Little Red Riding Hood alternative

Little Red Riding Hood strolled out of her remote house in the dense tropical rainforest. She wore her scarlet red hood as usual, mainly to hide her messy brown hair and visible dandruff. She carried a heavy, woven basket filled with what looked like delicious goodies to her distant grandmother who was addicted to sweet foods. The goodies concealed bitter herbs that were thought to be able to cure her of severe Type 1 diabetes. Little Red Riding Hood hoped that the candy-like form would convince her to take the so-called medicine.

She set off in the distinct dirt paths on the floor. It was one-point-six kilometres to her grandmother’s old dilapidated kampung, but it was no mean feat for her, as she had good stamina and all the time in the world for such a task. She walked past tall, durian trees that were felled by the woodcutter.

The woodcutter, not a woodcutter. He the only resident of these forests to take up such a profession. Actually, he did not sell the wood he cut, but used them to block the flow of the Mekong. He planned to create a beautiful lake, where he would construct a nice house in the middle, on a huge protruding rock. He was the most boring person Little Red Riding Hood knew. Little did she know, he would play an important role later.

She continued to walk for ten minutes. Then she stopped dead in her tracks. Had she heard something? She listened for further sounds, but silence followed. She was about to continue when she heard a deafening growl. How irritating. She took another step when a large, gray wolf burst in front of her. The wolf towered over her and swiped at the air with his huge paw. Little Red Riding Hood did not know about the existence of wild wolves in South-east Asia. She thought he was just a big dog trying to scare little children. She yawned loudly at him in boredom, completely unimpressed. The wolf stepped back, horrified at her bad breath. He always tried to keep his teeth clean. Finally, he spoke. “Who are you?” he inquired sternly. “ You are trespassing my territory!”

“Sorry, but there was no sign that marked your territory”, Little Red Riding Hood replied.

“Don’t you know? We always mark our territory by urinating. The smell alerts you well.”

“ Seriously, I didn’t smell anything here.”

“ Bother, it must be my over-healthy diet. Say, what’s that in your basket?”

“ Nothing, just a bit of goodies for my grandmother. Actually, they are….”

“ What?!? Goodies? I want, please…”

“No.”

“Please…”

“No.”

“Please….”

“No, no and no!”

“I was forced to eat nothing but rats and centipedes throughout my whole puphood. Only for special treats I could eat D24 durians. So may I please have a tiny morsel?”

“No. Besides, these conceal….”

Before Little Red Riding Hood could reveal the existence of the herbs, a loud thwack sounded right next to them. “ Run!” the wolf cried, and they ran away at full speed. A few seconds, a durian tree crashed on the path. Once they saw the danger was clear, they slowed back to a walk. “Those treats have bitter herbs inside them,” Little Red Riding Hood explained. “Oh,” the wolf responded in disappointment. “Never mind, but I would like to meet your grandmother too. But why the herbs? SARS? Hand-foot-mouth-disease?H1N1?” “ Type 1 diabetes,” she said, scratching her messy hair.

Another ten minutes later, they reached the crumbling kampung. At the sight of the big canid, the chickens living under the kampung base clucked in alarm. It was very loud and strong and many echoes followed in the kampung. A few moments later, the kampung collapsed on its base, squishing all the poor poultry. They stood stunned for a split-second. Then the wolf apologised. “Sorry, birds are always afraid of me.”

They cautiously entered into the kampung, filled with Aedes mosquitoes. The wolf surprisingly swatted them all dead. “Perhaps it’s dengue fever?”

They finally met Little Red Riding Hood’s grandmother, lying weakly on her bed. “Er, hi amah. I’ve to come to visit you with my friend-”

“Look out! There is a dog behind you!”

“Yeah, that’s my friend.”

“WHAT? He’s not your friend! You feed him with bones now, but will he take care of you? NO!!!”

“Anyway, here’s some-”

“Ooh, goodies! My favourite. Did you season it with soya sauce or chicken essence?”

“Sorry, I didn’t.”

“Never mind.”

Little Red Riding Hood’s grandmother slurped down all the medicine like a Slurpee. For some reason, her taste buds had failed to taste the bitter herbs, which was rather good.

“Thank you, granddaughter,” the plucky woman said after several droning burps from her stomach. It had better not be stomach cancer.

Suddenly, liquid rushed through the cracks of the floor.

“Oh no….”

“What, granddaughter?”

“Erm, you see., my friend here; he accidentally-”

“Yes, I accidentally scared the chickens and they made the kampung collapse. Didn’t you feel it just now?”

“Yes, I was sleeping and that woke me up, but I forgot about it already.”

“What, dementia, amah?”

“No, I believe short-term memory loss.”

“SPLASH!!!”

The collapse of the kampung had cause an underground aquatic tunnel to be exposed. Soon, the kampung got carried away on the water, into the Mekong river.

At first, being driven by the water seemed kind of fun, like riding on a sampan boat. However, a thick fence of branches and logs blocked the way. Everyone screamed (except the wolf, who had a lower pitch and howled)at the dam. They would get smashed into smithereens!

The woodcutter was cutting and saw the plight of the trapped figures. He tossed a bag of durians to Little Red Riding Hood, who was standing at the doorstep. She barely caught it with her greasy hands and returned into the kampung. She could not untie the tight knot which well secured the contents, so she clenched her fists and ripped the bag apart by brute force. Out fell several durians that looked rather ordinary. However, almost immediately, the durians floated up and stayed at the ceiling. The kampung was quickly pulled up into sky. “Wow, just like UP,” the wolf commented in amazement. “What’s UP?” Little Red Riding Hood inquired. “Never mind.” The woodcutter’s shouts came in. “They’re D24***durians!” (That is, a genetically modified durian that stores helium inside instead of flesh.)

The kampung safely flew above the woodcutter’s fence of wood. Unfortunately, though the ceiling of the old kampung was not that strong. The D24*** durians broke through the roof and continued their flight without the kampung. The house fell heavily and threatened to be pulverised. But ofq all places, the kampung landed right on the protruding rock. Saved!

The woodcutter and the wolf moved in with Little Red Riding Hood’s grandmother. Little Red Riding Hood found a new sport to participate in: swimming. She turned out to be pretty good at it, although she could not beat Merly.

-THE END-

Tim Yap

*Hope you like this South-east Asian version

Smile for me (:

A scene in your mind,

The place I could find.

Feeling alone,

The rest of my hearts have been gone.

Un-seeable view,

Can't walk beside you.

Smile for me now,

And don't let it down…

See the colours of days,

I will find in your face.

Take my sight away,

A place for me to stay, till the end.

In the darkness of pain,

I will cry in the rain.

Fading with you, dreaming of your memories,

Loving you for eternity (:

~Jia Le

Music

Music is a friend,

like happiness that never ends.

It usually brings joy,

like when buying a new toy.

Music can make you sad,

like saying goodbye to a friend.

It will never be completely silent,

like a person unwrapping a present.

Music is like a collection,

in which you get them in portion.

It is a worthy investment,

for someone the age of seven.

