The baritone hum of three large buses resonated through the peaceful countryside of Lopburi Province, aglow in a soft pink hue, on the morning of 6th May 2010. It was 5am and the Baan Gerda kids had already been busily packing for two hours. One would expect a sea of sleepy faces on board the bus, but not this morning because we were on our way for the annual treat: a three night stay in a beach-front resort in Rayong.
When we eventually arrived the kids were divided into four large dormitories, fed, and instructed to patiently wait for the heat of midday to subside. Excitement had mounted to a fever pitch by 4pm, as buckets and spades, swimming togs and sun-hats were gathered with careful instruction from the house mothers. The exuberant surge into the waves began with jubilant cries of joy and little legs racing in unison for the salty blue.
All of the Baan Gerda staff joined the kids on the beachfront in both their morning and evening sunny ritual throughout the three days that were a wash of beautiful smiles, fun, fresh fruit and seafood, and, of course, swimming. The content and grateful expressions on all faces, young and old, upon return back home indicated that this was a wonderfully rejuvenating getaway before the start of the new school year.