{"id":19916,"date":"2015-05-09T10:18:45","date_gmt":"2015-05-09T02:18:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/silverhairsclub.com\/?p=19916"},"modified":"2015-06-03T20:34:41","modified_gmt":"2015-06-03T12:34:41","slug":"sharing-a-day-with-the-batam-kids-satsun-2728-jun-2015","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/silverhairsclub.com\/?p=19916","title":{"rendered":"Sharing a day with the Batam kids, Sat\/Sun 27\/28 Jun 2015."},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

nn\"batam1\"<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\"batamkid1\"<\/a>\u00a0 \"batamkid3\"<\/a> \"batamkid2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

This trip is cancelled as Hari Raya falls during our intended trip.<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Ong Lin Khim, whom some of you have met, has been a regular resident and visitor to Batam for many years. \u00a0For almost 10 years, I have noticed his interest in helping young children with their education and day-to-day living. \u00a0Batam was the place, because he has some very close Indonesian friends living there.<\/p>\n

He has \u00a0a small two-storey house, perched on a slight hill. \u00a0From here, his staff does some work, and Ong organises help programs for a number of villages and kids. \u00a0He loves to see kids who wants to study. \u00a0Sometimes, I joined him when he and his staff buy groceries from the shops and distributes eggs, rice and dailies to villages and kids. \u00a0I was impressed as he has been doing this activities for many years.<\/p>\n

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. \u00a0Some of you may know that a Warong is a small stall, selling coffee, tea, some snacks and food. \u00a0I had been there to his house, which has a balcony and a living room where he and me can sleep on the floor. \u00a0It 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. \u00a0It’s quiet and relaxing.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

He was reluctant because he thinks that his place and warong would not be up to SilverHairs expectations and standards. \u00a0But, finally, he agrees to give it a go and try. \u00a0He 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. \u00a0We talk about transport, and I have asked his Indonesian staff to look out for a van and motocycle taxis. \u00a0I did request for female motorcycle taxis.<\/p>\n

The purpose of this activity is to partipate in “Meeting the Batam kids”. \u00a0Participants can bring their unused clothes, pens, pencils, balloons, toys, etc, as seen appropriate to young kids and adults. \u00a0For groceries, we can contribute a token to buy some stuffs from the local market.<\/p>\n

I have set the following activity details. \u00a0If 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.<\/p>\n