This trip is cancelled as Hari Raya falls during our intended trip.
Ong Lin Khim, whom some of you have met, has been a regular resident and visitor to Batam for many years. For almost 10 years, I have noticed his interest in helping young children with their education and day-to-day living. Batam was the place, because he has some very close Indonesian friends living there.
He has a small two-storey house, perched on a slight hill. From here, his staff does some work, and Ong organises help programs for a number of villages and kids. He loves to see kids who wants to study. Sometimes, I joined him when he and his staff buy groceries from the shops and distributes eggs, rice and dailies to villages and kids. I was impressed as he has been doing this activities for many years.
Recently, he helped fund the setup of a Warong, a stall with a beautiful facing of the sea, and close to where he works and stays. Some of you may know that a Warong is a small stall, selling coffee, tea, some snacks and food. I had been there to his house, which has a balcony and a living room where he and me can sleep on the floor. It wasnt a luxury, but there was airconditioning and bathroom. This house is not in the city but it is about 20 minutes from the ferry Sekupang. It’s quiet and relaxing.
I have asked Ong if some of us could stay at his 2-star house, oops, no swimming pool overnight, participate in his charity work and that after the next day’s breakfast, we could venture into town and have dinner there, before catching a boat to Singapore.
He was reluctant because he thinks that his place and warong would not be up to SilverHairs expectations and standards. But, finally, he agrees to give it a go and try. He will provide free on-the-floor accommodation at his house, and participants will pay for the marketing which his staff will cook Indonesian style ie lunch, dinner and breakfast. We talk about transport, and I have asked his Indonesian staff to look out for a van and motocycle taxis. I did request for female motorcycle taxis.
The purpose of this activity is to partipate in “Meeting the Batam kids”. Participants can bring their unused clothes, pens, pencils, balloons, toys, etc, as seen appropriate to young kids and adults. For groceries, we can contribute a token to buy some stuffs from the local market.
I have set the following activity details. If you would like to spend an overnight in Batam, one day on charity, overnight at Ong’s place, having food cooked by local Indonesians,and finally spend the following afternoon in Batam city, do let me know.
- Date: Sat/Sun 27/28 June 2015.
- Meeting point at harbourfront: 1st boat out
- Return point at Batam: last ferry
- Costs: Everybody pays for own ferry.
- Accommodation: At Ong’s 2 Star residence, complementary
- Food – Lunch, Dinner, breakfast – we share and pay the local cooks
- Giveaways to the villages and kids – we bring along during the trip
- Number of pax: 6 to avoid us falling through the floors.
If you would like to participate, please register your name here. If you cannot make this date, you can also register here, and let me know the weekend you are available.
Terence Seah
Registration list:
- Terence Seah
- Tony Ang
- Andrew Koh
- Moon Wong
- Lilian Teo
- Ron Teo
- Pauline Chew
- Gabriella Chua (tentatively the July one)
- Daisy Yeo (July)
- Caroline Gee
- Dolly Lim
- Joan Ang
- Lai Fong
- Inez Lim
- Susan Sia (June)
- Jane Chua
- Sockie
- Maria Tan
Would you like to spend a day “Meeting the Batam kids”? I am hoping the little we do for charity can make a happier day, or week or month for our fellow citizens of the world.
The date is set, it is in Batam, and if we can join together, please let me know. Ong will be more than pleased. BTW, he is a shy white-haired man, about to reach 60 in a few months. He and me are the same zodiac animal.
Haha, look forward to your participation.
Terence Seah
Hi Terence N Ong,
Good to share your experience, I shall join
Tony Ang
Please include me. So the BBQ chicken is from the warong.
Hi Terence,
Lillian Teo and I are interested.
Regards,
Moon
Gabriella has finally managed to get the pictures of the Batam kids up on this Post. There are 3 photos, which were taken recently of the kids in the villages, and the necessities distribution to the families.
Besides stopping at 6 participants, we can also have the next one at the last Sat/Sun of
JuneJuly. But, let’s see the numbers.Terence Seah
Hi Terence,
I would like to join the group too. Many thanks to you and Ong Lin Khim for the complimentary lodging and opportunity to spend time with the kids.
Hi Terence
Im interested. Tks
Pauline
Terence,
‘Besides stopping at 6 participants, we can also have the next one at the last Sat/Sun of June.
R u referring to July – typo error ?
Or finger not listening to yr brain, hehe.
Lilian
Hi Terence
I would like to do last Sat/Sun of July please.
Thank you.
Daisy
Sure, Daisy. We can time the next one in July. Good to see you.
Terence Seah
Hi Terence
Please include me. Thanks
Best regards
Irene Chua
Hi! Terence
Good initiative. I believe our members here would love to participate in this charity trip. Keep it up.
Terence,
Both Caroline and Gee are keen to join.. Pls include us.
Cheers.. Dolly
Sorry, Sorry,
I meant both Caroline and me are keen to join.
Cheers.. Dolly
Hi Terence,
I am interested to participate in this Batam Trip.(July)
Please include me.
Regards
Joan Ang
Hi Terence,
I am interested to participate in this Batam Trip.(July)
Please include me.
Regards
Joan Ang
Hi Terence
Kindly include me, but will only confirm July if dates are good for me.
Thank you
Lai Fong
Glad to see so many participants in the “Meet the Batam kids” project. Remember 2 star complementary accommodation on the floor. Haha, we will all be sleeping together.
Terence Seah
Hi Terence
I’m interested too.
End June or July (and after) would be ok
thanks
inez
I am interested in the charity project. May I join the Jun trip? Because in JUL I have committed to a National Day related rehearsal.
Please include me. Either June or July should be good. Thanks!
Terence
Pls sign me up too
Thanks
Sockie
Terence,
Please include me in June or July trip. Thanks, Maria
For members who have registered to join “Meeting the Batam kids”, its appears we will have some difficulties going ahead with our Batam trip. Hari Raya Puasa falls right in the middle of our intended trip. At the same time, I am unable to advance the trip due to my travelling schedule.
For the purpose of planning your schedule, please take this Batam trip as cancelled.
Terence Seah