(Sunday, August 20, 2006 / 12:29 AM)
Whee~ I'm back to my home sweet home. Suddenly feels that everything is so precious and hard to come by after returning from the OBS camp.
Alright, this is going to be a long post, since there so much things to talk about.
Day 1, Monday - 14th August.
Woke up early in the morning feeling uneasy. After having my breakfast, I grabbed my backpack and went to school. On the way I felt strange. Like so weird carrying such a large bag to school. Reached school and there was a huge crowd there with lota stuff and bags thrown all over the ground. Some people are really 'too much'. They carried bags about the size of me. -.-'" Plus it was really noisy, all excited you see...
After pledge and some crappy talking, they took our attendants. Finally the buses came and we went up. Along the way I was like not talking much. I don't know why, just felt not very happy without my close friends around me. Reached the Punggol Jetty. So suai lar. My watch 12 was one of the last few to leave the jetty. And it was raining that time. Felt so horrible. Already beginning to feel homesick.
And ya, I saw my cousin. He's one year older than me and is from Anderson Secondary School. So coincidentally, he's going to OBS too. I never knew that. Tsk. When we reached Ubin, we were all seated together in the multi-purpose hall. Lol. It looked very old to me. After the last watch had arrived, they started the welcome talk, spoken by - Steven Loo, the only instructor who has the deepest, huskiest and sexiest voice. Haha. Many said he's handsome too, which is quite true larh... The talk was quite boring actually, the history of Outward Bound School. Almost fell asleep half-way.
Later, we were introduced out watches' name. They say all watches to cheer when the instructor is introduced. When it's our turn, we only clap. Argh, my watch not enthu one lar... All are the names of explorers. Mine is Livingstone. It is not pronounce as living-stone, but rather as living-stein. Okay?
There are also other names. I tried to list out all the names I remembered, so, there they are. I hoped I didn't make any mistake...
Armstrong
Amundsen
Battuta
Bo Seng
Cheng Ho
Columbus
Cook
Costeau
Da Gama
Elizabeth
Hillary
Junko
Livingstone
Magellan
Marco Polo
Marshall
Nehru
Nila Utama
Raffles
Raleigh
Shackleton
Tock Seng
Tenzing
Washington
There are altogether 23 watches ... 5 residential, 18 mobile
And we were introduced our instructor. Serene Yar aka Yar Yar. She is introduced as the Slim and Slender instructor. Which is VERY true. She's cute too. She wrote her nick as 'yayapapayar' on her stuff. =D
BTW, all the instructors are really tanned and dark. Really very...
Later, we were to clean out the store too. Gosh, very dirty lor... Then we were given a briefing on what to do about the store and what the stuff inside are for. And then, and then we go take a picture. The thing I hated most. I hate taking photo. Always come out awful one, don't know why...
Watch 12 aka LivingstoneMe - 3L1
Jaslin - 3L1
WanTing - 3M1
Derek - 3M1
JunZhu - 3P1
Hanafi -3P1
ZhiYu - 3P2
Zach - 3P2
Cherlene -3 T1
Nigel - 3T1
FangYee - 3T2
Kemal - 3T2
Thana - 3A
Naz -3B
John - 3B
TeckYu - 3C
Plus, I found out that ... female instructors wear red shirt and male instructors wear blue shirt. Ermmm... okay, maybe that wasn't very surprising at all. =X
We got our food rationing too. It was a lot than I expected. So there was a lot of food left at the last day, and ... they are all squashed flat when we squeezed them into the packbags we all have to carry.
After the cleaning and packing was done, we got our helmet and harness and went for belaying. Cool man! But first, we were all blind-folded. And the two leaders got to lead us to the climbing site and they cannot communicate with us nor can they touch us. I wondered how we did it that time. -.-'"
We started out by playing the very ... lame ... giant dwarf and wizard. it's really ... too lame. It's girls V.S. boys. The boys won. Not surprising either. The boys are always more expert in games whether it's lame, or not. Then come the briefing part on the belaying things. We were separated into groups of 4. Me, Naz, John & TeckYu. I really cannot belay without the ankle man helping me. When it was my turn to belay, I almost fly off when I was belaying Naz down. Oh my god. Lucky John held me down lorh...
