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By Jaslyn Rangson Year 11 |
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Excitement was almost tangible even at such ungodly
hours of September 3rd 2006. Participants of the Cempaka platinum
expedition, 22 in total, assembled with nervous glee at the foyer
of Cempaka Damansara. The initial quandary of us missing our flight
was ephemeral, and soon enough, we were journeying to Kuala Terengganu
using alternative transport- by coach. 8 hours breezed by as we played
boisterous games and sang in an off-key manner, much to the exasperation
of sleepers, and the ill-fated bus driver. We checked in to the gorgeous
Sutra Beach Resort, and before we could even relish its splendor,
we dove into a sweaty, gung ho game of volleyball. We were then assembled
to receive further instructions on our camp craft. We had to construct
a ship using a limited supply of compulsory items- chopsticks, string,
and a knife. Our creativity squelched by the trepidation of building
a boat, we could only come up with feeble ideas for our war chants
and cries, the best example for this is delta's sad, sad, chant- D-E-L-T-A,
DELTA! The first tribal meeting (ala Survivor) was an impressive one,
with the oil torches, somber faces, "Cikgu! My flame! My flame!"-s,
and nervous switchy eyes. We were briefed on what we were to expect
for the following days, and basically, a subtle WATCH OUT!
Watch out, was appropriate as the next day, we were shipwrecked on
a tiny corner of Redang Island, pertinently named Cempaka Land. (what
did I say about squelched creativity...?). Quite a gorgeous place
to be shipwrecked, I must say. Each team was given rations of 3 bottles
of water, 3 sleeping bags and a tent, and a stick. Our first task
was to build a bivouac, using only 6 bamboos, raffia string, and a
tarp (most teams ended up using their ponchos as well, crossing our
fingers for a rainless day). After several hours of sawing, tying,
digging, and coconut carving (yes, coconut carving), all teams managed
to build habitable makeshift shelters. The next challenge was a very
physically-demanding one. 2 members of each team from opposite gender
had to retrieve a bag of rationed food to sustain them for the rest
of the day. Using the rations retrieved, each team then had to build
a fire (not an easy task for Charlie- "My baby, my baby!"
can be heard incalculable times from an anguished Andrew, as his fire
died down incessantly) Our meals were judged, from taste, to presentation,
and also I believe, to the amount of sand in your food!. Next on the
schedule was the Fear Factor challenge. The task was only for the
iron-stomachs, and those with non-existent gag reflexes. A difficult
meal of crumbly cow's kidney, rubbery cow's stomach, greasy chicken's
behind, and squid. Do I hear a "yum"? And not to mention,
a complimentary glass of raw egg. Andrew swallowed everything whole,
proving himself as the best big-mouth, wearing this title with great
honour and pride. There was a bonus challenge that was optional- picking
up an unrevealed animal for 10 seconds. Glenn, with a colossal fear
for spiders, bravely declined this challenge, as he was told that
the animal was a tarantula. (It was actually a friendly hermit crab).
The exhausting day ended with the tribal meeting, where we reflected
on the day, waited anxiously for the results of the day's challenges,
and reluctantly eliminated a member from their team (two members for
the team in last place). The winner of the first day was team Delta,
who chanted their war cry with fervour, "better than you, better
than you!"
Day 3 was one of leisure and fun. After checking in at Laguna Beach
Resort, we later snorkeled and admired the beauty and colours of the
stunning underwater paradise or Redang Island. The only challenge
of the day was fishing, where the teams were separated into two boats,
Charlie and Delta in one and Alpha and Bravo in the other. This challenge
started with much vehemence, but vigour quickly evaporated as many
were overwhelmed by sea-sickness. This hardly stopped us, as we continued
fishing, tugging excitedly at our fishing line, hoping for a bite.
Nabilah attested herself a bright future in the fishing industry as
she caught the most fish that night. The height of the night was when
Sheng Teng caught a shark, the biggest fish of the night, giving Alpha
team a bonus of 5 marks. The dubious air was cleared when we were
assured that reef sharks were indeed not an endangered animal. Another
tribal meeting and another round of elimination and another four members
were voted off. Bravo had earned the title of champions at fishing,
thus winning the day's challenge. |
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