jj-yog

2009-10-27T17:23:00.000-07:00

Back at JJ!

JJCians painting the mural based on Olympic values, showcasing their efforts for YOG 2010.

The Olympic rings, representing the union of the five continents and the meeting of athletes from throughout the world at the Olympic Games.

The Olympic values - Excellence, Respect & Friendship.

The 26 sports that will be competed in Singapore during YOG 2010.

"Swifter. Higher. Stronger." - one of the quotes of the Olympic Games.

2009-10-11T10:49:00.000-07:00

At Lenin Museum

Despite its location at the heart of bustling Red Square, the sanctity of Lenin’s Mausoleum is strictly maintained as all visitors to the site had to remain extremely quiet when passing by Lenin’s body, which was housed in a beautiful glass case. In addition, as a mark of respect, we were not allowed to wear our gloves nor put our hands in our pockets during the entire time!

by group 2: huiyi, yoongzhen, weiyang, benjamin, wira

The iconic St. Basil’s Cathedral seen in a different light - against the morning sun

Even the security camera in the History Museum is designed to blend in with the architecture

Platform where the Tsars (past rulers of Russia) made public appearance and speeches

At Pushkin Museum

The Pushskin State Museum of Fine Arts

Our Russian tour guide, Ms Alexandra, explaining the history of the museum

Children:
Look! These students are having their history lessons in the museum, which is more engaging & interesting as learning takes place beyond the classroom.

Cosmetic box:
Do you know the function of this item? Let us tell you the answer. This is a cosmetic box which was excavated from Egypt. People in those times believed that there was life after death. Hence, the deceased were buried with their accessories so they could still use them in the afterlife.

Mummy:
Although this artifact is called a mummy, this is not the type which would get a mother’s day card because wrapped under the many layers of linen was a 3000 year old corpse.

David is the beautiful and unique sculpture by Michaelangelo:
Though we were in the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts, the presence of Michaelangelo’s famous statue made us feel like we were in the Lourve Museum in Paris where the original statue is. This allowed aspiring Russian artists to use the masterpieces as a means to study art.

by group 4: philp, uyen, an, alan, teeyang, mengyao

At the Museum of the Great Patriotic War

This giant asterisk is neither scrap metal nor the base of a designer coffee table. Would you believe that this was an anti-tank barricade? This object was scattered throughout the battlefield to halt the tens of thousands of German tanks that advanced into Russia during World War 2

The inscriptions on the sword states, ‘The person who comes to him with a sword will be killed by the sword’. This highlights the maxim that those who wage war to kill will in turn be killed.- a painful lesson we learnt from World War II.

This installation is found in the museum’s Hall of Sorrow. The entire ceiling of the hall was covered completely by these crystallized tears, signifying the tears shed by the relatives of the victims of the war. This illustrated very clearly the tragedy of war for all those who visited the museum

This painting depicting the fall of Berlin in the last stages of World War 2 was brought to life with the use of a diorama- a mixture of both 2-D paintings and 3-D props to enhance a feeling of actually being at the battle site. We felt that we were able to share the joy of the Russian soldiers at the defeat of Hitler’s Germany.

by group 3: jianhui, xiejing, nirmal, boonkang, zhihao

At the peak of the war memorial is Goddess Nike, flanked by two angels, singing glory to the victory of Russia after WWII

Saint George, patriot saint of Moscow city

A 122m tall war memorial erected outside the Museum of the Great Patriotic War in Moscow

The War Museum showcases several dioramas (large paintings with actual props) to enable visitors to visualize the harsh conditions of Russia during WW2. This diorama features the bombing of Moscow city during the war.

Soldiers at one of Russia’s collective farms, “ Sovetskuy”, cheering over a small victory.

