ROFL ! BACK FROM OBS ! ;D
i'll write out my OBS journal .
it's a little VERY dry .
lols .
dont mind it , i'll write more if there's anything to add on .
(and actually there's loads to add on)

MONDAY , 11/6/07
when i first saw the OBS site , i felt it was very different from the other camps i'd experienced . at first glance , it looked much more run down then the NPCC campsite also on Pulau Ubin . however , as the plans on how the five days were to be spent were slowly revealed , it was indeed seeming to be a different experience altogether . by moving around to different camps everyday , we'd have to pitch and unpitch the tents everyday . whereas he tents are lighter and easier to pitch . the activities that we did boosted our trust and courage . i felt that the trust fall was exhilarating and really fun . what was best was when you could feel the mat , it felt like you'd just been saved from a broken back or skull by your own friends . through the gratitude , stronger friendships and bonding can be formed . although yesterday was only the first day , i think that my watch members are very friendly and sociable , i do believe and hope that over the next four more days , we will be able to form a stronger and more bonded team .

/add on: the trip to punggol started out really bad . well, that was for 3s1's bus . we were so suay that we got the last bus . and along the way , we actually got a puncture in on of the tires . in the bumboat , we were all anticipating how it'd be like and how our teams would be formed . a few of them already left earlier because they'd probably be going in different camps . (and yes they went to camp 1 while the rest of us went to camp 2 ) when we got there , we were split into different groups and we met new watch members and our instructors . i was in Raleigh . our intructor was alex , or rather he'd like us to call him uncle alex . because he was twice our age . and pearl's first comment on him was : he looks weird . ROFL ! and yeah so zhun la ! got pearl in the same group . met the watchmates : cai yi , sherlyn , haslinda , lu ye , cui ting (shiny) , felicia , vanessa , si ying , sankari , jing lin , jessica , shiqi , rab , pearl & cheng lu . in case you're wondering why there's a strike out there , she was sent home because she had high fever . we were Raleigh , based on Sir Walter Raleigh . who was an explorer .
after that , we had to do some store stuff , and then we went up 101 steps to learn belaying . and then knot tying and the trust fall . after that , we learnt how to pitch a tent . it wasnt me and pearllyn's fault that we already knew how to tie so many knots :x
trust fall was extremely great , the feeling is just AWESOME . if you have the chance to try it , please just do . it's not terrifying at all . ;D
we cooked dinner after that . and it was fun . first time we cooked rice . and i think it's the first time alot of them cooked outdoors . so the canned food stuff looked really gross when they were cooking it x_____x
especially since they dumped baked beans , sausages and peanuts all into one mess tin and cooked it . with all the sauce . it looked really gross but for those people who didnt know what was inside , it tasted REALLY GOOD . ROFL !
lights out at 11 . (:

/side note: today passed really slowly and we thought that 5 days was going to take forever to pass . cant wait for friday so we can all go home .

TUESDAY , 12/6/07
today started out rather badly , as we had to unpitch our tents in the early morning while it was raining . after rushing to pack , we assembled together . tehre would be PTs in the morning . i felt that the PT was rather relaxed and fun , this undoubtedly made us a little more awake and excited . after last minute packing , we moved off to another campsite . the huge bags that we carried weighed us down alot and climbing the steps seemed to take all our strength and forever . as we made our way along , the road and ground was really slippery . however , i think that the arrangement was well done , by helping each other , whether by offering to lighten their load or fastening something for them , we finally managed to reach the campsite in 28mins . (though alex told us 25 ) it definitely felt much much much longer than that , after pitching the tents , we proceeded to rock climbing . it was a challenging experience for those who had not rock climbed before . i felt that it was very brave of them to break down the mental fear of it and do it . after that was lunch , and then kayaking . kayaking proved to be the largest challenge of the day . the wind was strong and we kept drifting away . by staying together and helping each other , we managed to capsize and rescue each other successfully . in the water , there were even jellyfishes ! i believe today was a fruitful day that allowed us to trust each other more from the 'rescue ' exercise . also , the goal setting set us on course .

