The inimitable ACS spirit is often
said to live on long after leaving school, and this is
so true for the Class of 57. In May, after more than
half a century since leaving school in 1957, eight
classmates accompanied by their wives continued their
ACS journey of camaraderie on the Silk Road in China.
It all started at the Class of 57’s
50th Anniversary Reunion in February 2007 when the
friendships that were forged during the school years
were renewed. This resulted in more frequent
get-togethers which soon evolved into a monthly lunch
meeting on the first Friday of each month.
An overseas trip was next on the
cards. Views and interest for destinations were sought,
and with China a clear choice, Bill Tan in the UK set
out to meticulously tailor an itinerary for Chen Ya, in
Hong Kong, to kindly implement.
On 17 May, eight classmates
accompanied by their wives and two friends (18 in
total), embarked on a 15-day adventure along the Silk
Road in northwest China, the legendary overland trade
route between China and the Mediterranean.
We started from
Lanzhou, the only provincial city through which the
Yellow River (better-known as China’s Mother River)
runs. Our
journey along this extraordinary ancient Road took us
through an ever changing landscape of snow-capped
mountain ranges, remote and extreme desert terrains, and
towns populated by the descendants of early traders,
arriving at our final destination in Urumqi, the capital
of the autonomous province of Xinjiang, a distance of
some 2,000 kilometres.
As we continued to discover during
our journey, the thousands of kilometres are filled with
a multitude of fascinating cultural heritage and
historical sites:
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the Bingling Grottoes, a Buddhist
cave complex containing carvings, sculpture and
frescoes and an imposing 27 meters Maitreya Buddha
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the Jiayuguan Great Wall and
Overhanging Great Wall, fortresses built in early
centuries to keep out invading armies.
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the UNESCO World Heritage Mogao
Grottoes, constructed over a period of a thousand
years and representing the height of Buddhist art
and the world’s richest treasure house of Buddhist
sutras, murals and sculptures.
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the forbidding, yet imposing
deserts where early traders had to encounter, with
temperatures reaching the 40s Celsius.
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riding on camels in the Gobi
desert along huge sand dunes, an experience which
will long be remembered.
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visiting the ruins of ancient
cities, the Xinjiang Karez underground irrigation
canals and remnants of the Han Great Wall, all of
which have enjoyed a history of 2000 years, and
marvelling at these construction and engineering
feats.
We were struck by the myriad of
cultures, and ethnic groups with striking Central Asian
features and dress in each of the towns and cities we
visited - Uighurs, Mongols, Kazakhs, Uzbeks, Tatars,
Tibetans, Manchus, Tajiks, Hui Muslims. On several
occasions, we were warmly welcomed with song and dance
by different groups in their traditional costumes.
During the journey we reminisced of
our schooldays - funny incidents with classmates and
experiences with the many teachers who taught us, and
many opportunities to recall geography and history
lessons by Mr. S. K. Pradhan and Mr P.V. Thomas. The ACS
Anthem echoed through the coach, with wives joining in
the chorus, as if to encourage the men to “stand
together for the cause of ACS forever” followed by songs
of the 50’s and familiar hymns that we used to sing at
Chapel.
Apart from last year’s Class reunion,
we had not met each other since leaving school in 1957
and tried to catch up with the lost 50 years. Our wives
got on marvellously, as though they knew each other for
a long time. Everyone in the group bonded well and
mindful of one another’s well-being.
Sadly, on the 15th day, we left
Urumqi airport for our flights home. We thoroughly
enjoyed the experience of the group holiday where we
shared a special bond of friendship, and appropriately
sang our final song, “Blest be the tie that binds our
hearts in Christian love; the fellowship of kindred
minds is like to that above”.
Jimmy Ho Chee Meng |
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Norman & Ming on White
Pagoda Hill with
the Yellow River in the background. |
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The serene grounds of Big
Temple in Wuwei. |
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Matisi temples & grottoes dug into cliffs. |
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Colourful Tibetian lunch
reception. |
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At entrance to Jiayuguan
Fort. |
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The magnificent Yulin
gorge
... quite a way down! |
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The Class 57 Caravan! |
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Overhanging Great Wall. |
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The group with Flaming
Mountain
in the background. |
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Norman having a great time
with the Uigher ladies! |
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One for the album with
Heavenly Lake in the background. |
Click for more
photographs |
Lanzhou |
Wuwei |
Zhangye |
Jiayuguan
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Dunhuang |
Hami |
Turpan |
Urumqi |
Shopping |
Guides & Interesting
People
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MORE
PHOTOGRAPHS
Hock Hye has
put together a fine collection of
photos taken by the travellers.
Click here to view them. You
will be prompted to download a
plug-in called Photodex Presenter
which is essential to view the show.
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The Journey |
Lanzhou,
Wuwei,
Zhangye,
Jiayuguan,
Dunhuang,
Hami,
Turpan,
Urumqi (click link for more photos)
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The Participants |
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From UK:
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From HK:
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From Australia:
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From Singapore:
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The motley bunch from the Class of 57!
(from left: Teo Hock Hye, Bill Tan Peck
Seng, Albert Lee Seng Gay, Jimmy Ho Chee
Meng, Huang Chen-Ya, Jerry Choo Teck Yong,
Quek Swee Kuang & Norman Wee
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The accompanying ladies (from left:
Jane, May, Pauline, Helen, Sharon & Ming; at
the rear: Penny, Kay, Cindy & Helen)
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