Belaying, then got to shout one. For examples, Am I on belay? Squeeze check. Group check. Yar Yar check (This change according to the instructor's name) That's me! Can I fall on? Fall on... blah blah blah...
When I went up and climbed the pole, I saw Nat, and she waved to me. So I smiled and waved back. The view is really different on top eh? I also saw Siqi. She ... really ... too ... skinny...
Around evening time, we were taught how to pitch a tent. Looked easy, but it really isn't. Must have patient. Then dinner! Rice with baked bean and curry chicken. It tasted ... yucky and the rice was quite uncooked. First day, still not used to the life there...
After dinner went to wash up. Serene taught us a magic way of cleaning pot with black, burnt base. Use mud! And ta-da! It become sparkling white clean again. Finally, time to go to sleep. I share a tent with Fangyee & WanTing. We used the torch to brush out the dirt, and spray some insect repellent and went to sleep. Can't really sleep, the ground so hard and I don't have enough space to shift my body around. Still got to bare with it. And I am still missing home.
Ahyes, before we went to sleep, there was this fire drill. Gosh, they rang this bell and at first I thought it was the bell to signal us to sleep. Haha. Then suddenly everyone rushing to the big space near the jetty. After some cheers, went back, threw back all the stuff into the store room and went to sleep finally...
Day 2, Tuesday - 15th August.
Woke up just in time. Brush teeth and then continue packing all the stuff into the oh so large packbag. Everywhere was like so messy. Soon many watches either went to kayak or trekking or whatever. Livingstone and Magellan stayed back for rock climbing. Ah-hah. Then Serene and Steven told us that Livingstone and Magellan are buddy watches... so ya, we will be working together for most of the time.
They started out by briefing us again on the safety rules and how to climb. They did a demo, Steven was the climber and Serene was the belayer. When they did the demo, it was like so easy like that. Of course lar, if not how to be our instructors. And, they were really funny too.
So, the boys all started out first. While we girls, sat there and watch them and was bore to tear and was stoned there. Nothing to do, and Cherlene ate the apple and said it was really nice. -.-'" I thought all apples tasted the same?
Later, Fangyee went to try out the harder part one. She did it! She climb to the top! 3 cheers for her! She's so superb! Later it was JunZhu's turn and I helped to belay her. The rope was much more harder to pull this time. Keep having friction against the rope. And... she managed to climb to the top too! Yays! So sad for this guy, he did not even climb half-way up and the boys were like laughing at him. =X But then if it was me, I don't think I will be able to climb to the top too.
Later, storm was approaching, and so, left me, cherlene and derek never climb. oh well. I'm never oh so into it either.
Afterwards, when we had lunch, changed into shorts and the storm had died down, we offically went for kayaking. Freak out~ Again after some briefing, we went out to the sea. We learned capsizing and everyone had to try. Gosh. And you know what? My right knee brushed against the rock and it bleed. Scare me to half death arh. Suddenly got red water dripping down my leg. Argh. Jaslin also scraped her knee against the rock. Hers is worst than mine lehh... Then we had to do the rescue drill. I partner with TeckYu, then we did the rescuing drills with Derek and Thana.
When it was TeckYu and my turn to be the victims, it was quite okay, we did it real fast .But when it was Derek and Thana's turn, somehow things got out of control and we were all drifting out to the jetty. But still, we managed to finish the drill. And then, It was soon time to go kayaking to campsite 1. We were at campsite 2, so we got to kayak to campsite 1.
The journey was like very long lor, my hands were aching and sore. By the time we arrived there, it was very late already. We hurried and went to the cookhouse to have dinner first. Gosh, campsite 1 was like so much better than campsite 2. Got dormitories, and nice and clean cookhouse aka canteen. And a lot of fancy facilities. We had our dinner. Everyone was like eating very fast. Hungry mah. Then Fangyee was like quite sick, she said her stomach felt bloated and she felt like vomiting. So in the end she only ate a tiny bit of the dinner. I forgot who said that she must have been doing 'something' last night so she felt like vomiting. LOL. Funny, so fast one meh...
