X-Physique 2009

Its been eons since I blogged and what way to return and blog about the blast that I had today!
We joined the X-physique race inter-varsity category and emerged Champions! It was a great team effort by the entire team!

Stage 1: (2nd Detail) Run and Kayak

Start point was Marina Square and we ran to Oasis at Kallang for kayaking. 4km loop kallang basin. The run was okay, slightly fast and then we picked up our boats.. Somehow we couldnt do our normal strokes.. intensity was there but the efficiency wasnt coz we didnt dip our blades fully. Nonetheless we whacked and maintained good position. At this point in time, the 2nd team (ferrari) was hot on our heels and the mind games began. After which we ran to the bike point opposite the cage and I was lagging behind due to stitches.. Felt horrible to pull the team down. upon reaching bike point we could rest as the bike leg was not counted.

Stage 2: Biking

The bike leg was really redundant but it gave us good time to recover.. then CP4 was to do with some ninja-warrior like station. we had to climb this cargo net over a frame constructed by poles. After which we headed to SOTA.. we took a longer loop, then ferrari reached earlier than us.. we were shocked.. But we knew where we heading and they set off upon seeing us leave immediately. So we head to kampong glam park. This was the most shagged part man. They really followed us so closely.. it was a battle of mental strength. At CP 5 where we did the balance pole with rope. That was damn shiok! We did so fast with teamwork and coordination that we overtook ferrari. At the same time, team ironman(Bekky) just arrived. and they are from detail one.. so we knew we were first...

Stage 3: Mt Emily and Chinatown Abseil

After the park we headed for Mt Emily with the shortest route. Our topo was superb! Going up the hill was no joke.. every step was a torture. and we reached CP6 and had to use ropes to transport a barrel out of a zone.. then the next treacherous phase.. From Mt Emily to Chinatown.. We ran non-stop through dhoby ghaut and clemenceau ave.. it was really crazy.. I was hoping the traffic lights would turn red so i could rest. BUT NO! it was green all the way.. Really died.. Reached block 531 abseil. That one did quite fast! But cramp.. as usual.. coz must climb railings and all..

End point at Marina Square:

From Chinatown, it was cramp-fest all the way through clarke quay, supreme court, I couldnt control my legs.. they were cramping involuntarily.. even with deep heat...I reached Adelphi and there was this step that was quite high and I fell coz my leg cramped! There were cisco guards asking if i need help.. Chengwei helped to stretch abit.. and I got up to keep going coz i knew we were finishing. we cut through padang, esplanade and Viola! back at Marina Square.. the last flight of stairs were crazy.. but as we reached.. it was damn high!!! Shiok ah!

We congratulated each other.. thank each other for the teamwork! But at the prize presentation there was a slight glitch. The prizes were given out to the wrong team due to mis-calculation. Luckily we appealed and manage to sort it out. Nonetheless.. like to give a little tribute to my classmates..

Kumar: Great job pushing us with one heck of a pace!

Eliza: Thanks for the encouragements!

Chengwei: You kept the faith in the team! And all the clue-solving abilities!

Team Terror.
X-Physique 2009 Inter-Varsity Champions

Silly things with the King

Part 1: We went biking.. No we didnt go to Caesars ! Haha.. Stopped over at Bugis for desserts

Part 2: This was after service on sunday.. We saw a funny little clamp that looks like a toy.. But it could really be used to clamp a bike!

We fled immediately after taking as we were afraid later the owner run out!

Going for PESS outdoor residential camp! More updates when I am back!

"Taken"

Just caught the movie "Taken" and man! I was quite happy with this action-filled thriller! Its about an ex-intel officer whose daughter has been kidnapped and he goes on a mission to save her. The resourcefulness of agents/spies are really amazing and I was left with a sudden urge to be an agent for the force!

I know it sounds absurd.. Considering my vehement protests when I got my posting 2 years back.. But looking back at my time in spf, it was really fun and though I didnt do things as exciting as what secret agents do, I did get to interact with some of them and it was really cool to catch a glimpse of the lifestyle they have. Not one that I yearn for though, being young and brash I really thought having a high-octane, criminal-chasing life was really fun. But the regulars often brought me back to earth. Singapore's so safe.. nothing much to catch or do as well.. (im not complaining)

Anyway, this week has been filled with revelations. Im discovering more and more about myself! And I think the holidays are the best time for self-discovery when we are not buried in a myriad of activities during term time.

This week had lots of cycling, ultimate, dinners and movies. Quite the usual suspects on the schedule but through some pockets of time I am discovering at this phase of my life, what do I really want to do about it? The question brings about a staggering amount of thought into what is worth doing and what should actually be done.

I think I need to start my coaching. I miss the interaction with kids. I want to be able to teach something, value-add something and get involved in people's lives'. I have been reading some Outdoor Education books to seek some strategies and pedagogical tools to teach the various skills needed for AR.