If you are feeling a bit down,

like a clown with a frown,

don't worry,

because our friend music is around!

By: Niklaus Teo

SPINOSAURUS hunt

Spinosaurus woke up,

and went to river Nile,

hoping to catch a fish

as big as a crocodile.

He walked through the water,

gazing at the swimming fish,

He studied their sizes,

for the biggest was his wish.

He chose a Mawsonia,

which was full of tasty flesh,

then prepared to attack

and obtain his dinner fresh.

A hand into the water,

creating an awesome din.

Three curved claws swished wildly,

and pierced the fish's scaly skin.

He lifted the fish out,

already killed by the blow.

He opened his long mouth,

where horrid saliva would flow.

He tossed the fish straight in,

and began his yummy feast.

None would dare steal it,

from this big dangerous beast

Tim Yap

*Mawsonia is an extinct fish

"End Of The World" Poem (Preston)

This is a poem that I have written during the June holidays. I hope that you will enjoy it.

End Of The World

The last leaves fall from black charred trees,

Animals run from flaming forests,

Fishes dive away from evaporating water,

And humans hide from the blazing Sun.

The Earth is now like an egg on a frying pan,

Sizzle, splash, hiss,

As the egg is slowly cooked,

With hot fire and oil.

Humans scramble all over the Earth,

Trying to stop the unstoppable monster,

But it keeps moving on,

Full of anger and rage.

As I watch the Earth engulf in flames,

I thought,

Why her, why not me,

And looked at her hurtful face.

I saw humans,

Running and dashing around,

Like ants on a hot plate,

Trying to escape the horror,

But it was all too late…

By:

Preston Ngoui

Class 1-09

Oral reading-Jun Hong

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgaDuqzyKuI

homELearning Activity 2 (S1-09: 8 Chan Jun Wei) Part 1

  In the foreground of this picture is the focus of the image, an adult and a child who are both sleeping soundly on a sheet of cloth on a mat. I believe that they are poor and that the area around where they are sleeping is actually their living quarters as there are a lot of clothes hung on the gate and fence and even more clothes are stuffed in the corner to the left of the fence.
  They most likely sells clothes as well because they seem to have too many clothes for them to wear.
  The two did not seem to be bothered by their living conditions so I think that they have been living in such conditions for a long time already and have gotten used to it.
  I think the message the photographer is trying to convey to us is that there is shops and suppliers that cater to the poor, and that the only difference between the rich and the poor is the quality of their life.
  I feel that the photograph captured too little information. If I were the photographer I would take another photograph of the adult and child's faces to supplement the original photograph.

Oral reading: davina

This picture depicts a scene of the side of the road in India. The main focus of this picture is most probably the rickshaw puller. There are many yellow taxi trying to drive through the narrow lanes of the roads. A man on the motorbike is driving by the side of the road where the rickshaw puller is.
As it is in the morning, many would be working. The background shows many people walking to their most probably to their work place.
There is a middle aged man who is pulling the rickshaw, on the rickshaw are two young boys and two baskets. I think the two young boys are the man’s children. The man is probably bringing them to school while carrying along goods that he will sell during the time that his children goes to school.
Through the photograph, I think the photographer is trying to show that the amount sacrifices that a parent can give to see that their children is cared for and is not suffering is an indescribable amount. In return, we as their children should take care of them. Seeing that they do not suffer and are cared for.
The photo is rather cluttered with the yellow taxi and motorist taking up more than half the space . Well, the photographer could zoom in closer to the rickshaw. We can then see the expression on the man and children’s face.

homELearning Activity 2 (S1-09: 7 Ang Wei Di, Victor)

The image focuses on the person pulling the rickshaw, the people on the rickshaw and the motorist on the motorcycle. The setting show a scene in the morning after a rain as the floor is wet. There are quite a number of indians there and the shops along the street in the middle are all lined up neatly.There is an indian man wearing a white sleeveless shirt and a kilt with a long piece of cloth tugged over his shoulder. He is pulling a rickshaw with two passengers on board, with one of the wheels on the pavement and the other on the road. The person pulling the rickshaw seems hard working as he is sweating while leaning forward and pressing his leg on the floor to pull the rickshaw. The passenger seem quite calm and comfortable. They are apparently going against the traffic direction and obstructing the way of a motorist riding a motorcycle. I think the photo grapher is trying to convey the hard life of some people. I do not really like the background of the image. I would take a similar photo like this, but outside of the bustling town.

homELearning Activity 2 (109: 12 Benjamin Fheng)

The focus of this image is about the old man pulling a cart. It is eye catching as an old man would be doing such a laborious job. 

There is the old man which is pulling a cart with two passengers on it. The setting is on a busy road out somewhere in india which I am guessing as the two passengers look indian.

The story is that this old man whose family is very poor and had to resort to doing a laborious job with very little pay. The picture shows that the man seems to be skinny and not well dressed which may mean he may be poor and pulling a cart is no easy job.

I think the photographer is trying to tell people to treasure what you have and not look down on these people.

I like the image as it tells us that people would work very hard to earn money to support their families.

P.S I'm sorry for the late submission as my internet modem had a problem and had to be sent for repair.

homELearning Activity 2 (Class S1-09: 22 Johanan Teo)

This picture depicts a scene of the road. It is most probably taken in a third world country as the there are no high rise buildings and the place looks dirty and messy. Shophouses lines the roadside. There are many taxis moving at a snail like place along the narrow road. It is most probably peak hour as it is bustling with activity. 

There is a motorcyclist who is trying to over take the line of taxis by driving on the pavement. The motorcyclist is fortunate to be riding a motorcycle and is lucky to be able to skip the long queue of vehicles. 

The focus in the image is the indian man who is using every ounce of his strength to push the trishaw. The indian man is clad in a white singled with a towel slung on his shoulder. He is dragging the trishaw on his bare foot and he looks fanacially challenged. Sitting on the trishaw is two young man. They are most probably his customers. On the trishaw are two big rattan baskets that i believe belong to the two young man. 

In my opinion, the trishaw pusher is most probably working hard so that he can support his family and make ends meet. The message is that such a caring father will do almost anything to support his family and he will work hard. 

If I were the photographer, I would have zoomed it more on the man and focusing on how hard he is working.

homELearning Activity 2 (S1-09: 23 Tim Yap Ming En

Sorry for the late submission. Here is my work.

homELearning Activity 2 (S1-09: 8 Chan Jun Wei)

homELearning Activity 2 (S1-09: 8 Chan Jun Wei)

Activity 2 - home(EL)learning, See To Yu Xiang

The focus of the image is the young man in the centre, wearing a white singlet with a green towel wrapped around his waist, straining to walk forward, pulling along a rickshaw with two boys seated on top of a gigantic rattan basket, and they themselves carrying another gigantic rattan basket. I know that they are the focus of the image as the people in the surroundings were all going in the other direction, and none of them seems to take any notice of the man pulling the rickshaw. 

