Day 1 10/7
we went to school to take the bus to jetty to take the boat to Pulau Ubin for the OBS. i was kind of homesick. after we reach there, we were separated to different groups. I was in a group named "Battuta" consist the members, Minyi, me, Shi hai, Joseph, Stef, Rauf, Amanda, Amirah, Shu Yan, Jia ling, yong shuang, Dhaifina, Linclon, Huzhairi and Clemence at first i thought the name was stupid, but after 5 days i find it simple and nice. we were introduced to our OBS instructors, HL and Jackie. they have a sense of humor. then, we were introduced to our storeroom to check the stuffs there like tents, cover sheets, helmets, harness, ground sheet and etc etc...
our 1st activity was to be like a lalang to fall backwards and forword without we, ourselves controling the actions. there will be 2 friends in front and behind to push you forward and backwards. then it was the activity, Trust fall , it is something like you fall backwards your team mates will carry you.
next we were taught how to wear the harness and helmets. it was quite easy actually and i was really for the next activity, which is belaying. it was FUN, and i dont know that i'm not scare of heights.
tubular to control the rope
the rope for climbing
we went back to pitch the tents, after that. we were taught how to pitch it. now i miss pitching tents. after pitching tents it is time for dinner, they boys cook for the whole group, while the rest of the Buttuta when to bath. it's teamwork. soon the sun has set, and it is time to sleep, i can't sleep at all, but i manage to rest one hour. after the short rest, i woke up, talk with Min Yi. suddenly, Pearl An came and look for us. she wanted to go Jalan Jalan at the jetty. we accompanied her there and chat alot. an hour later we went back to our tents, it was already 2.30 am in the morning. But we are still not sleepy, and pearl an came looking for us again, this time with De Li and Yong keong, went to the jetty and chat again.
soon it was day break.
Day 2 11/7
we learn how to kayak in the sea today, we need capsize the kayak and get out of it quickly. capsize-ing was fun! and we learn how to rescue other kayak when they capsize in deep sea. then we went to take our harness and helmets to climb the wooden log thingy, don't know what it it called. i want to go up too! but it rain so we ran to shelter and stop the activity.
soon it was night, i eat, bath and blah blah. feel so tired as i didn't sleep last night, as we went back to our tents, we found out that our tents is full of puddles of rainwater, too wet until we cant sleep in that. so we went to the hall, to sleep thanks to the kind uncle working there. but i still not used to it, so i only slept an hour AGAIN.
Day 3 12/7
we have sea expedition. which is to kayak until our next campsite, one round of pulau ubin. we spent 8 hours of kayaking. many people feel like giving up on the way there as it is VERY very tiring, this dishearten me as well. i try not to stop kayaking. soon we were having lunch on our kayak, making me dizzy because of the waves making the kayak to go up and down.
in order to cheer everyone, we sing songs while Kayaking.
it was fun, and i never know i could kayak such a long distance for the 1st time. the phrase is : never give up, have determination.
finally reach the land. pitch the tents, carry the kayaks and go to sleep. in between of those events, something strange actually happen, i dont know how it happen also. i was sleeping in my tent as i was sick, tired, dizzy and everyone thought i was missing, about 10+ people was looking for me and well candy, xuning and minyi cried for me? thats what i heard. i was like huh? what happened? got fire ah? well, now i know they care for me very much, sorry for letting you guys worried for me. i appreciate that, thank you, Samantha, for bringing me to the place where everyone was. i appreciate that too, so i'm not going to let you down by selling ALOT of magnetic toys
THANK YOU EVERYONE!
crap. well, very tired and we all slept. i finally manage to fall asleep, thank god.
Day 4 13/7
woke up at 6 am, went to looking for Jasmine they all which is the watch, Junko. give them some advices and encouragement before they went to kayak in the sea like us yesterday. wish them good luck and off they go.
as for us, we went to play games with other watches, Amundsen, Cheng Ho and Raleigh. then we discuss who to be the land exp. leader and navigators. i am one of the navigator and this is when i used map reading learnt from geog for obs, cool man.
keep telling those people to keep to the left, and sooner or later, they will be at the middle of the road. need to remind them alot of times, and everyone is slow as we are carrying those heavy backpacks.well, this time i really look like a turtle with huge shell. it was really heavy. but as a navigator, i cannot show my tiredness, so i took the lead and walked in front.
then, yong shuang, fall down, has slight muscle sprain. so i hung the tents in the bags on my neck. and soon, yong shuang, dhaifina and stef got abrasion and Rauf got buttache. for me, i got chest pain and my dizzy-ness has not really recover from yesterday. i didn't tell anyone, i dont want them to worry for me, so i bear with the pain in the chest and walked on.
finally we reach the campsite 2, HL and Jackie came looking for me asking am i ok, they said i look worse than yesterday. crap, im ok.
we ate our dinner, bathe as we didnt bathe yesterday and sleep. i was really tired.
Day 5 14/7
the last day, of obs, starting the feeling of not going home, obs is my home already. my family is my watch-mates and instructors are like our parents, whatever.
we wake up at 5.30 am brush teeth, talk, eat. went to the jetty with my watch to talk about what we learnt in this course. i learn alot, teamwork, leadership, determination, patient, commitment and lastly the most important is perseverance. not to give up, never say die, die die must try,try until you cry and die. our Battuta's motto.
another one is, we must have a sense of urgency!! haha
we went to check the stuffs in the store, and we lost some things, need to pay $11.60. we wash the tents, ground sheets and cover sheets. it was FUN as Rauf was playing with water, spraying water at us while washing.
then went buy obs shirt and watch photos. well, memorable... GO GO GO, THE BATTUs!!
Battuta rocks.
some photos to share :
BATTUTA formal photo
BATTUTA informal photo
my certificate for completing the OBS
TAN SHU MEI - see? got your name.
