Week 5 (23-27 Jan)

Sunday

Since it's the last day of our Hari Raya Haji holiday, the camp let us (those who didn't take the holidays) go to town until 3pm! Practically going everywhere I can in Miri! and buy as many things as I can, so I end up spending 80% of the allowance... bad money management... Had the tasty Kacama again! That day afternoon right after we went back to camp, and back to my room, we were immediately called back to the hall - to count how many of us had returned. Yes, someone is missing! And KJ is pretty pissed off. Then we're called to the Logistik to get our classroom uniform. First, they give out the uniforms by the name on the paper, so they had to look for the uniform themselve. That's dump. Then the start giving out uniforms by reading the names on the uniform they got, and that make the giving process faster. However, once you'd got your uniform, you have to write your name in a log book, and THAT IS SLOW, AND DUMB. I hope they can make the process faster and start using computer database at least.

Monday

Today we have the 'real' first day of Character Building (CB) class and it's a big disappointment! They (the unniversity teachers/lecturers, I assumed) practically treat us like kindies... you know, in kindergarden? My goodness! I know, they're trying to make the class less boring, but IMHO, they're making it worst. Come on, we're 18/19 already! They also practically read from the script, at least one (out of three) of them read like reading a book with some annoying posture... I wonder what will happen if they are a little serious to us, not always smiling, laughing, and making their voice cute with us. BTW, those who gamble that day, weren't asked to go for siri khas anymore, instead, they're punished to march somemore with the dicipline trainers.

In the afternoon, we have some Flying fox and marching. Then, we're allowed to go back to room. But soon after we reach room and ready to bath, they told us to come out again (WTF?) and gather in front of the canteen. Then I realise we're having a preview of the jogathon track we're about to run in the future. It's just going around the Soon Hup villa. There's a lot of yet-to-develope land around!

Tuesday

Some more BORING CB class. Everyone seem like half-dead in the class. This time around, there's a little improvement. And they start showing us soem dumb videos concerning the values we learnt in CB class.

In the afternoon I finally got the chance to try 'Flying Fox'!!! At first I don't feel any nervousness at all, compared with my friend who's hand is already icy cold after we wore our suit. But once I got on the first floor, my heart beat increased, and even more when reach the second floor! I request to jump myself instead of being push by the trainers (Cikgu Wahab / Faizal, that is). The decending was FUN! and not a bit of scary, but not the braking point... depend on your speed and weight, it could be very 'brutal'. Once I'd stopped, my mind go blank for like 2-3 seconds. I feel like... WOW! I hope I can try it one more time!

At night got some more CB class... screw them! always finding some free time of us and used it as class! I am extremely sleepy as it is boring, eventhough I'm selected to be the 'Captain' for the session.

Wednesday

During the morning march, the person who read the 'Ikrar' in Charlie group didn't want to go out, and KJ was so pissed off! He asked the whole company to lead the ikrar! and Ask them to gather at the Marching field in full army uniform at 11pm that night. Later the morning was some more CB class and dumb videos. We actually ended our topic at 12pm, 30 minutes earlier than usual, but the teacher keeping doing and talking rubbish till 12.30pm, that's very annoying!

In the afternoon, we asked to take part in the creativity game, sadly, our group do not have the chance to finish it. Those who havn't play the 'FF' were asked to play. Then it's the start of sport competitions (Sport Carnival). We have Bball and Volleyball that day.At night we have somemore stupid CB video and class.

Thursday

That morning, the flags were raised by Andy, Yong, and Teck Kiong from our company. It wasn't so smooth, so the KJ scolded them. Then we have somemore CB class. In the afternoon, we have some creative games like 'Water crossing'. Later the afternoon, we have some more competition, and I'm selected for the Bball competition. That's a very bad idea because I litterally never played Bball before. Moreover, none of our company members are Bball players. So throughout the game, we didn't break the 0 mark, while the Bravo gruop reaching 50, we are all fed up of cheering. At the last minute, Teck Hua threw in a 3 score ball! And we're all so happy! At least it isn't 0 after all.

Later the night, something really awful happen, I'd run out of time in the CC, got to go now. So I'll try my best to continue next Sunday. See ya all and have fun!

Smoking Issue

Those people who smoked my room are sick! Whenever I go back to my room,
I will always smell it! They smoke while gambling in the room, they
smoke when I'm trying to sleep, they smoke when I'm bathing or having
toilet business.

