URBAN DOMAIN 2024

China 2016 – Day 2 – Chengdu

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The piercing beeping of the scheduled wake-up call woke us up in a hurry. We had 15 minutes to get to the breakfast hall. Walking in, you get hit with a wall of exotic smells, including cooked toast, white rice, an assortment of beef and pork and the distinct smell of coffee and tea.Feeling full, we quickly walked onto the bus to begin our one and a half hour journey towards the China Conservation and Research Centre for the Giant Panda. We were met by the supervisor, split up into 3 groups, and then set off to do our assigned work. The jobs were basically chores done for the panda, such as cleaning up bamboo scraps, breaking down bamboo trees for the pandas to eat and cleaning up their poo. While doing these chores, a red panda appeared on the stone fence of the next door enclosure. The small, red, fluffy panda caused quite a commotion as it jumped down onto the wooden walkway, and bolted up the mountain, leaving a trail of frantic keepers behind it. It was pandamonium. Our chores were slightly cut short as a result, (but no one complained). 
Dinner was quite a different experience, seated in circular booths surrounded by hot plates with an assortment of Chinese herbs. As this variety of foods were being rushed out everyone was frantic to try these exotic foods. The food was brilliant and very different to Melbourne culture. After dinner we had the opportunity to go to a gaming arcade, most people branched off into small groups and spent about 40¥ which is the equivalent to 8 Australian dollars, this lasted about 30 minutes of game time and some kids even got caught up and was late to return to the group. Once everyone had gathered up we made our way back to the hotel and got ready for bed, this concluded our first full day in Chengdu.
Luke.L and Braeden

Technical Issue: We are having trouble posting photos due to poor internet speeds. We hope to be able to post photos soon.

TLC Temples – Day 3

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We began the day with another delicious buffet breakfast. After our stomachs were filled, the group began preparations for our upcoming adventures. We boarded our bus and headed for the Hill Tribes Eco-Village. Whilst we were travelling, we listened to Chai, our local guide, as he shared his knowledge of the different tribes that live in the village and their cultures and traditions. When we arrived at the village, and began venturing between the different tribes, we had the opportunity to learn much more, as we were able to ask the tribes people lots of questions and Chai was able to translate for us. We learned about their different ways of life, how they earned their income, how they used their resources and how their cultures impacted their daily routines. There were seven different tribes in the village including the Yao, Hmong, Padong, Kayaw, Karen, Lahu, Palong and Akha tribes. They were all known for particular things such as their handicrafts and the traditional colourful clothing and jewellery that they wear. One particular tribe, the Padong tribe, wore coils of brass around their neck and around their knees. Originally these coils were used as a protection against wild animals but are now seen as beautiful embroidery that they proudly wear. The girls that are born on a full moon, half moon or no moon are chosen to wear these coils but other girls have the choice to wear them as well, if they wish. They receive these coils from the age of three or four and continue to wear them for the rest of their lives, never taking them off, except to add another layer each year. We had the opportunity to take photos with them, ask them questions and buy their locally made crafts. 

We also had a big discussion about the pros and cons of establishing such an Eco-Village, as some people felt guilty for the families who were living in the village for their lack of privacy and the way their children seemed to be on display. Billy (our tour guide) and Chai explained that the families are free to come and go from the village, moving in for a couple of years and then they swap with another family from their home village. They are also safe from persecution and the high taxes that are often placed on them in their home countries, and they are able to earn money from selling their crafts in the village that they can bring back to their home villages to improve conditions for everyone in their tribe. It was interesting to hear the other side of things that we might not have initially considered.

After admiring the nature and culture of the Hill Tribes, we departed towards our lunch site at a local Orchid and Butterfly Farm. We were greeted by friendly ladies who gifted us with fresh orchid badges. Although this was a welcoming token, our bellies were also gifted with outstanding food! We had a wide variety of meals to choose from in the buffet that was provided, including lots of traditional and western foods. 