The setting is in an Indian city, as the signs on top of the shops are printed in Indian words, and the people in the picture are Indian. I think it has just rained as the streets are wet, and also muddy. 

The story that I think would lie behind the image is the man pulling the rickshaw in the picture, must work extremely hard for long hours, and get little money to support his family. He might be the sole breadwinner of his family, and his whole family rely on him, thats why he is working so hard.

In my opinion, the message that the photographer is trying to convey through the image is, we should show some sympathy for people living in poorer third world countries. They do not lead an easy life there, and must work very hard in order to make a living. What they earn is also very little, as the man in the picture isn’t even wearing shoes. So I presume that he doesn’t have the money to buy shoes.

I do not in particular dislike anything about the image. I think what I would have done differently if I were the photographer, would be, getting a closer shot of the man’s face. To show the audience that he is straining very hard, so as to get my message deeper into the audience’s minds. 

Sorry for the late submission of work (by 45 minutes), I had problems trying to upload the video. =D

homELearning Activity 2 (S1-09: 8 Chan Jun Wei)

homELearning Activity 2 (S1-09: 09 Jia Le)

This picture depicts a scene at the road. The road is lined with many yellow taxis and many shophouses are lined along the sides of the road. The road looks very narrow. I believe the focus is the contrast between the rickshaw puller and his modern surroundings. This is because the rickshaw is a very old and traditional way of transport while surrounding him are motorbike and taxis which is a very modern way of transport. I presume the story behind this is about an indian rickshaw puller being poor and working for his life, never giving up. Today, a lot people are getting richer and technology is advancing very quickly. However, there are still people, in this case the rickshaw puller, behind along with the old traditional ways and they are having a hard time surviving. To sum it up in a nutshell, our economy may be booming, but some of us are still suffering thanks to poverty.

~Jia Le

homELearning Activity 2 (S1-9: 05 Stacey Yip)

Picture 2 (a)

This picture depicts the scene of the morning rush hour in India. A long line of taxis are lined up on the road causing a traffic jam. A motorcycle, driven by a blue checked shirt man, looks like he is about to overtake the other cars. He is very lucky to be driving a motorcycle in this slow moving traffic. Rows of antique shophouses lined up on one side of the road. A rickshaw man is ferrying two kids whom I presumed are his own sons.

I think the main focus is the rickshaw man and his two kids as it is a total contrast to the long row of taxis. The difference between the rich and the poor is shown clearly in this picture. The rickshaw man is trying his hardest to ferry his two sons to where I presume is the school and that he is going to the market to sell his goods that he is also ferrying.

I believe the photographer is trying to convey to us the difference in power in India. I liked this picture the photographer has taken as it can help educate others about the difference in people who possess high class power in the economy and the people who are doing just trying their best to get through another day.

homELearning Activity 2 (Class S1-09: Michelle Dapito)

The picture depicts a scene of six people under a shelter. 2 of them are asleep on what seems to be cardboard. The other 4 of them, 3 guys and a lady, seems to be chatting happily despite the environment they are living in, a dirty and poor town. They are the main focus as they are positioned in the middle of the image. It is daytime and there seems to be people behind them working for a living. I presume the life they are living in is not that comfortable and good, however, they still seem to be happy and enjoy each other’s company. The photographer might be conveying to the people that money does not matter as long as a family sticks together through thick and thin and enjoy their life despite the hardships they go through. What I like about the image is that it shows how other people enjoy life without many material things unlike some other people in the world who think they need money in order to enjoy life. If I were the photographer, I would have captured the image in a way that the house of the family could be seen so that more emotions can be conveyed and people could see how poor this family is.

omELearning Activity 2 (S1-09: 19 Niklaus Teo)

This picture depict the scene of a family of six sitting in a irregular circle in a shelter having a happy conversation. There are two half naked boys. One is about the age of 12 while the other is still a young toddler and between them are another 2 children who are sleeping. The father of the family is not present, perhaps he could be working to support the family. Finally, there is a middle aged lady who I think is the mother of the children and beside her is a teenage.

I presume the main focus of the picture is the happy conversation that the family is having. They may not be very wealthy but they can still can be happy and be together happily. I know this by the fact that they are not dressed very well and also they do not have a proper house.

Through the photograph, I think that the photographer is trying to convey that people do not necessary have to be rich to be happy.

Reading through the lines, I assume that in their country, there is a very huge gap between the richs and the poor, which means that there are a handful of very rich people, but there are a lot of poorer family. The picture is depicting one of the poorer family in their country, probably living in a rural area.

What I like about the picture is that it gives me a very good view of the life of the family. If I am the photographer I would take a wider view of the photo to show the surrounds of the place more clearly.

homELearning Activity 2 (S1-09: 4 Naveena Menon)

 Picture 2(b)

The focus of the image is the women and child lying on the ground. They are probably the focus of the picture as they are in the center of the picture and are the only human beings in the picture.

The women and child are both lying on cloths on the floor. The surrounding is messy and piles of cloths and rags are strewn everywhere. Rags and cloths are even tied onto railings. 

The women is probably the child’s mother and she probably does not have enough money and hence she collects cloths and rags, perhaps to sell or sew, to make some money to take care of herself and the child.

I think that the photographer is trying to tell people that there are really poor people out there who work really hard only to earn a small sum of money. The photographer is also probably trying to tell us that we should be grateful for what we have because there are people who are less fortunate than us out there.

There are too many things to focus on in the image. If I were the photographer, I would have zoomed in on the women and her child.

homELearning Activity 2 (S1-09: 16 Lee Si Yuan)

Picture 2c:

This picture depicts a scene of a family of 6 under a shelter in India. They seem to be having a conversation together. There are 2 topless boy, 1 on the hanging chair, and  the other one sitting on the floor. They are all talking to each other except for 2 of the family member. I presume that they are sleeping. I believe that the main focus of the picture is the 4 people chatting with each other as they are pictured in the centre of the picture. This picture is most probably telling us that there are some people in India that are very rich and also a handful of them who are extremely poor. This picture is showing you the one of the poorest places in India as the surrounding seems to be very rural. I like this picture because it gives me a very clear description of the entire picture. If I was the photographer, I will not zoom in so much, so that I will have a clearer view of what is like in the surrounding.

homELearning Activity 2 (S1-09: 4 Naveena Menon)

homELearning Activity 2 (S1-09: 4 Naveena Menon)

homELearning Activity 2 (S1-09: 15 Jonan Ling)

This is an image depicting the living area of a woman. On the floor is a woman, sleeping on some sheets with her child. She is wearing a small white singlet and tight black pants. Her child is wearing a patterned shirt and shorts. Both are asleep on the black dirt floor. A pair of simple shoes are at the edge of the sheets, presumably belonging to the woman. In front of the mother and child is a metal grille, upon which some clothes and cloths are hung upon. To the right of the sleeping pair is a large orange sheet, covering stacks of clothes.
The focus in the image is the appalling living conditions of the woman and the child. I know that for the fact that the woman is sleeping on the floor means she has no choice, she cannot choose where she wants to sleep.
I think that this picture and the photographer is trying to tell us that there are people out there who have no choice but to sleep on the ground, that there are poor people out there who don't even have a roof over their heads.
If I were the photographer, I would want to be able to take a shot of the rich and the poor side by side to compare and contrast the differences.