Anyway, I have woken from my state of melancholy. I think there are more important issues to address. Being at this age, how do I see myself? How can I improve? How can I reach that certain level of hardcore-ness to be the best in my field? Now those are the questions worth pondering about. I want to work towards it. Not just building up knowledge. I want to experience, learn and pick things up off the book. How to think in a different way and approach issues with different angles? That's really crucial. I believe outdoor educators are not just about brawn, its instinct coupled with sound knowledge and experience that makes you trulty an asset and you value-add the kids.

I know I am not there yet, but its definitely worth a shot.

Curtain Call

Well well well.. the semester is over!

With the voice "pens down" being projected into the hall and "you may leave" following that... Choruses of "Yay"! were heard in the exam hall. So my papers have ended, so have the semester and the academic year. The year has been good. I have learnt alot, seen alot and grown too. Thank God for placing me where I am for I cant imagine being anywhere else. Im grateful for the events that happened for the entire AY. Though Im really injury prone this semester.

But somehow I feel a sense of loss. I dont know what I am going to do for the holidays. Quite un-like me I must say. Usually Im ultra-organised and my holiday schedule will be out even before the exams. This time round, I am really living day to day.

The usuals like attending courses like : 2 star kayaking, climbing instructor, sailing . Attending camps like the OGL and PESS outdoor camps.. Meeting up with friends to catch up.

Sigh.. somehow I feel that I am still where I was last year and though I've grown as a person, certain aspects of my life remain status quo. I still cant answer certain questions, still cant figure out some stuff and still thinking really hard about it.

Anyway I hate threes. They say two's a couple and three's a crowd. How very true!
And I can safely say that Im in more threes than most people man.. About 6 or 7?
The loner in me says I can deal with it.. Suck it up andhandle it in my usual "Mr Congeniality" way. But I guess its getting the better of me and I dont know how to deal with it.

Sometimes I think hey so what if I can really study? So what if I really get my honours (though I would love to) So what if I get all the outdoor certs in the world? So what If im the best Adventure Racer or Ultimate player? End of the day I feel that Ive gotten nothing. And by the way, we cant choose where we were born at, so look around you and count your blessings. If things arent going well domestically..just your luck.. we just got to work around it, ask me.. I know full well..

Nothing man! Really. . Suddenly to know is to know that you dont know.
So that you want to find out more and know. Then you finally know. I think its not just got to do with contentment, its got to do with fulfilment as well. With the kids, I can see how they pick up skills, learn about values and new things. Im happy about that. But this days in school, its all just about this and that of self-improvement.

Maybe there's more to it out there that I can ever find.
Hey who knows?! Maybe my destiny is to be the hardcore maverick/enigma PE teacher that is just meant to do the hardcore stuff as a loner..

Only time will tell...

Tiff's 21st Birthday

So yes.. it was the birthday of the semester. Big chalet? Check. Multiple guests? Check. Lots of presents and food? Check. Haha. Yup, it was tiffany's 21st birthday. but the make-up was woeful.. Please spare her and us the agony.. Haha.

Good that she had lots of nice presents and I enjoyed playing taboo there!

Completed my 2 star kayaking course! Well.. at the expense of my ankle. I twisted it on the first day but persisted on finishing the course. Just want to thank God for sustainance and good buddies who were on standby for activation. Thanks alot!

Going for physio soon.. Sigh.. very accident prone this sem...

Updates on Alberta

This is Bear Tracks - the equivalent of NIE portal where all the updates are being posted!

This is my application status. The application date was only 3rd April. I know the picture is very

blur. Its just using print screen to crop it, so cant expect much.

Anyway Im happy! Alberta here I come!

IVP Ultimate (Part 2)

TEAM NTU ULTIMATE FRISBEE !

Its been a great journey being part of this team. From a bunch of newbies this team has grown tremendously and to defy the odds at this IVP has been nothing short of amazing! Thank God for that!

We finished this tournament in joint 3rd position which is extremely good given that we were seeded last at the beginning of the competition.

My objective of joining the team was to enjoy the fellowship and also experience teamwork once again after feeling lonely being a long-distance runner during my JC days.

Im glad to have found this team and it was really emotional as the competition came to an end and it signalled the curtain call for this team. Well.. I hope that it only gets better from here. And I intend to improve greatly by picking up Ultimate at U of A.

Closure of Semester:

Year 1 is coming to an end. In fact only the exams are left of this semester. The assignments, presentations and tests sucked the life outta me. But im more seasoned this time round and coped slightly better.

Closure is a word I feel strongly for a couple of things:

1. Closure of semester

2. Closure of Ultimate Training

3. Closure of Hall Life (yeah I gotta shift out by 30th April)

4.Closure of relationships

As the exams draw near, Im praying for strength, wisdom as well as good memory to aid in my revision. Friends please keep me in prayer.

U of A also just sent me an email to give my campus computing ID! Yay! Which means Im officially a U of A student! Haha.. no more NTU..

My email is akang@ualberta.ca Do drop me emails there!

Prospective Student of University of Alberta