Sabah Adventure 2008

So yeah, here I am back here today at my computer after 11 days of 100% FUN and Excitement.

Left Semenanjung Msia on 15 Nov for Sabah. Had to wake up at 3.30am and then wait for other team members to arrive at the meeting point before leaving for LCCT at 4.30am. A total of 6 of us flew in on that day

Our flight took off at 6.20am, when we reached Sabah's T2, our team were greeted by some of local team who then took us to eat Sabah Tuaran Mee. We were then brought to our headquarters of Sabah known as The Peak. Our HQ is just awesome, as we have a seaview, swimming pool, and whole lot of facilities.

We rested from early afternoon till late, where then the rest of our team arrived to the HQ. Our team consist of 13 unique individuals who can perform extremely well as a team. 6 guys n 7 girls.
Most of us in the team are youths. Later that nite we had a briefing of the camp that which will last for the next 6 days, at 2 different areas at inner Sabah.

The camp is called "Science & Me 2008", the camp was organised by us a non-profit organisation "Andante" who helps and organises all sorts of outings and camps all year long to less fortunate children around the world, and also self-building camps for youths and children.

1st day of 1st Camp.
We embarked on our journey to innner Sabah on 3 vehicles, Toyota Harrier, Toyota Prado and Honda CRV. We had to use 4WD vehicles as the roads to inner Sabah are in bad condition and some roads are just made up of rocks, where normal cars which were to go on the these roads will be completely destroyed. We left our HQ at 2pm and left for Tinangol, Kudat. Somewhere along the way, we completely lost our way to Kudat where were suppose to be only a 2 hour drive, but we ended up reaching our destination at 6.30pm.

As we quickly gathered in the hall with 90 over kids of age 9-12 already for the camp, we started the 1st session, we started with the camp song and then introducing ourselves one by one. Later on another 2 camp sessions were also completed before bed-time for the kids.

Our team were divided into Teachers/Facilitators, Helpers, Management Team, Food and Security. I was one of the facilitators along with another 4 more, 3 helpers, 3 in the management team and one each in food and security department. As the kids went to bed, we had more briefings and discussion all the way till 3am. We had to sleep in sleeping bags in the school, where the camp was held.

2nd day of 1st Camp.
The shocking thing is that the kids woke up at 5.30am and were having their morning clean up, and getting ready to start the day. As our program timetable states that the 1st session were to only start at 8am, most of my team were still fast asleep except me. I woke up at 7am and without wasting time, I immediately commanded the whole camp to start a session which was not even on the timetable, Morning Exercise was implemented by me that day. So I gathered all the kids into the open space and began my session with them. By keeping them busy with exercises till 7.30am, breakfast then was served, so I led the kids to the canteen, where they had their meal.

Next the kids were then gathered in the hall for an introduction to Biology which was headed by me. Strange yea, dint take biology but was in charge of biology. After the introduction of the interesting world of Biology, the kids which were divided into 5 groups, went to respective classes to learn about the functions and parts of our body. After Biology session was rock painting and fingerprint art session which was headed by Sandra.

During Chemistry session, the kids were able to do a ton full of experiments like Volcano, Bouncy Balls, Homemade Thermometer, Homemade Glue, Homemade Soap, Floating Egg, Rubber Eggs and a few water experiments. After Chemistry, the kids were given a 1 hour rest and wash-up before dinner.

After dinner, we proceed with Exploration of our Stars and Planets. Me and Ezra conducted this session which lasted for about 1 hour and 30 minutes. Then the class was passed to Tommy who conducted the Scoring Session of the day. We also slept at 3am that day, as we were all busy wrapping goody packs for the kids.

3rd day of 1st Camp.
The day begins with Me and Tommy being in charged of all the kids from Morning Exercise, Physics Classes and Game Time, as other facilitators and the team were busy getting the hall clean and ready for the closing ceremony.

I was picked the night before to be the Master Ceremony for the Closing Ceremony of the Camp at Tinangol, Kudat. It was my 1st time being an MC at an event where it was attended by VIPs from the goverment body as well as teachers and parents. I was nervous indeed, but I pulled it through confidently and smoothly, and may I add that I interacted with the crowd jovially.