Oral: Jonan Ling S1-09

This is an image depicting the living area of a woman. On the floor is a woman, sleeping on some sheets with her child. She is wearing a small white singlet and tight black pants. Her child is wearing a patterned shirt and shorts. Both are asleep on the black dirt floor. A pair of simple shoes are at the edge of the sheets, presumably belonging to the woman. In front of the mother and child is a metal grille, upon which some clothes and cloths are hung upon. To the right of the sleeping pair is a large orange sheet, covering stacks of clothes.
The focus in the image is the appalling living conditions of the woman and the child. I know that for the fact that the woman is sleeping on the floor means she has no choice, she cannot choose where she wants to sleep.
I think that this picture and the photographer is trying to tell us that there are people out there who have no choice but to sleep on the ground, that there are poor people out there who don't even have a roof over their heads.
If I were the photographer, I would want to be able to take a shot of the rich and the poor side by side to compare and contrast the differences.

Home E-Learning- Lee YuChong (17)

Picture 2a)
This picture depicts a scene at the road. The road is lined with many yellow taxis and many shophouses are lined along the sides of the road. The road looks very narrow. There is a man on a motorcycle that looks like he is trying to cut ahead of the taxis. I believe that a jam is happening at that moment. I believe that the main focus of the picture is the man that is pulling a cart at the right hand side of the picture as it seems like it is the only interesting thing in this picture. 2 boys are sitting on the cart and with them, there are 2 large baskets. One basket is covered with a blue cloth and the other is covered with a grey cloth. The man is wearing a white singlet and a green cloth is wrapped around his waist. A red and green cloth is slung over his shoulder. He looks like he is exerting a lot of effort pulling the cart. I think that the people riding on the cart has many heavy things to carry. Thus, they are taking the cart back home. However, they are not rich enough to hire a taxi. That is why they are taking the cart. I think that the photographer is trying to tell us that there are people rich enough to ride taxis as that must have been the reason there are so many taxis on the road, and there are still people that must work so hard for even lesser money. I think that the overall message is that many countries have very rich and very poor people. This image is showing too many things and it becomes very distracting. I would have concentrated on the main focus if I were the photographer. 

homELearning Activity 2 (S1-09: Rayner Tan Xue Wen)

The focus is the contrast between the rickshaw puller and his modern surroundings. This is because the rickshaw is a very old and traditional way of transport while surrounding him are motorbike and taxis which is a very modern way of transport. I think the story behind it is about this indian rickshaw puller being poor and working for his life and never giving up. I think this photographer is trying to tell people that in the world, many people are getting richer and technology is advancing very quickly. But we leave some people, like the rickshaw puller, behind along with the old traditional ways and they are having a hard time surviving.

homELearning Activity 2 (S1-09: 06 Cherin Tan Xiao Fang)

Picture 2(b)

This is a scene somewhere in the mid-morning where scraps of fabric and clothing are hung on the grilles while rags piled up on on the sides of a street. A woman and her child are sleeping on a mat and cloth blanket. The woman’s feet is dirty with dust from the road while her child’s feet are clean. There is also a pair of shoes at the edge of the mat which I believe its the child’s.

They are the focuses of the picture as they are the only people in this scene other than the scraps of cloth, rags and clothing.

I personally think they were forced to live on the streets and collect scraps of fabric for a living, hence the rags on the floor around them. The photographer is trying to convey that many poor people are living on the streets and are doing all they can to bring their children up. They also make sacrifices just for their child, unlike us, where we could have what we wanted and our parents need not make as much sacrifices.

What I dislike about the picture is that there are too many clashes of items appearing, making it hard to find the focus. If I were the photographer, I would zoom in closer to the woman and her child.

Cherin Tan

homELearning Activity 2 (S1-09: Christopher John)

The picture shows how the very poor people are living. They are so poor that they cannot even rent a room or a house and as such, they have to live on the roads. In this particular picture, the man and his young child are lying on a pair of thin cloth and sleeping. One will surely feel pity for them as they are in such great poverty.The photographer is probably trying to convey the message of what the poor people are facing and what will happen once modernization starts to take place in their country. This is because if the country want to improve, the poor people will have to be moved somewhere to clear the streets and thus, where will these poor people go? The picture is very well taken. I like the way it is taken as it shows how the very poor people are living and it is able to bring pity to anyone. If I was the photographer, I might have taken a picture of them going through one of their daily activities.

homELearning Activity 2 S1-09 Gwendolyn Chee Yu Ting

I think that the focus of the first image is the man in a white sleeve-less shirt dragging a trishaw. The setting is a old, filthy roadside pavement with puddles on the floor, suggesting it might have just rained. There are a lot of yellow cars on the road too. A black motorcycle is on the pavement. The motorcyclist is wearing a black helmet and a striped shirt. He is blocking the trishaw man's path. The trishaw held two baskets and two men, presumably the owner of the baskets. One of the rattan baskets is covered by a blue-colored material while the other one is while the other is covered by a black one. The trishaw man has a green scarf with red at the ends and is barefooted. He seems to be struggling under the weight of the baskets and the two men. I think that the story of the image is working hard to support his poor family. He looks very thin and appears to not have enough money to buy enough food to eat. I think that the photographer is trying to tell us to be grateful for what we have and to help the people who are in need of any aid. I like the image and wouldn't do anything different if I was the photographer.

eLearning Task-Activity 2 by Hardy Shein Nyein Chan

Picture 2(a)

This is a picture of a street in India where there seems to be quite a busy road with taxis, family cars, van and other vehicles. A man in a blue checked shirt is riding along side a yellow cab. Perhaps, the man is trying to overtake the vehicles to escape the slow traffic.   

I believe that the focus of the picture is the man that is pulling the cart with what seems like two boys sitting on it. The man, who is pulling the cart, is pushing himself, along with the cart, forward. He looks strongly built with muscles on his arms. He has a white singlet for tops and a green sarong covering his lower torso and he was walking bare-footed on the wet street. Behind him, being pulled forward by his strong and firm grasp, was a cart which carried to boys. 

In my opinion, as a Singaporean, I do not really see this sort of situations in Singapore. This actually shows the poor state of India. People are so poor that they become human vehicles in a way, just to earn a living. I can’t imagine for such exhausting and tiresome trips, one could probably earn very little money that could, at most, barely get one a small piece of bread. 

The photographer is most likely trying to express how lucky people like us can be and how we do not appreciate it. While we are here stuffing our faces with food and enjoying a wonderful and comfortable living, there are people in places, like India, who are struggling and doing anything to survive.

I really like the photograph as its perspective and view of it really tells a lot. The man who was pulling the cart was not only having to exert a lot of strength, but had to bare walking bare-footed on the rough, wet floor of the street in India. 

