Happy February

Yes Yes! Feb is coming!! so is my big day... Feb is one of the most happening month to me. Chinese New Year, Valentine, Birthday. Have a planned schedule for my February. Ok 1st of Feb starts on the coming Fri, which i really hope i can have a earlier book out.

To-Do List (weekend 2-3 Feb)

1. Submit of Uni Application
   
2. Facial at Estetica & Massage at Wan Yang after a long 5 days of Battalion Mission
3. Buying of CNY clothings
4. Apply for Theory test on the April slot.
   

4th Feb: Having a dental appointment at Selarang Camp
6th Feb: CNY eve! having Battalion Happy Hour follow by Officer Mess CNY Celebration
7-8th Feb: CNY Visiting
9-11 Feb: 2NTM in camp over the weekend. There goes my Bday~ again. Just hope my army friend don't come and jajiao me!
14th Feb: Valentine.. Alone in camp. Also nothing to celebrate.

Last 2 weeks of Feb will be low key. More on equipment prep for the Thailand Trip. As most know that i will be leaving for Thailand on the 1st/2nd March (Singapore Biathlon cant go liao) and will be back on April.

Still looking for date to celebrate with my Bday counterpart. Ha!

Good Feb!
C Cube

Airgasm

airgasm: (ar-gaz'am)

the climax of aerial excitement. normally preceded by severe anxiety and self-doubt. the act itself is often preceded by profound sweating, expressive ribald expletives, anxious movement and surging adrenal release.
warning: post climactic euphoric buzz may last 4-6 hours.
see also- ultimate adrenaline rush, aerial flight, defying gravity

right before bungy jumping i was really scared but after i jumped i had a huge airgasm.

Well. Had my airborne jump after 1 year since my last jump. Super paranoid and scared. Remembering the first step out of the aircraft, argh! bad feeling!!

Receiving of the notice about having a jump is on this week is very abrupt. I received a sms from my boss on Tues 22th, saying "Gents good news! ART (Airborne Remedial Training, i think) on 23-24th. Pls Make the necessary preparation." Knowing that 25th will be the jump, for those who are going to be non-current. Our boss had tried hard to get us a ART before going to Thailand so that we have a chance of getting the Thai Wing before ORD.

Our initial ART dates are schedule the week before, but postponed to this week. But then again postponed till further notice. Always had a mixed feeling when got the notice of the ART and jump. Scared to jump, no jump = no Thai wing.

Well so 23-24th we had our ART, going thought all the drills required for us to know and execute during the jump. Airborne is all about drills, from the moment we jump off the aircraft to landing, even pulling of reserve chute, we have phrases for them and action to be carried out concurrently.

Ok talk about D-day 25th Jan 2008.

0215: Wake up
0245: Attend Pre Jump brief and activities
0730: Reach Airbase
0800: Prep for jump
0830: JUMP!!

Didn't slept that night before. Reach camp at 1130, laid on bed at 12. Tired but doesn't seems to get to sleep. Had tried not to think about tomorrow's jump but everytime i closed my eyes, scene of jump out of the aircraft always flashes across my mind, reminding my body of the free fall feeling.

My bunk mates, Greg cant stand me ranting about the jump so tell me just don't think about anything relating about the jump. In fact he is not scare about jumping off the aircraft instead my ranting reminds him about the painful landing.

As i didn't had a good sleep. i was very sleepy throughout the pre-jump activities even till reaching airbase. Think its good, keeping myself half awake can calm myself more as i don't think about the jump. Everything is peaceful and calm for me, heart rate is well maintain at 40-50% UNTIL the arrival of the aircraft! The hovering rhythm instantly disrupt my calm HR, as thou my HR is synchronizing with it.

When my turn to make the first step out of the aircraft, i was like 'argh! huo chu qu le!", once out of aircraft, i was like !@%$#@@, experiencing the freefall feeling once again. Amazingly its not that bad this time. After the jump, i really felt a sense of relief, the nightmare that had been hunting me if over for now.

Before i end off, i would like to show 2 short clips of US airborne which is similar to what i will be doing.

This is abit long, but was taken in a first person view


Shows only the jumping out part. Quite nice when every action is the same

Airgasm-ed
C Cube

Motivation to train..

