Yesterday my section conducted an exercise code-named Ex Bahru. Our objective is to conquer shops and malls in JB la! haha.. we actually planned this outing while outfield in Brunei and always joke about how "tough" this exercise is going to be, even tougher than Lancer. Lol..!
Fall-in was between 1030-1100. but yet the two guys who stayed the nearest to Kranji mrt is late! grr.. oh well... so we endure hunger and get across the border where good food awaits us. had kenny rogers for lunch. we actually ordered the same dish. so by the time the waitress took order from the 2nd person, she kinda guess what kind of chicken we wanted. Black Pepper.
after lunch, we carried on walking around Citysqaure, actually only 2 guys wanted to buy clothing's la. so they actually walk ahead until we lost them. haa.. the remaining of us just dropped an SMS tell them to meet us at a particular time so we can carry on shopping. so i saw this push-cart selling something interesting that i really wanted to get for Dear. i am not going to tell...! haha! and i got it!
there is this shop that sells clocks and one of their design was a treble clef. oh my god. it caught my eye that i really want to get it. but at the thought of lugging it back to Singapore. erm... next time ba.. when i am not so lazy. Cab over to Holiday plaza, friends want to get some DVD (read: pirated!) kinda scary process.. i shall not explain much. later kena caught! ha!
Met Xiuling at Arcade in Citysquare. haha! surprise, that i gave an expression of "i caught you red-handed" well.. i don't who she was with. main thing was, the world is so small that you can bump into anyone without knowing it.
End Ex at around 2200... by the time all shagged out already. Ex Bahru was quite a success even though a few of them spent so much without knowing what they have spent on. hehe! today everyone will assess the financial damage. for me.. well... haha! not much damage done. phew..!
Auf Wiedersehen!
Friday, June 29, 2007
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
From the Land, Air and Sea
Its been a long time since i was in Singapore. I touched down today around 12.40pm from Bandar Seri Bangawan. Happily shopping at Duty Free, getting some wine and beer. Well, let's rewind back 18 days before.
After posting the last entry, we actually headed to Coffee Bean inside T2 for a cuppa of coffee to keep me awake until i can board the plane. haha! from where we were sitting sipping away, the plane Royal Brunei Airlines was just right in front of us. So every thing felt normal as we go through security at the gate and boarded the plane. i message dear, update her on my flight. the morning was beautiful at changi, only regret is i don't have my camera to capture the moment. Breakfast was served on board, no before long i doze off with the tiny pillow provided. Reality sets in when the plane starts its descend into Brunei.
Once we were on the ground, i wish i didn't make that flight. no one wants to rush off the plane because its the mark of the beginning of a long and tough training in brunei. We were whisked away onto a awaiting bus headed for the water taxi that will take us through the Temburong River towards Bangar Town. Caught a little glimps of BSB, the famous water village in brunei as we sail on. the boat ride was an hour plus long so again, we slept.
Fast forward abit, upon arrival at the camp, we (as in my section) found out that the platoon will be split into our attached coys, so i bunk in with Charlie Coy where it my new "home" for the next 18 days. Training will be with them and for once not with Support Coy. the first few days was in camp training trying to get used to the terrain in Brunei, we climb knolls and get soak in water. First night, i read the letter Support OC wrote to all of us, it made me teared for the first time. In it, was a card with a personal message that goes "Perseverance is failing nineteen times and succeeding the twentieth."
Ex Nomad, was a 3D2N navigation exercise in the brunei jungle. my first outfield bashing through the vegetation, climbing up knolls and down the spurs as we find checkpoints around the jungle. By 3pm we start to find our harbouring area for the night. the first night out there requires some getting used to. Sun sets at 5.30pm in Brunei and not before long by 7 everything is dark. Even with your hand 10cm away from your face also can't be seen! we slept on hammock. again it's my first time la, so didn't set up properly ended sleeping in an uncomfortable manner. it poured heavily the first night, lucky my shelter was properly built so i stayed fairly dry. Second night harbouring was a little impromptu because as we were navigating, it poured suddenly so we quickly built temporary shelter which ends up where we are sleeping for the night. it became a close bonding session that night as we chat away as it was too early to sleep. not long we managed to navigate out of the jungle on third day noon time. all tired and weary but hey, 1 exercise down, 2 more to go!
the next exercise, came straight the next day after the Nomad, we became the role of enemy to engage in a fire fight with the rifle coy, nothing much for these exercise, just sit around wait for them to come round the training circuit to my check point and fire away! and again, 3 days quickly passed.
We did a technical river crossing to refresh us before the finale exercise.
Before going out for the finale exercise, i got a envelop, in it contains to 2 letter from my parents. again, i cried out. at that point. i missed home. they wrote messages that encourage me and gave me a booster to pull through the last exercise.
