Soon after breakfast, groups set off in the crisp morning air to find “Signs of the Wild”. “I observed,“ said Jo Thanaphong Phongpreecha of Thailand, “many things in order to know what kind of animal is it, such as dung, footprint, hair, etc. It’s very exciting cuz I never have had chance to do this before.”

Our environmental conscience was once again piqued, as water conservation, in the form of the activity “Splash Saver”, was tackled. “I know the importance of conserving water and I will follow it after I go back to HK,” learnt Ming Wai Tse of Hong Kong. Thuy Hang (Moon) Pham of Vietnam couldn’t believe, “we use almost 10 litres of water just to ... wash our hands.”

But just when you thought it was safe to go back into the bathroom... we turned on our toiletry bags to see just what products lurk in there that may not be very environmentally friendly. You can imagine the shock as we uncovered some of our faithful friends in creams and hair products that were actually disguising their true identities.

The media  arrived this afternoon: press officials from all the countries represented by the delegates. They shared the afternoon with us, interviewing some delegates, photographing others and joining in the fun at the Ndebele Cultural Village, where everyone had the opportunity to learn some Ndebele painting skills. Khuditse Moloele of South Africa admitted that “ plate painting was fun , but difficult having to paint free-hand.”

The afternoon spent at the Cultural Village was crammed with new experience upon new experience. Delegates got to paint plates in traditional colours and patterns, taught to them by the Ndebele women. They watched traditional dances and were encouraged to join in. They also were part of a Sorghum beer tasting ceremony. The Ndebele women even taught them how to make “pap” which, as Orathai (Orma) Maneechot of Thailand explained, “is like ‘Pang-Peauk’ in Thai, but here is much harder and stickier.”

A rare treat came in the form of Andy Overbeek who brought a high-powered telescope with him. All those who were interested and who’d excelled the previous nights with star-gazing were able to view Saturn with all its rings, Jupiter, Venus and the “Jewel Box” in the Southern Cross.

The evening settled into a warm companionship around a flickering bonfire – a welcome respite from the chill of the night air. “We ended up chatting around the fireplace, saying everything that came to our heads. The night ended...beautifully,” concluded Rose Li Lui

We sat outside under the shade of the trees and were treated to China, Korea and Thailand’s interesting and vibrant cultures today. It is always a special time when we are able to broaden our minds and our knowledge.

This was prepared by the South Africans and was, appropriately, served at the Ndebele Cultural Village. It was a traditional Ndebele meal which consisted of: Beef Stew, Pap and Marog (a spinach dish), with trifle for dessert.