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Saturday, January 05, 2008

^NUS BINGO Middle East trip 2007^

NUS/TIP BINGO Middle East Trip 2007
7th Dec 2007 - 1st Jan 2008
UAE-Qatar-Egypt

This was history in the making as never before has BINGO ventured so far and for so long. I am also positively sure, never again will it experience such an exciting journey. The final trip comprised of 5 legs: Dubai - Qatar/Dubai - Dubai - Egypt (Luxor & Cairo) - Sharjah. In every leg, the team experienced its fair share of highs and lows. I am sure if you took my blood pressure at the start of every leg, it would be off the roof.

Just a low down on the trip, the team is made up of 21 peeps including 1 ever youthful teaching staff, Anderson. *heh* The 20 other travel mates of mine will probably be the most competent batch of people I can ever work with. They each have their unique strengths and attributes and without each, this trip would just not be the same.

I have so much to say to each of them yet when it came to my turn during the last parade, words failed me. My "speech" was so superficial, I didn't even graze the surface of what I had to say. So, I think I owe each one of you a special email. :)

Thinking back on the trip, I am amazed at how we dealt with each obstacle thrown in our path. From finding out we had no visas to Saudi and Qatar on the day of departure, landing in Dubai with no accommodation, transport nor itinery, spilting the group during the trip, switching cities in the midst of the trip to landing in Egypt with none of our luggages, we survived it all. As treasurer, there were times I really felt I should just burn all the accounts *heh* but I survived it too.

I have learnt much on this trip: firstly, money is literally flowing out of the region. However, although money is really cool to have, even with all the money in the world, you can never breathe life into the lifeless. Dubai is progressing really quickly and has much opportunities to offer yet, I felt more at home in Qatar and Egypt. The people were friendlier and there was soul to the place. And honestly, the Burj Al Arab is nothing great really. Majestic yes, worth staying in...no.

Spending Christmas Day at the pyramids was quite cool except I was rather stoned from the lack of sleep on the overnight train. And I was in the company of other stoned or drunk travellers. *haha* But it was fun. What I did like about Egypt was that I felt as if I was staying in a living museum. Ruins and restaurants shared the same space as we passed by 3000yr old temples and columns every time we ventured out for visits or meals. History is part of the locals' everyday life and I do hope it continues to be so.

My most precious memories on the trip however, were watching sunrise with Angela, LH, chewy, angmoh & Yujun; going on a long walk with Michelle; nightly drinking sessions with Abhi & Nilay; talking with LH on top of a freaking cold hill in Egypt with its city at our feet; the last drinking session and the stupid games we played....and the moment we touched down at Changi airport. These memories I'll keep with me for life.

To those who shared those special moments with me, I too hope you'll never forget them. The future's bright for each one of us and I wish nothing less than the best for you. Hopefully, ten years from now, we'll meet again at the Burj Al Arab. :)
Labels: school

|*t@tty snoozed off @ 4:59 pm*|

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