Saturday, September 16, 2006, 9:20 am
Okay. Didn't came online as planned yesterday because the modem still isnt working. This is the first day after OBS camp. Lots of things to say, lots of things to reflect on. But first of all... B for Battuta, We love Battuta. If you want to be the best, Join the "tuta" family. Yay. Hhahaha. Kinda missed all the Battuta people. Now now, let me briefly explain how we spent our 5 days.
First day
We reached Punggol Jetty, sat the ferry over to OBS campsite 2 into Pulau Ubin, broke up into groups, did some administration stuffs with the instructor. That was the worst day I had, everyone was so cold, not saying anything. I thought it was going to be a boring camp, but luckily I was wrong. Did some kayaking too. Someone from my group got stuck in those rocks and another person got sea-sick, before the expedition. Hhahahhahahhhhaahha. Did tent-pitching, and our first dinner. Quite alright.
Second day
We did belaying, abit sian, but its worth it. Then Double-Dangle-Duo. Me and Naim did it in 3 minutes. Cool huh? Roll. But anyway, it was fun. Then we did some packing. Trust-fall and the rest. Cant really remember.
Third day
Our most important highlight of the day: SEA EXPEDITION. Hahahha. Did a total of 8 hours of kayaking, against wind, against tide, against current. Paired up with Aslinda. Talked a lot of nonsense. Blah blah blah. Pak Meng said I scooped a fish into her kayak. Hhahhaha. This is so funny. Anyway, kayaking was really fun. Then we still have to pitch tent, and cook dinner. I did my first powder-bath too. Roll.
Fourth day
We did land expedition. Lots of things happened here. Firstly, I am the LAND EXPEDITION LEADER. Clap leh. Hhaahahha. So BHB. But mostly its from the help of Scouting experience. Hahahhaa. We walked and we walked and we walked and we walked and we walked and we walked. Then we passed some interesting places.
Number one, the Headman House. His name being the Headman because he is the village head. It was said that he was from China. He loved his wife very much and wokred very hard to bring her to Singapore too. They were a happy couple. One day, there is a robbery in his house. In self-defence, the robber shot two bullets. One in the ceiling, the other right through the heart of the wife. She died instantly. The headman went crazy, didn't believe in anyone suspicious of everyone. He recovered, but it was a bad scar, psychologically. It was said that the other bullet is still in the ceiling. He kept an ostrich, a small crocodile, and a bat before. He now have 3 soft shell tortoise and numerous birds. He has his father, aged 100 plus, with him in his house. He is aged 70 plus.
Number two, German Girl Shrine. Click here for photo of interior of shrine
Behind a secluded timber temple located at the northern coast of Pulau Ubin, there is a tragic urban legend unknown even to many Singaporeans. Strangely, inside the temple, you will find two physical objects as the centerpiece of worship. One is a beautiful porcelain urn placed on top of the altar, the other is merely a piece of rock of a football size on the floor under the altar. These two artifacts closely associate with a deceased white German girl who was mystified as a local deity in almost ninety years ago. In August 1914, at the outbreak of WW1, British troops at night came to raid and prosecute a German merchant who owned a coffee plantation business and lived in Pulau Ubin. A young German girl who is the daughter of the merchant became frightened and ran away. Because it was dark at night, the girl fell down a cliff and was killed when her head hit on a piece of rock.
The body of the innocent girl, however, was discovered by the local laborers on the next days, covered by termites. Out of kindness, they did more than just giving her a proper burial; a Kramat (a worship shrine) was built for her on the hilltop. Years later, due to the development of quarry excavation on the hill, her remain was exhumed and transferred to another temple at the northern coast. What belonged to her, the remains that were put in a porcelain pot and this 'rock of destiny' were moved too. The villagers continued to visit the new temple to pray. Through the passage of time, the shrine has grown into a popular place of spirit worship for the villagers because of the allegedly efficacious supernatural power of the German girl. Many worshippers especially the gamblers had their wishes granted. One day, the popularity attracted a wicked thief who stole her bones together with the porcelain urn away. Nowadays, a replacement Barbie doll and the rock of destiny can be found in the temple as the icons of worship. Extracted from here.
Also from my part, one of my watch member saw the Barbie Doll blinked. Ermmm. This is abit scary. Roll.
Fifth day
Store-cleaning, and tent-unpitching. Then we had some administration and reflection done. Our instructor gave us some last debrief and it was really sad. Somehow I still miss my watch members.
MY OBS DAYS.
