17 DAY CYCLING TOUR OF LAOS
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Twelve Gold participants from William Carey Christian School (WCCS) completed their Adventurous Journey on a bicycle tour of Laos. Organised through World Horizons, the trip was also a significant cross-cultural experience for the students.
By Skye Russell, WCCS Duke of Ed Coordinator
This was our school’s second trip to Laos and our students were extremely excited at the prospect of travelling through this remote and undeveloped country. We trekked by bicycle, bus and boat from the capital, Vientiane, north to Huay Xai. As we cycled through the villages, young children shouted “Saba Dee,” which means hello. Many might never have seen a foreigner yet alone one wearing a helmet, shoes and such colourful clothing. .JPG)
We visited the Plain of Jars, an extraordinary site strewn with massive stone urns and surrounded by land mines. Thought to be up to 2000 years old, and weighing up to 6 tonnes, no one quite knows what purpose the jars served.
At Luang Prabang, a magnificent UNESCO World Heritage city, we rose at dawn to see a long procession of monks holding alms bowls and dressed in orange robes. They walk barefoot through the streets to accept food from the local people -- the only food they will eat all day.
Our students raised $2,500 to build classrooms in Nong Kiau. They also donated sports equipment to the school, a concrete building with holes in the walls for windows, where one teacher will have up to 100 students. As many as five students share a single desk and most do not have a single book. Students walk for up to two hours each morning; some camp out at school in cardboard tents. .JPG)
One day the entire village came out to watch us play soccer with the students. Their team was quite skilled though many played in bare feet. We also competed in a thrilling dragon boat race. Our boat sank at the finish line and we were soundly beaten. That evening we had the privilege of attending a Basi ceremony, at which the elders welcomed our spirits into the village by tying pieces of string around our wrists to wish us luck, health and good fortune.
Seeing firsthand the poor facilities, and witnessing the struggle the kids undergo to attend school deeply affected us. The optimism of the local children, their enjoyment of newfound friendships, and the opportunity to cross cultural barriers left a lasting impression. We all realised how privileged we are here in Australia.