If I was the photographer, I would have taken a close up picture of the passengers on the cart too. I can guess that despite their position of sitting on the cart, for all we know, they might not be living the life of luxury that one may perceive. Thus, it brings one to see how not one but many people are missing out on the privileges one enjoys now.

homELearning Activity 2 (Class S1-09: Preston Ngoui Yong Zhau)

Part !:

  This is a picture about a poor indian family of 6 having a conversation under a shelter. It is mid-day and the house seems to be in a busy town. There are two half-naked boys, one sitting on a hanging cushion, the other sitting on the floor. Both are talking to a boy wearing an orange-colored shirt. They must be the focus of the image as they are positioned in the middle of the picture. There is an old lady wearing a green Sari at the right-hand side of the picture. She seems to be interrupting the conversation, probably bring up another point. There are two children lying on the floor. They must be having their afternoon nap as it is mid-day.

  I think this picture is trying to tell us that although some families in the world are poor, it does not mean that they cannot enjoy their lives. As long as they have what they need, they will be satisfied and they can continue to enjoy life.

  I like the image as it provides very clear detail and allows me to have a clearer picture of what is going on in the picture. If I was the photographer, I would have shown more of the background to reveal more detail.

Preston Ngoui

homELearning Activity 2 (S1-09: Preston Ngoui Yong Zhau)

Part 1:

  This is a picture about a poor indian family of 6 having a conversation under a shelter. It is mid-day and the house seems to be in a busy town. There are two half-naked boys, one sitting on a hanging cushion, the other sitting on the floor. Both are talking to a boy wearing an orange-colored shirt. They must be the focus of the image as they are positioned in the middle of the picture. There is an old lady wearing a green Sari at the right-hand side of the picture. She seems to be interrupting the conversation, probably bring up another point. There are two children lying on the floor. They must be having their afternoon nap as it is mid-day.
  I think this picture is trying to tell us that although some families in the world are poor, it does not mean that they cannot enjoy their lives. As long as they have what they need, they will be satisfied and they can continue to enjoy life.
  I like the image as it provides very clear detail and allows me to have a clearer picture of what is going on in the picture. If I was the photographer, I would have shown more of the background to reveal more detail.

Part 2:

Preston Ngoui

Picture B, See To Yu Xiang

The last few rays of the setting, golden sun was shining from the back of the grand, majestic and beautiful castle perched high on the hilltop. Magenta clouds were sailing high in the turquoise blue sky, following the sun’s trail whereever he goes. Leading to the castle gates, was a long, narrow, winding and dusty path. And the castle itself, such a beautiful castle, with its dark blue castle tops silhoutted against the evening sky, makes it such a pretty sight. With its white painted walls. “Who would live in such a castle?” I thought. It was almost as if it had appeared magically out of no where while I was travelling. A few humongous black eagles soared pass me, heading for the castle, and giving out loud and grand cries. I also noticed that it was very quiet and peaceful, with no other human beings sighted. There were also no guards, sentrys or soldiers standing to guard the castle. “How weird,” I thought as I made my way to the castle to explore further...

Picture A and B (Castles) - Stacey

Picture A:

  A small steady stream flowed gently around the castle. The water was so clear you could have seen little fishes and tadpoles swimming leisurely. Pinkish brick walls defended the castle from intruders if they were to invade into their home. Blue roof tops with small little blue flags at the tips were flying high in the sky. Trees, shrubs and other kinds of greenery crowded around the base of the castle masking its secret pathway in and out of this majestic castle. But to a certain young girl, more of a princess, had found this peaceful sanctuary in the castle as a prison. She had longed yearn for an adventure to at a bit of thrill into her lonely life. Sighing like how a problematic old women would, she peered through her window, looking down at the peaceful stream, waiting for anything interesting to happen. It was then did she caught a glimpse of a young gypsy boy loitering about the area suspiciously.



Picture B:

  Standing high and mighty on the mountain top, the castle had a mysterious air surrounding it. The old marble bridge leading to it had long been broken off, a large gaping hole was left in its place. The cliff stretched down a good long ten kilometers. A strong rushing stream was what met you at the bottom. Zig-zagged rocky paths led you to the castle. Five tall pillars built a defensive ring against the outside world as if protecting a secret inside. Once bleached white walls were now smudged with soot and moss creeping at the bottom. Small battered blue flags could be seen on the castle’s roof. Purple at the bottom, orange, yellow, green and lastly blue filled the sky. Clouds circled the castle but not above it. Damian was standing at the other end of the bridge, looking up at the castle ruin. His mother had been held captive in that castle.

Disney Castle-Naveena

The sight was picturesque. The castle looked like it was from a fairytale. The castle rested on a base made of pinkish-beige bricks and stone beside a calm and clear river. Tall trees and shrubs of all kinds surrounded the castle giving the area a musky yet fragrant aroma. Tall towers, pointed tips plated in majestic gold or painted in pleasant blue looked like they were piecing the dull grey sky. Even though it looked like it was going to rain, shouts and cheers of joy could be heard from within the castle. The aroma of roasted meat, baked loaves, rare juicy fruits and wine wafted out from the castle and made my mouth water and stomach grumble in anticipation.This was indeed a happy and joyous place, a place that never seemed to be plagued by troubles or sadness, giving the this place a magical allure. And I was one of the lucky few to be invited to the Royal ball held once every year in this castle.

Castle Description ( Picture A and B )

Picture A

It was the 18th century. The castle was made with bricks and wooden branches. The dark and gloomy clouds looks so close to the castle, it seems that anyone who jumps on the castle would be able to touch the sky. The castle was painted in a dull and saddening grey colour. The river which flows out from the castle looks as if it has been there only since the 19th century, as it has a total different feel of the fact that it was built during the 18th century. The statuesque looking castle had been standing in Japan for the past century with thousands and millions of tourist bypassing this astonishing castle. This castle is now the grand entrance to none other then the Disneyland in Japan, where heaps of people goes in and out, to enjoy their day at the sensational Disneyland !!!


Picture B

It was a damaging night. The thundering storm yesterday destroyed the pathway to the frightening and terrifying castle at the top of the hill. The sunrise shone from the bottom of the castle to the top of the castle. The shadow of the castle stretched out towards the path and through the villages. The landscape of the view from the castle was just terrible! Just what did mother nature done to let me deserve such a horrible view? The castle was standing 5000 feet above sea level, allowing the entire village to be left in darkness. The horrid look on every villagers face could tell you that their dull village is full of sadness, it is the most saddening village in the world.

