Gunung tahan..

Overseas trips are always fun. Where I went, the people speak a different language. Even the air smells different. They call that place Kelantan. Yeah. So my trip to Gunung Tahan finally brought me to Kelantan; I've never been there before. Anyway, about my trip..
So I'm still alive. =) I made it up and down Gunung Tahan. I don't have any pictures at the moment; they're with a friend. I shall post up some pictures as soon as I get them from my friend. I must say that it was an eventful expedition. Let me explain.
It was my third mountain expedition, as well as the third time I was running after the bus. However, this expedition was slightly different- it was my first running for the bus in the rain, with my dad. Yeah, my dad was running alongside me. I was caught in the traffic jam eventhough I started an hour earlier. So, my dad deceided that it was impossible to reach the bus station by car. We parked as close as possible, but I didn't really know where the bus stop was, so my dad accompanied me to the bus stop. When we reached, I discovered that it was the wrong bus stop. We ended up in pekeliling but I was supposed to be in perhentian putra. So, we ran back to the car, and my dad drove us close to perhentian putra, then he parked, I started running, in the rain. I did reach on time, but I didn't have the tickets; it was with another friend who was also caught in the traffic. In the end, we all made it. We boarded the bus just as the bus was leaving.
It was really eventful; besides running for the bus with my dad, it was also raining on the way up to the peak. We couldn't pitch up our tents because we didn't want it to get wet. (If it gets wet, we might get hypothermia trying to sleep in a drenched sleeping bag. Apparently some guy died trying this stunt) So, we waited 2 hours in the rain and with cold wind blowing mercilessly on our soaking bodies. It was really cold. But finally we managed to set up the tent.
The whole hike took only 3 days, contrary to our initial plans to do it in four. We were to depart back to kl by night train in Gua Musang. Just before the train departed, we stopped by KFC and had dinner. I was shocked to find that the cashier spoke perfect english with a slight tinge of english accent to her voice. You see, Gua Musang was in Kelantan. I expected the cashiers to speak their native language (I think they call it bahasa kelate). I guess KFC has done well to train their cashiers. Kudos to KFC for their efforts. Anyway, when we reached KL sentral in the morning, we had Big Breakfast in McDees. Yummy. Yeah, fast food back to back. Still, I lost quite alot of weight after OBS and the tahan hike. So, it kinda cancels out. =P

It works!! =)

Ahh... so it does work (the blogger images thingy). Anyway, this was the picture when I fractured a part of my palm during rugby earlier this year... I've also realised that since the fracture, I can't stretch my right pinky as much as my left. I think I'm deformed..

Me, Myself and I..

Its been quite a while since the last publication of "Me, Myself and I". Not that nothing has been happening around me lately, its just that I haven't found time to compile my thoughts to publish one entry of "Me, Myself and I". Anyway, here goes..
I thought that after a certain age, people mature and leave behind them their childish ways and feelings. Apparently not. I thought that I've matured beyond the point where I'm immune to the teasing of friends (no, not derogratory gossip , teasing as in childish teasing..) but I've just discovered that I'm not. For the past few days, some people has been teasing me about a girl in my class. Somehow, I've found it really disturbing and embarrasing. Maybe because I have more respect for her than I have for myself. I guess that I'm not as mature as I thought I would be. Maybe I'm immature. But I take pleasure in being more mature than my other friends who tease me.

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I'm leaving to Gunung Tahan tonight. My bus leaves at 9:00. The expedition was oragnized by a friend form my college. If everything goes as planned, we'll be reaching tonight and the hike shall start tomorrow. That's IF everything goes according to plan. Its only natural that everything that we plan should happen, but at times, we are caught unaware when the unnatural happens. I've just been entertaining ideas for the past 30 minutes if this would be the last time I see home. Freaky? Yeah..
Should anyhting happen to me, may everyone that I've wronged in any way forgive me. May I leave with everyone good memories and not memories filled with grudge and hatred. More than ever, may the Good Lord forgive me for all my shortcomings.
Thinking about this makes me realise that I'm not ready to leave this wonderful earth. Not now. I've so much more to accomplish. I have yet to buy a car, a hom, climb the corporate ladder and get a family. Then again, is this what I'm really seeking for? Or is this something that this world has brought me to believe. When will I be ready to leave this earth? When I've maked my way all to the top? Will I be ever ready? Wow... I am overwhelmed. I'm probably searching for the wrong things all this while.

