For courage is the fear of our fears, a fearless person is a no one. That no one has any courage for he has no fear to challenge.
Outward Bound Singapore (OBS) challenged us to serve, to strive and not to yield. So we accepted that challenge that contests our fear. Much hearsay we hear of which one will endure many pain and suffering. Much hearsay we hear that one will be pushed to the limit. However, there is no hearsay that we not fear but we still take that fear on.
We stand as a watch of Raleigh as one people. We set the tents, we cooked together, we kayaked together and we even peed together! Though each and every one of us are not perfect. As a group, we cover each other’s flaws and became perfect. No challenge is too big for us. Every undertaking is never incomplete. We are Raleigh. Our path has been chosen. Courage will seep into our blood and run into our hearts. As we defeat our fears just like light slaughtered darkness, we never let go of each other. Hop and hop we go. That is no problem. Trek and trek we go. That is no problem. Carry and carry we go. The heaviest burden is our bag but at the back of our minds, it’s a feather. And into the woods of no return for we always think that we are a step closer to the destination. Finally we met our sleep, beside a reservoir.
Have rice, sardines and curry under that night sky. Though it is nothing what Mom has cooked, it tasted like a feast after all that sweat. Accompanied with a map of stars over our heads, they became our chandeliers. We are not alone. 3 more watches came: Raffles, Tenzing and Shakleton.
Day 2. We see a tall man, over towering us at 25 metres tall. That man is strong for it can hold many men together as the climbed to his head. So, are we ready to climb that man? Strapped with the double-backed harness, we never stop climbing the heights, as that is the fear. I reached the top but many didn’t. I will support them so that they will plant their flags up high so that it could gather as much wind. Kayak is a small boat that resides 1 or more person. We will use that word forever more. It will be our life for that coming two days as we ravage the seas with our pedals to Sembawang. But, before we could even see Singapore. We must taste seawater. TX Training is where one will capsize to keep a float. For if we don’t learn, it’s hard to survive in the harsh seas. Shermit, my friend, the sea may be harsh but if you respect him, he will respect you. Tents are easy but with sand in your shoes, you feel like walking on knives. That night we sleep to gather as much strength to cut the 15KM of waves. Sembawang will be our next rest.
Morning came with a shiver. Even the thickest clothes will not kill that cold. No worries my Raleigh, for a cold will not defeat us. Only that sea is a fear, a challenge, which we must overcome. As we hear it taunts us with its waves crashing the rocks. It is nothing. We don our life jackets and head out for the gruelling 7 hour trip.
Enough, the seas we knew ravaged. People did their business in the sea. Some used it as their shower, as their bed but must of all as our medium. Alas, rain came and gave no mercy as water filled our boats. We couldn't see the distant land in front of us. All of a sudden, fear started to grip us as we held onto each other boats as tightly as possible. But that deter us never as it started to recede, our armada set our bearings once again onto Sembawang. Nonetheless, we made it as 4 watches combined as ECHO. One.
Oh yeah, I lost my undies in Sembawang! ARGH!
A dinner with curry chicken is all I need to replace the lost energy. Strange. Echo will be assigned to watch the boats over at the sea. With an hour and a half slots catered, RALEIGH took the second slot. Waking up to the task was really hard and SHIVER. With my other companions, four more, we patrolled the area. Like the police, they looked out for Mr Selamat. "I chatter, chatter." WHAT THE HECK WAS THAT BRYAN!? Morning came with evidence of sleep deprivation but give me an hour and all energy is restored. Ready, packed and courageous, the morning breeze send chills down my spine but I will stand undeterred! With a bag full of wet clothes, I pulled my RALEIGH together and readied ourselves for many waves.
What was 7 hours we took, only 2 remained to kill us. WTF!!! Mr Gao did his erm, business, in the sea. Dang, it floated. There goes my lunch! Watched the boats, made a stand as SA boys. We peed, shit, and do things together. Sometimes we don't think for we are pure power! With much time shaved, we got a deserving 3 hours of rest. Dried my clothes, bathed and refreshed, this last night will be a blast! Last night in a tent. *Sniff, sniff*
Let's make it short for many hate a long post. I AM ALWAYS HIGH! Haekal flashed himself TWICE to Sonne and Gughan. Disturbed kid. We 'taopoked' Ashwin, Haekal and Gughan. Forgive my spelling my lads. HAPPY BIRTHDAY NAF! Thurs' was my instructor's birthday! Had a feast of food. A near close shave with Sonne almost in harm's way. But best of all, more space to sleep!
On the last day, where we will say our goodbyes. Even after the wash of our equipment, we were a team. From Raleigh: Hairul, Hafiz, Dwi, Shikin, Shermit, Jia Ying, Lorenzo, Rahim, Bryan, Sonne, Edwin, Jerome, Jeremy, Haekal, Jian Beng. From Raffles: Afika, Ashwin, Alvin, Hue, Joe, Taufiq. From Shakleton: Venessa, Alastair. From Tenzing: Dax, Rajah.
Forgive me if I didn't include you. If I ever forget your name, your face is imprinted in my head forever and that friendship I will keep forever. I am sorry that I didn't took enough time to know you better but someday we will meet again. These memories are safe inside me.
Forever Fuchun. Forever St Andrew's. Forever Raleigh. And remember SA, stop putting Prickly Heat powder into our dicks!
