REAAA celebrates its 50th Anniversary in Labuan Bajo
The Road Engineering Association of Asia & Australasia (REAAA) established in 1973 celebrated its 50th anniversary in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia commencing 24 to 27 August 2023.
The 4-day event included Council and Committee meetings, a 2-day enlightening Conference on Advance Technology Implementation Towards Sustainable Road Development, technical and social visits with the programme culminating in a Gala Dinner where the members of the REAAA Chapter countries entertained the evening’s guests with their respective colourful song and dance routines.
REAM, formerly known as the REAAA (Malaysian Chapter) organised a delegation, with the main group departing on 24 August, to share this joyous occasion with fellow chapter members. Due to constraints in securing airline seats with acceptable connectivity to and suitable accommodation in Labuan Bajo, many aspiring registrants had to be denied participation.
Labuan Bajo, located in the Nusa Tenggara region’s Flores Island was once a quiet fishing village where time appeared to have stood still. Today it is a bustling tourist destination as the gateway to the Komodo National Park where colonies of Komodo dragons, the world’s largest predator lizards thrive. Touted as yet another Bali of Indonesia, the township is currently seeing development, thus the constraints mentioned above.
Be that as it may, REAM managed to secure travel arrangements and accommodation for 42 members who actively participated in the meetings, the conference, technical visit and the gala dinner. REAM members’ performance at the gala dinner received thunderous applause from the guests.
It has been the norm for REAM to host an appreciation dinner for all participants. This dinner was hosted at the seafood restaurant Taman Laut Handayani.
REAM also organised an adventurous visit to Rinca Island some 30-minute speedboat ride from Labuan Bajo to view the apex predators Komodo dragons in their natural habitat. Accompanied by trained rangers, the participants were fortunate to have been able sight a number of these lizards whose bites result in slow death both to their prey and humans. The group also ventured to the island’s highest hill to take in the panoramic view of the surroundings. The day trip ended with a visit to the Labuan Bajo township and its suburbs.
The REAM delegation returned to Kuala Lumpur on 28 August.
