P/S Anuja and ZhiWei is the shortest and tallest person in odac respectively! Cool eh? (:
After a meal at a different eating place from our first trip there, we continued on our journey to Belumut. There was a seat reallocation then, and the four of us ended up at the front.
For the rest of the bus ride, Ivan, Farhan, Kenneth, Mr Eric and me played a few rounds of tai tee (: After a rather lucky game, we moved on to Bridge. The pros then taught me and Mr Eric how to play Bridge. It's damn fun!! Mainly because of the fact that you may not lose even if you have a lousy deck of cards, and you may not win with an imba set of cards. Thats what makes it amazing ;D
finally (: After reaching the entrance, we took a couple of pictures, then walked to base camp and pitched our tents. Eugene gave a briefing, whilst Tammie allocated tasks.
GLs and AGLs supervised the SSS who were pitching their own tents whereas the other instructors pitched the instructor tents.
After pitching, we were allocated tents, dumped our bags in there, and then set off for a jungle surviving skills course by the trainers there. They showed us how they caught/trapped animals for food, how they built makeshift beds in the wild and how they cook in the jungle.
It was enriching too, because there were hands on experience for us. (Though it was a little more cool in Taman Negara probably because of the fact that they are Orang Aslis, and that we get to see their living conditions. Also, there was more time then, for them to teach us how to weave bracelets out of bamboo shavings, have a hands on practice of how to use their darts to shoot a target, teach us how they actually catch the animals, and build the makeshift shelters.)
The difference in the way they catch the animals for food is that in Taman Negara, the Orang aslis coat their handmade darts with a special poison that will only poison the small portion of the animal, around the spot where it was shot. This is so that the poison will not be spread to the rest of the meat. However, in Belumut, they most probably catch smaller animals alive, then continue breeding them till they get bigger in size, before killing it.
This is our trainer who taught groupD,E&F those jungle skills.
On his left is how they heat water using a plastic bag. It's so cool, he told us that plastic won't melt when there's water in it! Cool eh? ;D
On his right is the ambers for cooking eggs, rice etc. See the two bamboo thing standing by the ambers? There are rice inside! Water and rice will be poured into its hollow interior to a proportion of 1:1. Then when the rice gets sticky enough, in that it sticks to the surface of something else, it is ready for consumption (: This is so cool! He even let us sample the cooked rice. It wasn't bad at all, except that the bottom part thats closer to the ambers is softer than the upper part which was rather hard and grainy. The trainer told us that it hasn't been cooked for long enough. But we wanted to sample it ;D Haha.
On his right in the plastic bag is some damp mud which is used to cover the eggs. He demonstrated by taking a very thick layer of mud and wrapping it around the egg and then placing it on the ambers. The main purpose of covering with mud is that it is moist and hence there is some water in it, hence able to cook the egg. Someone (I think it's Ivan) also mentioned that this is also so that the egg will not explode as there is an air bubble in the egg, and the shell is brittle. When it is directly heated, the air bubble expands and the egg will explode. Below his right hand on the ground is the egg in mud he demonstrated for us. Amongst the ambers lie 2 ready cooked eggs which the trainer let us sample. It was DELICIOUS (: I must try this cool method some time..
Haha. anyway, in front of him is a termite nest (in the log). According to him, termites are a good source of protein. He let us sample that too. I didnt really like the thought of eating termites alive. But i'm very proud of Sebby for taking the initiative to try the termites! ;D It's still FOOD to him! Hahaha, as Anuja says, Sebby the Chubby! ;D So cute! Haha. The people who tried the termites said that it was salty..
After the "course" was a RIVER DIP (: followed by dinner. The SSS cooked maggi and canned food. Valarie was so sweet. She kept tending to the maggi all the while when we ate and even served it to us! and maggi dinner was quite yummy actually.
We had a rather long but insightful debrief that night, before going back to our tents to change, wipe ourselves with wet wipes, and pack our daypack for the climb the next day. Anuja and i were a little upset initially, because due to circumstances, i had to be sweeper for the hike. But it was alright without me i guess..
