My Visit To Merang Suria Holiday Camp
Small Talk: Attention to all ex-LCDS members, come join us at Facebook – I’ve created a group for us, the LCDS Alumni.
Last Tuesday I revisited Merang Suria Holiday Camp. A place I lived in for almost three months in early 2008. A year had passed so fast but the wonderful memories during my stay there are still fresh and vivid in my mind.
With me were Soo Hong who also ‘graduated’ from MSHC (same year with me but different batch) and Ivan, who haven’t experience NS life although he had the chance to do so.
Nothing much changed there. Things are still the same, only that they’ve built a new tower for the flying fox. The new tower is far higher than the previous one. Too bad I didn’t go take a picture of it.
Photo credit goes to Soo Hong.
Meanwhile, at the canteen (dewan makan), the admins changed the tables and chairs. At the guys’ section, the tables were changed to brand new ones while plastic chairs replaced the benches we used to sit and lay on.
Cikgu Azri and Cikgu Wati left last year and there’s a few new trainers and teachers whom I’ve not met before. I met most of the teachers – Cikgu Razak (KJ during my time), Cikgu Ismail, Cikgu Jai, Cikgu Zul, Cikgu Asadi, Cikgu Nik, Cikgu Firdaus, Cikgu Sabri and what surprised me the most is to see Cikgu Anuar there!
Believe it or not, Cikgu Anuar (our beloved papa), who quitted being a NS trainer last year, made his comeback. He rejoined NS as a trainer in December and boy I’m so glad he’s back! He must’ve missed the kids and I’m sure all of us (Paradigma members) missed him a lot too!
The trainees should feel grateful to have Cikgu Anuar back. I dare say he’s one of the best trainers around – with his strict commando style. Oh, by the way, Cikgu Anuar bought a new motorcycle. He said the red Yamaha Sport he used to ride was too fast – accelerate one time straight away hit 180kmh. I laughed when he joked about it. He now rides on his Yamaha Lagenda. Yes, red colour also.
If you think NS is crap, think again – why am I missing it so much? Hope you have a nice weekend ahead (=
Merang Suria Holiday Camp Kump 2
Small talk: 100th post of Steven’s Expressions is coming soon.. Expect to see something new ;)
I should have posted this last week but I was too busy thinking and considering this and that. STPM. Diploma. School. College.
And worst of all, MONEY.
Ok lah Ok lah. I was LAZY. Done.
It was a fine morning when I drove all the way from K. Trg to Merang, alongside with Dou. The journey wasn’t boring enough to make her sleep because I kept talking nonsense to her, trying to keep her awake.
No, I’m not lying! Tak percaya? Ask her lah.
I bet she’ll say I’m just kidding. Or maybe she’ll say I’m crapping a lot. Or she won’t even bother to answer your call.
It was the very last day for the second batch trainees. In the morning, there was a closing ceremony where awards and certificates were to be given away.
While in the night, as usual, the camp organised a sumptuous out-of-the-ordinary dinner for the trainees as a token to say bye bye.
Rather than the camp commandant himself singing Mariah Carey’s Bye Bye to them.
If you’d like to see and know more about the dinner, check this out, I blogged about it there.
Nothing really special happened that morning because I witnessed the same thing before and I even got involved before, got awarded before.
I ain’t boasting.
I walked about to snap photos using Dou’s Sony Cybershot while the ceremony was going on. And I felt so professional, although using only a normal digital camera.
I’ve been longing to own a DSLR. But hell knows when will I be able to earn that enormous amount of money to get one.
I don’t earn much through blogging, mind you.
Again, in Kumpulan 2, Bravo company was the overall champions. I was in Kumpulan 1, I was in Bravo (squad leader, ok?) and I was we were overall champs too.
The Blues were the strongest there. But not in Barclays Premier League, not in England, not in Europe.
Neither was I anticipating to know the winning company, nor excited to get to meet the trainees. I was actually expecting to meet my successor the most.
Successor of the Wira Harapan Jurulatih award.
Three months ago I was surprisingly awarded this trophy, for the commitment I’ve shown throughout the two-and-a-half-month of training. Well, that’s what my teachers told me.
And I met my successor. The new Wira Harapan Jurulatih, who’s from Sarawak, if I’m not mistaken.
But hell. I don’t know his name and double hell! I didn’t take even a damn photo with him. Duh.. How could I be so stupid.
Anyway, I’m sure he deserves what he deserves.
Way to go, Wira Harapan! Way to go, Wira dan Wirawati!
My deepest condolences….
Faris was a good friend of mine. We met and knew each other during the two-and-a-half-month National Service training. He was the Wira Commandant (4 balak, highest position among trainees) back then.
Faris was one handsome guy. He was not very tall, but not very short as well. He loved joking around and he didn’t really act like a head of trainees – he was more like a good friend. He was really easy to approach. He was in Delta while I was Bravo’s Wira Muda (single balak) so we didn’t get to know each other until we started to work together since we were the bigger people with positions.
