OBS S.A

You know what they say about looking forward to something to keep you sane at work.

Well, from 24th November to 19th December, I'm going to spend 3 glorious weeks in South Africa. Yes, Nelson Mandela land. Where the hypnotic Afrikaans murmur of drumbeats juxtapose the sinister backdrop of Blood Diamonds and the last vestiges of Apartheid. The place has been described as offering the whole world in just one country. And really, from the cliched advertisements of tourists on Safari, there is more than meets the eye.

However, lest you think I am actually going to pay for my passage to the Cape of Good Hope, its an all-expenses paid-for 'training vacation', with the good people down at Outward Bound South Africa.

They call it, The 21-day Classic Challenge.



OBS S.A's national base camp is situated at Willow Point, right on the edge of the great Swartvei Lake not far from the little town of Sedgefield. From what my predecessors tell me, you fly into CapeTown, hop onto internal wings for George, and then travel by bus to Sedgefield. The whole region is the centre of the Garden Route, a scenic coastal drive along South Africa's N2 highway, much like the Great Ocean Road downunder.

Sandwiched between the mighty Outeniqua mountain range and the Indian Ocean, I am sure Trekking, Abseiling, Rock-Climbing, Kayaking, Rope Courses and Sailing will be enjoyed in the balmy Mediterranean-like climate. And we're supposed to scale a peak too I hear. Just smashing!

Like all Outward Bound courses here or abroad, the organization's mission is to lead you on a path of self-discovery. And the 21-day Classic Challenge just pushes you over the edge so you know where your limits are, as far as mental and physical endurance go.

I'll check back here for more updates on the Trip Prep. In the meantime, someone tell me how I can get Internet access in the African Bush.

ODAC 4 - To The Village of Changi and Back

Some of us flew off our bikes. Half had aching backsides. All were burnt under the hot fiery fireball.



But I think we all enjoyed the 38km pedal from the East Coast Park to Changi Village (and back) this afternoon

It was a beautiful sunny day. And a chance to renew our Internet connections in person.

I think that's more important than the ride itself.

The Climb 2

I started packing for the 'expedition' today.

I really mean I started dumping all the stuff I want to bring up to Kinabalu onto the centre of my living room carpet =))



Dive gear in one bag, climbing gear in the other. If I don't start organising my stuff slowly, there is going to be something(s) I will forget to put in.

And I hope by packing early, I can dash out to buy stuff I can't source for at home. Speaking of which, Muesli bars, Nuts and Chocolate come to mind! =))

The Climb

Three months ago, when a few of my guys/gals and me were talking about a possible vacation together, the idea of climbing Mt Kinabalu, SE Asia's 3rd highest peak, was bandied about.

Now, in a little less than 2 weeks' time (from 9 Sep - 14 Sep), we will be climbing Malaysia's highest mountain at 4095m.

And boy are we excited!



On my part, there is this sense of responsibility and trepidation as 'Expedition Leader' to make sure the physical, mental and logistical aspects of the climb are well taken care off. Unlike some others, we are putting the trip up entirely ourselves since we are not on some package tour. From booking the 0730hrs flight from Senai Airport, to arranging for transfers from Kinabalu town to the Base Camp, to getting our beds settled at Laban Rata (the halfway point to the summit), to booking our climbing permits and guides. The wonders of the Internet! =))

My guys and gals are not exactly Sherpas when it comes to tackling mountains but then again, neither am I. As least I am comforted by the fact they each of the 5-man team is making the effort, on their own, to condition themselves for the climb by doing simple mid-distance runs and weights to strengthen the lungs and leg muscles. My mantra is that physical fitness holds the key to an enjoyable and injury-free climb. Yes we know as far as mountains go, Kinabalu is not that difficult to do. But we still want to be sufficiently prepared for a fuss-free ascent/descent and we are certainly going to give the grand old lady its due respect, possible altitude-sickness and all.



Over the next few days, in the run-up to D-day on 9 Sep, I will be giving you guys some updates on what we have been doing to prepare ourselves. For instance, there is this little debate on what shoes we should be wearing (open-toe trekking sandals or waterproof Gortex Army Boots?) and what type of supplies we should be carrying up the 2 day climb.

