The second morning started off almost uninterestingly, haha, maybe it was because of the long night…woke up so many times, and heard Hiok Yang, Sup and Zi Heng talking, lol. Ants? Anyway, we all woke up and started to pack up/tour around other groups’ campsites. Haha, quite surprising to find that our shelter was actually quite good! Haha. We then had breakfast just beside the road, out of the forest. Oreo and bread and milo powder. Think that’s what we had. =) Took a hike over to some mrt station…Yio Chu Kang? Lols, kinda forgot… and refilled our bottles there. Think people find us a nuisance, cos we were all hogging the taps, but it was also partly becos the water flowed so slowly… Yea so after quite some time, we went on the MRT and took this long train ride to Tampines. Long but fun, haha! We were all chatting and talking about random stuff. Really a relaxing ride. Big change from the day before when we walked to get to places.

Anyway, the main point of the ride was to get to the starting point (lol) of our run. We were going to run from the Tampines MRT to Changi Point! And our VTLs so cleverly, planned our route to be the same as the Adidas Sundown Marathon route! And furthermore, it was only the day before when the Adidas Sundown Marathon took place! Guess what this means. The stations haven’t been removed. And there were still drinks along our route! Lols. During the 8kn run, at one of the stations we actually rested and took the drinks there! The 100 plus was just so refreshing and revitalizing haha. But some people, were kinda greedy and took 8 cups? So they got bloated. Haha. I took about 3 cups, and felt really good after that when running. It was quite amazing how I just didn’t feel thirsty after the drink, haha. Could run much better after that! It was quite an enjoyable run overall, again a change from the previous day. (not that it wasn’t enjoyable, but that its not the relaxing kind of thing) Mr Chan and Hiok Yang were with us the whole time we were running, but on the car instead. W! (inside joke, sorry! haha)

Next was lunch, so we had lunch there at Changi Jettty, opening up all our instant noodles and canned food! I ate Chicken Abalone noodles with braised peanuts, baked beans and curry chicken. Sort of the usual food we eat at camp. Haha, and then for dessert was Jubes NATA DE COCO! And in 3 flavours thanks to sharing between groups, haha. Sorry for that ad. So after all that running, then cooking using water for our noodles, naturally it was again time for refilling our bottles. But this time the cleaning auntie there wasn’t happy about it, and didn’t allow us to refill our bottles. So we had no choice but to look for another toilet at the changi food centre, where we were supposed to pay 10cents for every entry, but managed not to becos the guy was sleeping and we assumed he didn’t want that 10cents. That toilet was better, considering the water flow was much faster and less people used it. So we did a fast one, and escaped unscathed. We then carried the other logistics like the firewood and aluminum foil and stuff and boarded the boat to Pulau Ubin!

I was carrying the toyo box, so it was kinda heavy. Lols. But that’s not the point. We reached Pulau Ubin and then walked to the familiar beach area where we put down all our stuff. This was the place we slept at during our sec3 OBS. And of course there were the ‘friendly’ dogs which were always around there. About 5 I suppose. Once everyone was there and we rested for a while, we started to dig a hole for use as our fire pit. It was going to be a beach barbeque!! Lols, one of the best things that can ever happen in a camp?

Haha so we all got excited, and helped out the food preparation. Cracking and beating eggs, wrapping potatoes, contributing the stones we all have been carrying throughout the camp…lots to do. Andwhile we were just placing the food into the fire, we realised one problem- the water level was rising and was going to reach the fire soon! Haha, we literally underestimated the tide… So in an attempt to save our fire, we actually dug trenches in front of the fire in hope that the water will collect in the trench instead of reaching the fire. But as you should have guessed, the attempt was pretty futile and we had to relocate our fire in the end. (and some of the food got extra salt in the process, bleh..) Still, we got quite a nice dinner, with the chicken, pork, potato, fish…only the egg is ruined by the seawater. Haha, eating by the beach is just different. Feeling the breeze, while enjoying your food and chatting with friends. What a great feeling.

That night, we also set up a campfire, and roasted marshmallows! Lols, the classic kind. We simply picked up any stick we found on the ground, strung the marshmallows through, and then sat beside the campfire and talked, and sung songs, and listened to stories… oh yes and also looking at the flaming ashes from the fire flying about! Really beautiful…

There was nothing more for the night, and after sitting around the campfire for…who knows how long (we all lost track of time…), we settled our night sentry duties, and some of us just went to our bashas and slept. I got the first shift, so Leonard and I went over to Amos and Zi Heng’s groundsheet and laid there. I didn’t sleep for most of it, was just listening to music and chatting again among the 4 of us, haha. The night was special. Love it. 1.5 hours passed, and it was time for my sleep! And then I was woken again at 4am, for my second shift. This time, the rest of them were sleeping, and somehow I managed to stay awake for the whole of the 1.5 hours alone, staring at the trees, the sky, and the sea. I didn’t want to lie down, for I knew I would surely fall asleep. So I just looked at these and reflected, and thought. About everything- camp, my family, my friends, my life, the reality I would be returning to, and what I was going to change. Haha, I admit my mind wasn’t the most alert then, but I liked the ‘spiritual’ feeling I got. And then, when my shift was over, I woke everyone up, and went back into proper sleep.

The next morning, I was one o the last to awake, for when I woke up, everyone was already sitting up and watching ‘the show’. Hiok Yang, Sup and Zi Heng were ‘performing a show’ for us, with their suanning and lots of antics. Haha. We all agreed that it was much better than television, and got a really good laugh. Haha. =D So whos the fat one?

We then took down our bashas, and then had our last breakfast! Lots of food again, choc chip bread, pandan bread, oreo, instant cereal, instant milo…we all had our full, while talking about stuff again. And then for the rest of the morning, it was mostly a reflection session, talking about each other, and ourselves, helping us learn more about ourselves, strengths and things to work on. For me, I think there was one on speaking out more, and one more I shall not reveal, because it is to my disadvantage, lols. To those of you who were there with me, please do help me to improve on myself! I will try my best too! =)

And then the final part. We were all blindfolded, and told to stand in a line at the beach. You know, like those things they do in the Japanese occupation, where they shoot the people at the beach… ok, not so terrible la. We were all told to think of three things: One dream, One Fear, and One Thing We Want to Change. Not being able to see anything, while only listening to the sounds of the waves splashing against the shores, I thought of my three.

Now when I think back, personally, venture Camp has really taught me about the importance of trusting the friends I have, and relying on each other. Not a single one of us could have done what we did all alone. Whether it was the survival night, or the beach cooking…it has to be us working together! Also, I feel that the VC has really given me the opportunity to try out many new things, just as my time in Ventures has been. I believe that we all have learnt something new about ourselves, and gotten to know something new that we can do. There are many things we know we can do. But there are many more we have yet to try out.

Gues what? the camp ended on 01-06. Haha, I personally understand this as, it only ends, if we want it to. Which kinda means it will never. Lol.

I really loved it! Thanks so much to our VTLs, the GC and AC for planning it! And of course all my batchmates in 0106 who went through everything with me, especially Alvin! Without which the experience would have totally sucked. Haha! =D

My choice in sec 3 is truly worthwhile. I feel so lucky to have discovered what I've been missing out... Thanks buds!

Sorry for the long and picture-less post!! Facebook has many of them though, haha! =)