Done By: Lee Si Yuan

Castle descriptions

Image 1

The castle is huge and spectacular. It surrounded by a low wall and next to it, a lake. The castle is tall and the towers are tall. Most have blue tiled roofs and there are spires reaching up to the sky from each one. The castle is built more for beauty than to defend against invaders as there a very few battlements. As I walked into the castle, I saw that the walls of the castle were white and are quite clean. The rooms in the castle were airy and bright as there are many windows.The castle, which is made from wood and stone, has been a part of Disneyland since it opened back in 1955. The tallest turret of the castle stands 77 feet over the moat surrounding it, making the castle almost half the size of Matterhorn Mountain to the east.We are Near the center of Disneyland, at the end of Main Street, where sits Sleeping Beauty Castle. For nearly 50 years it has sat quietly as millions of visitors passed beneath the archway into Fantasyland. Disneyland, and in fact the entire world, has changed much since the castle first appeared in an orange grove in Anaheim

Image 2

The castle is huge, menacing and imperious. The castle is situated on a plateau. Anyone in the castle would be able to see if any guests were coming, especially if they are uninvited. The castle is flanked by two mountains. There is a broken bridge over an abyss that leads up a winding path to the castle. On the other side of the castle, there is a wide plain. No one will be able to sneak into the castle without being seen unless they are invisible. This castle is well placed to repel any invaders. Something bad must have happened to the occupants of the castle as there is no living creature in sight.

Christopher John

Castle 1 and 2

Castle 1: The 'Disney' castle

Princess pinky was on a golden carriage travelling to her new castle which her parents had bought. As the horses were trotting along near the castle, she was shocked upon seeing the new castle. It was almost picture perfect like what she saw in her storybooks. The castle was decorated majestically in cream and blue with gold trimmings, it was situated next to a river and a forest. She heard the sound of birds chirping, the sweet taste of the fragrance of flowers in the air. The turquoise sky matched the white fluffy clouds in the background. She nearly had to pinch herself to prove that what she saw was real. As she stepped out of her carriage at the gate of the castle, she touched the wall. It was as smooth as a stone by the river at her old castle. “I can’t wait to get in to this new castle!”, she exclaimed in delight. She ran into the castle, excited to see what was waiting in store for her……

Castle 2: The castle on a hill

The sun was rising above the once majestic castle, now in ruins. Princess Samantha was depressed, the clouds around the castle did not help her lift her sprits. The war with the neighbouring country was now over, her country won but the whole city was in ruins. Even after hiring painters to repaint the walls of the castle, the castle still smelt musky. The beautiful hill was now destroyed and jagged rocks remained. Even the bridge to the castle was broken. There was now a dark aura around the castle, even the air was filled with bitter cries of sorrow of lost soldiers. All hope seemed gone. She was at loss of what to do at all now. She needed help to save her country out of the ruins, but who can she turn to? In another country, a king was willing to help, he had heard her plight and was willing to help. One story has ended, a new one begins….

Cherin Tan

Castle on the hill - Benjamin Fheng

 I painted this picture, of this once majestic castle. I compared it to other painting of this castle. What once used to be a fruitful land now barren with nothing but rocks and sand. This land was filled with happiness about two years ago, that is, when the vikings did not invade it. The viking cut off every blade of grass, every person living in the castle, the inhabitants were caught off guard. They took everything they could take, jewels, gold and food. I was the king’s butler, condemned to flee this very castle when the vikings invaded. I wanted to take revenge so badly as they killed my family members and made this land into a wasteland. Two years was all I needed to build an army strong enough to rival the vikings, and soon, I will lead my army to invade them.

Castle Settings

Picture A
From the woods, I looked at the castle. The castle was enormous! The outer wall was built using grey bricks and at the top of each tower, stood a blue cone with the pointed part touching the dark, cloudy sky. The sky looked dark and gloomy. The winds were blowing strong against the castle. It was as if the entire cloud was going to drop onto the earth. The inner part of the castle was a smooth white. In the middle of the castle, a large tower with a golden cone overlooked the area around the castle. It was the highest point of the castle. The land around the castle was teeming with life. Everywhere a person looks, lush green scenery could be seen.  Trees, bushes could be seen every where. A clear river runs through the castle. It was made dark due to the fact that the sky was also dark. I always envied the people living in the castle. Some day, I am going to live in that castle.

Picture B
From afar, the castle looked beautiful. It was glowing with the colour white, with the sun right behind it. The surroundings of the castle was filled with hills and rocks. In front of me, the winding path led to the majestic castle. It was a long path that went up a hill, towards the castle on the top of the hill. The journey to the castle was tough. The event that is going to happen in the castle will be even tougher. It was obvious the King did not want outsiders in. The path was filled with trenches and broken bridges with teeming hot lava below. The sky was a beautiful orange, sun slowly rose from the horizon. I could hear the birds singing a merry song. It was a peaceful day. It was a perfect day to end the suffering that my people have faced during the past decade.

The white castle

A seemingly fantasy-themed castle, surrounded by a high rock wall of many shades of purple, where flora and fauna thrive. A pellucid river where aquatic animals lived entered into the fortress though a small hole at the bottom. This created a moat, though it was not needed. Its people were as well guarded as a tortoise. Its shell was near-impossible to penetrate. The stone brick wall of alternate grey and white, the watch towers of white topped with blue, the well-trained guards employed were more than enough to scare off any potential buglers, not to mention that this castle was home to the most powerful and influential family in the country. Of course, everything has exceptions. The only person brave enough to steal form the royal family, the one whose motto was 'to steal from the rich and give to the poor', the man named Robin Hood.

Picture B: Image of a castle set on a hill top

A visitor to the medieval castle crossed the drawbridge over the moat and approached the narrow doorway, which was protected by a tower on each side. As he was admitted, the pathway behind him crashed and he knew that there was no way back. The only way forward, was downwards. The iron grating gradually rose on its creaking pulleys while the heavy, wooden doors swung open, finding himself in the courtyard commanded by the great central tower, where the lord and his family lived, especially in time of war. At the summit of the tower rose a platform from where the sentinel surveyed the country far and wide; below two stories underground lay the dungeon, dark, damp, and dirty. As the visitor walked about the court-yard, he came upon the Great hall, used as the lord's residence in time of peace, the armory, the chapel, the kitchens, and the stables. “Turn around and don’t say a word.” That was what he heard, what he did. “Good. Now if you may, follow the path.” The voice meant, the path down.

~Jia Le

Castles settings-Jun Hong

Castle 1
This castle is like a paradise. Lush green tress and surround this huge white castle and is separated by a tall brick wall that serves it purpose, protecting it against invaders. A glistening lake served under the castle. The lake, with its cool, clear water, enabling nature to flourish. The castle’s enormous gate could fit an elephant through. It is just a perfect walkway just for a king. I went in. I was greeted by loud noises, vendor owners selling their products. Many towers and battlements keep enemies from invading. It is a good place to raise a family, since no one could attack when this castle has such great defence.The main towers high enough to touch the sky were gold-tipped. But the palace does not seemed to be good design. Little towers jutting out of the castle looks as if it was going to fall on them. This place is just too peaceful.

Castle 2
An abyss, separating the castle on the hill from the outside world, was only connected by a stone bridge that was broken due to separate us from this creepy and mysterious castle and its strange beings. The landscape was totally barren apart from a few rocks and a winding river beside it that was pouring its water into the endless abyss. The ground was as red as the sunset covered by this sinister castle. A narrow pathway, the only way to the castle, was surrounded by sharp rocks protruding out of the hill. The castle may be dilapidated and is worn out by wind and rain. A small door that was the only way into the castle was locked, to prevent the castle’s inhabiters from escaping. Five towers makes this castle. Up there, it is cold. Perhaps too cold for anyone to live. Inside was a living nightmare never known to be experienced by anyone and survived.

