ethel

Camp: Outward Bound Singapore 

Expedition: Land Expedition

Date: 28 November 2016 - 2 December 2016 (5days)

okay ciaos to whoever is reading this post about my obs experience. 

so first things first, i’ll start with the packing list.

packing list  ‎(ﾉಥ益ಥ）ﾉ ┻━┻

1. t-shirts: long sleeved

for long sleeves right, i don’t have any long sleeved shirts so i brought arm sleeves (and yes, i did use them)

2. t-shirt: short sleeved

since my camp is like more than 4 days and packing list stated bring 3-5, but i kiasu lah scared not enough so i brought an extra set in case needed, but end up i didn’t use it

3. shorts

i just brought like 3 shorts even though stated 3-5, end up got use all 3

4. long pants

stated bring 3-4, but honestly best is to bring more long pants than shorts. i was under land expedition + got lots of sandflies and mosquitoes so long pants helps better 

5. identity card/passport/photocopy of birth certificate

i brought a photocopy of my passport, but didn’t use it at all, end up let instructor keep it

6. towel - small & large

okay for this right, i only brought like a small towel and a not that big microfiber towel. the small towel i wanted to use to wipe sweat and wipe my face after i wash my face but not so luxurious got so much time to wash face, end up just use my microfiber towel + it helps absorbs more water

7. sun protection

i only brought my cap (an old ass cap that can throw away after it is dirty but too lazy to use and end up never even use)

gloves (bring also never even use until LOL)

sunblock cream (i brought sunblock spray but didn’t really use, only sprayed once then i couldn’t be bothered anymore)

8. shoes - ‘water’ activity 

apparently was looking forward to sea expedition and i even ordered skin shoe for it, but end up kenna land expedition (suey asf) but got use once 

9. shoes - ‘land’ activity

brought my nike sports shoe and obviously did use it

10. reusable plastic bottle (at least 1.5L, compulsory min. 1 pair)

lmao i didn’t have any 1.5L but i brought 2 1L bottles but end up i never really use because during expedition will use the jerrycans provided

11. sandals/slippers

obviously this need bring, used it when going for shower

12. hand sanitiser

u can don’t bring this and lend from friends, actually this only really need use when u r handling with solid fuels and there is no water supply nearby, before we eat we also never wash hands de lor

13. writing materials - small notebook & pen

LOL i didn’t even bring this, just waste space only, end up use my instructor’s pens because he brought his box of pens for us to use

14. other personal items

- fork & spoon: like they stated, do not bring disposable ones, i brought metal utensils

- toliet roll (for camp out purposes): best is to bring, or u can just lend from friend, i brought my own toliet roll, don’t need bring full or new, just bring a half used toliet roll also can, bc this toliet roll, ur gonna use it when u poop, shit and eat when u camp out during expedition

- laundry detergent, clothes pegs: obviously u don’t need to bring this unless ur camp is 7 days or longer like they stated

- pocket knife: yeap, i brought this but didn’t even use it

- spare spectacles: i too lazy to bring spare so i just put the hooks on it

- camera & spare battery: can don’t bring la just use phone can liao but u will only take photos on last day when instructors give back ur phones

15. undergarments

yes, pls bring

16. socks (longer than ankle socks)

okay for this right, i kinda regret not bringing longer ones bc i only brought ankle socks, best bring those longer than ankle socks because during land expedition, we trek then got alot of red ants, mosquitoes, sandflies, can bite here and there, than very itchy

17. recycled supermarket plastic bags/zip lock bags

omg this is a real need, and bring more because i regret not bring more during my expedition because we need to use it to put dirty clothes, put trash etc.

18. toiletries

-prickly heat powder: used it to put on my legs because at the end of the day, it stinks like shiteu

-nail clipper: aiya this one don’t need bring lah, wgt to clip ur nails omg

-sanitary napkins: bring if you need

19. personal first aid items

what i brought: panadol, zam-buk, plasters, dettol antiseptic cream, cotton buds, mosquito patches + mosquito repellent  

what i regret not bringing: anti-itch cream (because let me tell u, the bites i  received from both mosquitoes and sandflies is itchy as HECK)

20. torchlight & spare batteries

omg this, i regret not bringing a bright ass torch because at night when pitch tent, best to have a bright torch

21. lighter/matches

apparently i brought both, and yeap i only used my lighter to light to solid fuel because my matches were being stubborn and they didn’t want to work

22. postcards & stamps

don’t need bring unless u more than 7 days at camp

23. thin sleeping bag

this one obviously need bring, blessing to have it bc got one night we slept in the mph (multi purpose hall) and the night was raining and it was freezing, when u camp out during expedition, try not to bring, only waste space, i only brought it out during first night to use it as my pillow

24. swimwear

don’t need bring lah, waste space nia, i just wear t-shirt, arm sleeves and long pants

25. cotton twine

just lend from friends can liao, i didn’t even use it lmao

26. solid fuel

yeap pls bring, but end up use friend’s one

27. cash 

i brought more than $50 because i took grabcar to school + i bought 2 t-shirts 

OBS 2D1N Expedition ˚‧º·(˚ ˃̣̣̥⌓˂̣̣̥ )‧º·˚

Day 1 - 28 November

woke up at 5.30am that morning because 5.45am need to give my friend morning call, 6.30am take grabcar with 2 other friends, need report @ 7am in school (another reason why i need wake up early is because my house and school is quite far)

reached school, took the bus to punggol jetty, gathered at obs reception centre

when we arrived, we were told to sit in our groupings and i was in group 13, watch (group) name is “KIM SAN” (singaporean politician, credited for leading the successful public housing program in the SEA city-state during the early 1960s)

every watch is like named after famous leaders/people

we were than given talks about the history of OBS, introduction of instructors and then gathered at a corner with our instructor and checked our medical issues

after that, we got ready and headed to the jetty, while waiting for the boat, we had to give self-intros, get to know each other

my group was supposed to have 16 people but one guy fell sick so he went home, leaving us with 7 boys and 8 girls

we reached obs, got a tour around it to know the place, took group photo then headed to the cookhouse to get our lunch (legit the first and last meal there)

-

from there on wards, can’t really remember in details what happened on the days after, but i’ll just give brief details

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istg, the camp bag that i had to carry during expedition was damn heavy because i was carry the bag that contains our tent bag (sharing tent with 3 other girls: siying, clairabel, hannah)

one of the days during expedition it rained at night and the next day, the tent bag was so heavy because the tent was wet causing it to be heavier, trekked with the bag and i swear my shoulders hurt and i was crying under the rain because it was really unbearable & pls usually i don’t cry because of pain 

but after that my kind ass friend justin decided to help me carry the heavy ass poncho which made life way easier for me, (thank you so much justin omg - my lifesaver)

trekked the whole day in the rain, found 3 checkpoints for my watch too

tips & advice (｢`･ω･)｢

☞  don’t ever make enemies with the people in ur watch or life will be damn hard for u

☞  don’t try to do everything by urself/volunteer to do everything, but obviously try to help when u can (don’t be the one that sit there and do nothing and expect others to do everything for u)

☞  help to clean up after eating

☞  during expedition, try not to take so many breaks

☞  try not to complain that ur tired because let me tell u, u r NOT the only one tired 

☞  during any part of the camp, control urself, don’t be so talkative till others cannot tahan u

and that ends my obs experience post! ｡(*^▽^*)ゞ

i was actually looking forward to write more but i didn’t have much to write about... and i wished my instructor was more hyped!! (｡•́︿•̀｡)