Results Out!!!!!!

Hello everyone, it is me again, Tisha Ashwina

The results for the Royal Commenwealth Essay are out. I would like to thank everyone for supporting me because I got a bronze award for my essay!!!! Yahoo!!!!

 

 As for the Jubilee Time Capsule( JTC), my entry was chosen in the Special Collections - People's Choice.

I am not sad even though my entry is not chosen to be shown to Queen Elizebath.

Here is the link :

http://www.jubileetimecapsule.org/q/collections.php?collection=The%20People%27s%20Choice&floor=The%20Special%20Collections 

I am very happy because I took in the Royal Commonwealth Essay Competition and I will take part again next year.

The Jubilee Time Capsule

Hello everyone,

Good news!!!!! My entry for the Royal Commonwealth Essay Competition entitled "Global Storytelling for Melbourne Writers' Festival" has been chosen as one of the best entries under the film category.

If you like my entry, please vote for me by clicking on the like button. I hope my entry will be chosen to be presented to Queen Elizabeth. Wow, that would be awesome!!!!!

 

Here is the link:

http://www.jubileetimecapsule.org/gallery/collection/collection/RmlsbQ==/floor/U2NpZW5jZSwgQ3VsdHVyZSAmYW1wOyBFZHVjYXRpb24=

Happy reading!

Holiday in Phuket, Thailand

 HOLIDAY IN PHUKET

Sawadee kap (Hello)

Hello everyone, it is me again.

During my mid-term school holiday,  I went to Phuket Island in Thailand. I went to Phuket by Air Asia and I was there from 28 May until 2^nd of June 2012. I had a fantastic 7 days exploring the islands there. I stayed in C & N Hotel in Patong.  Phuket is Thailand’s biggest island, about the size of Singapore. It has a local population of around 200,000, with transients about five times more. Phuket is warm, humid, but pleasant all year long. There are 2 seasons: rainy from May to November, and hot from December to April. The best weather is from November to April.

Wet day at Patong

It was a rainy day on our 1^st day of arrival, so we walked around Patong town.  There are many shops selling T-shirts, slippers, flip-flops, and other types of local souveniers. 

Tiger Pub

There were also many pubs. In Patong, the famous pubs are the tiger pubs. Beautiful tiger sculptures adorn the buildings of the pubs. Just awesome!

 In the evening, we went to Patong Beach. It was very windy and the waves were strong and very choppy.  For dinner, we had a variety of spicy and tasty Thai dishes and the price was incredibly cheap. Do not miss their awesome ‘Tom Yam soup’. You will definitely ask for more.

On the second day, we went to Phi-Phi Island, and we took the Sea Angel Luxury Cruise. The journey was wonderful but half way through the journey the weather changed for the worst. The sky turned dark. The winds were strong, and it rain heavily. The cruiser was tossing left and right in the Andaman Sea, and the sea was choppy and the waves were high. It was a terrible and frightening experience for me. I was glad that we all made it to the island safely.

Phi Phi Island

  Phi-Phi Island is a beautiful island with white sandy beaches and crystal clear blue water. Many shops are lined along the long stretch of the island. There are no cars or motorbikes on the island. Everyone walks and there are some local people and children who cycle around the island. 

Viking Cave

 We went sightseeing at Maya Bay, Bida Island, and Pileh Cove . I didn’t swim there because it was very choppy and deep.  In Maya Bay, the wind was also very strong too. However, it is a very nice place. We also cruised past Viking Cave and the Monkey Beach. Viking Cave is a place where the locals go to collect birds’ nest which is a Chinese delicacy. 

Raya Island

Our next destination is Raya Island which is 30 minutes by speedboat from Phi Phi Island. Raya Island is indeed a very, very, very, beautiful with its white sandy beach and crystal clear water.

 I had a chance to go snorkeling. It was my first experience and I learn how to use the breather. I was scared at first but after some practise, I overcome my fear. Then it was time for SNORKELING!!!!!!!!!!

WOW!!!!!!!! WHAT A SIGHT TO BEHOLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I saw beautiful corals and many fishes under the sea. When I came back into the boat, our guide caught a cute little fat fish called ‘Ikan buntal’ in the Malay language. It looks like a puffer fish but it is not. It is slimy and feels soft like a soft toy. I really did enjoy my first snorkeling adventure.