As time passed by, I got to know him more. He was a Malay guy, but he had a little Chinese mindset, seriously. But I’m not gonna disclose what does ‘Chinese mindset’ means here. We spent quite some time together in camp. Since we were counted as the trainees’ leaders, we often work together to like..chased the trainees to classes or gatherings, especially when it was running outta time. We checked the dorms to make sure that the dorms were already empty and sometimes we took the chance to be late for the gathering (coz gathering for ceramah is sometimes very boring you know).
We even ponteng to bilik rehat to read newspaper during the AIDS campaign period, seriously, no kidding. It was fun. Haha. He looked serious as a Wira Commandant but still he was kinda cheeky at times. During the Wira Jaya program, I suggested to him to sleep at the medic tent because the place was more comfortable. And yes, we did, only two of us. Haha.. It was kinda bad of us but we didn’t wanna sleep in our tent. And sleeping under the medic tent was really…satisfying.
He liked to fool people sometimes, no, I mean, all the time. Haha… There was once when he was sitting beside me, then suddenly he acted like there’s an emergency, he asked me to pull his finger and he was like “faster faster..pull pull!”.. like getting cramp or something. And when I pulled his finger… Guess what?
……………………..………..
He farted out LOUD! Haha… He really got me there.
………………………………….
This might be a boring post for you. But to me it’s something memorable.
Mohd. Faris Ikhwan was his full name. I received a SMS from a friend today, telling a bad, bad news about him. Something bad happened.
Faris was involved in an accident yesterday afternoon – a very bad accident. And he left us.
Faris left us. He passed away, just for that accident.
Because of that accident, a young man’s life is lost. I just couldn’t believe it. The last time I saw him was 11th of March, 2008 – the last day of our National Service training. I thought we’d have a chance to go out together, maybe to KLCC or some shopping centre, together with his girlfriend and some NS friends, to have a good time together… But now, everything’s over for him.
I’m not gonna forget Faris. He had been a good friend, a good leader for both his Delta squad and the trainees of Merang Suria Holiday Camp Kump1 Siri 5/2008. I shall treasure our memories as long as possible although it was short, it’s not temporary.
I will miss you Faris.
Rest In Peace.
To my other friends – who’re also Faris’ friends, who’re also from MSHC – let’s not cry. We shall be proud of what Faris was and pray for him and may him R.I.P. I believe many others are gonna miss him as much as I do.
Friends, if you’re kind enough to show that you care and you will never forget Faris, do as what I’m doing now – post “Faris… never to be forgotten…” on your Friendster, MySpace, Facebook or even your weblog. Circulate among the MSHC ex-trainees (our batch). We’re all in this together.
Two Days on Genting Highlands
The two-day-one-night holiday trip just ended.
We returned to KL Central at 5.30pm and reached Klang about 9pm. Yea, we had the crowded KTM commuters to thank for the delays. Surprisingly, I met Qi Hong – my only Chinese NS camp’s futsal teammate at KL Central.
Anyway, the two-day-one-night was certainly enjoyable. Whole day in the outdoor theme park followed by indoor games at night time. I’ve never had so much fun before. Genting Highlands is truly a place to de-stress oneself.
We even watched ‘The Spiderwick Chronicles‘ at 1.30am in the morning lol. Imagine how nonsense was that? Haha. The movie was so nice I couldn’t get myself into dreamland although I was sitting on an Osim massaging chair.
Now I’m already back in my friend’s place in Klang. The next thing to do now is to sleep. Will update in detail if I have the chance.
What’s next? To conquer Bukit Bintang tomorrow. LOL!
After NS Trip
Hi all.
I’m currently in Klang – one of my NS’ friend’s place. I’m here to meet up with few others, also friends which I knew during my National Service, for a few-day gathering after NS.
I just arrived last night. Spent whole day in 1 Utama today, exhausted my legs lol. Anyway, we’re going to Genting Highlands tomorrow morning. Planning to take the shuttle bus from KL Sentral to Genting Highlands, but then we haven’t buy the tickets =.=” Actually we ran out of time just now. lol.
After 2D1N stay in Genting Highlands, then we’ll be back to Klang again, and that’s when I can update a little again =)
Till then, Happy National Service to Soo Hong, Chui Ying, Hanif, Vincent and other friends (sorry can’t mention all your names coz don’t actually know who’s going and who’s not lol). You people are gonna have great fun there, trust me ;)
Good luck people!
Bravo Company aka Paradigma
I’m more than very very proud to introduce to you.. Bravo Company of Merang Suria Holiday Camp for First Batch of Fifth Series (year 2008)!!!
click image to view full sizeWe are the best. Best of the best. We started as a fresh company like others, we had great time together, through the ups-and-downs, we had frustration moments, we had controversial, disputes, then we celebrated our victories. Everything, together. It’s great to be with you people. We’re one big family, out of the bigger family of MSHC. I love you all and I’m missing the times we had together.
Followings are some info about Paradigma:
We are the Bravo. Mighty mighty Bravo!
