Hi All
I wonder if there are SHCians interested in joining a sort of travel club within SHC – targetting those who are not keen to travel in package tours but may be travelling solo or perhaps in small groups.
I know there had been several trips organised by some of you to places around. Maybe I’m thinking of something more structured instead of adhoc. This will allow better planning – eg a 6-12 mth programme schedule based on feedback from interested members. Can someone take this up as an interest area. It requires coordination and info gathering etc.
Eg outback tour to Uluru, Alice Springs and who may be interested as I am – in 2011 autumn/winter time (Apr- Aug).
Joan
Hi Joan,
Can you give an idea on how you see this travel club can materialise? I assume you have a good vision of this unit, what it will do and how it will attract participants.
Have you also considered leading this travel club, and running it the way you see appropriate and feasible. Tell us more, I think some of us would like to hear from you.
Terence Seah
Hi Terence
I’m thinking of someone else who likes to travel and has the time, energy rather than myself. I can, as the tour place interests me, then join in. Don’t mind helping out where I can.
Will give more views/ideas when I have time to think further. At the moment am writing this from Perth airport and heading for S’pore.
Perhaps will read more comments and take it from there.
Regards to all
Joan
Hi Joan and Terence,
This can be interesting for semi retirees who are still active and want to linger a little longer than the brief tour. How long will depend on the individual economic sustainability from home or even casual works available during the tour.
SHC has a critical mass membership in Singapore. Can the same model apply outside Singapore and the Travel Club will have inbound and outbound crowds specially catering to the 62s if you believe that is the magical retirement age.
There is room for sharing and swapping of ideas if you have the time at anhedwin@gmail.com to begin with.
Cheers ………Ed
Hi Edwin
Is that you? Remember Botanic Gardens?
If you’re, it’s funny! I was just thinking of you yesterday and wondering what’s been up with you and when we’ll next meet again.
Oh, I’m sure I’ve set minds wondering what took place at the Botanic Gardens. he he he….
Hi Daisy,
RYT (re your thread) #4.
Indeed it is the same Ed. I am well, “xie xie”.
Botanical Gardens, it have been there, last week a little buzzling because of Bocellie crooning out there.
Still interested in the grunge travel? Talk about it off line on this one if you are still into this.
Cheers……….Ed
Hi to all,
I am all out for the “Travel Club” within SHC. As Joan Wong has suggested, it should be someone who likes to travel and has the time and energy to work on it. It will not be fair for an individual to work on it all by himself/herself. Hope a retiree or semi retiree who has interest in travelling can come forward to Head a team of 3 to 4 members to organise tours for our Travel Club members. If a member can come forward to Head the Travel Club team, I would like to join the team as a member and would do by utmost best for the Travel Club within SHC.
Just a short note from me to all SHCians, why I could not be active an active member with SHC.
I am still in the Civil Service. However, I do read all posting and will always be looking out for tours which are forecasted about 3 months in advance. Being in a 3 shift duty system including Saturday, Sunday and Public Holiday, I also face difficulties in joining the weekend activities. And on my Off Days, I will be on standby duties, thus could not commit or join for any activities too
At my workplace, we are required to forecast our annual leave in December and at any one time only 2 can go. However, after putting in our slots there can be balloting if more then 2 have placed their forecast during the same period. We can take any other time if there are free slots but must be booked at least 3 to 6 months time.
So, if the propose Travel Club can be achieved, it means I can travel with SHCians. To be frank, this is the only way I can be at least be semi active with SHC till my retirement which can be in 2013, 2015 or 2018. Till then, I cannot be active and do forgive me.
So SHCians, please do consider “Travel Club” within SHC and I will be there to support. Thank you
Sekaran
Hi
Edwin and Sekaran, thanks for your comments.
I think that it’s good for someone other than myself to head the club, for reasons that I had mentioned. Perhaps with more members reading, someone will emerge. The part that I can help play is small and this, if it helps some interested in travelling to/from Perth and S’pore.
There may be some who like to travel with someone.I can offer assistance as I do travel at least twice a year Sin-Per buy budget air to cut cost and also travel more. Therefore this may suit single female travellers or just 2-3 people. I have some friends in Perth who may be able to provide B & B accomodation. For those who want some homecooked meals, this can be arranged. Also some activities eg sightseeing, game of golf, going to Burswood, farm visits/shopping for fruits wines etc.