I am also busy poring over my old Biology textbooks so that I can better appreciate the amazing biodiversity of flora and fauna that Mt Kinabalu is said to contain. There are about 600 species of ferns on Kinabalu for example, exceeding the 500 species found in the whole of the African continent. Plus a whole range of animal species, some of which are endemic to the mountain and its environs. By reading up, I hope to make this trip one of learning as well as bonding for the team. Most of whom are Economics and Arts majors who can't tell an Ant-eater from a Pangolin or Rafflesia from a Pitcher Plant =))



We are also planning to pop over to the tropical waters of Gaya Island off Kota Kinabalu town for a spot of snorkeling before the climb to perhaps soak and sufficiently warm up our bodies for the cold ascent. Pity I won't be diving because I can't anyway due to the complications of decompression sickness associated with diving and immediate mountain climbing thereafter.



Can't Wait! =)

ODAC 3 - The Big 13 @ MacRitchie

OK so we've done Water (kayaking) and Wheel-Assisted Hiking (biking on Ubin).

So it seemed a good idea that for ODAC 3, we did some actual footwork and trek the 13km around MacRitchie Reservoir and get ourselves to the HSBC Tree-Top Walk and back in one piece.





And we did just that today. Well at least some of us went the whole hog and some bailed out after 9km. But kudos nonetheless to everyone for the effort! =)



13km is not a big thing. If you're walking from Pt A to Pt B on a smooth road that is. But for this trek, we had some rough stone-strewn tracks and our fair share of undulating terrain. Not to mention it was scorching and the humid micro-climate of the mature Secondary Rainforest, that forms a huge chunk of the Water Catchment Area that is MacRitchie, made us sticky.



Getting to the HSBC Tree-Top Walk wasn't a virgin experience for all of us. But the long, roundabout trek was certainly new to everyone except, perhaps me and Dennis. It was my 3rd. And so I could understand why it was strenuous for a couple of Trekkies who had to for-go the last push to the end and take a taxi back to the car-park.

But 13km or not, it was excellent exercise. And we will all have toned legs to show for, at least for the next couple of days =))



For now, please see the Yellow and Turquoise trail routes on the map below to get an idea of the distances we covered =P

ODAC 2 - The 'Great' Ubin Pedal

Well, not that it was not fun. We just didn't put in too many kilometres on the way to and from the new Chek Jawa Boardwalk at the eastern tip of the island. There was just so much more dirt track and road left to pedal.





However the undulating terrain made sure that the half-day sojourn for a couple of 1st-timers to the rustic back-water island-commune was more than a nice little work-out. If the butts didn't get a good beating, the thighs and calves surely did.





Fiddler Crabs & cold coconuts, fantastic inter-tidal/mangrove mudflat scenery, plus a fantastic seafood dinner thereafter.





More than a great way to pass a lazy Sunday afternoon.

ODAC 1 - Kayaking@MacRitchie

Note : I have edited the title of this post to better reflect why a bunch of us would suddenly go kayaking in a reservoir =)) We formed our own little OutDoor Activities Club recently and this was our inaugural event. The aim, of course, was to get abit more outdoorsey and let the sun shine on the parts of our bodies where the sun usually does not shine! =)) And perhaps work off some fat as well. Well watch this space for more of our adventures!

Went kayaking with the RCC folks yesterday at MacRitchie Reservoir Park. And it was a whole lotta fun!



I think the Public Utilities Board's decision to open up some waterways such as the MacRitchie, Seletar and Bedok Reservoirs for water sports is a great idea. The former 2 are opened for Kayaking/Canoeing and the latter for Wake-boarding/Water-Skiing.

And at 10 dollars an hour for a single or double open-top Kayak, its a reasonable price to pay for a solid 60mins of upper torso workout. That's if you don't, 1, let your partner do all the rowing while you get a suntan and 2, hide in the mangrove marshes and get eaten by a Croc =))

We're already planning our next paddle-sojourn at Seletar! =)

Open Water Diver

I sent the application off 2 weeks ago to PADI Asia-Pacific HQ in New South Wales, Australia and they were pretty quick to mail the official certification card over today.

Was really looking forward to receiving it in the post-box although its just a piece of plastic.



Anyway, so what now after becoming an Open Water Diver?

Well its going to be at least another 6 normal dives before I go on to 5 Adventure Dives that, upon completion, would earn me my Advanced Open Water certification. I have to do 2 compulsory Adventure dives, a Deep Dive and a Underwater Navigator dive. And then I get to choose the other 3. Which I have more or less already settled on ; Underwater Naturalist, Digital Underwater Photographer and Propulsion Vehicle Diver.

And if I survive, its on to getting the neccessary skills to become a Rescue Diver.

Now all that is left is to find the time and money! =))