After enjoying the splendid food, we headed to a Buddhist temple. On arrival, our tour guide told us a bit about the Buddhist culture and traditions that were common throughout Thailand. We took a cable car to the top and were greeted with by a spectacular temple, impressive gold sculptures and statues. From so high up, we could see amazing views of all of Chiang Mai. It was also nice that it had finally stopped raining by this point in the day. 

Tonight, we are having a Thai BBQ dinner and then we will need to pack our bags in readiness to leave Chiang Mai tomorrow morning and head to the village to begin our house building project for a family in the Palong hill tribe. 

We will not have wifi access in the village, so we will post our Day 4, 5 and 6 blogs once we have settled in to Chiang Rai on Saturday.

By James and Angelica

 

Vietnam Grey – Day 1/2

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Ho Chi Minh City Adventures

 

We began our Big Experience journey as we boarded the plane from Melbourne to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. The plane journey was a long nine hours, but we arrived safely and excited. We were greeted at the airport by our two friendly tour guides Hai and Quien, who took us to our first hotel, Bong Sen Hotel, and gave us an insight into the city. After settling into the hotel, we all went on a night walk to first experience the hustle and bustle of Ho Chi Minh City. Our first impressions of Vietnam were: the high humidity and heat, the intense smells and the friendly people. During our walk we stopped for dinner and had our first taste of Vietnamese cuisine. After a good dinner and an exhausting day, we returned to our hotel for a well earned night’s rest.

Today was our first official day in Vietnam. We started our day with a traditional Vietnamese breakfast of fried rice, chicken and dragon fruit. It was different to what we are used to having but still delicious and filling. We then were briefed by our tour guides and leaders about our first activity – the Great Race around Ho Chi Minh City. We were spilt off into groups and set out, by ourselves, on our journey to learn and understand more about the city. The Great Race was very different to the one we completed in Melbourne, as there are different traffic systems in place here and because we weren’t familiar with the city at all. Crossing the road here is challenging because not only do they drive on the opposite side of the road, but there appears to be fewer road rules at traffic lights. Crossing the road is challenging as there are so many motorbikes and cars constantly on the road that don’t stop for you. The key to crossing, we all learnt, is to stay as a group and cross like there’s no tomorrow.

  
   
   
After the Great Race, we were all tired, sweaty and ready for lunch. For lunch we went to Pho24, for a traditional Vietnamese soup called pho. The locals here eat this food as it is quick, easy to digest and fills you up. We then went to the War Memorial Museum, where we learnt about the Vietnamese War and the effects it had on people and families. The museum was confronting as we saw and read about all the terrible things that happened during the war and the effects it had, not only of the soldiers and their families, but even the later generations. It was really interesting to learn about the Vietnamese War and its history as it isn’t something we learn about in school. To finish the busy day on a high, we went to the Ben Thanh market to do some shopping. We were able to bargain for cheap prices and purchase many different items, including shoes, bags, clothes, etc..

   
   
To finish off the day, we went to a restaurant where we were served fried rice, chicken, beef noodles, a Vietnamese pancake to share and watermelon to finish. We all had a great first day and are really excited for what the rest of the trip has to bring.
Gemma and Kim!

Vietnam Red- Day 3

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Vietnam Red visited an orphanage for children with disabilities and the Cu Chi tunnels today. All students were asked to write two sentences about their day: the responses we received were exceptional and extensive (and a little too long for the blog) so we are posting a few here and the others in the next few blogs. Please note that we will be building a house in the Mekong Delta region for the next few days without internet so we may not post during this time. 

Cristian: visiting the orphanage proved to be a real eye opener as I had never faced children with disabilities on such a scale before. Ultimately it was a an experience worth encountering, and brought out maturity in all of us to be able to work with all the kids. 

Owen: Today brought home feelings for me, knowing a lot about, and working with disabilities previously, today’s experience visiting the orphanage was inspiring and beautiful. Working with the kids one-on-one made me realise how fascinating their behaviours were how happy many of them seemed when they saw us. 

Toby: The orphanage was very confronting at first because I had not worked or interacted with someone with disabilities but, after 5 minutes I realised that these people are very friendly, intelligent and full of joy. I will forever use this experience in further interactions with people and have realised how lucky I am.