The diorama depicts “The siege of Leningrad”. This siege was an unsuccessful military operation by the Axis powers to capture Leningrad (now known as St. Petersburg) during WWII

Battle at the Octyabrsky collective farm. Notice how the army tank in the foreground blends in seamlessly with the painting in the background

This "Battle of the Lower Dnieper" took place in 1943. It was one of the largest WWII operations, involving almost 4 million troops on both sides and stretching over a 1400km long front

Exchange Rates

Exchanging currencies is convenient in Moscow. We bought the Rubles at US$1= R30 when we began the trip on Day 1. Since the selling rate of USD now is US$1=R29.65, we have in fact saved R35 (equivalent to the price of 1 can of drink) for every US$100 being changed.

This was the last day of our trip and we were changing our excess Russian Rubles back to USD.

Celebration

Piping hot Pizza to warm our hearts in Russia's bitter cold!

2009-10-10T09:10:00.000-07:00

At GuLag Museum

This guard tower prevents you from experiencing freedom. However, being sent to concentration camps was actually akin to receiving a death sentence as inmates could never leave these camps. FYI, this is just a replica of the actual concentration camp.

This painting depicts Stalin, the mastermind behind the concentration camps. The Russian words means "Stalin's Shadow Lasts More Than a Century." This statement refers to the long-lasting impact of concentration camps, not only to the victims but also those families left behind.

Can you imagine that people in this era suffered a constant fear when night came. It was because victims were usually arrested at night. This painting shows a family watching their father taken away by Stalin's secret police (NKVD) and they could not do anything to stop them.

In the concentration camps, prisoners who misbehaved were put in these isolation cells. They could not even lie down on the floor to rest. Imagine the harsh conditions the prisoners experienced at that time.

Done By Group 4: Philip, Uyen, An, Alan, Tee Yang, Meng Yao

Replica of a concentration camp at the Gulag Museum. Behind the watch tower are the famous political figures who were killed in the camps.

Barbed Wires align the entrance of the museum, serving as a somber reminder of the harsh reality of the camps.

A newly arrived prisoner reporting to the NKVD (Stalin's Secret Police) officer awaits in anguish for his sentence.

This oil painting in the museum depicts the climate of fear then - where prisoners get dragged out in the middle of the night, to be either killed or brought to concentration camps.

"Point No. 9". - an assembly point before Stalin’s prisoners are dispatched to the different concentration camps.

Stalin and the Head of NKVD (Stalin's Secret Police), Ezhov. This painting highlights the millions of people who were persecuted under their rule.

Izmailovsky souvenir market

This is the entrance of the Izmailovsky souvenir market and the entrance fee is 10 Rubles (about S$0.50)

We are amazed with the elaborate and unique architecture, which is distinctive from all other flea markets in russia. These flea markets are similar to Singapore's 'Pasar malam'.

Matryoshka dolls

Ushankar hats

Russian dolls

Toys

CCCP products

Crystals with famous Russian icons

Weapons

Russian watches

Russian folk costumes
This market sells traditional russian products ranging from the famous Matryoshka dolls, Ushankar hats to the Russian folk costumes.
Prices here are reasonable and best of all, negeotiable. A must-go for Singaporeans to exercise their bargaining skills!

This is a typical bargaining scene in Russian flea markets. which is not a common sight in Singapore's "Pasar malam". Unfortunately, bargaining is not extended to Russian food.

By Group 1: Randy, Wenqi, Zhen Yuan, Michelle, Pei Qin

All that glitters really is gold! Autumn leaves in Moscow transform the city into a lovely golden hue.

Guns store at the Izmailovsky Souvenir Market – James Bond you’d better watch out!

Machine guns and artillery are a common sight in Russian flea markets – a testament to their long history of war.

No matter how the spelling differs, there's always a KFC or McDonalds around – a clear sign of Globalisation.

Fruits Stalls at Pushkin Sqaure

Juicy and succulent Russian Grapes from Pushkin Square!

This was our daily experience while in Moscow.

It came to a point when we did not ask our tour guide how far was the next destination but how long it would take us to get there.

Generally the less time spent on the roads, the better.