Descriptive Setting 4

On the summit of a lofty, volcano-brown barren mountain stood a plain,tall white castle with blue spires. The skies above were an unusual blue mixed poorly with yellow. Dark pink rode across, giving the illusion of diverting from the castle. Winding down from it was a long narrow path that threatened to crumble anytime. A bridge had once connected the castle to the other side of an immense chasm but some unknown disaster had destroyed it. It did not matter whether it was initiated or came from natural occurrences. What was important what that it was presently separated from the rest of the world. The remote location of the castle seemed to already indicate this. Until the bridge is rebuilt- which may take a decade-none could reach the fortress by ordinary means. All longed to be able to enter the mysterious small door again but without any idea how to cross.

Tim Yap

Jonan's intro

Castle A

Grey clouds loomed over the medium sized castle, whose tall gothic spires towered from its already imposing towers and battlements. A single drawbridge covered an iron gate, barring entry of outsiders and exit of those within. Tall evergreens grew in the mighty forest surrounding the castle. If it could be seen from the sky, it would have looked like a tiny island of white surrounded by a sea of green forest, with a winding path of blue waters leading away from it. Thought the spires of the castle were colored a light shade of blue, the tallest spire was coated in a thin layer of the purest gold, and if you could have seen it up close, inscribed with runic writing. The walls of the castle revealed the location of the bricks used to build it, for all were not the same color, and some stood out more than others, some shades of grey, others a polished cream.

Castle B

The north wind blew away the cloud of dust shrouding the structure and revealed it to the eyes of our hero. It was an imposing sight, towering over the land from the top of the hill. Flags billowed in the wind from each of the five spires mounted on its mighty walls. Its walls were white-washed, and almost glowing in the light of the setting sun. A single winding path exposed friend and foe alike to the hidden defenses of the fortress, and its surface was covered with crimson stains. Surrounding the entire castle was a deep and wide ravine, crossed by a tiny stone bridge whose ends lay hanging off the side of the sheer walls, and whose middle was missing, presumably gone in the ravine. Its stone blocks were weathered from decades of exposure of the elements, and tiny cracks could be seen in it. Suddenly screams rang out from within, and our hero rushes to find a way

Castle Image 1

Humongous dark clouds was looming overhead the majestic castle menacingly. The pinnacles of the castle top looks as if they were piercing the sky,  with their stark contrast of azure blue against the dull grey of the clouds. All the windows in the castle were closed. The castle gates were also drawn. There were no lookouts or guards spotted anywhere on the castle. Flags were flying wildly in the harsh wind. 

There was a dead silence in the well-kept castle gardens, where princesses and princes used to play to their heart’s content, with magistrates and officials having tea. Green trees that used to be a lush green suddenly look dark, dull and still. The moat, which used to be alive with fishes and ripples, had now settled. Even the birds, which used to chirp merrily everyday, without fail above the treetops, had stopped chirping. Anybody could tell that something back was about to happen. 

See To Yu Xiang

Castle A and Castle B

Castle A:

I looked at the high towers of the castle. The flags, waving high up in the air above the towers. Blue on every tower top. except the tallest one. The white of the walls and pillars, reflecting the bright Sun, making the castle seemed like it was glowing. Clouds drifted effortlessly across the spacious sky, complimenting the beauty of the castle. It was a gigantic and grand castle. It was, after all, the Walt Disney castle. We were on a family vacation.

We entered the castle, through the big entrance door. The interior of the castle was beautifully decorated with many details. All soft of weird, curious things filled the many shelves of the castle walls. We walked on and on into the castle without a clue of what was going to happen.

Castle B:

I stared in unbelief. In front of me was the huge castle that looked oh too familiar. I looked at it in awe. It was just an amazing sight. I walked towards the castle, walking faster and faster. Soon, I was running, all my fatigue and tiredness had suddenly disappeared. I was finally home! I ran and ran and suddenly stopped. “That was close!” I said to myself. If could have dropped to my death. In front of me was a bridge, the only thing that separates me from my beloved home. But i couldn’t cross it. A giant gaping hole was in the very middle of the bridge. Then, I heard an explosion. I looked towards the source of the sound and saw smoke coming out from the castle. What happened when I was away?

Rayner

Preston's Setting Picture 1&2

Tom was a prince. He lived in a majestic castle on a hilltop made of solid concrete and bricks. There were ten tall levels in the castle and the tallest tip of the castle was higher than any other building in the vicinity. You could get lost in a gigantic castle like this. The sweet aroma of Jasmine flowers filled the air and birds chirped and sing in the trees surrounding the castle, giving Tom and those who lived in the castle a perfect surrounding for relaxation and enjoyment. The food grown and cooked in the castle were delicious and were always checked that the food were of top-grade. The walls and floors of the castle were insulated from the cold winters and seasons, keeping the castle warm on the inside. The castle was surrounded by a stream of river, full of live fish and water plants. Sometimes Tom fishes in the river to catch some fish for dinner! The castle was full of happiness and life. Those were the good times…
  But, hundreds of years later, after the wars that happened in the country, the castle was no longer a strong and majestic castle that the people of the country used to praise. It was now on a hilltop, with barren lands and soil surrounding the castle. The castle was like an island, surround by ‘water’ with no where else to go. There was only one way in and out of the horrible place, and that was by a narrow and unstable path that led to the other nations. The castle was musty, deserted, and was very rocky. The towers were able to withstand the power of the wars that happened, but not the land surrounding it. The castle could easily topple and fall off the edge of the soft, eroded soil, causing a land slide that could wipe out an entire city. The castle was unbearable and was impossible to live in. Tom died during the wars, and he left behind a sword in the high towers of the castle, that was said that it would bring peace and harmony to the country. And someone, far into the reaches of the world, wanted to have it...

Preston

Picture B: image of a castle set on a hill top.

  Standing high and mighty on the mountain top, the castle had a mysterious air surrounding it. The old marble bridge leading to it had long been broken off, a large gaping hole was left in its place. The cliff stretched down a good long ten kilometers. A strong rushing stream was what met you at the bottom. Twisted rocky paths led you to the ominous castle. Five tall pillars built a defensive ring against the outside world as if protecting a secret inside. Once bleached white walls were now smudged with soot and moss creeping at the bottom. Small battered blue flags could be seen on the castle’s roof. Purple at the bottom, orange, yellow, green and lastly blue filled the sky. Clouds circled the castle but not above it. Damian was standing at the other end of the bridge, looking up at the castle ruin. His mother had been held captive in that castle. A strong longing to reunite with his mother filled his eyes.

