Thursday, December 29, 2005
Yoz pplz. i'm back from the BUddhist Fellowship Youth camp 2005!!!!!! -- Growing with Spiritual Friends!!! Whoo hoo! it was fantastic. anyway, i'm too lazy to write up a xueling version of the camp, so i'll just throw in the one I wrote for BFY with some comments -----
Camp Christine, the site for our BFYouth camp 2005, was situated in a far flung part of Choa Chu Kang. The serene atmosphere was punctuated by the arrival of our excited Bfyouth campers on the morning of Christmas eve.
the campsite was in this really really ulu part of singapore near NTU. The toilets were a bit erm.. but I thot the setting was nice, and so were the dorms
After settling into their respective dormitories, the campers gathered in the main camp hall for the opening ceremony where light offering to the Buddha was performed.
The candle was to be kept burning for the duration of the camp by the campers.
wah.. we were given the same slot on 2 nights. 3am to 5am. first nite i mong cha cha come down with Bee Xian ... and I see 3 souls still wide awake in the main hall. I take my hat off to you gals and a guy :P
The campers were divided into 4 groups, Diamonds, Hearts, Clubs and Spades. The groups then designed a poster each and also came up with an array of entertaining cheers. The theme of the posters was centered around the theme of the camp--“ Growing with spiritual friends.” The creative campers tackled the task with gusto and produced fantastic works of art. Soon the air was filled with the enthusiastic cheering of the pumped up campers. Even the storm that raged outside could not dampen the campers’ spirits as the teams competed to gain points in the Ice Breaker games.
my group won the poster design!!! haha.. WE ROCK! ( we are rock steady)
Diamonds are 4EVER man!
On the night of Day one, the BFyouths held their very own cooking competition. The campers tried to whip up exotic and unusual dishes using the ingredients provided. The teams managed to produce everything from half cooked cod fish, to kebabs, to a dubious looking but delicious concoction of banana sauce. Armed with catchy taglines like “ Fusion food to ignite your taste buds,” and “ Dragon and Phoenix chase the Buddha,” our budding Jamie Olivers tried to win over the 4 bemused judges: Wenjie, Teng Ee, Stacey and Chee Pui. It could be said that completing the gastronomic challenge was not half as fun as watching the judges doubtfully prod, poke and examine the dishes placed in front of them. The day was completed with night puja and meditation.
we are the group with the half cooked cod.. hehheh.. the look on the judges face was PRICELESS!!!!
On Day 2, after morning puja and meditation, Brother Jim Kee gave a thought provoking talk about spiritual friends and how Buddhism could be applied in our interactions with other people. The Dharma talk was then followed by a lively discussion about why having spiritual friends was important.
Next came the part everyone had been waiting for: Games time! The air was filled with screams of delight as four teams competed through a series of wacky games for points. The games escalated into a full fledged water war as the BF youths grabbed water bombs and pails to try and drench every living being on the premises.
Bravo to Wenjie, who had to withstand wet sponges sailing through the air, screams, yells, all of us campers who prefered monkeying around to listening to him.. I realise i suck at water bombs. Got ambushed in the kitchen by 2 guys who's names i shan't mention here...
The highlight of the camp was the campfire. Team mascots paraded around in the costumes their teammates had fashioned out of the material on the premises. The competition saw a Toy soldier, a snarling Tarzan, and a Miss Bfyouth taking to the catwalk. The prize, however, was snatched by “Miss” Bimbaba, who won over the judges with “her” short skirt, outrageous top and a side splitting dance sequence. The 4 teams then acted out skits that they adapted from the Jattaca stories. The judges and campers witnessed a dazzling presentation of fine comedic acting and witty scripts as the teams competing with the backdrop of the blazing camp fire. Games and a gift exchange rounded up the memorable campfire night.
check out Eugenia's photos of the glorious Miss Bimbaba! Viewer discretion adivsed! My group put up the play " 4 on the log" we had so much fun coming up with the script :P haha. i'm the EEEEEVIL PRINCESS ( puts on a bimbotic princessy pout ) " MAaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrriaaaaaaa!!!!!"
On the last day of the camp, Brother Soon Han gave the campers an insightful talk about the different Types of Friends who we encountered in life. The team of Hearts was then crowned the team with the highest number of points accumulated from the inter-group games played over the past three days. On that high note, the tired but happy campers set off home, taking with them fond memories of the camp and newly learnt Dhamma knowledge. More importantly, they took with them the bonds of fellowship that they had forged or renewed with their spiritual friends.
This camp could not have been possible without the efforts of the BFYouth camp committee, led by camp Chairman Teng Ee, with Jeffrey, Weizhang, Wenjie, Jessica, Adrian, Weiming; resident chef Reagan, with Fiona, Victoria, Jovine and Bee Xian who made sure that the campers never went hungry. Many thanks also to Brother Soon Han and Brother Jimmy Kee for giving the Dhamma talks. And to all the brothers and sisters in the Dharma who generously lent a helping hand. Thank you! Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!
And most importantly, I guess it's the lessons I learnt during the camp. The improtance of having friends who share the same faith, the importance of chosing friens wisely, the importance of adhering to the Buddha's teachings, the importance of the practise of Meditation.. oooo. it was cool to meditate there.. so quiet! And the lesson on patience, on being caring, being considerate...it was a wonderful 3 days.! Great way to spend XMAS!!! :P or I quote Eugenia.. Merry Buddhamas!!!