Although Certificates of Entitlement (COE) and Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) may not be welcomed by motorists in Singapore, we understand why these measures are implemented in ensuring smooth traffic before Singapore roads become mega-carparks like Moscow.

2009-10-09T11:54:00.000-07:00

At Stalin Bunker

More than meets the eye. What looks like an ordinary sports stadium from the air and from German spies proved to disguise Stalin’s wartime bunker that was built under it. All the trouble was worth it as his bunker remains intact till today

The tank sits above the entrance of Stalin’s secret 17 km tunnel that allowed him to travel elusively from his underground command post to his government office in the Kremlin. There was enough space in the tunnel to hold 150 similar tanks!

This “Order of the Victory” medal was awarded to Stalin at the end of WW2. Only 11 such medals were awarded and yet Stalin has two in his possession. He was awarded the medals in 1944 and 1945 for his monumental role in ensuring Allied victory in the Great Patriotic War.

This unique board game called the “Military Defence Game” is a cross between English Chess and “Command and Conquer”. With set pieces representing infantry, tanks and aircraft, the objectives of the game was to destroy or encircle another player’s capital.

by group 1: zhenyuan, wenqi, randy, peiqin, michelle

Entrance to Stalin's Bunker

Stalin's Bunker- underneath it lies the secret 17km route to the Kremlin

The USSR Coat-of-Arms

Uniforms of USSR soldiers

Canteen in Stalin Bunker for Stalin and his top military officials

Stalin's unique Military Defence Game, the only one in the world.

At The Olympic Centre

The Brothers Znamensky Olympic Centre - an indoor recreational sports facility for athletes.

The Champions of Tomorrow- This indoor recreational sports facility provides basic general training for athletes aged between 9-10 years old, before they begin to specialize in various track and field events at the age of 11. Russian olympic dreams sure begin early!

The indoor recreational sports facility also had a full list of record-breakers from the past till now, proudly displayed for all to see. This serves as a strong motivational tool to push young Russian atheletes to reach their fullest potential.

Even with the most basic equipment, the Russians are still able to maximize their training to become world class athletes.

This photo highlights that perseverance is the key to success. For this pole vaulter, he emerged victorious only after innumerable failed attempts. Perseverance and determination are indeed needed for all champions!

by group 2: huiyi, yoongzhen, weiyang, benjamin, wira

The Olympic Logo at the Brothers Znamensky Olympic Centre .

Kids training on the inclined track.

Young athletes training for hurdles.

Training for low hurdles.

Young Russian athletes waving "Hello" to Singapore!

Young athletes training for short-distance sprints.

At the Puppet Theatre

The stuff of nightmares? Don't worry, these puppets may look real, but they are just props in the amazing puppet show we attended. Can you imagine these puppets coming to life during Halloween?

Despite the cartoon poster, we were pleasantly surprised when the puppet came to life in all its intricate 3-D glory. We were even more amazed when they sang operas and danced the Tango on stage. The show even came with a full puppet mariachi band!

Nope its not a giant quilt! It's actually the stage curtains depicting the various characters in the puppet show. Can you imagine how many magic fingers are required to bring the puppets to life? The photo below depicts the actual players responsible for this surreal theatre display.

by group 3: jianhui, xiejing, nirmal, boonkang, zhihao

Economics Comes Alive!

Price of a 330-ml can of Pepsi in Russia=R22.50

Price of a 330-ml can of Pepsi in Singapore = S$1.10
After observing the relative prices of Pepsi in both countries, we derived that the exchange ratebased on the Purchasing Power Parity(PPP) = S$1.00:R20.50
However,the market exchange rate that we used to exchange for Russian Rubles was S$1.00:R20.00.

This implies that over time, the Singapore dollar is expected to strengthen against the Rublesbased on the PPP, which is great news for Singaporeans travelling to Russia in future!

BLOGGING TEAM IN ACTION AT

THE HOTEL LOBBY OF MAXIMA ZARYA!