Finale exercise includes 2 mission, a climb up Mt Biang and the 7 knolls with river crossing. So we walk again to complete the first mission by day 1 and harbour. Day 2, we waited out in a open patch for a Super Puma helicopter to bring us to the foot of Mt Biang. My first flight on a chopper. Quite exciting to see a helicopter coming into land, then we brisked walk towards it while the rotor blades spin above head and board the chopper. haha! Mt Biang, a legendary mountain for training troops in Brunei. it is a 45 degree inclination uphill for the first roughly 500m then the last part it became steeper that require us to use our hands and feets to get us to the top. My salute to the 84mm when they struggle through the climb to the top when their load is heavier than mine! Day 3 was a mad dash down Mt Biang towards the river crossing site then up down the 7 knolls. I nearly lost my mind and broke down as we walk and walk and walk with no end in sight. but hey, i pulled through even though my section was already down with 2 men that means our load we carry became heavier. Day 4, the happiest day in Brunei, mission 2 was executed and not long...... END EX! yeah! as we cheered because the days in Brunei are soon ending! upon returing to camp, 4 of us, Anthony, Kenneth, Ming Wei and myself, was hurried to pack our kit bag to send back as we are the first 4 pioneers to fly back while the rest are on the last flight which they are making their way back as i type.
R&R was yesterday, we toured around BSB. Visited the M&M&M's (Mosque and Museum and Mall). tell you the truth, Brunei wasn't as bad as it thought other than being a strict muslim country. Everything is Gold! even the dustbin, electrical plugs and supermarket trolley! haha! i have no pictures to show because i never bring camera la! We toured the water village and actually dropping into one of the house to experience what is like to stay in there. this morning was dead straight heading for the airport and no way i was to turn back! got on to my window seat! finally! haha! now back to terra firma.
the past 18 days, like the phrase from the infantry song which all BMTC recruits sing at POP "from the land, air and sea." that was happen during the 18 days. we walk, flew, swim, climb. i don't know how i did it, but i did it! its hard to describe. it takes one to experience it to know how it felt like. glad that i didn't fall out and endure through the training. now back home i shall enjoy the next 7 days relaxing before the next phrase of training begins till turning ops to protect the nation.
Auf Wiedersehen!
After posting the last entry, we actually headed to Coffee Bean inside T2 for a cuppa of coffee to keep me awake until i can board the plane. haha! from where we were sitting sipping away, the plane Royal Brunei Airlines was just right in front of us. So every thing felt normal as we go through security at the gate and boarded the plane. i message dear, update her on my flight. the morning was beautiful at changi, only regret is i don't have my camera to capture the moment. Breakfast was served on board, no before long i doze off with the tiny pillow provided. Reality sets in when the plane starts its descend into Brunei.
Once we were on the ground, i wish i didn't make that flight. no one wants to rush off the plane because its the mark of the beginning of a long and tough training in brunei. We were whisked away onto a awaiting bus headed for the water taxi that will take us through the Temburong River towards Bangar Town. Caught a little glimps of BSB, the famous water village in brunei as we sail on. the boat ride was an hour plus long so again, we slept.
Fast forward abit, upon arrival at the camp, we (as in my section) found out that the platoon will be split into our attached coys, so i bunk in with Charlie Coy where it my new "home" for the next 18 days. Training will be with them and for once not with Support Coy. the first few days was in camp training trying to get used to the terrain in Brunei, we climb knolls and get soak in water. First night, i read the letter Support OC wrote to all of us, it made me teared for the first time. In it, was a card with a personal message that goes "Perseverance is failing nineteen times and succeeding the twentieth."
Ex Nomad, was a 3D2N navigation exercise in the brunei jungle. my first outfield bashing through the vegetation, climbing up knolls and down the spurs as we find checkpoints around the jungle. By 3pm we start to find our harbouring area for the night. the first night out there requires some getting used to. Sun sets at 5.30pm in Brunei and not before long by 7 everything is dark. Even with your hand 10cm away from your face also can't be seen! we slept on hammock. again it's my first time la, so didn't set up properly ended sleeping in an uncomfortable manner. it poured heavily the first night, lucky my shelter was properly built so i stayed fairly dry. Second night harbouring was a little impromptu because as we were navigating, it poured suddenly so we quickly built temporary shelter which ends up where we are sleeping for the night. it became a close bonding session that night as we chat away as it was too early to sleep. not long we managed to navigate out of the jungle on third day noon time. all tired and weary but hey, 1 exercise down, 2 more to go!
the next exercise, came straight the next day after the Nomad, we became the role of enemy to engage in a fire fight with the rifle coy, nothing much for these exercise, just sit around wait for them to come round the training circuit to my check point and fire away! and again, 3 days quickly passed.
We did a technical river crossing to refresh us before the finale exercise.
Before going out for the finale exercise, i got a envelop, in it contains to 2 letter from my parents. again, i cried out. at that point. i missed home. they wrote messages that encourage me and gave me a booster to pull through the last exercise.
