Students gathered at Phuket International Airport early on Thursday morning. For many of them, it was their first time travelling internationally, how exciting!
Upon arrival in Singapore, students started to see the wonders of the city immediately. They were met by their tour guide Ms. Lake who gave them a bus tour of the famous "Lion City".
The first stop on the tour was neWater. Here the students learnt the A.B.C's of water renewal and toured the factory. They learned that with the neWater process, water can be purified in as little as 5 minutes!
For their first Singapore meal, students feasted on a family style buffet at Boon Thon Kee. The tasty traditional treats satisfied the hungry travelers.
After dinner, students got to see one of Singapore's most famous architectural structures, the Gardens by the Bay. In addition to all the beautiful plants and flowers, there were fantastic views of the Marina Bay Sands and Singapore Flyer. Things really got exciting at night when all the "super trees" lit up in an array of bright colours.
On Day 2, the students had to "hit the books". They took a tour of Shelton College where many international students chose to study accelerated degree programs. They were impressed that the students live away from their parents and manage their own schedules and living areas.
After touring the campus at Shelton College, students participated in a classroom session in which they wrote postcards to family members back in Phuket.
At the conclusion of the classroom session, Acre gave a nice Thank You speech on behalf of the class and we presented Shelton College with a gift.
After leaving Shelton College, students took a trip underground to learn the ins and outs of the MRT subway system. They were given a map, money, phone, and four points of interest to visit around the city.
They had to talk with local people and employees to ask for help and directions.
In Chinatown, students saw the Hindu Temple and the Buddha Tooth Replica Temple which they had learned about in their class. They were also enjoyed a delicious lunch of their choose on Chinatown’s well-known food street. It was a great place to pick up unique souvenirs as well.
Next stop was Marina Bay Sands. This building is one of the most famous in Singapore. Students had no trouble recognizing it, but getting to this architectural masterpiece was a little bit of a challenge. They had to change subway lines and ask locals for help, but they all made it there eventually.
Then the students headed to the Merlion, the icon of Singapore. Students were very excited to see this sculpture in person and take in the beautiful skyline views from the lake. From Merlion Park, you can spot many famous landmarks including; Esplanade, Helix Bridge, and Singapore Flyer.
The final stop on the tour was Singapore’s National Library. There were not any signs for this landmark on the subway map, so students had to rely on locals to get directions. They all made it and had time to shop and eat at the Bugis Mall.
To reward students for their hard work during the MRT Rally. Ms. Pung arranged a late night BBQ at the hotel. Students had time to swim, cook, eat, play, and make lots of great memories with their friends.
Day 3 was an action packed fun filled day for students as they took a trip to Sentosa Island. S.E.A. Aquarium was the first stop of the day at Sentosa Island. Students got to see many species of exotic sea life and even touch some!
The next stop of the trip was “Out of this World!" Students got to spend a thrilling day exploring Universal Studios, riding roller coasters, and even meeting famous Hollywood characters like The Minions!
Day four of the adventure started with an “electrifying” visit to the Singapore Science Center.
Students were lucky enough to get a private guided tour in English and interact with many interesting exhibits.
Before flying home, students had just enough time to stop in for some shopping at one of Singapore’s largest lifestyle malls, Vivo. They enjoyed lunch at Food Republic then shopped for souvenirs for family and friends (or for themselves) before heading to the airport.
On Sunday evening it was time to say goodbye to the sweet sunsets of Singapore and head back home.
They arrived back in Phuket with many experiences to share with their friends and family and lots of happy memories in their hearts.