2009-10-08T13:51:00.000-07:00

At St. Sergius Posad Monastery

The breathtaking view of the St. Sergius Posad Monastery - one of the oldest monasteries in the whole of Russia. The iconic architecture and the combination of blue and gold overwhelmed us with a mysterious feeling and a sense of appreciation for its great history.

Flocks of believers entering the monastery. It is amazing to witness how religion can unifiy people from all walks of life.

We saw crowds of people gathering outside this building and we realised that today was one of their sacred days. These worshippers united the moment the bell rang, which made us realise the amazing power of belief.

We were told that there is a holy spring inside this pink building for the Patriarch (the head of the Russian church) to pray. We are very impressed that through generations, people are still praying at this very same place and that the centuries old Eastern-Orthodox tradition still continues today.

A lot of effort and money have been put in to maintain and reconstruct the Monastery over the years. People are willing to sacrifice unconditionally for what they believe in.

by group 1: zhenyuan, randy, peiqin, wenqi, michelle

Souvenir Market outside St. Sergius Posad Monastery

The grand entrance of the Russian souvenir market where passionate buyers and sellers flock together to participate in various exchanges.

The bulk of the souvenir market - a lengthy stretch juxtaposed paradoxically with the serenity of nature and bustling people.

"Calculator language" is most preferred while slashing prices for the famous traditional Matryoshka dolls (Russian dolls).

by group 2: Huiyi, wira, benjamin, weiyang, yoongzhen

Arbat Street View

No, that’s not a dead raccoon on her head! To battle the cold weather, we need to protect our ears! Hats like these are common in Russia. Just imagine our plight being away from Singapore’s warm climate!

These Russian dolls are iconic of Russia. They are everywhere and a standard doll contains between 5 to 10 mini dolls within them. At Arbat Street, we even saw one that contained 26 smaller dolls within the mother doll!

We saw this tribute to a Russian artiste on a public wall in Arbat Street. It’s not illegal to set up altars like this in Moscow though we are not sure if we could do the same back home

It seems even though we are far away from home, there is always McDonalds, KFC and Starbucks to remind us of home. Though we may not recognize the spelling, we can always spot the ‘M’!

by group 3: boonkang, jianhui, xiejing, zhihao, nirmal

At Novodevinchy Convent

Hurray! Finally we get a chance of relief after 3 hours in the infamous Moscow jam! Well, at least we get to train our bladders and make us appreciate the convenience of modern sanitation!

If you think this is giant protractor, you are mistaken! This sundial is found at the palace within the convent used to imprison the wife of one of Russia’s rulers- all because she was childless. Talk about baby blues!

Look! This beautiful chapel was built in the 19th century. Even though it looks like a romantic venue to get married, it is actually built by a loving father to house the remains of his beloved daughter who died at a young age.

by group 4: philp, uyen, an, alan, teeyang, mengyao

2009-10-07T12:38:00.000-07:00

HELLO ALL!

We are a team of students and teachers from Jurong Junior College and we are currently in Russia for a cultural immersion program, from Oct 4-12 2009, in preparation for YOG 2010.

We have decided to create this blog to update everyone around the world on our trip.

This is our 4th day in Russia and we have visited a school in Russia called the Secondary School of Humanitarian University, in the City of Odinchovo. Our Russian hosts are very hospitable folks who welcomed us with open arms. We are very honoured to be the first overseas school to visit the Russian school, which is reputed to be the best in the Russian Federation.

We also visited a few places of interest such as the Kremlin, Red Square and the iconic St. Basil's Cathedral.

Here are some of the photos that we have taken in Russia.

Day 1-2

Outside the Departure Hall with our beloved family and friends

Touch down at Domodedovo Airport, Moscow’s international airport.

Despite the cold weather, the flowers remain in vibrant bloom!

A view of the Kremlin

Whoohoo!!!