My next destination is the famous ­­­James Bond Island. All of us got off from our big boat and into this small long boat to reach James Bond Island. What an adventure!

This is a famous landmark for the James Bond movie "The Man With the Golden Gun". Most tourist will make it a point to visit James Bond Island. 

We went on a package tour organize by the Amazing Canoeing Company-a very good and efficient tour company. Our tour guide, Nuch, is a very friendly person who made us feel very at home in the boat.

On the way to James Bond Island, we cruised past the magnificient limestone cliffs of Phanga  Bay. Phanga Bay is the one of Thailand’s most remarkable attractions. It is located off the cost of Phuket in the Andaman Sea. What is so beautiful about Phanga Bay is the limestone cliffs that jut vertically out of the emerald green water.

 Next, we stop at Koh Hong and the smaller islands around which have a collection of “hongs” for canoeing and sightseeing. The "hongs" are actually collapsed cave systems in the interior of each island which is only accessed by tough, purpose-designed inflatable canoes through sea-caves at low tide.

Canoeing in the crystal clear water was fun and fantastic. We canoed into the caves of the Hong Island. We saw the diamond stone which is a crystalised stalagtite. Then we canoed out into the lagoon in Hong Island. It was serene and quiet.     

Next, we went to Koh Phanak which is famous for its crystal clear lagoons. Here, we went canoeing again. We paddled through the low dark caves . It was mysterious and yet awesome touching the cold wet walls of the caves. Then we paddled into the beautiful lagoon. Open to the sky and filled with jungle flora and fauna,the lagoon was simply magnificent and nature at its best.

My holiday at Phuket was extremely exiciting and amazing for me. I had my first experience in snorkeling, canoeing, and driving an all-terrain vehicle(ATV).  I like Phuket because it is fun and adventurous.

Holiday in Siem Reap

MY WONDERFUL HOLIDAY IN SIEM REAP

At Mt. Kulen waterfall

Hi, it is me again, Tisha Ashwina. Let me tell you about my next destination in Cambodia -  SIEM REAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In Siem Reap, I stayed in  New Angkorland hotel, a 3 ½ star hotel. The hotel is very beautiful and comfortable. I stayed there for five days. Siem Reap is a beautiful town and it is cleaner than Phnom Penh.

ANGKOR WAT

On the bridge to Angkor Wat

I visited Angkor Wat - the largest ancient temple in the whole world.  Angkor means ‘Capital City’ or ‘Holy City’. Angkor Wat was built by Suyarvaman II, Shield of the sun. It is so majestic and  magnificent. I saw the beautiful sunset and the sunrise but the sunrise is more beautiful then the sunset. 

 

       SUNSET VIEW FROM BAKHENG HILL

I walked up to the hill slope heading towards the Bakheng Hill Temple to see the magnificent sunset. The red orange sun was a perfect round and the sky was splashed  in shades of bright crimson red, orange and golden yellow hues. WHAT A SIGHT TO BEHOLD!!!!!!

 

 SUNRISE AT ANGKOR WAT

The next morning, my parents and I woke up at 5 in the morning, got into our van with Kim San, our driver and Sean Mardy, our tourist guide, and headed to the west gate of Angkor Wat to see the sunrise. We walked into the temple grounds and WHAT A SURPRISE !!!!!!!!! There were SO MANY PEOPLES FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD waiting with great patience to witness the first ray of sunrise. 

Then the awaited moment came – the majestic sun rose. Everyone was full of ahs and wows when the sun appeared between the towers of Angkor Wat and it became more and more beautiful. This is one experience which I will always remember in my heart.

ANGKOR THOM

My parents and I at the South Gate

Next I visited The city of Angkor Thom, founded by Jayarvaman VII in the 12^thth century, was one of the largest of all Khmer cities and remained the capital until the 17 century. I entered the city through the south gate, which has a tower with 4 faces. 

To get to the south gate, I have to walk on the bridge across the moat. The bridge is lined by a row of statutes. On the left are the gods, and the right are the demons. They carry the body of a giant serpent- a seven- headed naga, like in a tug- of –war. This is like the scene in the Churning Of The Sea Of Milk where the Gods and Demons are fighting to get the elixir of mortality. This is an interesting story as told by my guide, Sean. 

THE BAYON TEMPLE

My next destination was the Bayon temple which was built by Jayarvaman VII in the late 12^th century or early 13^th century, is one of the most fascinating religious contructions in the world. 