So there it went, 1st camp done. We had the whole afternoon till the next morning to ourselves. So we took a 1-hour drive to Kota Marudu for some shopping. As the girls planned to go for a hair-do at a salon nearby, the guys planned to go for snooker but Tommy the newcomer in our group said he also needed a hairwash at the salon. Then I said loudly, "lu tio tio si cha bo kia" and he blushed and everyone laughed. *It means "You are really a girl"

Tommy who is the newcomer to our group, was the Joker of the camp as we had tons of jokes and laughter everyday with him around. What made him so funny is his macho size and body but had a girlish type of character. His 19 and one of the 3, 1989's in the group.

1st Day of 2nd Camp
We all woke up at 8am and packed our equipment and bags to the 4WDs, had a light breakfast and stopped at some stores to buy more supplies before going to Samparita. I was driving the Toyota Prado to Samparita which is a 3 hours drive, we were all advised to drive slowly and carefully once we reach the road going up to Samparita. Basically, the road to Samparita is mud, rocks and just soil. The road condition is the worst I've ever seen, it's slippery, muddy, wet and big rocks are laying all over, and not to forget narrow, steep and curvy paths. To go past this road and to reach our destination, we had to be good drivers, alertive, good judgement and know went to speed and slowdown.

As it was raining on our journey to Samparita the roads were now even more dangerous, mud water were flowing all over the already bad road. Along the way, we reached the steepest road where it is a 60 degrees slope. We all stopped down the slope and went 1 by 1 up the slope. 1st was the Harrier, halfway up the slope the Harrier slipped down but thanks to Joys who was driving the Harrier, she managed to break fast enough to prevent the Harrier from going into a hole. The Harrier failed to climb the slope due to the burned out tyres and mud sticking al over the tyres, with the rain and all, me and another 3 guys had to push the Harrier up. We did it successfully which we ended up being soaked with rain and mud.

The other 2 vehicles managed to ascend without problems, as we sped up quickly. From that slope to Samparita, we went through a true 4WD adventure experience, going through rocky paths and driving past cliffs, where 1 mistake, and you would go BOOM.

We reached Samparita which is located at a valley surrounded by mountains. It rains a lot here, and our camp spot is at SK Samparita, the only primary school in the area. 1st we visited the areas around the school, it is in a super bad condition, there was no electricity, limited water supply, not enough food, ful of poop and rubbish evrywhere.

When a few of us went to check out their toilets, I almost vomited as the freaking toilet was full of mud and poop which seems to be hardened for a long time there.

At 3pm we started unloading our equipment to our Command Center at the school, and then it was off to clean up the hall which was full of all kinds of poop; dog poop, cat poop, rat poop, lizard poop and chicken poop. The hall was so smelly, that if some rich-ass feller come and see the condition before we clean it up, tht rich ass guy would faint. Due to the limited water supply, we had to use rainwater to clean and mop the hall.

We then started our 1st session after dinner, we had a caterer to deliver food from the bottom of the mountain to up here every meal time. (*His Mitsubishi Storm after 3 days got spoilt due to the conditions of the road, this is how bad the road is) We started with introducing ourselves, camp song and making name tags. We had a briefing till 3am about the next days schedule and activities.

2nd day of 2nd Camp
I was the 1st to wake up again, and off to start with morning exercise and then breakfast. The children were then gathered in the hall at 8.30am, which we then started Biology session, then rock painting, fingerprint art, Chemistry, Stars and Planets and lastly Physics experiments to end the day. As I was at the girls dorm, telling the details of tomorrow to all the little girls, Tommy and Amos was at the Boys Dorm. I then went back to the Command Center with the help of my torch light. While at the Command Center with the rest of the group, suddenly we heard smething incredibly funny from the walkie talkie. It was Tommy's voice "Amos, Hold my hand, so dark la, I scared le" Tommy is 19 and Amos is 13 =.= When they came back to the Command Center we cant stop laughing and talking about it.

We had a meeting after the tiring day which lasted till 2am, then the girls were assigned to decorate the hall for the Closing Ceremony. As all the other guys had slept already, I said to the girls "I'll come and help you girls with the deco and stuff". Then they said, "No need la, you woke up so early till now not yet sleep, go get some rest, tomorrow morning 8am you need to go out buy ice some more", and I replied them "No, if you all going to the hall, I'm coming along, I can't leave you girls there alone". So they had no choice to let me come with them, and we worked hard to decorate the hall till 5am. We managed to decorate the hall 3/4 completed, then we went to bed.

