Returning to flowing water and flush toilets in Chiangmai was a treat before the journey through the Golden triangle to
the Thai Laos boarder on the Mekong river. Again the team of savvy travellers sorted a good deal and
connections worked well. A slow boat trip took us over two days through to Luang Prabang, a beguiling city with
charm that persists despite the massive influx of tourists over the last few years. The team arranged a meeting with
the Laos in-country agent and the description of the community project was set out for us. All sounded very exciting
and worthwhile. Trips were made to book shops to equip us with the extras we could use to help make the project
more meaningful. Three hours north of the city was Na Kham school where new class room were being built. The
team’s task was to help on the building site. Upon arrival some students connected well with the local students by
setting up football and volleyball games. The girls within the team were doted upon by the young school girls.
Unfortunately classes were into examinations so there wasn’t the possibility of sitting in on lessons. The project
conditions were testing to say the least. Several of the students were feeling unwell and spent most of their time trying
to keep warm in their sleeping bags.
Following the project section the group returned to Luang Prabang for a couple of very pleasant days before a long
road journey over very windy terrain to Vientiane. After one night in Vientiane we boarded an overnight train back to
Bangkok. By then the finances had been managed so well that there were surplus dollars to spend on comfortable
accommodation in Bangkok. The final phase of World Challenges expedition is R and R. Our group selected to do
this in Bangkok to ensure all shopping possibilities had been investigated. Sure enough, street markets and malls
were given a thorough going over. Still within the weight allocation, eleven happy students boarded their Malaysian air
flight NZ bound, having been thorough some remarkable challenges and phenomenal experiences over the last four
weeks.
Mrs M Gertsch
Duke of Edinburgh Gold
Back Row: Kaitlyn Chu, Thomas Wood, Jessica Ford,
Grace Fulford
3rd Row: Charles Talbot, Callum Wilkie, Heath Dinneen,
William Wallace, Robert Barker, Andrew Breen
2nd Row: Olivia Broadhurst, Evelyn Hunsberger, Calum
Stone, Michael Parsons, Emily McPherson, Jonathan Willis,
Mr J. Wilton (Coach)
Front Row: Kaitlyn Jackson, Nicole Couchman,
Amy Wolland, Charlotte Reay, Ellerie Hawkins,
Bayley Thomsen, Courtney James
Absent:
Nathan Welch