Had signed up for the upcoming Singapore Biathlon.. $48 for non-Safra members. Race will be on 1 March while I'm flying to Thailand on 2 March. Problem i have is, i haven't been training for my swim and MIA for my runs ever since last year.

Was feeling unwell since last week. Nose bleed, sore muscle, slight headache and sore throat. Didn't look for Doctor to get any medication or status, hoping that its just a small flu. Self-medication by popping Panadol Cold and Flu when i feel terrible.

Guess will go for a short jog this afternoon to kick start the training routine again.
Common excuses i gave myself not to run: Bad weather, wanna sleep longer, going out and not feeling well..

Training and keeping an active lifestyle is not easy for the whole year. That's why I would like to join many races which are spread out throughout the year. Making myself aware of the money i paid for the races so better look good, goodies bags which i can receive, finishing medals upon reaching the end line.

By the way, will not be going to the Bintan Tri as no one is going for it from the tri team. Don't wish to go alone and pay the high lodging and race fees.

Lazy
C Cube

Race Forecast 2008

New year means more races coming up again! Following are the races i forecast.

March
Singapore Biathlon
Swim: 1.5km, Run: 10km
*Hopefully can join under Commando..

May
City Duathlon
Run: 5km, Bike: 40km, Run: 10km
*Still considering as there are too many races this year

AVIVA Bintan Triathlon
Swim: 1.5km, Bike: 40km, Run: 10km
*Really looking forward for this race. Wanna have it as a retreat for ORDing

Sundown Marathon
Run: 42km
*Will join

June
Lion City Marathon
Run: 50km
*Will join

July
Port Dickson Triathlon
Swim: 1.5km, Bike: 40km, Run: 10km
*Want to join

OSIM Singapore International Triathlon
Swim: 1.5km, Bike: 40km, Run: 10km
*Considering as Wilson says that their race had become more expensive.. Rather go Port Dickson

August
Army Half Marathon
Run: 21km
*Will join

Desaru Long Distance Triathlon
Swim: 2.9km, Bike: 80km, Run: 21km
*Considering

September
Aviva Singapore Ironman 70.3 Triathlon
Swim: 2.9km, Bike: 80km, Run: 21km
*Want to join

December
Standard Chartered Marathon
Run: 42km
*Will join

Motivated
C Cube

Detachment Outing

Ha! postponed our outing since coming back from Brunei till today due to the busy training programe. Finally had my first outing with my Detachment at Kushinbo, Suntec. Find that coming out for gathering is pretty hard as compared to my father or uncle's time, since we are seeing each other everyday in camp why still wanna meet up during weekends. Maybe there are more things that we can do now in our era?


Today is our Battalion Off, so one of us decided to have a Det outing since we had agreed to have 1 since coming back from Brunei. Nothing much. Just a 2 hour of eating (buffet lunch) and talking (although most of it are their batch BMT and Vocation Training stories).

A short introduction to my detachment:

(from left row, nearest to furthest)

1. Alex : Demo 1. our oldest guy this year 24yrs old. Going to ROM soon. Ha!
2. Yong Sheng : Wpn Spec 1. our 2nd oldest guy, 23yrs old. Super garang!
3. Me of course!
   
4. Pan : Wpn 1. he and yong sheng are both from Sniper Course, likes biking too and damn fierce.
5. Hao Guang: Demo 2. quiet guy as recently attached to my detachment after some reshuffling in the Company's manpower
   

(from right row, nearest to furthest)

1. Jevan : Wpn 2 also the MG gunner. Motivated guy, often kanna 'di siao' by the others.
   
2. Wei Jun : Det Sgt. Ha! this guy is my DS, help me settle all the guys equipment and admin stuff. Very capable guy! haha but often called as smoker as he good at smoking people.
3. Aaron : RTO 1. haha this guy often kanna 'di siao' as the most sissy in our Det.
   
4. Wang Hao : Medic 1. Our super corporal, always volunteer to help others . Goes rock climbing often. Always mixed up his name and Hao Guang because of the 'Hao'
5. Jun Tat : Medic 2. Another quiet guy in the Det. Often seeing him playing psp.

Ok that's about all. Left out my Wpn Spec 2, Lester who was having outfield in his MG course while we are eating, a frequent clubber. Lastly is my RTO 2: Ben who is our most combat fit guy. During mission can walk up to me to check my comms while most of us are resting.