/add on: we trekked for 28mins from camp 2 to camp 1 . with huge haversacks that had to last us for 3 days . and our tents . rock climbing was fun . though cai yi , sherlyn , jing lin , cheng lu and me tried the hard wall first , we couldnt do it so we did the easier wall after the rest of them did it . everyone surpassed the target they'd set for themselves and we actually did belaying ! it was great . thanks to my belayers i climbed the wall too ! thanks shiqi, jing lin , cheng lu and cai yi for belaying me ! ;D and uncle alex actually climbed the hard wall , all the way to the top , which is 15 boards ! when belaying him , even haslinda almost flew up , so many many anchorwomen were needed . we changed first before Tenzing (our buddy watch) because we got sian of rock climbing first and we'd surely beat their score at rock climbing because well erm , we were better :X
came back and saw Tenzing eating lunch . so we ate too while they went to change . after that we were having kayaking . learnt how to paddle and stuff . then went to get partners . i went with pearl . damn funny la . we couldnt paddle properly . and when we did the capsize drill , we actually got out of the kayak before it overturned . which made alex splash water at us -_-"
after that we changed and bathed , actually we didnt bathe because there were too many people there . but quite a few people bathed la . met at the mess hall . me and pearl had a hard time finding it because camp 1 was sooooo huge ! we were really quite lucky , managed to find it finally . LOL . and turned out we were the only ones there with si ying . SLOWLY , they all came . lols . and really really LUCKY that there was still food at the mess hall for dinner ! i swear we wanted to kill those people who just threw away their food when we were practically starving . after that we had goal setting . RALEIGH'S CHARTER WAS : 1. to be more bonded . 2. CHIONG !!! FIGHT !!!! WIN !!!!! 3. no ABC ( UGs shld know what this is ) 4 . be punctual . after that we had supper . red bean soup ! haha ! xD after that , went back to the campsite to sleep . lights out at 11 . (:

WEDNESDAY , 13/6/07
like yesterday , today started out with morning PT . before that , we had problems at the campsite unpitching the tents in the dark . we finally made it to the MPH . at first , those who were early went back to the campsite to get items and help those who were still there . but as time passed, we started getting irritated but finally , we were all there . after a very weird morning PT , we were finally getting ready to go , by re-packing our bags . after a bit of lessons on map-reading , we learnt about the Land Expedition and the bearings of the tasks that we were required to do . after some arguing and confusion , we still managed to find the location . to find our mascot (Raleigh Jr. ) , we really exercised teamwork and tried different methods to reach the tree . Finally , after we'd saved Raleigh Jr. , we set off to find the other 3 watches that made up Camp 2A . after the whole 8 figure grid reference had been completed and the exact place pinpointed , we started off . after long and tiring walks , we'd reward ourselves with rests . gradually , we got more and more tired . i felt that when we saw our watchmates getting ready to give up , and yet carried on when they were encouraged , was really motivation to ourselves . climbing to the highest point in Pulau Ubin (puaca hill) which is 64m above ground , it felt like we'd overcome a huge obstacle ! and saved Raleigh Jr. ! this showed that , with teamwork , everything is possible .

/add on : the first 8 figure grid reference was screwed cause the instructors also got kind of mixed up with the stations and gave the groups the wrong grid references . so after that they had to confirm it for us again . we basically trekked from camp 1 to our new campsite , which was Jelutong beach . it was around 10km . as someone mentioned o_o . and with the huge haversack that we were carrying , it was TORTURE . but we all endured , and i'd like to say thanks to CHENG LU , SHIQI , PEARL , HASLINDA , VANESSA & JESSICA for encouraging and helping me . (: when we climbed up puaca hill , it was really scary . as in , we climbed up with our haversacks and all . if we tripped .. goodness . it's really BU KAN SE XIANG . we had lunch up there and then walked all the way to the top , it was really lucky that alex let us put our bags down halfway so we could climb up . another watch was up thr , dont know which watch la but is another one . xD then we saw the quarry . the water was sooooo nice ! saw some guys down there , and we were wondering how they got there with the boat . weird ideas we got x_X and then alex noticed something , THEY WERE NAKED GUYS ROFL ! sorry alex . ;x you cant blame us for not wanted to shout when you asked us to and then shout when there're naked guys around . ROFL ! we first shouted RALEIGH ROCKS ! and then when they started waving at us , alex waved back . then he's like : OH LOOK THERE'S NAKED GUYS DOWN THERE !
ROFL . i think haslinda and jessica got kind of horny xD
then haslinda keep saying more stuff and whatever for us to shout . we shouted CHIONG FIGHT WIN ! and alex said they think that we're crazy -_- we shld've said that if we're crazy , you're with us too . kept replying to them when they shouted back . then continued walking on . after this we made it to the campsite FINALLY . and there was a real toilet there ! OMG !
we set up the tent there . then debrief abit . learnt whr to cook . when some ppl were cooking . me , pearllyn , haslinda and rab were trying to pack the ponchos into ONE bag . 15 PONCHOS OKAY ! ._________. there was this one particular poncho where when someone touched it, DOZENS OF ANTS CAME POURING OUT ! ME AND PEARLLYN SAW IT ! AND IT WAS SO GROSS ! after that we started feeling itchy all over x_x rab said that IT'S ALL IN THE MIND ! ROFL . but after 5 minutes we were still scratching ! then haslinda came over and we told her to 'fling it' . but she's a bad flinger ! LOL . then she touched the one with ants x_____x THEY CAME OUT AGAIN ! SO SCARY ! SHE SCREAMED AND RAN AWAY ! LOL ! then rab was the hero :D she threw the mat onto the ground . then after that no one dared to pick it up. but finally haslinda did . and we continued packing . haslinda made a DAMN GOOD flinger after that . yes , lols . thanks JING LIN for telling us when the food's ready . they mixed the can food together again ! horror ! x___x baked beans and peanuts again ! after that had 'movie screening' , starring AHMAD ! LOL . co-starring ALEX ! stuntpeople ALEX and TRACY . ROFL ! damn funny . learnt paddle signals and stuff . after that decided on the leaders and then we continued packing our bags and stuff and filling water bottles with the jellycans . after that , lights out at 11 . sentry duty at 4.35 for my tent group . lols .