(:
Woke up early the next day for the climb (: Was pleased to see my group being rather punctual. After a breakfast on rations and bread with nutella and tuna, we divided the rations to be put into all their bagpacks, then got ready for the climb. Since Zhiwei and Kynaston were not going to be climbing the mountain, they were tasked with a heavy responsibility of taking care of the passports and valuables. Lol!
After PT, Mr Eric briefed again on the importance of safety and showed us a scorpion that the teachers found.
Scary eh? It was considerably big and freaky...
Anyway, after the guides arrived, we set off in order of groups for the climb.
Bobo, Tammie, Kenneth, Mr Eric and me were the sweepers together with 2 guides as we proceeded with the hike. The pace was great, even faster than our first hike, but the terrain was much drier and less muddy and wet than our first time hiking Belumut.
It was nevertheless fun, and really an enriching experience of being a sweeper and how to motivate the SSS who fell back to join the strawberries. Being a sweeper is relaxing at times when we can rest as and when we like, and chat and take pictures whilst waiting. We also had the benefit of a lot of space as well as being able to enjoy and appreciate the surroundings. However, we had to catch up quite a large distance at other times as well as really motivate and accompany those SSS who were feeling weak and unwell.
It was really a great hike up, and we could chat along the way. (: However, i mostly listened as i didnt know how to speak hokkien. Can only understand it when it is being said. It was fun though. The other 4 sweepers (not inclusive of the 2 guides, because they definitely have to be fit) are thankfully, very fit (: Initially, we were very worried when there was slight rain at the exact same spot where it started raining during our first climb (checkpoint 3). However, the situation was not as bad and hence we were allowed to continue the hike to the real summit this time round! (:
Was really very glad we managed to reach the summit at such good timing too! ;D Managed to take a few pictures before heading down, before it got too late. It was fun during the trek down too! It was not as wet and slippery and it was quite a lot easier than the first time we trekked.
For the very last part of the hike, i was glad to be allowed to join my group, Dynamite! ;D It was indeed enjoyable and heartwarming to see them helping each other, eg Zul holding Valarie's hand and helping by providing support for quite a period of time. Also, Ardy and Sebby were really very good, perservering all the way, and giving their best shot. Shaun, however, kept running away. Rather upset when he didnt really show much concern and help to his weaker group mates, but instead tried to show how fit and "capable" he is. Partly because of his trying to show off, he swung a branch and refused to let go till the branch fell to the ground and pierced Jonathan's hand! It was really freaky and i really pity Jonathan as it was very obvious that the pain was really excruciating, yet he was very strong and did not complain. He didnt even show any sign of pain! Me and Anuja was pleased and touched at him not providing any extra trouble at all. He just continued the hike in pain. According to Farhan, the cut was very deep till his bone cound be seen. Ouch.
After that we went for another RIVER DIP (: and then prepared dinner, and got ready for campfire. Campfire was not that bad, except for the...fake fire? Haha. had debrief again till very late, before we hurried back to our tents for a thankful powder bath. ;D
The last day was basically the unpitching of tents, as well as the coach ride back with the stopover lunch at the previous food place from the first trip! (:
Upon reaching MJC, after settling some logistics, the SSS were dismissed to go home. I'm so glad to be part of DYNAMITE ;D and i will definitely miss the SSS!!!
DYNAMITE ;D cooking and cleaning up.
This was taken on the first day of expedition.
The 4 in orange in the middle are the groupD instructors. Haha, busy trying to eat finish the maggi...
Gerald's prominent "SAME SAME BUT DIFFERENT" shirt. Haha. xD
DYNAMITE at checkpoint3 where it started drizzling...
(:
I miss them and the SSS! ):
The river where we had our dip! ;D It was super shiok and it looked nicer than this... xDD
Overall, GREAT experience and i definitely loved it. I learnt a lot too, and it is definitely not (and will never be) a regret (:
I'm missing the SSS already, and im glad at how my group Dynamite improved over the week(s) (: Well deserving of the Most Improved Group! ;DD
Credits of the pictures go to Kenneth for taking it. (:
Havent gotten the other pictures yet, so no summit photo either!
Just wanted to add on, this busy period of time taught me many lessons i would never forget. I also managed to learn from a few great people who taught me various stuff and made major contributions (:
