us. Though outdoor activities such as white water rafting were exciting and adventurous, it was times of silence and volunteering that were the most meaningful. Going to the villages, building a house, visiting an orphanage and primary school, places where struggle and strife were visible, were the places where the group evolved the most. After encountering those less fortunate, we were able to acknowledge how lucky we are to have a solid education and a healthy lifestyle. We gained an appreciation for all we have a at home and now have more gratitude for our luxuries. These interactions with local communities portrayed the different values that the people half way around world harbour and taught us more about the important things in life. We saw that there are many ways to be happy and that in it self was one of the biggest lessons we all learnt.
At the end of the trip, it was impossible to not appreciate the enormous support we received from both the teachers and the tour guides. Hung and Volek, our tour guides, were easily the best tour guides we have ever witnessed. They were with us the whole trip and were fantastic in their leading. Their life stories forced us to view them not as strangers but as fellow friends and a respectable figure. We also met other tour guides along the way including the amazing Yawan, in Thailand, Mr Vong in Laos and Niang in Cambodia who all happily instilled their knowledge to us in an entertaining way. Though there were some standouts, we were all disappointed and even saddened when we had to say farewell to each guides as our trip continued on. Similarly to our two tour guides, three self-sacrificing and humorous teachers were always at our backs, ready to motivate and assist us in every possible way. Joss, who was always smiling and happy, kept close tabs on all of our welfare and put us before her at all times. She was amazing to talk to and established herself to be the mother of the trip. Thank you Joss! Mr. Hay, though strict with rules, always cared for each of us deeply, sacrificing some of his free time to participate in conversation with people independently. These short talks relieved our stress, allowing us to take our minds off of tiring days ahead of us. His humour was another huge support for all of us as we could take a moment in a hectic day to have a jolly laugh. On behalf of the whole group, we would like to thank Mr. Hay for his enormous efforts to make this trip the best it could be even if this was his first as well. Last but certainly not least, Ms. Brown, the group leader, spent all her energy and time to safely return all of us to Melbourne while also allowing us to enjoy our time here to the fullest. She joyfully motivated us to participate in all activities and shared her wise wisdom with the group. Her strong leadership skills kept everyone in check while her patient yet caring personality brought out the best attitude for everybody and for that, we all appreciate and thank her determination for the success of our trip. Finally we would like to thank the group for being awesome friends. We are all so glad to create amazing bonds and memories with such incredible people. This experience has been life changing for everybody involved and has taught all of us precious lessons that will never be fully learned in a classroom.
LONG LIVE THE PAGODAS!
Daniel Kim and Lakshmi Malhotra