That night, we had to pitch out tent in the dark. Oh god. So so dark and had to use the torch to see the surrounding. So most of the tents were done badly. But still got to sleep in it nonetheless. Share tent with Fangyee and WanTing again. Aiyo, the whole 5 days, we shared tent together. Duh.
Day 3, Wednesday - 16th August.
Woke up, feeling all sore around and had to unpitch our tent. pack our stuff, wash up and have breakfast. Breakfast was quite nice but I did not eat a lot. Don't know why, just don't feel like eating a lot. Stomach suddenly too small to fill so much food.
After breakfast, went to climb the inverted tower with Magellan. Steven and Serene brief us on the safety rules and blah blah blah again... the thing was really high lor. Gosh, freak me out again. But later I felt like climbing it. Weird right? A bit pity lar, we did not try the flying fox. I rather try that. More fun neh. Coz we tried inverse tower, so no flying fox for us.
Later in the middle, Wan Ting and I went to climb the one outside. We were already struggling when we were still climbing the shaking rope ladder. I reached the log ladder first, and held tight onto the log. Wan Ting almost reached the first log, but she said she felt like vomiting and wanted to go down. So I unbuckle the buddy belt and came down. But I think we did not try out best... felt that we let down Serene. Haiz...
Next thing, is that four watches namely - Livingstone, Magellan, Junko and Hillary were called on for yet another briefing. We are going to have a Sea Expedition. No Land Expedition. So sad. We are going to kayak around Pula Ubin. Freaked out again. You know, AROUND the WHOLE island leh. Muy whole arms going to break anytime...
Then we got the 4 Sea-X leaders
Nigel - the navigator
Edwin - the port
Kaiwen - the starboard
Shawak - the sweeper
So we got ready, load the boat out to the sea and then paddle till we reached the next campsite. We only rowed like not even half round Ubin. Later we pitched our tent. Then Serene showed up and said that if we pitch fast enough, she will bring us for a dip in clear water. Oh man... we hurried up and were really fast.
So we went to call Serene and she came out and brought us to a quarry. There are only rainwater there and very clean one. So, we tried quarry jump. Ooohhh... so fun. Almost choked when I first jumped down because I was panicking as my shoes are about to come off. Later, I found out from Siqi, that they said there is a giant sotong in the quarry. Oh My God. And it's the size of a human. Blah~ Lucky it did not show up.
Siqi said that their instructor, Steven, said that there was this person who went for a swim in the quarry, then he saw a giant sotong and went to report to the police. So researchers went there but for days they could not find any giant sotong. That day when they were about to give up, the giant sotong showed up. So, that's about it. It's up to you if you want to believe or not. I think the giant sotong always hide somewhere, and come out only when necessary.
Returned to the campsite, cook maggi for dinner. Then then went to sleep. They said don't keep any food in the tent, wild dogs and wild boar will come. But they did not show up though.
Day 4, Thursday17th August.
Kayak early in the morning. Then paddle and paddle and paddle till noon where we stopped at a beach to rest. They said we were ahead of schedule. Oh yes, we are stronger. Haha. The instructors say hor, want to do business, go to the sea to do. Arhh.... that's disgusting... want to pee but nothing came out. Oohh..
After lunch, we paddle and paddle and paddle and paddle and paddle and paddle till mad and finally we reached campsite 2. We rowed for like about straight 6 hours. Sunburn, muscles strain and arms sore. We were all so restless and almost giving up, until Teck Yu suddenly shouted that the Jetty is very near us. Whoa, then we in a sudden got the motivation and paddle real hard and was chiong-ing all the way. We were all so high that we going to reach our destination le.