The flag of Bravo – Paradigma
Led by Mr Anuar – the smallest size but the toughest trainer in MSHC; and Mr Asadi – who’s taller than Mr Anuar and he’s a funny person when it comes to cheering for Bravo in whatever competitions. lol.
Our Papa – Cikgu AnuarNext, introducing the squad leaders and their assistants… Amril Shah and Steven Tan Siong Heng (that’s ME!!) – dua balak (squad leader) and satu balak (assistant) holder for wira Bravo respectively (see image above).
Cikgu Asadi – Bravo’s number two
For the wirawati Bravo, Atie held dua balak (squad leader) while Munirah held satu balak (assistant). We had another balak holder, the special one – the wirawati komandan (tiga balak), Nurul Ain. She’s like cili padi. Small but spicy. lol!
Ain – the wirawati commandan
Now, the members. We had a total of 86 members including the squad leaders – 43 wira and 43 wirawati. Our dorms (for wira) were D4 and D5 while (for wirawati) was I3 and I4.
Achievements of the Bravo company will be elaborated when I get the correct information. But for your information, we won the Juara Kompeni Keseluruhan. We beat Charlie, Alpha and the last placed Delta.
Wira Bravo kawad kaki competitionDuring the last week, Bravo won the kawad kaki competition for both wira and wirawati. Upon the full 300 points, wira Bravo obtained 285 points while the wirawati Bravo achieved a tremendous amount of 291 points. It had been said that our wirawati were record breakers.
Wirawati Bravo kawad kaki competition
We were then selected for the last day’s kawad kaki performance. We practised the kawad formasi (formation marching) taught by Cikgu Anuar and successfully performed in the morning of 10th of March 2008.
Activities in National Service
You how no idea how much I’m missing the NS life and NS friends and the NS teachers now.. :’(
Anyway, before I get started with activities in NS camp, SPM results were announced yesterday morning. I went to school as early as my other schoolmates, queued up and waited to get my result. Unsurprisingly, I couldn’t get mine. Wonder why??
Because I didn’t return the SPBT text books to the school yet. Hahaha… =.=”
However, I settled the craps and finally got my hands on my results.
Surprisingly, I scored quite-okay result, for my standard of course. People who loves to play the fool all the time scored 5As (4 1A, 1 2A), 4Bs (1 3B, 3 4Bs) and finally a 5C for my Chemistry. Honestly, I’m happy for myself (though some might say, 5As only ma..other people got 10As ar..11As..12As..etc). Yea, right. Can some straight A achievers be as active as I’m in sports? Can they be as sociable as I’m?
Whatever-lah.. =p
Alright, back to the main topic of the morning.
Activities in NS
I’ll tell everything briefly coz I didn’t do any diary-writing when I was in the camp so I might miss out some info. If I do, please do let me know so that I can update the post :)
Many activities were carried out throughout the two-and-a-half-month programme. In fact, time was not enough to carry out all activities.
During the first week, we were divided into four companies (groups) – Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and Delta. I was glad to have been selected into the Bravo company, which was led by Cikgu Anuar (an ex-commando).
Then we had this KKJ (Kontrak Kita Janji), which companies created their own company’s logo, flag, motto, song, etc. I was part of the presentation team for Bravo company that night ;)
Many activities followed up – Character Building class, community services, futsal competition, volleyball competition, sukan kreativiti, kembara berhalangan, tali rendah, tali tinggi, classes for kraf hutan, first aid, navigation, etc; canoe and raft, cross-country, blood donation and many more.
You won’t know the fun unless you joined the activities I mentioned above. Seriously. If you’ve a chance to join NS, you’re the very lucky one because you’re about to meet new friends, meet great teachers and make them your second family :)
It’ll be too long for me to elaborate all activities. If you’re interested, you can always leave a comment or just contact me via MSN Messenger. ;)
Up next: Something related to my beloved company – Bravo aka Paradigma
National Service at Merang Suria Holiday Camp
I was under the National Service (aka PLKN) training at the Merang Suria Holiday Camp, Setiu.
Some Short Intro…
The training has just ended yesterday and now I’m home. Honestly, I don’t feel like going home, yet. It feels good to be in the camp. lol. If I could, I’d like to join NS for the second time. Haha.
The routine there was very normal, and somehow boring, but it’s the feeling of being there with friends and the teachers – who are strict but funny at times – that’s keeping my heart there.
I held ‘satu balak’ under Bravo Company (aka Wira Muda Bravo). I always looked strict, cool and unapproachable (thanks, Zee Ching) while I was in the camp. But last night – the farewell night – I turned into a big baby. I cried and sobbed as I walked past the teachers, shaking their hands and hugging them tightly with my arms.
Mr Anuar and Mr Ismail were my favourite teachers compared to other teachers in the camp. I couldn’t control myself and burst into tears when I shook their hand and hugged them. I’ll never ever forget any of them, of course including the other teachers.
For example, Mr Asri who always come out with weird punishments; Mr Razak (KJ) who speaks in his very own style and slang; Captain Khairol (Vice Commandant) who can’t get himself off the wheels.lol. etc.
I LOVE THEM ALL!
Next post: The activities….