Maybe they smoke because the trainers also smoke in the coumpound.
Sometimes I can smell it in the hall and the logistic room. Like what
they've said, like father like son.

Luckily, my room was raid the night before Haji holiday started and
those involved in gambling was caught. I think the situation have
improved, if not totally solved, because last night I am able to sleep
in a smokeless enviroment. Read more about it in the week 4 report.

Week 4 (16-22 Jan)

Well, for Sunday, I found out that I cannot bring my jacket out anymore. Not even when the weather is cold (around 24*c at 5am in camp) or there is a big chance of raining. Bag is also not allowed to be brought out, so I'd wasted my RM15 on a backpack I bought on the previous Sunday, darn. That night, the Nationalism teachers found out the some prankster vandalised the "Signature Banner" with dirty pictures and words. That banner is suppose to be handed to the camp commander on the last night the Nationalism teacher is in the camp. They tried hard to find the people who did it, but they didn't announce whether they found or not, my bet is they won't.

On Monday afternoon, we played the A-Frame game (wira only for the day), and one of my company-mate really fall from the frame and break his arm. Thank goodness he's wearing a helmet, otherwise, he'll injure his head as well. The accident happen was mainly caused by the not-so-working-together of all the company members, we're just having fun, not really serious. Accident will be avoided if all the teammates give full concentration on the game, less on thinking of having fun himself.

At night, we're giving Anti-Malaria drug before we start our Performing Show by Nationalism Class students. The drug is to prevent Malaria infection when we're having night-trekking on the next day. As for the performing show, it's just group singing by every class, nothing interesting. I do admire guitar skills of some of the wiras. They are damn good! After the show, we're all very sleepy, there is still some speech by the camp commander, and the giving of the 'Signature banner' to the camp commander, and speech by the Nationalism head-teacher. It was B-O-R-I-N-G and ends at 11.30pm, so we get our sleep 1 hr later than usual. And we still need to wake up at around 5.30am next day.

Tuesday we have the briefing for night-trekking. Then we all have someone flying-fox fun in the afternoon. Sadly, I still do not have the chance to play it, due to time constrain. We do get our allowance of RM100 that day. The initial punishment of RM50 for vandalizing toilets for guys wasn't true after all, thank goodness...

Then we had night-trekking at night (at last!). It was said to last until 1am, and travel more than 4km. And you know what? We manage to finish at 9.30pm, and back to camp at 10pm. Moreover, we're aren't walking in some jungle, it's just some dumb grass land. We did wet our boots (yes, it's not water tight) and dirty our socks. The trainers did compliment our team-work and survivility (what the heck am I writing...). After the trekking, my roommate cook maggie mee using solid-fuel and the aluminum cup they stolen from the bottle provided for the trekking INSIDE the room. Hilarious!

On Wednesday morning, we got to wake up late, but must be at the canteen before 8.30am. That was also the first day we had our Character Building (CB) class. The impression they gave wasn't as exciting. First of all, a lot of names of the campers are still left out for the classes. How can this happen? Can't they learn from the fault they did at the beginning of the Nationalism class? Okay, maybe the teachers are different, but 50+ left-out names is just unforgivable! Then is the lousy ice-breaking and childish sing-cum-dance game to "free our self". I am happy though that the CB head-teacher is less boring than the nationalism one. The nationalism one is just always with his idiotic "Hello? Hello?"

At night we have the karaoke competition. Since I'm not involved and no one's signing chinese song (why???), I didn't pay much attention at it, and go to bed earlier. And then, the climax begins...

Because the next day is the first day of the Hari Raya Haji Holiday, my roommate and some from other room are in my room, gambling and light smoking. I thought they going to play up until late midnight, so I decided to switch room to sleep (which is not allowed). Then around 11.30pm, I was awaken by someone, then I head "KJ" (one of the trainers) voice shouting in my room! Sound to me like the gambler are caught. I was asked to go back to my room (just next door). Then I realise 5 or 6 trainers were in the room, with the gambler standing a side. Their names were recorded for further punishments. Thanks god I'm not punished for anything. I heard that they're going into the Siri Khas. The non-gambler are left in the room to continue their sleep, while the gambler are asked to go outside... don't know for what...