Harrison: Growing up in the ‘Brighton bubble’ I believe that you never are challenged to extent I was today, with seeing multiple confronting ways innocent men had been killed, to young orphans with diverse disabilities. Although, it was evident that skills were developed today, such as learning to manage emotions when interacting with younger people.

Mia: Today was definitely a highlight of the trip so far. The orphanage where we interacted with severely disabled children was amazing and interacting with the children was very humbling. It was amazing how happy the orphans were that we were here and to see them smile straight back at you made me realise how little we need to be happy. We also went to the Cu Chi tunnels which was incredible and we got to experience how some Vietnamese people lived during the war. Today was really humbling.

Lauren: the highlight of my day today was visiting the gorgeous kids in the orphanage. It was a wonderful experience which clarified how privileged we are to live the life we do and challenged us to communicate not through verbal language but through facial expressions, body language and the universal language of physical touch. It is simply an indescribable feeling to make a child smile or laugh when they have little reason to and makes you wonder; with the amount that we possess, why do we find it so difficult to smile at times? This further enforced the importance of gratitude and the fulfilling concept of appreciation. It was extremely hard to walk away from the orphanage but doing so, I felt humbled and moved.

Matilda: The orphanage was truly an amazing place to visit, although at first I felt awkward and out of place, as I had no previous experience with disabled children. I was not sure how to interact with with them, however that soon faded. To see and interact with children who have so little, however find in their hearts to smile, was truly humbling and through this it enforced my perspective on how privileged we are to live in a place like Melbourne, where health care is easily available. We were able to build strong connections with the children we played, fed them and shared countless laughs. This led to a lot of tears from both us and the children when it was time to say goodbye. 

Photos: spending time with the children at the orphanage; testing out one of the original Cu Chi tunnels; and a group shot on one of the tanks. 

TLC Pagodas – day 1

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Day 1Hello there! – or – Sawasdee!

As we packed our gear into the busses at 8:30pm on Monday, excitement was high as the group prepared to embark on the journey of a life time. There was laughter, tears shed, and an overwhelming sense of curiosity as we departed our families and boarded the bus. Upon arrival at the airport, the Pagodas began to collaborate as a group and extend the idea of what working together can achieve. We walked onto our 9 hour flight with passion and confidence in our eyes. However by the end of the first flight, weary heads bowed as we prepared to board our second shorter flight from Bangkok to Chiang-Mai. A more luxurious flight awaited us, although for a much briefer period of time. Walking out of the airport, blasted us back to reality, as the humidity hit us hard. Upon meeting our tour guide, the group was first exposed to the availability of exchanging money, and working out the best way to benefit from the currency exchange. Then a short bus ride through the city of Chiang-Mai opened our eyes to what differences there are between street life in Thailand, and street life back at home. After arriving at Hotel Pornping we briefly dropped our bags, and headed out to witness what the chaotic traffic flow is like by touring the city on a ‘Tuk-Tuk.’ This was an experience that majority of the group were witnessing for the first time. With the fumes of petrol clogging our noses, and the towering buildings surrounding us, we were fascinated by the modern day life in northern Thailand.   

A brief stop at the sacred temples and pagodas of Pasing, the group witnessed the prevelance and importance of Buddhism in modern Thailand. We witnessed locals praying to the large statue that was placed in the centre of the temple. The majority of us noted that it was the largest statue that we had ever seen. This was where we discovered the different laws and signs of respect that differentiate Australia from Thailand. For example, raising your foot and pointing it at someone is seen as a sign of disrespect. We also learnt that giving money to someone older than you, is supposed to also be a sign of respect and you must do so with 2 hands. After a brief stop at a local restaurant where we were exposed to the traditional customs of food. We were very excited, as this gave us a chance to think about what kind of food that we would be cooking for ourselves later in the day. A ride back in the ‘Tuk-Tuk’ allowed us to explore our hotel where we would be staying for the next three days. After a 2 hour rest, we eagerly raced down to the lobby to begin our cooking class. Upon taking a 1 hour bus trip, we were dropped at a local farm, where we were exposed to the natural ingredients and flavours that are produced on the farms. Many of us had not seen some of the natural fruits and vegetables that are grown in south east Asia and Thailand, and were mesmerised by the sweet, bitter and rather odd tastes and flavours. We learnt how to make spring roles, a very common entree that many of us will try to create at home. Perhaps the most interesting meal we created was a green curry, which consisted of vegetables and fruits that we had never tried before. To top off that meal, we created a stir fry, where we realised how many vegetables we were consuming that night. Who knew how many different types of eggplant there could be?