A Section of the Red Square

GUM, a high-end shopping mall along the Red Square

Interior of St. Basil's Cathedral

Flags of nations outside Kiev Railway Station

Symbol of the delegation of European Nations

Kiev Railway Station

Moscow’s Metro

View from inside the Moscow Metro station

Taking the Metro for the first time-Briefing by Ms Alexandra, our Russian tour guide

Everyone automatically stood on the right side of the escalator. Hope to observe this in Singapore too.

Commuters waiting for the train

Interior of Belorussky Station

Ceilling of the Belorussky Station

Novoslobodskaya Station

Mosaic dedicated to commemorate Victory Day after WW2

Moscow's famed Metro with its unique architecture.

Chandeliers and mosaic archs line Kievskaya metro station

Mosaic Painting depicting Victory Day at Kievskaya station

Arrival of the subway train at Kievskaya metro station

Ceiling Painting at the Belorussky Station depicting the lives of Russian Commoners.

Our Russian guide, Ms Alexandra, explaining the history of the Belorussky Station.

Mosiac of a religious figure at the Novoslobodskaya Metro Station.

Stained Glass panels lining the Novoslobodskaya Metro Station.

Day 3-4

Our Russian hosts at the school welcoming us in Russian traditional costumes

Their passionate dance fills our hearts with warmth despite the cold weather.

Our Russian hosts served us bread and salt as a gesture of friendship

In exchange, we entertained our Russian hosts with traditional food from Singapore

Our Chinese traditional food: Ba-Kua (Sweet BBQ Pork)

Dean of the Humanitarian university giving her welcome speech

Our VP, Mr Lee, presenting a plaque as a gesture of appreciation to the school

Presentation on Singapore by Alan and Philp, our J1 Cabinet and House Councillor

Swimming representatives from different schools across Russia getting ready for their competition at our twinning school

Swimming Pool in Sec Sch of Humanitarian University

NOC Russian Officials hosted us during the first day of our twinning programme

Group photo of JJCians, our Russian friends and NOC Russian officials.

Swimmers waiting for start of race

Russian swimmers showcasing their swimming talents.

Timing of the swimming competitors.

Swimmer waiting nervously in anticipation

Getting ready for the swim-off

Members of the swim relay team waiting to plunge in

Traditional Russian dance performed by the junior school students.

Swimmers gunning to reach the finishing line

Swimmers saying "Welcome to Singapore"

Directing the swimmers

Junior school swimmers playing in the pool

Symbol of City of Odinchovo

Tour of the classroom by the Dean

Cheer Leaders demonstrating their dance routine

JJCians participating in the dance routine

Traditional Folk Songs of Russia performed by the Junior School students

Junior School students playing their musical instruments

Traditional Folk Dance performed by the Junior School students

A ballet move incorporated in the Russian traditional folk dance

Group Photo - JJCians and Junior School students

Traditional Snacks - Ginger Bread handmade by the Junior School students

Making of Ginger Bread

Junior School student decorating the ginger bread

A "Ginger-licious" Bread

Volleyball Training at the Volleyball Centre in the city of Odinchovo

Symbol from L to R: Moscow Region, Russia, City of Odinchovo

JJCians and our Russian friends from the school in Singapore's traditional ethnic costumes.

Our Russian friend demonstrating her agility while playing "zero-point", our local traditional game.

Our Russian friends and our Singapore tour manager, Dan, playing a game of "Guli" (marble game).

Trying their hand at five stones, another of our local traditional game.

A back breaking stunt performed by our Russian friend during "zero-point".

Yet another gymnast in our midst.

Our Russian host attempting a Kung-Fu pose with Philip, dressed in Chinese traditional costume.

Wira explaining the game of "Sepak Takraw", our Malay traditional game, to our Russian friends.

Getting foot-loose in a game of "Chapteh", a Malay traditional game.

Our Russian friends showcasing their traditional game, "The Fisherman and the Fish".

Us interacting with the Russians in the "Ring" game.

Xie Jing enjoying a good laugh with our Russian friends.

JJCians signing in the Russian school's guestbook.

Group Photo of JJCians and our Russian friends.