Really grateful to have them in my Det. Never made me worried about their morale, seeing them arguing with each other, stirring each other shit. ha!

DC 2
C cube

Abici Road Bike

Thinking of bring her out for a spin, but always ended up waking at late morning.. Top tube seems to be abit short for me, whole body seems pretty cramped up. Maybe also because i very long didn't cycle road bike liao ever since i sold my Fastrax groupset.

Back to the road

C Cube

Longest break ever in army!

Started my long break on the 26th, ya.. the day when my standby duty ends. Straight after that i rushed home and took a $26 worth cab ride down to my coach's place for Christmas celebration with the whole tri team. Seems like all the batches were there that day, making her originally spacious 3-room apartment seems super small and squeeze.

27th, watched 'Warlords' with my Company DCs, Boon Howe and Daniel. Initially planned to watch it in the late morning but somehow Boon Howe is still in his dream land.

28th, we officers had the biggest gathering ever, total 19, present 17. 1 doing DO while another is sort of had drifted off to his own wonder land. Had a lunch at Marina Square, chat very long about our old times during CSLC and OCS.. Stirring each other OCs shit.. haha! quite a rare occasion to had most of us sitting together.

Also went down to my Grandparents house after so long (got months liao i think) Normal family cooked dinner. They are so happy to see me. My grandma after knowing that I'm out of camp had called home often in the afternoon to ask if I'm coming down to eat at her place.

Straight after the dinner, i charlie mike for 2nd round of dinner with Mr Teo and Kaixiang. Called with them from 8plus till close to 11 before i went home to catch the last episode of a Korean show.

29th, met up with SJ and had our dinner at Aston, a western food restaurant at Katong. Highly recommended by my sergeant and fellow DC who both stay at East Coast. Had steak while SJ chose rib. Wah!! really a huge difference in quantity...! not sure about the quality thou. After the meal, think that its still early, window shopped at Parkway to pass time.

31th, New Year Eve, doing my DO duty in camp.. oh~ what a way to start the year ah! (army song) Sneak into my detachment bunk to watch their 'Transformer'. They had done a great job by rearranging their bunk into a mini rag room, with TV, DVD player and speaker set (coming in soon). At 2359, our RSM made effort to come down to countdown with us. Showing of presence and boosting of morale you can say, but i think its really a good effort to touch the hearts of the guards who spend their precious New Year Eve in camp doing duty..

Weather these few days is really windy and cooling, tempting me to sleep thought the morning to afternoon. Slept alot (really alot!!) throughout this long break. My whole body had become lazy and lethargic, don't feel like jogging when i have the free time. 'Tyre' starts to form up by my waist.. argh!!! Anyway its a good break for me.

Polar Bear
C Cube

Christmas Card From My Dearest Friend!

As all of you know that i had spent my X'mas eve and X'mas in camp. To me X'mas is nothing special, just another public holiday for me to hang out with my friends. But on the 26th when i got home, with my sister telling me that i got a X'mas card! I knew, it was from my old pal, Pauline, the same handwriting with the card all filled with words as she always know i like to read letter to alot of words in it. Thanks Paul.. Really appreciate it. Decided to come out with a post just on post cards and letters after receiving your X'mas card.

I had a collection of post cards, not alot.. but i treasure all of them. keeping them in a Zip Lock bag. The one of the oldest letter/card i had is from 2001, from this lady who went with us for the Nepal Expedition. Her name is Yun Ling, if i remember clearly she is a nurse, was in London don't know for what after the trip. She was my 'god-sister', so in the post card she will call herself sister.

Now for Pauline, let me count the number of post cards. Had started receiving her X'mas card since 2002 which means in total i have 5 now. Two Chinese New Year card and two birthday cards, taking the lead of the person who gave the most post card to me.

Some of the other post cards i have. hmm. let me see...

1 from Kim (another sister, from Germany, born in Korea), 2 from Yunling, 3 from Yu Ping for X'mas, Fu Lin for birthday (from Sec Sch, so far still haven't see her before..), Sheena and Emileen for my birthday (from Sec Sch, both sisters) and lastly Shu Jie whom i had 3 letters which we exchanged for sometime while still in Sec Sch.


Time Capsule
C Cube