Hockey, culture, and camaraderie: 1st XI's tour of Singapore and Malaysia
The Napier Boys’ High 1st XI hockey team recently embarked on an unforgettable tour through Southeast Asia, immersing themselves in the gleaming modernity of Singapore and the vibrant energy of Malaysia. Facing off against local teams in both countries, the tour offered more than just competition—it became a cultural journey. In this article, team member Harry Baxter reflects on an experience the players will "remember forever," one that has sparked a deeper interest in Asian cultures. Thanks to support from the Foundation’s Student Sports Fund, the team was also able to incorporate a range of cultural activities into their itinerary.
Harry: "This trip is going to be something that us boys will remember forever and has sparked my interest to travel and see more of Asia and the rest of the world."
Travelling on tour to Singapore and Malaysia with our school's 1st XI hockey team was one of the best and most memorable experiences that I have ever had.
During the trip, I didn’t just get to learn about hockey but also got insights into the cultures of the countries we visited and got to view and experience some impressive and cool locations.
When arriving in Kuala Lumpur on the first day, the first thing that hit us was the heat. Stepping out of the air-conditioned plane into the warm and humid air of Malaysia was quite a shock to us all.
We then flew straight to Singapore, with its huge skyscrapers and clean, organised city streets lined by so many trees.
Our three days in Singapore included playing a game and getting to know and exploring the city.
We visited many well-known tourist attractions such as the Marina Bay Sands, the Botanical Gardens, and we even spent a day at Universal Studios. We also had chances to try the local foods that we don’t usually see or get in New Zealand.
On the sports side of things, it was a great challenge for us as a team. The team we played in Singapore was strong with quick players and had good structure and game knowledge. Playing in the scorching heat and high humidity also tested our team’s fitness and focus.
From Singapore, we then crossed the border and headed to Malacca in Malaysia.
Straight away you could tell that it was quite different to Singapore. Malaysia felt a bit more laid back and traditional compared to Singapore’s modern and futuristic feel.
In Malacca, we had a city tour and then played our first game in Malaysia. The Malacca High School hockey team were pretty strong and they gave our team a good challenge on the turf.
We then moved onto the capital city of Kuala Lumpur where we would play our next two games.
The team played six games on the tour, winning four and losing two
While in Kuala Lumpur, we got to check out some local markets and try bartering where a few of us managed to snag some cheap deals. We also visited the Batu Caves and Petronas Twin Towers which are two major landmarks of Malaysia.
Our last stops were Ipoh and Penang where we played our last two games, with one being played in each city. While we were there we visited an orangutan sanctuary, which was a pretty cool experience, and also visited a few temples and mosques, which helped us learn more about the different religions and cultures in Malaysia.
The team visiting the famous Batu Caves located just outside on Kuala Lumpur
The trip was more than just a hockey tour, it was a chance to experience new places, meet new people, and learn more about life in other parts of the world while making stronger connections with our teammates. During the trip, we won four games and lost two; it was good to play in different conditions and against a range of styles of play.
This trip is going to be something that us boys will remember forever and has sparked my interest to travel and see more of Asia and the rest of the world.
The Foundation's Sports Programme provides New Zealand sportspeople opportunities to grow more knowledgeable, connected and confident with Asia.