Best is for members to post queries/comments on this post and for more details,then I will reply to your email address. I see the SHC website as a good place to air views as this club is part of SHC.
As for other places, among SHCians living elswhere, perhaps you can do the same. Then I can indicate my interest as a traveller to the place if I have interest to go there. As SHCians, we can help one another wherever we are or travel to.
Terence, my two cents worth.
Regards
Joan
Hi Sekaran
I spoke to you about visiting your ancestral home last year when we were half frozen in Lichiang,China. I am still waiting for you to organize the trip. I don’t think we need a travel club to do that, do we?
Just Do IT.
Hi Tian Soo,
I do remember that we discussed about it. Will get in touch with you via e-mail tommorow.
We have member Joan Wong for Perth and Festus Lim for Yunnan. I am sure other members can come forward to state their area of tour coverage for our SHC members.
Afterwhich, for travelling to other parts of the world a member can put up a posting for a place to go for tour. Interested members can come in to share and afterwhich work towards that tour location by coordinating with a local tour agents for a quote and take one reliable one and move on for the tour. We can also get help from Travel Forums to make our own tour plans.
Hope that more members can share their views and come up to decide whether to have a Travel Club within SHC or continue with the adhoc travel arrangements organised by interested SHC members. Regards
Sekaran
Rightly or wrongly, a typical Singaporean holiday is to “zip in” (eat, drink, Karo-O-K, shop, massage and sight see to the “max”) at the cheapest cost and shortest time. We carry our Merlion lifestyle during tour and hardly go beneath the “touristy” surface of the host country.
Feztus introduced Yunnan (Kunming, Dali, LiJiang) to me and with others, I dashed to India, Nepal ,Cambodia and Thailand following the foot prints of missionaries. They were good introductions to see a little deeper of the real people.
Today, I am looking for places to linger a little longer, maybe a month or much more. Do what? Volunteer in organic farm (orchard, vegetable, herbal, animal and even fish) teach in the village school, participate in the community activities. Perhaps meditate or just “stop & stare” and exist.
If there is a business “lobang”, why not without having to break the back to support this lifestyle.
That is where Joan’s idea of a SHC Travel Club makes sense with on-going ones like Abel leading a group to Tg Batu the coming weekend to add destinations to a structured form.
Imagine Tian Soo and his buddy Charles pouring over a SHC Travel Club site for a good location recommended by Sekarang. And off they go.
I chance upon “wwoof” in a world wide website which matches will-be volunteers to exchange labour for “food & lodging” to organic lifestyle in membership locations. Imagine we have “angmoh kia” crawling around our Choa Chu farms on this platform.
Consider a SHC Travel Club matching SHC members to oversea destinations that are safe, hospitable, cost effective and fun to stay; never mind whether it is long or short. It will become very meaningful when Singapore hits it 5 millions population.
Cheers……………….Ed
Hi Edwin #10
Volunteering in the farm…..our type of vacation too. I just tried moving about on a Tractor at a JB fruits farm last weekend…..one day of exercise. Bdw, we are thinking of going to Nepal anyone wanna share their experience?
cheers
Hi All
Certainly great if we pool our info and resources to help with arranging, sharing travel plans whichever place. I can help with Perth as I do want to move around WA etc.
My plans for Sep:
1st week Aug – am in Perth till Nov/Dec.
Intend to drive to Kalbarri in Sep with my relative. I will be able to take 2 more in my station wagon. We can share petrol costs and if you wish, self-contained chalet. If not, you can book your own accomodation in the same area. Yes, you need to book your own airfares. Best is travel by Tiger Airways to Perth and return by Jetstar. Budget for at least AUD 60-80/day/pax for all expenses (excl airfares).
Joan
Hi All
An update on my post. I am planning the 5D/4N Kalbarri trip from 12 – 16 Oct. It will be a self-drive with a stopover at Cervantes on 12 and 15 Oct. That gives 2 nites in Kalbarri and 2 at Cervantes.
The trip is mainly lesiurely with fishing and wildflowers in mind. Just to let you know that accomodation costs are:
Cervantes: $80/90 p/n for 2 people
Kalbarri : $77/p/n for 2 people.
So that works out to spending approx $50 p/p p/day.
Those interested can make their own arrangements to hire a car and I can give names of the accomodation places.
Joan