An Overseas Expedition - A Participant's Perspective

Overseas Expedition, A Participant's Perspective - 20 to 23 May 2005 12th BOATER Soon Tze Chien

On the same day that Buddha gained his enlightenment more than 2,500 years ago, the team from Toa Payoh Adventure Club (TPAC) 12^th Basic Outdoor Adventure Training (BOAT) achieved our own pinnacle. We conquered Gunung Ledang, more popularly known as Mount Ophir, after three months of intense preparation. At 1,276 m above sea level, it is considered the sixth toughest mountain to climb in Malaysia with its challenging mountain trails and cascading waterfalls.

After repeated attempts of forcing my backpack into our bus storage area, it dawned on me that this was not going to be an easy trip, if this beginning was any indication. Especially when the gods had never favoured us. In our earlier attempts at defying the elements, we were drenched by rain, chased by bees and bitten by blood-sucking leeches.

It was already 4 am when we reached our campsite for the first night. It was no mean feat to wake up after only three hours of sleep. And instead of becoming a grouchy monster, we had to be like guardian angels. For our entertainment group had come up with a brilliant game to spice up the trip – making each of us the guardian angels of two "mortals", people we had to be nice to, no matter what. And so I did. I offered my unsuspecting "mortal" my unwanted ration to lighten my own load.

Even though the facilitators did the ritual known as "chilli bawang", where they poked an onion and a chilli over a satay stick to fend off the rain, the dreaded rain hit us nonetheless. If there is indeed a "rain god" in our team, that person must be our team’s guardian angel, sending us through difficulties to make us stronger.

All of us braved the cold to reach our camping ground near the summit at Asahan Trail, a scenic area overlooking the sunset. And what a dazzling sunset it was! The forest cover was shrouded in a sea of clouds. As the sun slipped down the horizon, the sky turned from yellow to red to violet. I realised then that if the rain had not come and cleared away the clouds, we would never have seen the setting sun in its full brilliance. Behind every cloud, there is indeed a silver lining!

As the cicadas started their rounds of mating calls, we started our games for the night. We played the "Human Jackpot", "Guessing Numbers" and acted out a self-improvised sketch "Love Generation 2005". As the last sketch concluded, the participants were left with the closing line: "In 12^th BOAT, it does not matter who you love, what matters is teamwork."

But to some, it did matter. For it was in 12^th BOAT that some participants found love. As the moon cast its pallor of light over us, the lovers sneaked off for their rendezvous. As one of those guys whom Cupid had chosen to save his arrow, I joined a few other forsaken team mates in lying down and enjoying the stars, pretending that it did not matter.

The dawn of the new day was spent sitting down with two special friends and enjoying the peace. That peace was transient, but the memory of it will last a lifetime. Before long, the camp came alive. Some started cooking oats on the Indian pots. Gals and guys wrapped tightly in their windbreakers were brushing their teeth under the icy cold water. After our breakfast, we started our warm-ups. The warm-ups soon became really hot when we learned an alternative occupation - pole dancing from our very own professional.

We were by then raring to go. Singing and teasing punctuated the walk but there was still a final challenge waiting for us before the summit - a steep cliff face where each of us had to hang onto the ropes for our dear life.

When we saw the panorama at the summit, all our efforts seemed worth it. We jostled to pose for photos. Some brought out their cherished celebration drinks. There were slapping of backs and heightened laughter. We were finally here.

The climb down via the Sagil Trail was no less exciting. At KFC (Killers-for-Climbers), participants who feared heights found that their fear was not enough to stop them. Another lesser fear was to fall on me. I had to borrow a sarong because I had torn my pyjama pants in the most strategic area. Luckily the tear was small enough to be stitched back. But the tear to my image would probably take a while longer to fix.

After a laborious 12-hours trek, we eventually reached an open area in the pitch dark. To our disappointment, that was not a designated and approved campsite in Mount Ophir. *Sigh* We BOATers were dry on water and drained out both physically and mentally. Morale was near rock bottom. We heaved a sigh of relief however when the guides informed us that the actual campsite at Square Pool was fully occupied and we could stay and camp at our current location. Despite our exhaustion, we still chatted for the last night.

From there to the ground, it was an easy 3-hours climb in the morning. We stopped at the waterfall to enjoy our "Jacuzzi". As the rush of water washed over us, the grime and worries evaporated, leaving us rejuvenated.

As our bus moved off for the ride back home to Singapore, our eyes were drawn to the peak of Mt Ophir for the final time. A flood of images flashed across my mind: physical training, day hike, night walk, abseiling, kayaking, camp at Changi, camp at Panti and finally this overseas expedition. I was shaken from my reverie by the team belting out songs and yet another scene of two hapless guys "kissing".

It seemed remarkable that just three months ago, these people were strangers to me. I see them now as my special fireflies, illuminating my path and brightening my heart. We had shared, laughed and cried together. How can I not miss you all? I definitely will.