Finale exercise includes 2 mission, a climb up Mt Biang and the 7 knolls with river crossing. So we walk again to complete the first mission by day 1 and harbour. Day 2, we waited out in a open patch for a Super Puma helicopter to bring us to the foot of Mt Biang. My first flight on a chopper. Quite exciting to see a helicopter coming into land, then we brisked walk towards it while the rotor blades spin above head and board the chopper. haha! Mt Biang, a legendary mountain for training troops in Brunei. it is a 45 degree inclination uphill for the first roughly 500m then the last part it became steeper that require us to use our hands and feets to get us to the top. My salute to the 84mm when they struggle through the climb to the top when their load is heavier than mine! Day 3 was a mad dash down Mt Biang towards the river crossing site then up down the 7 knolls. I nearly lost my mind and broke down as we walk and walk and walk with no end in sight. but hey, i pulled through even though my section was already down with 2 men that means our load we carry became heavier. Day 4, the happiest day in Brunei, mission 2 was executed and not long...... END EX! yeah! as we cheered because the days in Brunei are soon ending! upon returing to camp, 4 of us, Anthony, Kenneth, Ming Wei and myself, was hurried to pack our kit bag to send back as we are the first 4 pioneers to fly back while the rest are on the last flight which they are making their way back as i type.
R&R was yesterday, we toured around BSB. Visited the M&M&M's (Mosque and Museum and Mall). tell you the truth, Brunei wasn't as bad as it thought other than being a strict muslim country. Everything is Gold! even the dustbin, electrical plugs and supermarket trolley! haha! i have no pictures to show because i never bring camera la! We toured the water village and actually dropping into one of the house to experience what is like to stay in there. this morning was dead straight heading for the airport and no way i was to turn back! got on to my window seat! finally! haha! now back to terra firma.
the past 18 days, like the phrase from the infantry song which all BMTC recruits sing at POP "from the land, air and sea." that was happen during the 18 days. we walk, flew, swim, climb. i don't know how i did it, but i did it! its hard to describe. it takes one to experience it to know how it felt like. glad that i didn't fall out and endure through the training. now back home i shall enjoy the next 7 days relaxing before the next phrase of training begins till turning ops to protect the nation.
Auf Wiedersehen!
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Pre-Flight Entry
haha! blogging from Terminal 2. Just checked into my flight, going to grab a bite before boarding. See you guys in a few weeks time....
Don't worry guys, i will take care of myself. I pray for all back at home!
Auf Wiedersehen!
Don't worry guys, i will take care of myself. I pray for all back at home!
Auf Wiedersehen!
Thursday, June 07, 2007
jus an update
so this is an account of what happen the past few (or perhaps many) days... not in good mood to write so here goes bunch of rubbish..
its feels wonderful to be able to touch and kiss the french horn again. haha! manage to attend alumni band prac even though they were preparing for concert. i have been labelled as "guest player". oh well... serving the country has higher prority? yah.. so eh, really miss playing horn la. nice to catch up with the rest of the guys. seeing them makes me miss those times before i enlist into army. wish i could have more time to hang out with them. and well.. first alumni concert and i am not playing. what's worst..? i am not around in Singapore.
Saturday was grandpa's birthday. was suppose to be held at some restaurant la, but haiya, don't know what happen. end up doing it at his house. brought Suky along to well... meet the family? it was boring as usual, we kept ourselves entertain by arm and thumb wrestling. i think i should stop doing thumb wrestling, i sprain my thumb in camp and still hurts whenever i play piano. what a pain..
Sunday watched shrek 3 then went to vila'ge for rosti. i love it! wee..! actually watch with suky's collegues la, noisy but lively bunch. hmm... better than those bunch of monkeys in camp i think!
final packing of kit bag for past 3 days. not really in the mood to blog. coz going to brunei soon. haiz.. mood is on a roller coaster ride. going up and down, up and down. i won't want to say much. the following is my flight details.
Outbound flight - BI 428
Departure Date/Time - 9 June @ 0710
Inbound flight - BI 421
Arrival Date/Time - 26 June @ 1245
Auf Wiedersehen!
its feels wonderful to be able to touch and kiss the french horn again. haha! manage to attend alumni band prac even though they were preparing for concert. i have been labelled as "guest player". oh well... serving the country has higher prority? yah.. so eh, really miss playing horn la. nice to catch up with the rest of the guys. seeing them makes me miss those times before i enlist into army. wish i could have more time to hang out with them. and well.. first alumni concert and i am not playing. what's worst..? i am not around in Singapore.
Saturday was grandpa's birthday. was suppose to be held at some restaurant la, but haiya, don't know what happen. end up doing it at his house. brought Suky along to well... meet the family? it was boring as usual, we kept ourselves entertain by arm and thumb wrestling. i think i should stop doing thumb wrestling, i sprain my thumb in camp and still hurts whenever i play piano. what a pain..
Sunday watched shrek 3 then went to vila'ge for rosti. i love it! wee..! actually watch with suky's collegues la, noisy but lively bunch. hmm... better than those bunch of monkeys in camp i think!
final packing of kit bag for past 3 days. not really in the mood to blog. coz going to brunei soon. haiz.. mood is on a roller coaster ride. going up and down, up and down. i won't want to say much. the following is my flight details.
Outbound flight - BI 428
Departure Date/Time - 9 June @ 0710
Inbound flight - BI 421
Arrival Date/Time - 26 June @ 1245
Auf Wiedersehen!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)