May 10, 2008

Hiyo Angels,
Its me again with my brother Ah Kiat to do a short report on the outing to Chinatown Heritage Center and Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum. This time round we try to have more pictorial presentation than wordy presentation. At the same time, there will be more comments and suggestions along the way how can we improve for the next outing onwards.

Volunteers started flocking in at around 12.30pm and registered their names with our volunteer coordinators Shu Hua and Hui Hsien. Initially it was complicated due to shuffling of elderly and volunteers because of overwhelming response from the elderly but we were only to able to bring 20 elderly because of transport issue. Despite Hui Hsien and Shu Hua first attempt in handling the registration, they were able to handle it with no problem. The best thing was we managed to bring Lee Ah Kim out. Yeah!!!

One comment from the floor: Colour Tags should include the handphone number of group leaders for safety issues.

Ah Kiat conducted the briefing. It was his first attempt and thought he had done it quite well except that the location is a bit noisy. I should have been around as well incase he left out any important points.

Ah Kiat felt that the climax was not there before setting out. In fact the event coordinator and group leaders should try to interact and communicate more with the volunteers, increase the morale and the motivation level and let them sense that the trip was going to be enjoyable one.

11 elderly and 2 volunteers boarded the HWA (Handicapped Welfare Association) bus while the rest boarded the WTS (Woodlands Transport) bus with embedded microphone system. The HWA bus was highly recommended for future outing as it saved a lot time and volunteers’ strength in mobilizing the elderly. It was convenient and helped to lower the risk of causing injuries and discomfort on the elderly and volunteers while boarding and alighting the buses. The microphone system for WTS bus was not that fantastic as the sound was blurred. One advantage was that the prices for both buses were relatively cheap and reasonable.

Hydraulic lift at HWA bus makes mobilising of Elderly Easier.

Upon reaching the Chinatown at 2.00pm, 2 groups were headed towards the Chinatown Heritage Center while another 2 groups were headed towards the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum. Along the way towards Chinatown Heritage Center, the elderly were able to witness the bustling activities at Chinatown. Initially, some elderly did not wish to go as probably some might not want to recall the past. However, most elderly had a wonderful experience. In fact it was the elderly that did all the narration and explanation about the past and not the volunteers.

Some comments: It is not appropriate for the funeral exhibition to be put at the 3rd level where it is the first thing that visitors saw upon coming out from the lift. Some might find the tickets quite expensive despite subsidies.

Chinatown Heritage Center Entrance

Poh Yan, how come you are squatting down? Typical Chinese Coolie.

Witnessing the bustling activities at Chinatown

Here we come!!! Back to the Past!!!

Identifying my roots

Ah Yong why so sianz?? Is Lee Ah Kim that hard to handle?

At around 3.15pm, 4 groups started to gather along the corridor space besides the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum to have their snacks. The elderly were treated with buns and hot coffee, tea and even ice-cream. (by the way who buy the ice-creams). The feedback for the buns was fantastic. SK even had 3 of it. Whaha.

Where is my food?

Beautiful walkway of Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum

Uncle Song and Desmond posting with Ah Gong. Look at the smiles..

Damien and ah ma posting happily infront of the camera..

Stuart – Your photography skill is superb. Nice Pic.

After the break, the other 2 groups headed towards Chinatown Heritage Center while the other headed towards Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum. It was a wonderful place to visit especially with the narration by the 2 tour guides; it was more interesting and enriching tour for elderly as well as volunteers.

Tour Guides doing some introduction and narration on Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum

Buddhist devotees doing their chanting at the Main Hall, Level 1.

Multiple Hand Buddha located at the Back Hall, Level 1.

As most elderly are Buddhism followers, most of them pray from the bottom of their heart. Some even bathed the Buddha and some even make donations on every floor of Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum.

Helping the elderly to bath the buddha.

Elderly bathing the buddha. The thougths that counts…

Devoted Ah Ma making cash donation to Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum

Beautiful orchid garden at Level 5 which is not wheelchair accessible.

Rico making her rounds on the chanting wheels at Level 5 wishing that she will get younger. Not possible la.. haha..

After the whole activities, the whole group gathered in front of the Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum to have group photographs. The weather was great during that day and everything went on smoothly as schedules.

Group Photos at Buddha Tooth Relic Temple & Musuem

Group Photo taking across the road with full view of Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum

Upon reaching the home, the elderly were immediately treated with s sumptuous dinner with top-ups such as vegetables, roast ducks and desserts prepared by Sharon and Rico.

Appreciation Honours

Matron Leong and Winnie – Thank you for being so supportive for all of our events. Despite both of you just came back from overseas on early May; you are able to give us the list of elderly within a short period of time. Thank you for preparing the logistics such as umbrella, caps, mineral water and first aid boxes.

Margaret, Janet and Alice Lim – Thank you for sponsoring the event.

Poh Yan – Thank you for sponsoring the tour guides. Your suggestion of engaging the tour guides for the tour is brilliant.

Shao Kuang – Thank you for sponsoring the HWA bus. In fact you are the first one to approach the committee members that you want to sponsor the HWA bus.

Joseph Cheng from Mount Faber Group – Thank you for offering us subsidies rates for the volunteers and elderly when visiting the Chinatown Heritage Center.

Celia Shao and 2 tour guides Eddie Quek and Howard Lim from Buddha Tooth Relic Temple and Museum – We appreciate your hospitality and warm welcome during our tour at the premise. We had a wonderful and fantastic tour experience. Thank you.

Grace and the driver from HWA– Thank you for letting us to have the biggest HWA bus despite the fact that you have an ongoing event which requires it as well. The driver is simply fantastic, very accommodating and helpful.

Malcolm from Woodland Transport – Thank you for charging us a cheaper rate for you transport with microphone system embedded.

Volunteer Coordinators (Rusty, Hui Hsien and Shu Hua) – Sincerely appreciated for your effort in gathering and coordinating the elderly and volunteers. Not an easy task but I thought you gals have done very well. So do you all still want to strangle me? Haha.

Group Leaders/ICs (Kee Teck, Hwee Ling, Fiona and Alex) – Thank you so much for assisting us in managing the groups of volunteers and elderly. Hwee Ling – admire your volunteering spirit; despite your injury you still want to come and assist the event. Kee Teck – hope you can bring back experiences and benefit to your elderly at All Saints. Fiona and Alex – I think is time for both of you to take up important and leading roles at Moral Angels.

Food and Beverages (Sin Ming, Rico and Sharon) – The feedback for the snacks and dinner have been extremely fantastic. Thank you so much for arranging and preparing all these delicious food for the benefits of the elderly.

Logistic (Uncle Song and Jin Xiong) – Thank you for preparing all the necessary logistics for this outing. Without fail, can always count on both of you for the job.

Entertainment (Ah Yong & Ping Sing) – Yan Dao… Kum Sia lei (Thank you). Pai Sei for the poor microphone system. Has feedback to my friend. Will try to get you one with Karaoke for next outing. Ping Sing – Thank you for preparing the Bingo game. Even though we did not play the game but we can use it for future use. We appreciate your effort.

Videographer and Photographer (Hui Wei, Stuart, Poh Yan, Xiang Jian) – Thank you for taking and editing all the beautiful pictures for this outing. Even though there are only some that have been uploaded, but I can see it is very beautifully taken. I think we can send some for competition. I mean serious. (but first need to ask permission from the Home).

Lastly to all volunteers who have made this outing possible. Be it who you are, we appreciate all your efforts, contribution and help in making a different Saturday for the elderly of Moral Home for the Aged Sick. Thank you….

Special Presented By:
Ah Kiat and Ah Quan