Upon there, We are so so so happy and glad, then we were all wore down and exhausted. After some cleaning and washing ,we chiong to shower and then went to pitch our tents again. This time not so rush, got plenty of time to do so. After pitching, went to have dinner cooked by us, and then began to clean up our store room and stuff. At about 7 something, Livingstone and Magellan went to have a night trek. Oh oh oh cool !
Lined in in rows of two and went to the forest, It was really really dark. But still can faintly see the path larh. When we were out of the forest, I thought that was the end. So Steven and Serene told us to relax and watch the stars and scenery. After a few minutes, they told us we are going to have solo night walk. I freaked out again for the umpteen times. Very nervous when Steven called out my number. Went in to the forest, at first still can see, but as I go in futher, not light at all. Only faint moonlight.
Actually it's not as scary as before. Fear is just an illusion. I will remember that. Plus, I was so engrossed in walking through the forest that I almost forgot I got the torch in my pocket. Oh dear. Nearing the destination, I kept stumbling upon the rocks and roots. Cant' see them, too dark already. Then, I saw the green light which signal that Serene is near. I thought she was like beside it or something, but I don't see her. So I walked on. After a few second, I saw a white light moving about. Don't get freak out, It was just the headtorch on Serene's forehead, As I expected.
Overall, I would like to try solo night walk again. Pretty fun, not really scary at all.
Then to sleep. I slept pretty soundly that night. And gosh, Fangyee is quite good at talking to herself. Haha. She said last night le, so don't sleep, must talk more. I only heard her talking and talking, then later I don't know anything and then woke up in the morning. Hahah.
Day 5, Friday - 18th August
In the morning ,everyone was like rushing here and there, packing the stuff and cleaning the store.
And then, we had settled to go watch sunrise with Serene last night. Yay! So we gathered and went to the jetty to watch sunrise. Saw Marco Polo there, writting their journal. =) We sat along the track which has only one railing. Serene went to the port.
It was like so peaceful and quiet. The sea was calm with small waves. Best of all it was coolling... but a bit too cold that I had to wear a jacket. Actually we can't really see the sun, it's partly blocked by a forest and it was rather cloudy that time. But nevermind, we still enjoyed outself.
We saw a water lizard. hUh right? WanTing and I thought it was a fish at first. But then the ripple was too big to be a fish. When fish swim, they don't create a ripple. Serene then explained to us it's a water lizard. Hahah. And we saw it a lot of time.
We wanted to sit there longer, but then we got to return to clean the stuff. Haiz. Serene thought we would be bored and would want to return early. I think she was surprized when we said we wanted to stay longer and watch the sea scenery.
After all checking, we lost 4 tent pegs, one spacer, 4 poles and worst of all, the medical pouch. But we found the medical pouch at the last minute. Lucky not a lot. And plus, I'm very sure all the watches has to pay more or less. So rushing ... sure to lose something one larh.
After all were done, we got our certificate of completion. YAYS! So happy! But then grown attached to Ubin and a bit used to the life there. Haiz...
.
But really, I miss our instructor, Serene aka Yar Yar, the most. She's always there to guide us, always there to help us, and always there to lead us. And yea, she like to shuffle my hair a lot. xD. I thought I gotta cry, but lucky I did not. Whoosh~ However, we did not even give her anything as a farewell. Wanted to give her some cheers, but well, she's not there when we were all assembling in the shelter. *sob**started crying*.
And guys, be warn that you might have some OBS post symptoms -
. You pitch your tent before you sleep.
. You unpitch your tent after you woke up.
. Wear life jacket the moment you touch water
. Start a fire using solid fuel to cook your food
. Apply toothpaste onto the base of your cooking pots
. Bury your waste food in the soil.
. Do business in water or onto the soil and bury them up.
. The moment you see pole-like things, u start paddling like mad.
. You shout "Am I on belay?" when you are going to climb up the stairs
. You shout "Can I fall on?" when you are coming down the stairs.
. Report to your Mum or Dad after you finished each task.
*For photos, go
Nigel's blog to see.
I learned lots of things that cannot be taught in school. Everything and everything.
To serve, to strive and not to yield.I miss Serene, I miss Ubin, I miss OBS.