3rd Day of 2nd Camp
Woke up at 7am but remembered that I was not the one collecting KFC anymore as I was suppose to follow Joys to buy ice at 8am, so went back to sleep. Woke up again, but at 9.00am SEI FOR, Joys left already with Tommy, then saw a note on the board "Adrian, please get some rest. Frm Joys". All the other girls who stayed up till 5am were still asleep, so I washed up and got ready for today's plan. Me, Ezra and Sandra was to train the kids for the Closing Ceremony Performance. As a boy and girl was chosen to give a speech at the Closing Ceremony, they were taken by Ezra and Sandra to another room to practice their speeches.

As for me, Experimento Time. xD. I taught the kids how to make Homemade-Soap. I had the kids listen attentively during my session. And when I asked questions, so many hands raised up to answer, the kids absorbed knowledge so fast and I was so happy to see that happen. And there was this boy whom I asked him to write down all the steps needed to make Soap on the whiteboard, and he successfully did it without even a slight mistake.

Next, Sandra and me practiced with the kids the song which they were to sing at the ceremony later on. If you want to see the video, just ask me. The song and the kids choir was amazing, I felt so amazed and touched.

At 12.00pm, Adriel and Uncle Luke came back with 300 pieces of KFC chicken and other KFC stuff. The kids were then brought into the hall at 12.30pm and then the VIP arrived at 12.40pm.
This time I wasn't the MC, but I had a session during the ceremony to conduct an experiment together with the VIP and the kids. After the ceremony, it was time to say Goodbye to all the children, it was a sad moment, as some of them cried Goodbye and asked when will we return.

We cleaned up the hall and our Command Center till 5pm and we started our journey down at 6pm as we bid farewell to some kids who remained back at the school for one more night before returning home as they have to walk between 5-10 hours to reach home. At 6pm the sky was already dark and the sun had already set. So we began our way down, I was driving the Harrier this time round, leading the other 2 cars, had to use the car highlight all the way, as there were no lights and it was complete darkness.

We then drive 2 hours to Matunggong to Jake's house, our 1st camp cameraman to bath, as we dint bath for 3 days at Samparita. The actual plan was to have a 2 day 1 night camp in Pitas, but due to some changes, 2 vehicles will be heading back to Kota Kinabalu where our HQ is and another vehicle will be heading to Pitas to overnight there and pass some goodies and gifts to the people there. So I was assigned to drive 1 vehicle back to KK, as the other driver was too sleepy, this time I drove the Honda CRV, we started our journey at 8.30pm and drove through the 1 lane road which has no lights all the way, we successfully reached KK at 11.30pm and went straight to find food for dinner.

Back at HQ we instantly slept all the way. Next day, had to pick some aunties from the airport and then took the cars for a car wash. Met up with the other group who just came back from Pitas at 2pm. Then the core group members of the team (4 of us) met up for a discussion to play a prank on 2 of our other members. We planned to give a surprise birthday bash for them after dinner. That night we had Seafood dinner, a good meal after the 7 days at camp.

So some of the girls were to go to another aunty's house nearby to overnight as there was lack of space, so while at the lobby, we ask all of them to gather to take a group photo, that was when we poured 4 bottles of Pepsi all over the 2 of them. They were totally soaked with pepsi, and then the birthday cake came, but instead of a cake, we gave them a watermelon with a super huge candle in the middle.

The last day there, the boys had fun swimming, playing ping pong and snooker. While the girls went shopping and bowling. Then at night, the girls bought the guys blended fruit juice. Thanks yea girls, so sweet and thoughful.

During this journey,
- my bond between the members of the group got knitted closer
- taught children for the 1st time
- drove to inner Sabah whereby the roads are dark and dangerous
- drove on rocky, muddy and tough slopes (4WD adventure)
- gave my all everyday for the less fortunate kids
- make friends with the kids and understand their situation better
- became Master of Ceremony for the 1st time in front of hundreds of people
- have an interactive session with government personnel during an Experiment session, allow the government personnel to be hands on too during the experiment.
- learn how to push my body limits
- survive without luxuries
- lookout and take good care of each other
- appreciate how fortunate I am for what I have
- I saw how the kids had their time of their lives which they and we will never forget

All thanks to the whole team which consisted of 13 of us including me. Thanks to Ezra, Adriel, Tommy, Amos, Uncle Luke, Aunty Doris, Joys, Sandra, Angie, Angel, Anne and Li Yen for gave me the best 10 days ever which I will never forget and will cherish for life.

Can't wait for the next camp, I'm already so bored at home now, can't wait for my Korea trip to over so I can meet up with all of them again next Friday.

Okay, That's all for my super long post. Will be going to Korea tomorrow for 8 days. See you all till then.