On Thursday, most of the camper having their holidays were waiting for their parents to fetch them out of the camp (That is the requirements to have the holiday outside the camp). After all those people had leaves, we start making bamboo rice by finding firewoods. The girls in the other hand, start cleaning the banana leaves. In the afternoon, they start putting those leaves into the bamboo. We got to get up to 'Bukit Nangis' that afternoon, and after we got down, they're half way making the coconut milk and putting them into the bamboo. After I bath and back to the canteen, the fire had already started cooking the bamboo. We do not really eat the bamboo rice that night, it's for the Hari Raya Haji next day, but more of breathing in the smoke from the burning woods. I did tasted a bit of it... it was good!

On Friday is the Hari Raya Haji. We all get to eat the malay food at 11am, after the malay are back from the mosque at 9.30am. It was EXTREMELY DELICIOUS! I feel really proud to be a Malaysian and able to taste all these tasty malay food! For the rest of the day, we're off doing nothing, and play games ourselves. Then at night we are told that the trip to town on Sat are cancelled... Darn...

On Saturday is really nothing to do other than playing more UNO and "cho tai di" using the UNO cards, of because no money is gambled. Then in the afternoon, I decided not to go up the hill to make phone calls but to stay back and watch 'New Police Story' in the karaoke room. Some of my friends followed their friends out of the camp without permission as well (because friends and family are allowed to visit us during holidays), hope they didn't get caught. We're told that we can stay at town till 3pm on Sunday, and that is also the first time I realise that the malay aren't able to go out to town every Sunday, pity them. They are able to go to town on the next day thought.

Wow, more than 40 minutes typing all these out in a CC wasn't easy and cheap. Hope you all like it! That's all for this week! Have fun you all, and take care!

Week 2 & 3 revisited

Yes, about the conflict of two trainers, it's like this. During the "repeling" activity, female trainer A decended lousier than female trainer B. When back to camp, trainee C discuss about the incident with the her friends in her room, and give bad comments about Trainer A, and
it was heard by pro-Trainer A Trainee D. D told A about C, and A was angry about it, thinking of hitting A. B turned up and asked A to hit her instead. A really hit B, C tried to block A, but was pushed away. C fell to the ground, her asthma started, and it was serious. So serious that she was sent to the hospital right away.

As for the supernatural incident, it started with two girls sleeping in their room one late evening. At 8pm, sound of girls screaming was heard from their room, and it was heard by a lot of trainees, even my friend. It went out for around 4 mins, until some trainers tried to find out
what happen by banging open the locked door. Heard that it's a hysteria case.

Do note that the truth may be far from what I heard, especially for the trainer-trainee conflict.

Something I left out for week 3.

It's hard to find TheStar newspaper at Pelita Tunku area. That Sunday, with only 30 mins left before the bus left. Luckily I manage to find one near the fish market. FYI, It cost RM1.90, RM0.10 more than in kuching.

Got one night (10 Jan), they actually played Kung Fu Hustle, the pirated VCD version for all of us using LCD projector.

On 12 Jan, the Physical training teacher went out for dinner with the going-to-leave nationalism teachers, we, on the other hand, watched the malay movie 'Leftenan Anan'. It was boring!

On 14 Jan, a debate entitiled 'National Service is a good idea' was on. Debater was choosen from every nationalism class by their teacher. With four speaker in both side, I see most of them are from KL. The feminine wira turn out to be the best speaker, and the opposition won the match,
quite a surprise.

F.Y.I : 01-04

FYI 01: After Meals Songs
We usually need to sing three songs everytime after our main meals and before briefing starts. The songs are: Wira Wirawati (National Service 2005 Theme), Bilaku Disayangi and Jalur Gemilang.

FYI 02: Dobi
We can put our dirty national service uniforms (PT, army or classroom), in a 'Dobi bag' provided in every room. The bag must be taken to the 'Dobi truck' before 6.30pm everyday. The clothed will be washed, dried, folded & tied. They will then be send back the next day evening.

FYI 03: Washing Tray, Really?
The first few weeks of the camp, some trainee will try to court the opposite gender when washing their tray next to each other after their meals.

FYI 04: How far?
It takes roughly 40 minutes to go from the camp to Miri town by bus.

Pic: 17 Jan 05 Paints!!

The A Frame Game. The trainee and nationalism class teacher play with paint... the one use to paint the flag, LOLz!

Pic: 17 Jan 05 Flying fox!

Performances by each class at night. And look, chinese girls in baju kurung! Somemore flying fox!

Pic: 15 Jan 05 Flying fox! Even more!

Making of a big Jalur Gemilang in Nationalism class. - More flying fox!

