Beach party idea seems to be pretty boring and dumb when we were walking to the Sentosa but decided to give it a shot for reference experience. After the party, i realise how important a ball is to a beach party and i really had a great time playing "monkey" with the kids and people that we met there. After the party, i had to rush off for a performance that i always wanted to do which came off a huge success although we only practice the dance move on the day itself. Somehow everything seems to run smoothly. Next up to Poland.
Poland was pretty much a last minute decision that Eric and i made. Simply unbelievable how the skill that we learn this year lead us to so much. To be honest, it is a tough skill to learn and im still at the stage of getting better. Still got more to learn from many who are in the same field. We took the midnight plane to Helsinki and stay there for four hours for transit before flying off to Poland,Krakow. Once we reached the arrival gate, there was a guy waiting for us to drive us to the Hotel Santi. After 30 mins, we arrival at the destination. Check in for the hotel and quickly went up to check the room out. It was pretty much amazing how we just went snapchatting the whole entire hotel after that. Went to recce the place around the hotel so that we know where to go in the following days. I really love how the people there are friendly and damn the girls there are SO PRETTY!! After that, had dinner at a restaurant called Grind and Grill which the food was considered cheap for us. One thing about Poland was that everything there is cheap as the currency in Singapore is much higher than theirs. So we were basically Kings there. It came to night time where we went for the Hot Seat by Max. It was super inspiring and it was only for 2 hours where he clear so much of my doubts and belief. I was so pump up for the one that we paid for that Saturday. One year ago, i would never expect myself to be at Poland having dinner with a bunch of guys i met i Krakow. Isn't it funny how so much can change in a year time. We hit the night club after that with the guys we met and totally got a cultural shock when we saw what happen. Left the club at 2 because we got so tired from the plane ride. Total knock out once our body touch the bed.
Started the Morning of Day 2 with a great awesome breakfast which was incredibly good. We went for the tour in Old town and Jewish Headquarter. Great tour guides who told us about the fascinating history of the Old town and Jewish Headquarter. Surprisingly, Old Town was one level lower before they increase the height of the entire town. Jewish Headquarter is where everyone will go to for drinks and party. But before that, they will always get a pizza kinda bread which i forgot the name to fill their stomach before the alcohol hits them hard. I wanted to slack at the hotel to get ample of rest for the 10 hours hot seat the next day but after skyping with Daniel, He keep pushing me to go out and do stuff. It was totally worth it, We hit the bars and club which i had such a great time talking to everyone there.
Start Day 3 with the same breakfast where i eat so much that it kept me full till the next day. 10 hours of hot seat was hardcore. I learnt so much from Max and really never regret going for this trip and the hot seat. I learn that you have to Give Love. Once you give love, everyone or thing seems to be at a positive sight. You just start to love yourself even more after that. I was so thankful for that as it hit me so hard. Absolutely change of belief and mindset that i had all along. Hit the club after that and as i watch my friend doing his stuff. I walked around club chatting to everyone and somehow i felt everyone is looking at me because there were only 3 asian guys in the club.I said hi to this german lady and she went cray cray when she know that i was from Singapore. She kept saying that i am the Chinese dude in Hangover which was so funny. I had such a great night that day and i felt that was the night where i didnt give a shit and talk to everyone. Somehow when you are alone, you self entertain yourself with whatever you had and it keeps you high. I was dancing and moving and grooving to the music on the dance floor where it was only me. The rest was like subtle and they keep looking at me. Maybe because we were asian hence they take note of us even more?? Its kinda rare to see asians in European countries like Krakow. I mean who in the right mind will go all the way to Krakow just for the Hotseat.
After 3 days of none stop partying, i felt tired but somehow the body just keeps going when you are overseas. Day 4 which is on the Sunday, we headed to Salt Mine which is an attraction in Krakow. There was a tour guide to lead us around and tell us about the history. I licked the wall and it is legit salty. The salt mine was found by this princess if i am not wrong. She drop her ring and order people to dig the area. It then turn into a mine where people find the salt and Poland is a country rich of salt. I cant help but feel sad for the miners as they could die anytime in the mine and they wont say good morning but God bless you as they really need the blessing to survive. Hit the club at night again and it was so dead. Then we got approached to go to the strip club and we went as we wanted to see how its like. Damn in no way will i be going back there anymore. The girls are so scary and wanted us to pay for the lapdance which is total turn off. Saw some of the guys that we made on the first day and head to the bar for a final chat with them. I really learn so much from them and when Eric and i thought that we were good, the guys there show us that there is so much more to learn.A humbly and fulfilling lesson indeed.
We travel around 2 hours to reach the concentration camp that was use to keep the Jews in captive in Poland on Day 5. I was terribly shocked and lost of words when i saw how the Nazis kill the Jews in such horrible manner and how they use hair of the dead to make it into a blanket. Super messed up. Seriously had no idea what the heck they were thinking about. Such a sad and mouth opening experience that i had there. I remember as it was the last night, Eric and i took a walk around Old Town. While we look around, we took a deep breathe and thoughts were running deep. I told myself" Wow, what a crazy idea to have for the 21st birthday and a legit good trip that i had." I realise how lucky i am and bless to be at Krakow with one of my friends whom i just met 5 months ago. How this year was absolutely mind blown for me. It was snowing heavily and damn was i lucky to see snow again.
Had the breakfast for day 6 and took a last walk around Old town. Took the last breathe there and went back to the hotel to get ready to head home. To be honest, i wasnt ready to go home because i love the place, the people and the party. Oh well, all good things come to an end. Took the plane to Helsinki,as we had 8 hours of transit at Helsinki, we headed to the town area and went to a museum. I learn so much from the guy who took all the photo in the museum, Henri Cartier Bresson. His quotes were simply comprehensive. Eat the donuts and cupcake there which was quite expensive as Euros were used in Finland.Head back to the airport, took the plane back to Singapore and we arrive the next day. This marks the end of the Epic trip to Poland and Helsinki..
To come to a conclusion, the Age 20 has been Epic for me. I literally saw how my life change due to some decision that i made and no doubt i never least regret at all. Super blessed to be travelling to different country such as Cambodia for service learning, Taiwan for family trip and now Poland. Meeting new people for every trip and almost every week(if you know what i mean😏) i saw how i learn so much from everyone and improve on what i need to so that i can get my life back on track. Few lesson i learn from Poland was to GIVE LOVE. It hit me hard when Max said it because to make the world a better place to live in, you just simply just give love. These few days has been astonishing and its one of the best trip i ever had. Thankful and greatful for the people whom i met here and all of them taught me so much to life.Perhaps that is what GIVING LOVE is.My Life is Awesome,This is Epic, Let just see where this goes. Thank God for my life and he gave me an Epic month which i wished for. Poland and Helsinki off the check-list, more to come. Amen!!
