Run & Hike

After two bogey attempts to go Bt Timah Nature Reserve, I finally found the way there yesterday.



Starting from where I live, I first ran towards my first check point - Bt Batok Nature Park. At the entrance of the park, I was greeted by a dozen of monkeys by the road. I took a short break at the park, before continuing my journey up the hill. After conquering the first hill, I went towards my final destination.

It was just across the road, but I can't find the entrance the last time I came after making a wrong turn. This time however, I made it. It's my first time to the nature reserve, though it's not exactly that far from my house.

After another short break at the foot of the hill, I hiked up the 163.63m landmark. There were at least 2 choices up the hill, via the main route or through the woods along the South View Path, I took the latter.

The walk was somewhat fun, as not many people took that path, so I was able to enjoy some tranquility while walking up the hill.

The final stretch was called the summit path, and was definitely the most tiring part, consisting of maybe a 100 steps up to the summit.

The total distance of the journey according to the distance calculator was about 7.5km. Though it's quite far compared to my normal run, it was more enjoyable as there much more things to see. Probably gonna go again someday to explore the other side of the park, and maybe if I buy a bicycle, I'll try out the mountain bike trail, looks really cool and slightly dangerous.



image generated using google maps distance calculator

Leadership Workshop day 4

The final day started with the heavy downpour at dawn which woke me up from my sleep and half drenched me.

Breakfast was instant noodles :( and bread.

After breakfast, we did a summary for the previous day followed by the presentation of the proposal for the project that we had come up with. The proposal was subsequently accepted.

Lunch follows, with the choices of instant noodles and leftover biscuits and bread. After which, I managed to take a picture of a crime scene. Apparently, KL in a frenzy, shot almost everyone in the group.



That explains why when he went down later on, everyone else kept themselves busy by scribbling away, not intending of helping him out.



The last part of the workshop was a re-enactment of an emergency situation that could happen during the trip. By popular demand, I was elected the casualty and the trainer smeared ketchup over my forehead and thigh. This basically meant that I need not do anything for this lesson. During the debrief, I still smell of ketchup, delicious..

Just before leaving the house, we toasted to the completion of the workshop.

Leadership Workshop day 3

It's time for the field component of the workshop. We were supposed to meet at Changi Point ferry terminal at 10am, but I reached ahead of time at 9.10am. After packing lunch when it's almost 10, we set off on the short ferry ride to Pulau Ubin.

Upon arrival, we took the van to the house where we will be staying for the next 2 days. I weren't really shocked by the state of the house since it was somewhat like Sang Khem Youth Centre, except slightly worse.



The first activity for the day was the recce around the island for the group members to design a meaningful YEP if our destination was to be Ubin. After the recce, we returned to the house for our packed lunch. Auntie's dog sure had a filling lunch like us.



After lunch, we had a few theory-based lessons, including duty of care that leaders need to exbihit, understanding reciprocity in culture and risk assessment.


Getting blessed by the village head

After the lessons, we went to Chek Jawa for our "R&R". Even though it's called R&R, it's still part of our lessons as we had to adhere to the rules we set during risk assessment. This is the third time I went to Chek Jawa, and the fastest I had completed the board walk.



Dinner time follows and it's instant cup noodles. We had our meals over TV, watching harry potter and the chamber of secret. Before we could finish the show, we had to go for the last module of the day, life journey, facilitated by me!



This was quite a tricky module, and since we only know each other for 3 days, it does make it even more difficult. After I had a nervy start, passing down instructions, my partner Stella set the ground rules and we're off for our 20mins time-out.

I started the sharing, and went in a round-robin as each of us shared something significant in our lives. It really wasn't easy leading the discussion, but at least, everyone was very cooperative. Not sure what'll happen in my own team.

After our lessons have officially ended for the day, we still had another discussion for the project in ubin that we had to design to be presented the next day.

After supper and a bit of talk-cock, I went to sleeping bag at around 1am. :p

Leadership Workshop day 2

With the ground rule set at being punctual and if you break it, you will have to serve coffee to the class, I managed to reach a good half minute prior to start of workshop. However, it was delayed slightly due to technical problem.

I was then handed the ultimate sk that I will have to conduct one of the lessons which I think is probably the most difficult during this weekend's stay at Ubin.

Anyway, the lessons were like the first day except that mostly the trainer just sit by and observe while selected participants were asked to conduct.

So now, all that is left of the workshop is the Ubin part where we will likely be simulating the expedition itself.

Leadership Workshop day 1

It's the first day of the four-day course to begin my next YEP. It was quite paiseh for me as I was late on the day. Luckily, I weren't the latest with another girl stepping in about 2 seconds after me.

After a bit of settling down, I looked around at the other participants and realized a familiar face belonging to my classmate from secondary school. He's leading a team to India I think. How nice to meet up this way.

For the course, the first two days are theory based with lessons conducted at SMU, and we've covered six modules today, though I shan't list them out.

At the end of the day, we had to choose a leader for next week's Project Ubin, and I volunteered for day 1 of that trip as it seems like it's more like a logistics leader. Hope I'm right.