THURSDAY , 14/6/07
it's already the second last day of the camp . and we though that five days was too long and we couldnt wait for it to be over . we went for the sea expedition today . 13km of kayaking . fighting against the sea currents and the wind . in truth , i didnt really think we could make it from the way and pace we started out with . and even with constant application of sunblock , i still got a sunburn and a horrible tanline . along the way , when we collided with each other , we'd politely say sorry and move along . however , as we progressed , we got more and more irritated and instead of being polite , started to scream and shout at each other . this was certainly demoralising and when we finally quickened up the pace , i was really relieved . after 9 hours of kayaking , we finally reached camp 2 at 6pm . we were all excited that we had arrived ... (i didnt complete it , rofl )

/add on: we left around 8.40 . and we reached the campsite at 6pm . not bad eh ? we were all suffering from stiff joints and our arms were killing us . i kayaked with pearllyn , and i bet she wanted to kill me halfway because i was being deadweight with seasickness . of course i stuffed orange skin up one of my nose as alot of people did and continued paddling . we all had to wear t shirts over our head which made us look alot like terrorists x_x but alex really looked the most like a terrorist xD talk about covering up everything . the only thing he didnt cover was his hands . his cap had flaps that covered the sides of his face and he wrapped them over his mouth too . he was wearing sunglasses and a long sleeved shirt with long pants . seriously , more covered than ALOT of us . rofl . we were going real slow at first because there were some people who got seasick very fast and couldnt paddle . but luckily they actually stepped in during lunch and kind of woke us up . after that , some ppl changed partners and we actually moved faster . couldnt help but feel tired . when they breaked for a long while , me and pearl were actually almost asleep . but someone shouted for us to go on so we couldnt sleep. )x
when we reached camp 1 , the intructors told us that it was only another 10 minutes to camp 2 . but because we were really against the current and the wind , we took around 25 minutes to get to camp 2 . i swear , the energy that we had when we all heard that was amazing . everyone kayaked like crazy . and the amount of bumpings also increased . it was really irritating every time you bumped or got bumped by someone . if you bumped someone , they'd scream at you and say: OI! DONT BUMP LA ! and you'll be thinking , if i could choose nt to bump , I WOULDNT ! if someone bumped you , if they said sorry , it'd be okay . but SOME people just bumped you and kept bumping for the next 3 minutes and didnt give a damn ! IT WAS #$%^&*() . when we got to camp 2 , we were drifting alot because we had to wait to beach the kayaks . wasted alot of time and energy there . when we got on the beach , it was so great x_x until they told us we still had to wash and bring the kayaks back . when we heard that , we all practically collapsed . still , we continued . and after that formed a human chain to transport all the haversacks and stuff from the powerboat . when we finished , we heart from our sea expedition leaders . and after that we got to pitch tents . even after that, we had time to bathe . ;x IT WAS SO GOOD LA ! ROFL . ME AND PEARLLYN DIDNT HAVE TIME TO BATHE FOR THE LAST 3 DAYS AND WHEN WE DID , IT WAS SOOO DAMN GOOD . after that had dinner , and we cooked with a gasoline stove . which was a change . i bet haslinda and pearllyn were high . because of the prunes . and partly for has , PMS . they got high on pitted prunes -_- and i was high on tang orange powder . ROFL . pearl needed somewhr to rest on . and everytime i saw has , i kept laughing . so when pearl rested on my back , i kept laughing ! and it was really uncomfortable for her xD then she moved to has . after that me and has felt kind of weird . she felt like she was on the sea again and the waves were moving up and down . i felt like i was swaying and i couldnt keep my head in the same place cause it was so heavy . and if you want to weigh my head , you can demonstrate how to weigh a head with your own . thanks . xD after that , had debrief and then could go get our stuff and go sleep . BUT , the LAM GUY (okay so we dont really know how to spell his name ) chased us all away because 11 was supposed to be lights out . after that , uncle alex came and gave us 'special permission ' . so we all walked back . and when THE LAM GUY was shouting at us to get us to go to the tents , we just ignored him and continued walking to our store saying : we got special permission . he replied with : WHAT SPECIAL PERMISSION ! I'M THE HIGHEST AUTHORITY HERE ! and then uncle alex told him that we got debrief till 11 , so it's not our fault . he gave us 3 minutes to grab our stuff and go . so we did . and i just grabbed mosquito repellent and a torchlight and left . lights out ! (:

FRIDAY , 15/6/07
okay so i didnt write a journal for this day . we had the commitment exercise . and we all managed to hit the bell . (: we had store clean up and Raleigh finished first . (: uncle alex told us to wait for him , even if i rained -_- so we all waited , and talked . and we felt the first few droplets of water when an instructor came and said it's going to rain . alex came back quite quickly and gave us our stuff , then we could go to the shop and buy souvenirs . loads of other grps were there already . and we all wanted to buy so many things -_- but we couldnt buy alot because we only had 50 bucks ;x actually it's quite alot , but we wanted to get t shirts, notebooks , caps ! all this stuff ! so 50bucks wasnt enough xD and after that i asked tab to help me get the cap because i'd already bought the stuff . ): YES TAB YOU'RE THE SMARTEST PERSON IN THE WORLD BECAUSE YOU KNOW WHAT COLOUR I WANTED WITHOUT ME TELLING YOU! x_X i was blackmailed to say that x_____x" but still, thanks . (: after that , we all waited outside the shop because it was raining really heavily . alex still came down to the shop anyway . lols . open secret : that Raleigh was the best in the mobile Camp 2A out of Amanson , Tenzing and Dagama . (: ROCK ON , RALEIGH ! we met our shadows and the people we were shadowing . i was shadowing siying (: and jessica was shadowing me . (: thanks for the comments ! after that , when the rain stopped , we moved back to the MPH and waited . they gave us this survey again . -_- really quite -___-" from RP one lor . -_- after that , we were all signing each others pictures and saying goodbye . shiqi ran down to the shop to buy a shirt for uncle alex and we all signed it. (: we planned to take the last bumboat and stayed at the MPH . when we went to get our bags , the instructors shouted at us for taking so long -___-" i mean , what's their problem ): if we want to be late , it's our own problem ! waited at the kayak area for less than a minute , we were the last grp but since all of us were there , we didnt have to wait to go to the jetty . so we did . last grp to reach but first grp to board xD the instructors there were super lame . like , they're tall because they drink ROYAL BLOOD , which was this bottle of blue liquid . but everyone knew it was just blueberry juice . and since alex wasnt very tall ;x he said : and i dont drink it . LOL . exchanged lame jokes . we were supposed to guess tracy's school . and she was frm an all girls' sch . they said she was robin o_o" as in , batman and robin , that robin . rofl . after that we were supposed to guess alex's sch . which was an all boy's sch . it was hwachong la . lols . and then when the bumboat came , Tenzing left first . but only 12 ppl max , so some of them were left . the next bumboat came and alot of us couldnt wait . so we just got on . ): bye pulau ubin . ): on the boat , we were all so sad that we were leaving . shiny was planning for all of us to meet on one afternoon , with center partings in our hair ROFL . got back to sg . then got on the bus and went back to school .

and with that , ends my OBS experience with Crescent Raleigh `07 .
i am indeed blessed and very happy that i have met my watch mates . (:

& CHIONG !!! FIGHT !!!! WIN !!!!!
;melissa