 22 Nov 2011: Back at Children's Garden Home in Nairobi
On 21 Nov, we took the Fly540 flight from Lamu back to Nairobi. It was good to be back at Children's Garden Home.
We learnt that the kids had been working real hard under the supervision of Sylvia to more than complete the orders for the BeadWear Project. We were so proud of the children for their persistence and quality of work. It's a sign that Sylvia and the kids are now more than capable to sustain this production going forward. They just need to engage the help of all the volunteers from different parts of the world to help them secure orders.
Robyn and Jin spent a few days sorting and packing over 300 necklaces to bring home to Singapore for our kind friends who ordered them.
> Jin, Robyn and Sylvia with a bedful of BeadWear necklaces. |
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We were so glad to also meet Prof Mutiga who came to advise Moses on the cow shed improvement as well as the greenhouse and slow food farm.
Prof Mutiga is such a dear friend to know. He is kind, helpful and generous with his expertise and time. He promised us that he would help CGH to source for a good dairy cow, and he agreed to be an advisor to CGH.
We are so happy for the children to have the good fortune of having Prof Mutiga watch over them.
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Robyn having computer fun with her good friends, Kezia and Sharon. |
Mama Robyn gave Mama Kezia a life-changing book "Conversation with God" by Neale Donald Walsch. |
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Clay Artist Alvin and African Facemask Artist James.
We sincerely hope that the facemask carving art project started by Alvin would evolve into a thriving Little Fingy's social enterprise for CGH. |
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23 Nov 2011: A Moving Farewell Party
On our last evening at Children's Garden Home, Moses and the children organized a farewell party for us at the dining hall. The kids sang, danced and performed sketches. We were deeply touched by the appreciation speeches given by many children, Joseph, Lazarus, Sylvia and Moses. They even presented us with a thank you cert! The evening ended with the children and staff hugging us farewell in a long line with us standing by the doorway. It was so thoughtful and definitely a memorable good bye.
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It has been our great fortune to have lived, played and laughed alongside these children for 3 months.
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Silas Mang'ong'o, the little rapper of CGH, rapped another number to great applause.
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Alvin showed appreciation to all at CGH. |
Jin shared words of encouragement to the children.
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Moses presenting us with an appreciation cert! We'll continue to support CGH remotely from Singapore. |
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 24-27 Nov 2011: Istanbul, Turkey
Thanks to Moses for sending us to the airport to catch the 6.30am flight to Istanbul. As the plane took off, we said a silent farewell to Africa and cherished many wonderful memories of the past 3 months.
Enroute home, we decided to stopped over for 3 days to experience Istanbul, a unique place that straddled between the East and West. From the warmth of Africa, we entered the early winter of 8 deg C in Turkey, and became the only 3 beings seen walking around in sandals... |
Turkey is famous for the Dervish Whirling Dance of Sufism. We attended a dance ceremony known as samāʿ that represents a mystical journey of spiritual ascent through mind and love to the Perfect One. |
 Mewlewī Sufi order was founded in 1273 by the followers of Rumi after his death. We first read about Rumi being an enlightened Sufi mystic in Osho's book. It was wonderful to be here in Turkey to get a glimpse into Sufism. Rumi's full name was Mevlānā Jalāl ad-Dīn Muḥammad Balkhī. |
A simit push cart seller. Simit is a popular breakfast. |
Warm simit are soooooo good to sink teeth into! |
A must-see in Istanbul - the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, also known as Blue Mosque, was built in 1616. |
The majestic interior of the dome. The Blue Mosque was certainly one of the grandest places we'd been in.
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Inside the Blue Mosque are giant pillars.
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Alvin, Robyn and Jin with the majestic Blue Mosque. |
Sticky candy of various flavours. |
Cheeky Robyn + sticky candy. |
Hagia Sophia, built in 360, is over 1650 years old and amazingly preserved as a museum today. |
The grandeur of the interior exudes a blend of Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Islam through the ages. |
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We finally saw with our own eyes the amazing mosaic arts of the early ages, installed on the wall within the Hagia Sophia. The mosaic paintings are so huge so it must have taken the early artists years to assemble and glue on those millions of mosaic pieces.
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We enjoyed our first Turkish bath at Suleymaniye Hamami that serves only couples and families. It was hot but relaxing, refreshing and we emerged with smooth skins. |
This bath has a 450 year history of use so it was a rare treat for us to bathe in it as a family. It was admittedly a weird feeling for each of us to be soaped, shampooed and scrubed by big Turkish men! |
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On 27 Nov, we visited the Basilica Cistern, the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath Istanbul. It was built in the 6th century as a water filtration and storage system. |
There are 2
Medusa head pillars. The origin of the 2 heads is unknown, though it is thought that the heads were brought to the cistern after being removed from a building of the late Roman period. |
We love tasty Turkish cuisine especially kebabs. And this part of Istanbul is particularly famous for fish and seafood from the Black Sea. |
We were fortunate to have found Ekim Apartment run by a very friendly and helpful owner, Saban Olcer. We recommend this comfortable full service apartment. |
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28 Nov 2011: Home Sweet Home, Singapore
We left Istanbul at 11pm on 27 Nov and arrived in Singapore at 4.30pm on 28 Nov 2011. It was good to see our parents and friends welcoming us home with the waving of the Avita flags at the airport. |
Our little welcome party - Wai Teng, Hazel, Patrick, Mum and Dad, and Theingi.
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Thanks also to Ms Lee for sending Sunny with a car to send us home. |
Seva 2011 has been a life-defining 9-month period for our family. As we return home to our usual commitment of family, friends, business, career and school, we shall remain connected to our friends in India and Africa, and continue to support them with creativity, ideas and fund raising.
Seva shall be a way of life for us, and we shall always remain available and willing as instrument of the Divine, as we continue our journey home within. |
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