camparadise, an experience like no other.

To be honest, on Day 1 of being here I was already skeptical on what the next will bring. After a long ass 2 hour train ride we reached to Unanderra, me and my massive diva of a suitcase and thick highwaisted sky blue jeans. We journeyed in the scorching 9am sun(we= Jenny, Mimi, Josephine, Wendy Tu, some other lads), being one of the last few to get to registration. Rolling the wheels from the lift at the Pilgrim Lodge, I reached Room 334.



The only thing I looked forward to at the end of each day: lying around talking about number two's and how difficult it was to do it in such a place. Teasing Jade, the white girl (LOL) and all the boys that tried to pick her up, listening in on each other's phone conversations(me and Susy's in fact). Sharing coffee at 5 in the morning with Wendy and burning our fingers with the hot water. Aveline and her creepy prank-calling voice, Rebecca and her sweet little alarm tone and us munching on my forbidden snacks late at night. Oh and who could forget the nights when we caught bugs and watched them on their "honeymoon" in a glass. We had visitors almost every night-some who slept, some who were there for a chat- coz we allllll know room 334 was the best!

And who could forget Team 5? Green Lady Dragon with Kwandoms, Green Tree Frog and finally reaching to the unanimous LADYHULKS. As always it takes alot to break the ice, and that all started with a little incident in the little corner on the stage of the Auditorium...."woops, that just came out." Our group leader Kwan, the one who dressed like Mickey Mouse, ever so discreetly bribed us with lollies whenever we did something, or need to do something. Which was pretty good coz we were all too lazy. I paired with Jessica Wong, the one who practically knew every song lyric and together with everyone else we made THE group cheer-took alot of tantrums and unbotherdness, but we got there. And David Do, the funny man. Though he probably never had a fobby asian accent, but we just loveddd to laugh at his random outbursts: "Waaat did ai do?!" and "Dun worry, dis is lucky jacket." and "HOO OPEN DER AAAAYES?"
And there was Ben10, the guy that could fall asleep anywhere you put him and who reapplied way too much Blitex that it was bad for him. (insert awkward moment at the stage here.) Samantha! The quiet one who laughed at everything :) It was great having her on the team, she was there to cool things down when everything got intense. Johnathan, the poor little boy that got bullied by me, I really hoped he got something out of camp- after all, its quite hard to adjust with a different lifestyle at such a young age. And Alan, the quiet nice kid, who agreed to everything you said- he was observant, and helped the team alot. All in all, it was a challenge but in the end Ladyhulks were awesome- go the Selfless team!

Our little tea party on the Temple Tour.

The most anticipated Dharma Hunt, which is like the Amazing Race in a temple, contributes to much of the teamwork and profound characteristics of the group. This year the staff made Dharma Hunt sort of like a story, we had to go around the temple to visit characters and do challenges/help them/play games/prove ourselves/figure out clues to get "gold" leading ourselves to the end- finding Dhabu, the lost Buddha. I loved all the little pit stops, getting attacked by a bandit, running around in the sun sweating bricks, and my favourite: meditation under the tree. Dharma Hunt '10 was indeed, the best one in my three years experience.

At CAMPARADISE, we have this thing called "Dharma Friend" which is sort of like a Secret Santa but DF aims towards doing good deeds for your friend, like writing anonymous letters, doing favours, giving/buying them food, telling people to give them massages etc. The thrill of receiving things and wanting to know who your DF is so well worth it on the last day :) Usually we go up one by one announcing each other and hug in the middle of a circle, but this year we just ran to our Dharma Friends and linked arms to form a massive circle/abnormal shape. Unfortunately, this year I received nothing from my Dharma Friend, nothing at all. But I did however, get to write to Peter Trang, the awesome Disclipinary Officer!

Such a sweet, funny, dedicated and sentimental guy. The genius came up with the hand gestures for "Vow To Be" which I will teach you all one day. He said I tricked him, because he thought I was a guy, LOL "bro/man" ahhh. It was great writing to him and pretending not to know him at the same time :)

This is how beautiful Nan Tien Temple looks like at night <3

This was taken on the night of our Confidence day, when we were asked to write what we were confident and not confident about. We surrounded the bonfire group by group and chanted "I will create a new me" and threw the not-confident papers into the fire. All of the activities, workshops and conferences, enforced the theme of each day- Confidence, Inner beauty, Wealth, Longeivity and Tranquility. I loved how everything was so spiritual and uplifting :)

Don't get me wrong, CAMPARADISE isn't all about brainwashing you into the realms of Buddhism, or trying to make you believe in Buddha. But rather, its more of learning the way of life. It's not just about meeting new people, and making new friends(though that is a major highlight), camp really makes you realise what kind of person you are and you always leave with something to remember. It's a chance to practice a different lifestyle, and just learn what yourself and others can offer.


The cool kids leaving Nan Tien Temple.

If you asked everyone what they thought of Camparadise, they'd always say they want to come back the next year. No matter what race, religion, history of yours- all are welcomed.
And that is exactly why I will encourage all of you to join me in the next one. :)
Stick around, because it's worth it.