Page 40 - NHS Beyond the Classroom
P. 40
performance later in the evening. performance for the local expatriate NZ
We taxied back to the High Commission for community. Everyone was still a bit tired from the
our performance in front of about 300 people from night before, but we received a koha of $312 for
the NZ/Singapore Business Association. the performance.
Again, the group performed exceptionally Sunday 29th May
well and we were presented with a cheque for $745 We had an early breakfast and set out for
as a koha to help with our accommodation Malaysia by public transport. This was a new
expenses. The High Commission provided us with experience as we had to queue for everything and
a meal of fish & chips and plenty of drinks. fill in forms on the way there and on the way back.
We left at 8:15pm to the Shangrila and the Once we arrived in Malaysia after crossing
Japanese night. This evening was a unique the causeway from Singapore we taxied to the
experience. On the surface it seemed a shambles - Holiday Inn Plaza and then to Plaza Pelangi. Here
two floors of the Shangrila Hotel were completely the shopping was, in most cases, cheaper than
occupied by Jaycees from throughout the world. Singapore and many of us bought video tapes, CDs
The Japanese had flown in another 2,500 people and tapes.
for that one evening. We finally headed for Marine Tower and a
They had lots of badges, flags, fans and the nearby market. This was the place where many
like to give out. There was a free disco. Food and purchased their copy Rolex watches. We then set
drinks were being passed around and the Japanese off back into queues and onto the bus for the return
had even brought over a heap of snow from Japan trip to Singapore where we were jam-packed in. It
so that the rest of the other delegates from Asia was like a sauna. Putu was the only one who was
could see snow for the first time. Truly amazing! stopped coming back to have his bag checked and,
Our group performed very well and were although he had a couple of videos in it he was
enthusiastically received by the thousands of lucky enough to get through the check point.
people there. After the performance everyone had a The thought of phoning his father and telling
quick shower and were then free to join in with all him he was in a Malaysia jail did not appeal to the
the entertainment going on for the rest of the tour organisers. Wiremu and Tony set out on a
evening. We met up at 1:30am and headed home in secret mission to get basketball singlets for our
our mini-van. Everyone was very tired. senior boys basketball team and, although we
Saturday 28th May thought we had sorted it out a couple of days
Tony Cranshaw was up at 7:30am having a earlier, our plans fell flat. However they did
swim by himself. Everyone else stayed fast asleep manage to get Wiremu’s mother’s blankets, and
until almost breakfast time at 8:30am. that night a group of us returned to Sembawang
Today we decided to visit the Singapore Zoo, and Northpoint while the rest swam and watched
which is reputed to be one of the best in the world. videos at Tony Au’s house.
Again we paid for the students’ entry fee out of the Monday 30th May
putea. Some of the group had photos taken with the After breakfast the accommodation costs
orungatangs and snakes. Taane Te Koi was the were settled up and the group drove to the NZ High
chief performer on these occasions and brought Commission once again. We decided we would
Asians running in all directions every time an drive to Raffles following morning tea at the High
attendant tried to put an animal anywhere near him. Commission so we had to purchase special passes
We returned to the Fernleaf Centre in the to be able to drive in the central city.
early afternoon and spent the rest of the afternoon The High Commissioner Colin Bell, First
swimming, resting and sleeping. Everyone got up Secretary Robyn Bickford and the Deputy High
and came to life at about 6pm. We gave a Commissioner Robin Patterson along with others
