A closer look at China

Arrived back in Singapore on Sunday after a whirlwind 5 days trip to 2 villages and 2 schools in Kunming, Xishuangbanna and Chengu, China. It was as trip sponsored by Lien Aid, a Singapore-based NGO which provides clean water and sanitation for remote villages and hospitals in China and SE Asia region.

My first and only visit to China so far was the Paralympics in Beijing in 2008. I was always hesitant in telling people that I have been to China as that trip was all about work. I only ventured out of the Olympics area for 3 hours. And I guess the city was not what it really is during that period of time.

This time, I get to see how the rural people lives, even if its only for 2-3 hrs before we have to be on the road back to the city. Getting interviews done and pictures taken within that short span of time is challenging indeed. I enjoyed the 5 days there as it offered me an otherwise impossible way of seeing the country, even if its a backpacking trip.

This pic is sort of a teaser, for the stories to come. For now, Im cracking my head, trying to retrieve the Chinese vocab which has been stashed away since TJC days. How did I get A1 for Chinese that time??? I am writing a picture story for this Sunday and a feature story for next Sunday's Zaobao. Hope it works out.


Villagers outside the 丰裕九义校