Pic: 15 Jan 05 Flying fox!

Playing of flying fox! - Went up the hill to make phone calls - Gave our lovely teacher a surprise!

Pic: 10 Jan 05 Nationalism Class

Our Nationalism class. This is what we do...
edmund_yung

Pic: 10 Jan 05 Cooking in the jungle

Cooking in the jungle is not that bad at all.

Pic: 13 Jan 05 The traps in the jungle

Showed us the traps which can catch animals and even birds!

Pic: 13 Jan 05 Food from jungle

A glimsp of PT in the morning, Testing of the flying fox by the trainers. Trainers show us the food found inside a jungle!
edmund_yung

Week 3 (9-15 Jan)

A pretty short one, cos I'm typing this in a CC with ppl playing games around me.

We started playing "Flying Fox"! However, only those in Alpha company can try it yesterday, and I'm in the 4th group, Delta, mind you. Juz by looking at ppl play, I'm already excited! Can't wait to try it next week.

We also learn of the food we can find and eat in the jungle, and to be honest, they dun taste bad at all! They even show us Tongkat Ali, of cos, they din let us try that. The trainers also made traps to traps small animals, even birds, they showed us how it work, but not capturing anything yet. They made some small shed, but some girls collapse one of them while they're trying to get into it.

This week got a lot of marching training under the seriously hot sun! Esp for class 1, 2, and 3 and company C and D. Once we made the trainers mad, cos some refusedto take part in the water activity, and we got is marching as punishment.

We also visited Boulevard (dun ask why...) and Tanjong Lobang Beach this week, while the other class visited Luak Esplanet instead of Tanjong. I really hope we get to go to Niah Cave some time.

On one of the day, the night patrol ppl got scolded because they are late for the "morning briefing" at 8.30. I do not think they were wrong, because no one told them to come to the hall at that time, but go to class at 9.00 instead. Anyway, that is not the point why the trainers were mad, it is that some of them use the Walkie-talkie to talk about dirty stuffs with the opposite sex. Everything was heard by the trainerS as there are only 4 channels and very easy to pick up and monitor someone talking. Those idiots... now we dun get to hold the WT when we're doing night patrol at nigh. Darn!!!

I can't seem to get GPRS connection on top of the hill of Soon Hup Villa, that's why I can't update my blog, anyway, I can still come to town the next day (Sunday) for C.C.ing or using GPRS. So the real problem is that I'm pretty lazy of writing the blog into my PDA.

I cannot remember the rest liaw, must go to Boulevard liaw, I guess that's for now. See ya all!

Week 2 (2-8 Jan)

The most exhaustiug event for this week was the opening ceremony on thursday. We had rehearse not less than six times under the hot sun. The actual ceremony turned out to be more suffering than all the rehersal combined. The hard work paid off as the ceremony went on quite smooth except for the playing of "Negaraku" song from the P.A. System.

We got the chance this week to explore the jungle at ths south of our camp. Unluckily, or luckily for some, since our company is the last to go in, we do not have enough time. So we use the no frill way toward the checkpoint, the other company need to REALLY go through the jungle. Better than nothing, our checkpoint is just a mini water fall with brownish water coming out.

The most thrilling activity must be the rope training. At the begining when it raining, trainees were taught to decend from the ceiling of the canteen using ropes. Since this was the first time someone actually decend from the ceiling, accident causing minor injury to a trainee occured. A guy decended from 3m above group as if he's not tied to anything due to the wrong break timing by one of the trainer. Then we proceed to the real training area, a 6 metre tall tower, as far as I can tell, it is 99% safe. Too bad that not all trainee can try to decend from it yet, due to insufficient time.

We also learned basic hand combat "TTS". Nice to learn the moves, but not enjoying it due to exposing to the hot sun while training and the muscle pain on the next day.

Some Wira got punished by "Tiger" because of playing the kayak without permission. One of them is so mad after being punished, he went on and smashed a mirror in the toilet.

There's also romours about the conflict of two trainers and some supernatural incidents. I'll talk about that next time. That's all for this week.

I'm sorry

First off all, I want to share my condolence with those affected by the Earthquake-Tsunami disaster. May god bless you all.

Merry christmas and happy new year to you all. I am unable to blog about my daily activites here in the camp due to ineffcient time. I will try my best to write what happened weekly starting from next week.

There will be a open ceremony on 4th Jan in the camp, so we have to train hard to march well during the ceremony.