Connect 2016 – Sri Lanka Girl Guides Centenary Tour of Malaysia On September 13, 2016,
View(s):Girl Guides and Guide Captains from the Sri Jayewardenepura zone took part in a Centenary Girl Guides celebration hosted by the Girl Guides Association of Malaysia (GGAM).
There were about
114 participants from Sri Lanka and it was not just on a domestic level but also on an international level; forging new bonds and consolidating existing ones – to connect, one sister Guide to another, one nation to another.
On the day of our visit to GGAM headquarters, another 100 uniformed Guides (Pandu Puteri) awaited our arrival and welcomed us with open arms and warm smiles. The day commenced with the exchanging of souvenirs, symbolic of the strengthening of ties between SLGGA and GGAM. Afterwards groups comprising of a mixture of Girl Guides from both Sri Lanka and Malaysia joined together and participated in a number of traditional Malaysian games like Batu Seramban and Ketinling.
Following lunch, our Lankan Guides performed a variety of traditional cultural items that brought flair and glamour to the closing ceremony. Once again the exchanging of gifts and mementos along with contact information and an embrace and the recurring selfie finally brought the day to an end.
Our trip also consisted of sightseeing — the Petronas Twin Towers, Istana Negara (the Sultan’s Palace), The Cocoa Boutique; Malaysia’s. largest most renown Chocolatier and the Malaysian Independence Square where amidst a multitude of skyscrapers and offices and colonial buildings, stands the world’s tallest flagpole proudly wielding the national flag of Malaysia.
Putrajaya, the country’s political capital, Cyberjaya; the home of technology and also the location of the prestigious Multimedia University (MMU) where we were given an exposition and allowed a glimpse of their amazing facilities including a well equipped e-library and laboratory and also their unique teaching methods and variety of subject fields.
Not to forget our memorable trip to the famed adventure park Sunway Lagoon where apart from the thrilling and chilling rides in both the dry and water parks, we were lucky enough to witness the celebrations for Malaysia Day which included a parade showcasing spellbinding fan dancers and an enthusiastic band.
The area near and around our hotel, Hotel Soleil in Bukit Bintang Kuala Lumpur is home to a multitude of shops and street food outlets which saw us exercise our bargaining skills to the maximum and were the constant objects of our interest.
All in all, the tour was indeed unforgettable, rewarding, educational and memorable in so many ways… and we are grateful for this opportunity and also to those who made this dream a reality… from both the SLGGA and GGAM. The bonds we share, the memories and the experience are here to stay.
“As Girl Guides… As one…
More than friends – We are sisters…”