Dessert was delicious, as the rather odd blue sticky rice was served on a side of mango fruit. We experimented with different nuts and seeds, and tried to create the perfect piece of beauty and complexion. We all recognised how much effort had gone into the cooking demonstration, and really appreciate the effort that was put into our class. Food is often seen as a sign of pride, and community, so this is was the perfect time for us to connect with the natural culture around us. The Thai food was brilliant and connected us in many ways to both the people and traditions, but also to home where we will now have a greater understanding and appreciation of the food that our family creates. We took the bus trip back to the hotel, where Sophie and I are currently sitting writing this at 1:30 in the morning Melbourne time. We are absolutely thrilled to wake up at 5:30am Thai time in the morning to begin a Muay Thai kick boxing class. BRING ON TOMORROW!

Thank you – or – Khap Khun Krup

Jamie F and Sophie R


 

Vietnam Yellow – Day 1/2 – Hanoi

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By Evie And Lucy

Our first day in the hot, humid Vietnam, Hanoi was more than an experience. No one expected the roads to be as busy and hectic as they are. The first time we crossed a road we were all shocked that we just had to put our hand up and walk straight in front of 74 motorbikes travelling at any pace they wanted, as there are pretty much zero road rules.

We began our day by visiting the Ho Chi Minh building, which holds the first president of Vietnams body, who died in 1969 (Ho Chi Minh). The people of Vietnam worship him the most out of everyone, as he tried his best to achieve independence for Vietnam. We took our classic tourists photos along with all of the other groups of people and lined up in a huge line to see the house that he lived in. First we saw the men that were working on the pathway that Ho Chi Min exercised on, and they greeted us with friendly hello’s and winks. Our bags were checked and our first sight was of a huge yellow building where we assumed the president would stay but we soon found out he was a very humble man who chose to live a very simple life. They used that building for visitors and meetings and he lived in a little house with a bedroom smaller than most of ours, a kitchen and a living room. He did not have a wife or children as he chose to dedicate his whole life to his people.

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We then went to an awesome restaurant that was huge compared to all the small local ones. We had a room upstairs for ourselves and got served amazing food, pho, fried rice and Vietnamese pancakes. The staff were so friendly and Hoang (our tour guide) showed us how to properly make our pancakes. We then visited the Australian Embassy and learnt about what they do and how they help Australians in Vietnam. We got the bus back to our hotel and stopped at a jewellery store to exchange our money to dong. We had a short walk back to our hotel where we had an hour to relax and get ready for the water show.

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We walked into old town markets and were allowed and hour to go off to all the stores and Hoang gave us some helpful tips on bartering. Both of us (Lucy and Evie), Bella and Elle all went as a group and scored some cheap pants, Lucy was harassed by a lady selling a hat so we had to run for our lives. Then we went and saw the water show which was very traditional but interesting, obviously not for the old couple next to us who fell asleep in the first five minutes.

We are now at a restaurant called Little Hanoi where we have been served very interesting food, no one liked the catfish but Lucy didn’t complain about that as she got the whole plate to herself. Our waiter loved to say ‘Oooh yeh’ every time he handed us our food.

Our first day was loaded with activities and it feels like we’ve been here for so much longer than a day. The big experience has certainly been a ‘big experience’ already and we can’t wait for the next 17 days.

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We’re all missing you,

Lots of love, E and Luc xoxox