Friday, September 10, 2004

Before you read this, you might want to get something to drink and eat on the way.. It might get boring along.. This is Central's Ophir Expedition phase 3..
My first expedtion, nights away from home, from my comfortable bed to sleeping in tents,
eating home cooked food, finding myself sleeping inches away from my friends.. Let the Ophir adventure begin..
~Sunday, 5th sep 04
Met yuhe at Kovan and went to Amoy Quee Camp to check in.. Reached at 8.40pm.. Had bag checks and briefing gave by the DC.. The DC mention something about Ghosts.. haha.. Got chlorine tablets and trash bags and went to our bunks.. We were lucky cause we get to sleep in bunks, not the MPH.. Night sleep in the bunk didnt went well, there were no bed sheets and pillow case.. I was excited.. Perhaps..
~Monday, 6th sep 04, Day 1
Woke up at 5.25am.. Washed up and fall in at block 245.. Marched to 2SIR cookhouse for breakfast.. Set off at about 8pm i think.. At first got into the Comfort bus which after that into a budget bus.. The reason was simple, the Comfort bus didnt have license to drive into malaysia.. It was a long journey to Gunung Ledang Mt Ophir.. I fell asleep.. Sat beside a SJI guy called Wei Loong which i didnt know very well at first.. Had breaks halfway to Gunung Ledang.. We reached Gunang Ledang Resort at 12.30pm.. Had briefing in a room called Dangwani and lunch in a small room.. Yuhe, Jialiang and i invited Wei Loong over to our rooms to sleep for the night which was so illegal because only 3 persons were allowed.. In the afternoon, we had activities and rope courses.. I hurt my left arm during the Obstacles course which was so gay.. But it was challenging and fun.. I learnt that team work is needed to go through obstacles.. Had free time and we bathe and bought t shirts and some nice things to wear around neck and wrist.. Had dinner at 7pm and went for briefing again.. It was movie time which they would show Anacondas, the hunt for the blood orchid.. No one went to watch as all were tired.. went back to my room and packed my bag, crap around with my 3 friends and slept.. I called the reception and requested for morning call at 6.45am..
~Tues, 7th sep 04, Day 2
Woke up at 6.05am, awoken by the morning call.. It was so bloody lame.. They misheard my timing.. Argh.. It was so cold in the room.. 5deg shown at the thermostat.. Went to the room to eat breakfast at 7.30am.. Went back to my room to do a quick bag pack and ready to set off at 9.45am.. Trekked up to CP 4, Kolam Gajah Campsite and the height was 621.2m.. It was difficult all the way up and there were many obstacles.. It was my first climb and it was pretty tedious.. Felt really nervous for awhile.. Reached the campsite at 12.30pm.. Felt so glad that i made it to the half of the mountain.. Settled down and they said we can have fun and splashing by the waterfalls.. The toilet stinks man.. Just a hole and a sign "Gents".. Was excited but i didnt see any waterfall.. Its a river. The upper part was clearer and there were fishes, the lower part was cloudy water.. The water was so ultra cold! I spent 15 mins just to get into the icy waters.. Had our bath from 2.45pm till 3.45pm.. The girls had their bath at the upstream which means, we get all the dirty water from them.. Our hero, wei loong cooked curry rice for us.. haha.. Turned pitched dark at 7.30pm and there were sounds which was so creepy.. Slept at 10pm..
~Wed, 8th sep 04, Day 3
I didnt sleep well.. Woke up at 5.20am.. Yuhe, Jialiang and Wei Loong ate Maggi Mee and i ate my own breakfast bars.. I refilled my water bottle with Ophir water.. Added chlorine tablets and the water tasted exactly like swimming pool water.. Set off at 7am sharp.. I felt really nervous.. During the trek to the summit, there were much obstacles.. I had cuts everywhere.. Rope burns too.. The most difficult part was the KFC.. Its not the chicken outlet, its Kill Filling Course.. very steep.. The rocks slope was scary, had to use rope to climb up.. If you let go, you die.. Finally reached the summit at erm, oops i forgot the time.. It wasnt cold at all.. Took pictures and ate snacks.. The decend was harder than i expected.. As you have to reppel(wrong spelling) down the rock slope.. Scary.. On our way down, a bee stung Jialiang.. his hand swell like mad.. Im was so worried for him.. A few girls fell sick at the summit and the rangers had to carry them down.. Reached base camp at around 4pm.. Took a really nice bath at the river and the water was colder.. It was painful as i got so many cuts.. We suppose to have a campfire at night.. But due to our attitude and lack of sense of urgency, we had a reprimanding session instead.. So many cock ups and etcs.. Haiz.. Wrecked Sir's mood so had to sleep instead of campfire.. Rested abit better that night..
~Thurs, 9th sep 04, Day 4
Woke up at 6+.. cooked breakfast and refill water bottle.. Set off at 8.30am.. The trek down was shorter and easier than from the summit to the base camp.. Although my bag was very heavy due to the trash bag, i still made it down.. Suffered cuts and ankle sprains.. At checkpoint 1, wei loong was so kind and he helped me carry my bag.. Im so glad.. After reaching the resort, i was so glad that i finally made it down.. Had lunch and settled everything, and set off for Singapore.. This time sat with the girls.. Rgs, Cedar, Scgs etc.. I got the email address from this SCGS girl which i took so much courage to ask.. haha.. Traffic jam at the causeway.. Reached sg at 6+.. And i reached home at 7.45pm and my mum hugged me.. aha.. Poor her, so much clothings to wash..

I crapped so much these 4 days.. My friends laughed at my lame self.. We had so much fun.. My buddy wei loong, did so much for us.. Ive learnt alot from this expedition.. I miss Mt Ophir, friends, officers and CLTs.. How i wish we could have a reunion.. bye..

9/10/2004 10:04:00 PM
The determination;
KUROSAKI ICHIGO.