Ex Battleking '08

[ due to the warnings I've received from people in the army, I've decided to take down the pictures and videos that depict any form of SAF equipment from this post, w.e.f. 12 Feb 2008. But of course, I can still show you personally if you want =) This is for security reasons. And I love Singapore. So.. yah. ]

Do you remember the feeling of warm shower running down your hair and body? Now I do. Do you remember the warmth of your mattress, your bolster? Now I do. Do you remember the taste of familiar home-cooked food? NOW I DO.

Yep, people, I'M BACCCCKKKK!!!!

...from Exercise Battleking in Thailand. Fyi, that logo is from a customized shirt me and the guys bought @ the camp. Souvenir. Remembrance. For my first overseas exercise...




The pals who sent me off at the airport on 19th Feb 2008 =)


The guys and I departing @ gate E24. SIA flight bound for some old Thai international airport..


On the bus to our camp in thailand.. it was a damn cold night..

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In our 60 men bunk. You can get heat stroke sleeping inside in the day; in the mornings it's cold. Notice the pails and scoops on the cupboards? It's for us to bathe. Guys just bathe around a big open tub filled with water.

After staying for about 3 nights, we went outfield! Which will last for 7 days.

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Camouflaging the 1.5 ton, which is a vehicle that can help fill-up a meteorological balloon with helium tanks.

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Our beloved 3SG (Regular) Kang filling up the balloon with helium gas, gauging with the counter-weight to see if it's 1kg..

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Balloon filled!

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Prepping the balloon for release. We're tying a radio-sonde on it while releasing to check for wind speeds, directions, density of air, etc for firing of artillery rounds!


Are you ready for the release...?
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Up.. up.. and away we go..

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The balloon itself worths $50. The sonde is a few hundred. And we release about 6 - 8 a day. You do the math =P

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In 36, 37 degrees weather, all we need is ice cream... and..


...some good ol' Thai Pepsi!

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Where all of us slept.. on hammocks in the 5-ton..

And this is something new I've tried. Some officers bought it at the roadside stalls. =X


BAMBOO RICE: It's sweet, sticky glutinous rice steamed in sticks of bamboo. Delicious!!


Even though it's really sian sometimes, at least there's still nice sceneries to look at. Notice the ear-plugs I'm wearing? Here's why..
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Watch at 0:16 to hear the live firing of artillery guns. It's ground-shaking..

On the fourth night, we proceeded to a temporary camp for a 'technical break'. Which means we get access to clean water to 'bathe', which is just splashing ourselves with water.

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The canteen of the camp, and a Buddhist temple at the top of the hill.. quite serene..

In the night we were watching movies on the laptop. Watched Battle Royale, this Japanese film. Go search for it. It's damn good.

After the break we were back for two more nights outfield. The following pics are what I took on the road..


Cows.. Bamboo trucks..

And some very nice photos.. =P


This is one of my favourite photos of the exercise =) The shape of the tree is perfect.



Rolling clouds.. and mountains.. who'd think you'd get this kind of scenery in Thailand?


Some wild fruits and berries..

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Our safety vehicle!

And finally, it was the last day of the outfield exercise!! So we decided to blow one last BIG balloon.

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See the difference bewtween the BIG and the normal one? It's humongous! (and bloody heavy) about 4kg

So I wrote "Ex Battleking '08" on the balloon and we all took a photo =)

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I swear I thought I was gonna fly away..

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The 4 buddies who stuck together. From left: 2LT Zhen Wei, Me, 3SG Kang and Bala.


And here's the lame video we recorded on the last day outfield:
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So EXERCISE CUT. And we're back in camp at last.

Had our End-of-Frame dinner where they invited some cha-bors to dance and sing.

Two words: quite chui. But nvm lah.. so long never see girls already; everyone was visibly excited =P

Some group photos:


After the dinner, everyone flocked to the canteen for the traditional drinking session..

Only drank one cup. Don't really like beer. Prefer wine, liquor.

Yup. There was Heineken and Tiger.

After which, Bala got drunk, then plucked up the courage to take photos with girls. There's this girl working in the minimart in the canteen that caught everyone's eye. So.. that's how we got this photo..