Camp Christine, the site for our BFYouth camp 2005, was situated in a far flung part of Choa Chu Kang. The serene atmosphere was punctuated by the arrival of our excited Bfyouth campers on the morning of Christmas eve.
the campsite was in this really really ulu part of singapore near NTU. The toilets were a bit erm.. but I thot the setting was nice, and so were the dorms
After settling into their respective dormitories, the campers gathered in the main camp hall for the opening ceremony where light offering to the Buddha was performed.
The candle was to be kept burning for the duration of the camp by the campers.
wah.. we were given the same slot on 2 nights. 3am to 5am. first nite i mong cha cha come down with Bee Xian ... and I see 3 souls still wide awake in the main hall. I take my hat off to you gals and a guy :P
The campers were divided into 4 groups, Diamonds, Hearts, Clubs and Spades. The groups then designed a poster each and also came up with an array of entertaining cheers. The theme of the posters was centered around the theme of the camp--“ Growing with spiritual friends.” The creative campers tackled the task with gusto and produced fantastic works of art. Soon the air was filled with the enthusiastic cheering of the pumped up campers. Even the storm that raged outside could not dampen the campers’ spirits as the teams competed to gain points in the Ice Breaker games.
my group won the poster design!!! haha.. WE ROCK! ( we are rock steady)
Diamonds are 4EVER man!
On the night of Day one, the BFyouths held their very own cooking competition. The campers tried to whip up exotic and unusual dishes using the ingredients provided. The teams managed to produce everything from half cooked cod fish, to kebabs, to a dubious looking but delicious concoction of banana sauce. Armed with catchy taglines like “ Fusion food to ignite your taste buds,” and “ Dragon and Phoenix chase the Buddha,” our budding Jamie Olivers tried to win over the 4 bemused judges: Wenjie, Teng Ee, Stacey and Chee Pui. It could be said that completing the gastronomic challenge was not half as fun as watching the judges doubtfully prod, poke and examine the dishes placed in front of them. The day was completed with night puja and meditation.
we are the group with the half cooked cod.. hehheh.. the look on the judges face was PRICELESS!!!!
On Day 2, after morning puja and meditation, Brother Jim Kee gave a thought provoking talk about spiritual friends and how Buddhism could be applied in our interactions with other people. The Dharma talk was then followed by a lively discussion about why having spiritual friends was important.
Next came the part everyone had been waiting for: Games time! The air was filled with screams of delight as four teams competed through a series of wacky games for points. The games escalated into a full fledged water war as the BF youths grabbed water bombs and pails to try and drench every living being on the premises.
Bravo to Wenjie, who had to withstand wet sponges sailing through the air, screams, yells, all of us campers who prefered monkeying around to listening to him.. I realise i suck at water bombs. Got ambushed in the kitchen by 2 guys who's names i shan't mention here...
The highlight of the camp was the campfire. Team mascots paraded around in the costumes their teammates had fashioned out of the material on the premises. The competition saw a Toy soldier, a snarling Tarzan, and a Miss Bfyouth taking to the catwalk. The prize, however, was snatched by “Miss” Bimbaba, who won over the judges with “her” short skirt, outrageous top and a side splitting dance sequence. The 4 teams then acted out skits that they adapted from the Jattaca stories. The judges and campers witnessed a dazzling presentation of fine comedic acting and witty scripts as the teams competing with the backdrop of the blazing camp fire. Games and a gift exchange rounded up the memorable campfire night.
check out Eugenia's photos of the glorious Miss Bimbaba! Viewer discretion adivsed! My group put up the play " 4 on the log" we had so much fun coming up with the script :P haha. i'm the EEEEEVIL PRINCESS ( puts on a bimbotic princessy pout ) " MAaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrriaaaaaaa!!!!!"
On the last day of the camp, Brother Soon Han gave the campers an insightful talk about the different Types of Friends who we encountered in life. The team of Hearts was then crowned the team with the highest number of points accumulated from the inter-group games played over the past three days. On that high note, the tired but happy campers set off home, taking with them fond memories of the camp and newly learnt Dhamma knowledge. More importantly, they took with them the bonds of fellowship that they had forged or renewed with their spiritual friends.
This camp could not have been possible without the efforts of the BFYouth camp committee, led by camp Chairman Teng Ee, with Jeffrey, Weizhang, Wenjie, Jessica, Adrian, Weiming; resident chef Reagan, with Fiona, Victoria, Jovine and Bee Xian who made sure that the campers never went hungry. Many thanks also to Brother Soon Han and Brother Jimmy Kee for giving the Dhamma talks. And to all the brothers and sisters in the Dharma who generously lent a helping hand. Thank you! Sadhu! Sadhu! Sadhu!
And most importantly, I guess it's the lessons I learnt during the camp. The improtance of having friends who share the same faith, the importance of chosing friens wisely, the importance of adhering to the Buddha's teachings, the importance of the practise of Meditation.. oooo. it was cool to meditate there.. so quiet! And the lesson on patience, on being caring, being considerate...it was a wonderful 3 days.! Great way to spend XMAS!!! :P or I quote Eugenia.. Merry Buddhamas!!!
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