PROGRAMMES | LUMEN 11 durian or two in the dense forest , the crowing of the cockerels , the happy birds chirping their welcome , the dragging of leaden feet and the thuds of canned food that escaped from some bags that had given way . We spoke little , conserving our energy for the arduous walk and the long days ahead .
We finally reached Mamam campsite after two hours of trekking . Setting down our heavy burdens , we pitched our tents – a relatively easy task and soon settled down . It was not long before our first activity : river-crossing . Our class 101 made our way to the river next to the site and took instructions from one of the ACE leaders . We were to grab onto a rope suspended above the river and maneuver our way to its other side by fighting against the current and ever-changing tide . After this , we pitched our tarpaulin tents and learnt to start fires . The first day came to a close after dinner with yet another long hike to the next campsite . Despite our physical fatigue , the hike was surprisingly therapeutic , setting us on a reflective mood as we journeyed in calm quietness to our destination . Upon reaching Celestial Ubin Resort , we were filled with unspoken gratitude that the tents were already pitched for us by the previous classes . Drained , we all turned in for the night with no room for even dreams .
The next morning , we actually looked forward to the challenge that awaited us after some simple breakfast . For the orienteering activity , we were tasked to find three different spots on Ubin . The first two
The camp was tough but it had undeniably taught us meaningful lessons .
spots were easily accessible and we located them in the first two or so hours . The last destination however , was as elusive as a mirage - we spent hours looking for it and came back fruitless every time . As the map we had was heavily pixelated and close to impossible to read , we resorted to clues provided by the occasional map boards that gave us a better idea of our orientation . It took three hours for us to finally locate the hill and climb it . The majestic scenery at the summit was not only unexpected but took our breath away . Invigorated by the sweetness of our success , we mustered the energy to return to our faraway meeting point in the refreshing rain that fell gently . With every drop , we were reminded of the kindness , the care and the motivation each member in the group shared to allow us to accomplish our mission . With every drop , we also felt the rumbling and churning of our stomachs intensify for it was dinner time .
Grateful for the nourishment , we were all ready to retire for the night only to be told there was going to be a solo hike . As if that was not enough , we were told that we had to find our way in the dark without a flashlight . It was going to be the most frightening walk we had to take in our lives for the end point was the campsite in a forest . But walk , we did . Even today , it still amazes us how we not only survived it but secretly enjoyed it .
Miraculously , we woke up the following day without any cramps or pains . However , our skin was painfully raw from the insect bites and lack of proper showers . Still we were not spared the long canoeing expedition in the seas around Ubin . Immediately after we returned , we did improvised rafting , and constructed a raft with three canoes and nine pipes . The challenge was to ensure its mobility while accommodating all fifteen of us .
The whole process was tedious as we tried to tie the pipes to the bottom of the raft . However , the pipes kept getting stuck in the sand when we tried to paddle it towards the sea . We were more than relieved when we finally could change into dry clothes and have dinner .
The final day at Ubin jetty saw a long line of homesick boys stretched across the entire bridge waiting patiently to take a bumboat home . We could and would not forget the camp songs we had learnt but more importantly , we take home with us a valuable lesson on hardship and appreciation of the things and people we often take for granted . The camp was tough but it had undeniably taught us meaningful lessons .
Facing page ( top ): Happy trekkers Facing page ( bottom ): From the city to the wilderness
This page ( top ): Camp cuisine This page ( centre ): Welcome to our residence at Ubin !
This page ( bottom ): Canoeing 101