She's okay only lah.. but small and petite and sweet. Maybe that's why all the guys wanna take photos with her ;)

And.. since Bala was drunk.. he definitely didn't mind taking this photo.. *que dramatic music*
The legendary JENNY the TRANNY!!

Yup, she's famous even in Singapore. But her food is the best and fastest in the whole canteen. I'll never forget that gruff voice shouting: "Flied Lice!! 50 bahhhhht!!"

I'll miss Jenny's fried rice.

The last two days were spent on R&R (Rest and Relax). Went around thailand for Educational Tour. 6 buses full of NS men and regulars travelling the streets of thailand.

Our first stop, Floating Market..









We each paid 50Baht (S$2.30) to sit on the floating sampan to tour the market.


It was scorching hot and very crowded..

Some photos of those who work on the river:


They sell jambu, pomelos, hats, souvenirs and even fried insects.

I bought this photo-display wooden thingy:

But there's a very kek-sim story behind this.

The boat travelled into this quieter and less-congested stretch with more stalls lining the banks. I eyed this stall selling such photography-pieces and decided to stop the boat to check them out. The shop owner (I shall call him Fat Faggart and there's a reason) immediately pulled the entire boat closer to his stall and asked what I want.

The following is the speech re-enactment:

Fat Uncle: Come, come. See what you want?
Me: (pointing at one picture) How much for that?
Fat Uncle: This one? (pauses awhile) I give you.. 900 Baht.
Me: (very shocked) So expensive!? (Fyi, 900B = S$40)
(friends look equally shocked)
Fat Uncle: (takes out calculator) Okay, you give me price.
Me: 200.
Fat Uncle: (shakes his fat face) No, no. You give me more.
Me: I not enough money. 200. (which is really what I'm willing to spend)
Fat Uncle: No, no. You give me more, please. (pushes calculator to my face)
Me: 200.
Fat Uncle: Okay (punches something into calculator and shows me) 300. Can?
Me: (thinking that 900 to 300 is really a steal) Okay. 300.

So I bought it. But...

..10 minutes later, when we were back at the busy, congested area ready to alight, I saw another stall selling the same thing. So I hid the one I bought and stopped the boat to ask for the price. Just for fun.

Nice Uncle: Come, come. What you want?
Me: (points at one picture same as mine) How much for that?
Nice Uncle: (takes out calculator) 350. Okay?
(My heart shattered!)
Me: (shakes head) Nevermind.. just asking.
(I wanted to go away before feeling more horrible but the Nice Uncle thought I wanted discount)
Nice Uncle: (punches something into calculator) Ok, ok. I give you 250.
(My heart vapourised)

Obviously I didn't buy a second one. But still, knowing I could've easily gotten it for 200Baht is still a heartache =P

But my dad still thought I did well. 900 to 300 (S$12). Not bad.


Next stop was Snake Farm..
We caught an exciting snake show.


Touching the snake for good luck.


Mongoose fighting with a snake. Nearly bit it to death.


And one of the most exciting vids ever!! How does one guy catch three snakes? Click PLAY to find out:

A round of applause!! Eeks.

Last stop of Day One R&R: River Kwai Bridge:

It has some significance for the Thais in WWII.


Day TWO (Last Day) of R&R we went to a zoo:


Mind you, those are real twin tigers!! And we're holding their tails.


And finallyyyy..



On the way back to Singapore!!!

Bought some stuff for Lamerz which I'm not going to show here. It's a surprise. It's kinda personal. But please, szern, it's not a bra. =P

But this I can show, 'cos I know the four of them don't really read my blog =P

Sorry to those that I didn't get presents for. It's really not easy to get stuff when they bring us to limited places. But I'm sure I missed a lot of people over there. Can't wait to meet up!

~
Phew, that was a looong post. YES!! CNY!! haha, i realised I was also outfield last year right before CNY (Tekong field camp).

Oh well, looking forward to ang paos, food (I lost some weight!!), mahjong, movies with cousins and friends during this period.

Damn heng I never kena CNY guard duty.

Weee, time to clear some offs.

Ahh.. I love my home.

And, did I tell you? Reylene (my first maid) is back! Working for us already. She's already a mother. Can tell she has matured a lot. But still as hardworking and loveable =)

Really missed Singapore.

Take care, peeps!