The Bayon is made of “faces tower” which are carved on the stones of the temple. Out of 49 “faces towers”, only 37 are still standing today. 

I took the elephant ride around the Bayon and I really enjoyed it.

HOLIDAY IN CAMBODIA

MY TRIP TO CAMBODIA

Hi everyone, it is me, Tisha. Sorry  that I did not write the blog for a long time because I went to CAMBODIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I went to Phnom Penh first and after that I went  to Siem Reap.  

In Phnom Penh, there were so many people selling fishes, chicken, and even a pig in the market and I also saw a pig’s head! Yikes! That was frightening.

  

THE ROYAL PALACE – JEWEL OF   

                            CAMBODIA KINGDOM

My family and I in front of the Royal Palace

First, let me tell you about the Royal Palace. In the Royal Palace, the King’s Throne is  made of gold, and on the right you will see the statue of King Monivong and the left is the statue of King Sisowat. In the palace grounds, there is a very big hall called The Chanchaya Hall. I think royal functions are held there. There are so many things to see in the Royal Palace. In the Royal temple, I saw the jade Buddha, the gold Buddha, and the emerald Buddha. And outside the Royal temple, you will see a statue on a horse, that statue is King Norodom.

THE KILLING FIELDS – HELL ON EARTH

 Next, we visited The Killing Fields of hell or also known as Choeung Ek. It is a very, very sad place because thousands and thousands of Cambodians were killed there during the Khmer Rouge Regime led by Pol Pot. I was given an audio set  and as we walked around the field we pressed the number that was shown on each check point and I listened to the sad and horrifying  story that took place  there.Altogether there are 19 check points  and the saddest check points are:

PT.15            The Killing Tree

The Killing Tree was where the  bloody Khmer Rouge soldiers snatched the babies from their mothers and smashed their heads on the trunk of the Killing Tree and then thrown into the pit to be buried.

PT.17            The Magic Tree

            The Magic Tree is a very huge bodhi tree where many loudspeakers are hung  by the Khmer Rouge soldiers. Then, loud music was played over the loudspeakers at night to drown the cries of the victims that were being killed by the soldiers.

THE GREAT STUPA- THE FINAL RESTING PLACE FOR THE VICTIMS

At the last check point, stands a huge stupa which is the final resting place for all the victims in this Killing Fields. Obviously, 129 mass graves and about 8,000 human skulls at the site bear testimony to this unspeakable crime.

I felt very sad and I asked myself  why did the Khmer soldiers carry out this atrocious and cruel act of torturing and killing their very own  people? Why did the Khmer  soldiers make them naked and then they kill them? I pray that the victims in this Killing Fields will go to Baha’u’llah’s home and ‘Abdu’l-Baha’s home too and may their souls rest in peace. I also pray that this will never happen again.

TUOL  SLENG – TORTURING PRISON OF HELL 

VICTIMS TORTURED HERE THEN SENT TO THE KILLING FIELDS TO BE KILLED!!!

The next depressing place is called Tuol Sleng, a security office 21 aka S-21 which was created on orders of Pol Pot. It was  formerly a school, but it was turn into a torturing prison of hell. S-21 was designed for detention, interrogation, inhuman torture, and killing after confession from the detainees were received and documented. 

When I walked into Tuol Sleng, 14 white graves greeted me and the visitors solemnly. They were the last 14 victims found in the torture rooms by the United Front for the National Salvation of Kampuchea, on January 7, 1979.

THE TORTURE ROOMS OF HELL

There was quietness as the visitors walked around the compound and they walked into the buildings quietly and into the torture rooms that were was upon a time classrooms. I too walked silently as I went into the rooms of hell and I saw photos of victims  that were  tortured by  the cruel and senseless Khmer Rouge interrogators. It was so inhumane and cold-blooded of the Khmer Rouge soldiers and they torture their own people.

 I felt very sad and  my heart was torn into pieces upon seeing the faces of the victims. My eyes bled for them as I saw their eyes staring into my eyes as I looked at their expressionless photos that were exhibited in the Tuol Sleng Museum.  

Why did the Khmer Rouge soldiers kill their people like this? If they are still living today, I wonder if  they regretted their past actions?

 I hope this will not happen to anyone in the whole world. To the victims, I pray that they find peace in heaven.