Happenings
3 things happened. Actually 2, but i had a mini break in between the second. So i guess it helped a bit. Upon touching down, we didnt get much rest before the organisation got us to work. By the second day, I was already climbing mountains. I remember telling myself, this wont work out, there's just no way for me to climb whatever they want me to climb. I reluctantly prepared all my equipment on the third day.
At 5am on the fourth day, I was already carrying my 25kg bag, ready to break my back. Thankfully I was with a group of not-too-bad people. We were pretty lucky too, we found 2 checkpoints by noon on the first day, although i was already dying by then. It also rained like mad by 4pm and that caused the river we had to cross to become chest deep (for short little me). It rained all the way into the night. Thankfully the rain wasnt that heavy so I could still change my clothes. On the fifth day, we scaled 8 gigantic knolls. On the fourth knoll, it was so steep and so empty (thus nothing to grab on) and so slippery that i fell and rolled down. Luckily there was a small tree on the way and i slammed my leg into it. I was stuck there as I couldnt stand up with the 30kg load. I wanted to just tell my superior to just leave me there to die. For the first time, I gave up all hope and seriously wanted to give up. At the same time, I was scared, afraid that I would roll down any minute. Well but here I am, meaning someone rescued me. Thank goodness. But that knoll took out my soul as well. So we had to take a break and my superior had to exchange his bag (about 8kg) with mine (25kg). We had wanted to complete our task by the second day, but due to my slowness, we couldnt reach the end point in time. The second night was peaceful and the rain stopped before night fell. Finally, we reached the end point and became the first group to finish the task. Eventful.
After 1 full day of rest, i set off for my second task as I was in the advance group. My new superior was good, although he's abit fast and when he gets going, he tends to leave me behind catching up with all my might. This time round, my bag was even heavier, probably 27 to 28kg. Before I departed, my company's direct superior and my company's second in command lifted my bag and commented on how heavy it was. On the first day, we scaled a mountain as if there will never be a top. After crossing a river, I saw for the first time a leach, and it was on my shin. We were behind schedule and it rained like crazily mad and my shelter leaked. So imagine me sitting in the rain, shivering, praying to every single god and buddha out there for the rain to stop. I seriously did, because i was so miserable that I couldnt even fall asleep. Thank all-the-gods-and-buddha that the rain stopped after 3 hours of miserable waiting. On the second day, we went down the mountain, cross several streams and rivers, got more leaches and even wetter. Luckily though, it didnt rain that night so it was pretty peaceful. I didnt walk much on the third day but when I did, the rain poured like mad again and this time round, the lightning was rather close to us. I finally got to go back to company to wash up and brought a significantly smaller bag this time, probably only 10kg. The last night was fine as I slept in a vehicle. The last day out there was not too bad as I had a much lighter bag, even though it rained heavily. The rain was so bad that as we climbed knolls, water gush down the tracks as if it was a waterfall. I was so glad when it was all over.
Temperature
The weather there was really bad in the day. I heard there was one day that it became 37 degrees. But i didnt really feel much difference when I was out there. This place also gets regular rain from 4pm onwards. Its a miracle if it doesnt rain once a day. I got quite used to wet socks and wet body after a while.
People
There's only a few people I want to mention. First would be the superior in charge of me while I was there. Mr Freaking-Rude-To-Outsiders-But-Actually-Damn-Nice is a really fit and nice person. While he sometimes give up on waiting for me, he motivates me to continue in his own way. He's also really regimental but he was nice to me while we were out there. So thanks a lot for helping me all the way for the second task.
Next is Mr Another-Company's-Superior who took care of me during the first task and carried my crazily heavy bag for me for almost 6 hours. I never knew he was this garang and that he can be so nice too. Although I still think he needs to tone down a bit, as he thinks that all rivers, including the one that reach my chest level and almost swept me away, are easy and cross-able.
Then we have Mr Fat-And-Useless. Having zero fitness and brains, he continue to do the impossible to shame the department. For one, he asked someone to lighten his bag while climbing the easiest mountain. Then he got mocked by many others for saying the easiest mountain was difficult when even I felt that it was easy. Lastly he borrowed things from other people and lost it, and claimed that the other party was the one at fault. For goodness sake, if you cant grow brains on your head, at least go train a bit and stop being so useless. Brawns without brains is better than no brawns and no brains.
Lastly we have Mr Cicada. Its blindness and stupidty led it to its death. However I would prefer it to die before bothering me. Thanks to it, i get angry whenever people leave the door open and always have to try to bathe before night falls when it becomes active.
Food
The food there is nice. Or maybe we're just deprived. Their canton drinks are cheap too. I tried their fish n' chips twice, fried bean curd rice, kampung fried rice, and burger and chips.
Shopping
The Mall. What more can i say?
Achievements
- got sucked by 2 leaches
- conquered Mt Biang and the 7 Wonders
- almost died a few times but still survived
- drank about 6 litres of stream water
- climbed and walked a lot despite having numerous injuries
- ate Kampung Fried Rice, Fried Beancurd Rice and Burger n' Chips in one go after I came back
- defeated See Kiat a few times in Marvel VS Capcom 2, though eventually losing to him (both our machines are faulty though)
I am glad I survived. Truthfully, I had not imagined myself to survive this ordeal. Even now, as I think back, I cannot understand how I did it. I remember my superior told me, when you get on the return flight to Singapore you will cry. I didnt. But you cant imagine how much the sentence "and to all local Singaporeans on board, welcome home" I heard on the plane almost made me, seriously.
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