Stacey

Description for castles - Johanan

Castle on top of Hill

The gloomy castle soared high on the hill. There was a rumour that a evil witch inhabited in there. No one was seen going in or going out. The castle was placed on a muddy hill which was almost impossible to climb, the hill was engraved with dusty old rocks which were filled with all kind of mysterious creatures. The clouds which hung miserably over the castle was filled with sadness and was a pitch black in colour. The sky looked as if a storm was about to brew. The path leading to the castle was covered with dust and there was a cloud of smoke that lingered along the path. The path led to a bridge that looked like it had been hammered apart with brute force. One wrong move and you will be found yourself screaming and falling to your death a hundred feet down. It was a cold place to live in where people shrivel at the sound of this forbidding castle.

Beautiful Castle

This violet castle stood high and magnificent on the stony walls. Dark clouds floated heavily across the sky. The castle soared high in the air , towering over all oak trees surrounding its peak. A flag swayed from side to side as the leaves rustled in the breeze. There was a clear moat surrounding the beautiful castle. The moat was filled will schools of colourful fishes. The castle was a magnificent sight. The bricks were in different shades of brown , grey and white. Light blue tinted paint poured on the submit on every tip of the castle. Making it the feel very relax and very calming. There was a sandy coloured flight of stairs heading to the castle with golden plated fences. It was a very happy place.

A snow princess lived in this very castle. She was a very cheerful person who always had a smile on her face, she had a bundle of white hair and had a crystal necklace hung around her neck since she was young.

Narrative Description Settings for Castles

File: "PictureBimagecastle2"

The mountains rose wide and tall, towering over the valley. Their shadows stretched over the land, preventing the Sun's powerful rays from penetrating its dark, shadowy mood. The land was stripped of all life and vegetation. The only seemingly thriving object was a lively looking castle. The majestic infrastructure, strangely, was the only thing that could touch the Sun's rays.  No outsider had ever been to the castle. It was unknown whether it housed any living form. For years, it stood there, peaceful to the outside world, but nobody knows what goes on within. There was only one route to the castle, a treacherous path through a worn down concrete bridge and through a winding road. However, the castle had been cut off from the outside world. There was no trade, no visitors, no treaties, no friendships nor bonds of any kind. The bridge that was to carry travelers across the dark ravine had collapsed. No one could fix it. Thus, the lone castle stood there for the rest of its days, without purpose to the world beyond its borders.

File: "imagecastle1"

The journey that brought me to my current position had been tiresome and treacherous. Along the way I might have been mugged, I might have starved to death. But now, I found that it was all worth it. I had not slept in days, my eyes were red and felt like boulders were pulling my eyelids. But the sight that was laid before me was truly a sight for sore eyes. The majestic castle stood tall and mighty, built by a river bank, linked to the other side by a cobblestoned bridge, the bridge that I am to cross. My lazy eyes now opened wide, stared at its majestic infrastructure. With white stone walls that were complimented with a blue brick pointed towers. The towers were built with a astonishing gold finish at its tip. A simple squire like me was truly blessed to be able to take in such a marvelous scene.

by Hardy Shein Nyein Chan
14
S1-09

The Castle on top of the hill-Naveena

The sun was rising in behind the majestic castle that sat atop a great hill in the middle of no where. The only way to reach the castle was to walk up a winding pathway that was dusty and brown with age. Unlike the pathway, the castle was still a gleaming white though it was as old as the pathway. Said to be abandoned decades ago by a great king, the castle had a mysterious allure to it. Not many dared to venture near the castle due the the rumors about it. Some said the castle was not abandoned, but instead inhibited by ghouls and monstrosities of all kinds while others said that the spirits of the great king and his servants still lived in the castle, going about their daily chores. I was one of the exceptions though but my quest to explore and uncover the the truth about the castle was hindered by a broken bridge. I would have to find a way to get to the other side somehow.

Beautiful castle - Benjamin Fheng

“I remember this old castle’s history, passed down from generations.” An old man which was my tour guide said. I was told that there was a mystery in this castle and I as a photographer and detective, have to complete that mystery. The old man continued on the history, ”four hundred years ago, there lived the last king of this castle. He had a brother which was my ancestor and they were very close. They always had horse riding sessions or sword practise together. One day they went to invade the opposing country, greenland where the vikings lived as they heard there was a rumour that they had a treasure trove of jewels that could last for ten lifetimes.” I penned down some notes as he continued his story, hoping that I would find some clues. “Legend has it that they won and had the whole trove of treasure hidden in this very castle. One day the brothers fought for the treasure and led to both their deaths. The treasure could never found again as only those two knew where it was.” Once the story had ended, I thanked the old man and set off to solve the mystery. The mystery that couldn’t be solved for four hundred years.

Image of a castle set on a hill top - Michelle Dapito

The enormous castle stood high and mighty on a rocky hill. A secluded place full of mystery and history. The road to the castle looked old and unstable, partly chipped off, making it look like it was not accessible. Fiery clouds floated wildly on the yellow and blue sky. Walls cracked and painted white, roofs dark blue. The cold, strong wind blew, causing the flags to sway from side to side on the roofs, sweeping the dust out of the roof. The disgusting stench of the castle was blown towards me and I let out a loud sneeze. The castle stood alone, being separated from the outer world. As I touched the castle, memories of my childhood fifty years ago returned my mind. Fun and memorable events that I remembered made my eyes water. I knew could not return to that wonderful life again. Or maybe I could ...

-Michelle Dapito

The castle on the hill

On the top of a dying hill, a castle stood. Her walls were the color of fresh cream, her towers' roof a sky blue. All around her was nothingness. Like an arrogant loner she stood alone in a barren land, high above the rest, cut off from the world. The road leading out was destroyed many years ago. Her inhabitants, regardless of lineage and age, lived in fear. Fear of being found, fear of being taken away, fear of meeting the same fate as those who tried to run. Though the war has ended a long time ago, her inhabitants were not aware. Being isolated from the very beginning, they received no news about what's happening outside their sanctuary. Their white prison. Many years has past since the last daring youth left the safety of his home. An orphan, he took off when he was a young lad. With only the clothes on his back and a small knapsack, he sat off. Unknown to those who lived in fear, he discovered that the war had ended, the battle won, and those who allied the white castle were more than happy to welcome her back. This story was told to me by my great-grandfather. And now I am going to tell you. About the story of the lad who overcame all odds to save his people...

Gwendolyn

Descriptive Setting 3

Descriptive Setting 3

In a grey, dark cloudy sky stood a tall castle. The spires were a dark blue and and as dull as the gloomy sky they touched. The walls were coloured a brighter shade of gray but were still expressing sadness. The stone foundations of the castle yet another shade of the bitter grey. Flags blew in the wind in monotonous blue and white. But at the top was a large golden spire signifying the tiny remnant of hope left. The towers seemed to attempt to clear the unhappiness with a white colour, but only partially succeeded. Contrasting the overwhelming grey was a forest boasting green and even that was dark. The broad river reflected the whole solemn scene in calm, still water. On the other bank was a green lawn with only a single tree standing. The musty air surrounding the castle smelled dreadful too. It was very quiet there too with no sign of people.

Tim Yap