I've not much time till I leave for Gunung tahan.. Approximately 1 hour and 40 minutes. Please pray for me.

OBS..

The 10 days in OBS is finally over. I must say that it was a really great experience having spent 10 days with friends. A rare experience by any standards.
The whole of the lower 6 form of KTJ were divided into 5 groups of 15. They called the groups watches; mine was called Mulu. In my group, we had 10 guys and 5 girls. (guys= Me, Karim, Kenneth, Sufian, Johan, Ryan, Afiq, Kresna, Gaston and Melvin, Girls= Fay Ying, Siti Hawa, Faezah, Syazwanie and Syazleen) Each watch had an instructor. Mulu was lucky to get Helen, a 19 year old gap student as our instructor. ( we didn't know she was 19 till she revelaed it on the last day) We started the first few days slowly, having do the rope course, introduction to kayaking, and many group activities.
I would think that the most fun and exciting part of OBS was the final expedition. We were to hike across the island of Pangkor and then kayak all the way back to Lumut. It was a 4 day expedition. Unfortunately, we got lost in the jungle on the first day itself. It was partially my fault as I was the navigator, but I take comfort in knowing that another group was lost with us. =) We spent the first night in the middle of the jungle, all the 30 of us. It was getting late so we had to pitch up our tents and start the fire to cook. However, we decided to improvise and make a canopy instead of pitching up tents to save space. Honestly speaking, I thought that the night in the middle of the jungle was completely refreshing. It brought back many memories of my RMC days and the camping expeditions we had.
The next day, we navigated our way out of the jungle to the beach. From there, we hiked up one last summit and down. We reached the campsite just before sundown. Our campsite was almost heaven. The beach was long and clean, there was a stream flowing out to the sea. Even the sea water was clear. We rested there for the next day before we kayaked back to Lumut.
The kayaking expedition was great. I was elected sea captain and I take great pride in being the only person that capsized throughout the journey. Despite the capsize, the whole team did well and we managed to reach lumut only after 6 hours of kayaking. (somehow whenever I'm incharge, things seem to go wrong =S)
The next day, we had our solo camp. On my part, it was the most wonderful experience in the whole course. We spent 2 days and a night in the jungle by ourselves without having to worry about anything at all. It was relaxing.
After the solo camp, we had a few activities and we had a barbeque on the last night.

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Insights? Many. First of all, my group was filled with many strong individuals. I was expecting that we'd make a really strong team. I was wrong. Somehow, we weren't able to fully utilize the strengths of the many individuals to make the ideal group. During the final expedition, though fun and exciting, it was frustrating. Somehow, not everyone was giving their best to the team. Some people were selfish and decided to put themselves ahead of others. It was interesting to see the other side of people that I never knew before.
I also began to understand and know other people better as well. I had a particular watchmate that was a real team player. He's always there to help, always sacrificing for others and was really dependable. If it wasn't for him, I would have lost my sanity. I look at him and I find strength even when I'm tired. It makes me realize that sometimes, sacrifices must be made at the expense of ourselves for the better of others. Afiq, you deserve a special mention ( at least in my blog).
I had a long chat with a close friend of mine during the last night. We discused many things that happened throughout the whole course. That session of chatting was one of great importance. I realised that often I set too high expectations for anything. Whenever things are not up to my expectations, I get really annoyed. As for me, I must learn to compensate with others. I must understand that noone is alike; evenmore none like me. Learning is a tough process, but its nescesarry. Let me end with a witty quote by Doris Lessing.

"That what learning is. You suddenly understand something you understood your whole life, but in a new way. "

Prom night photos..

I've finally posted up some pictues of prom night. Somehow the software couldn't work on the computers in the school library ( I couldn't post it up till I got home) Anyway, the theme for the night was "masquerade" but I couldn't find a photo of me wearing my mask. So I got a pohoto of some friends in their masks.

Me, Alex and Yvonne

The theme for the night - masquerade