Outward Bound Malaysia (OBS) Lumut

I think it'll be beneficial if I wrote about my own experience of OBS and share some tips with those of you who seek for guidance (CEH!). So, with my nearly unrecognisable 7 shades darker hands doing the typing, here goes nothing!

The picture I took as soon as we arrived and before our phones got confiscated for the whole week. Imagine watching the sunset here every day :)

I was really looking forward to OBS, because it comprises everything I love doing; learning new things, pushing my limits, adventure, the outdoors, spending time with friends, well you get the idea. I have been to many camps but little did I know that this one was unlike the rest and it would soon become one very precious experience, one that if I were to grow old and start to forget things, I would never want to forget about the camp and how I genuinely felt happy throughout the whole experience.

This camp was going to be the last us Petronas scholars would have before we went our separate ways at different universities. Albeit it being the last, it was definitely the one that made us really bond like never before. It's amazing how quickly you become close to someone when you have to go through pain, struggles and hardships together. One confession that I'm not proud of is that I forget 60% of the names of the scholars from the previous events or programmes held by Petronas even though I was in the same group with them. Well give me a break, I only see them like maybe once a year and I remember their faces though *tryna somehow lessen my sense of guilt. But OBS made me remember more than just their names - it made me really know the person (well more than just going to the same college for two years had allowed me).

So what's so great about OBS you ask? Well if you ask me I would say I had really awesome and reliable teammates (that feeling when you're in the better team :p jk jk ) We weren't perfect, we did not kayak or hike to school as a kid and no we were not born for the wilderness. Most of us were city kids (struggling with parting with our phones for a week) adapting to the new situation and yes we had flaws but everybody worked together and helped each other so together we were strong.

When hiking, like in life, some were really good and some needed help. What I loved about hiking with my teammates was how they reacted when someone had trouble keeping up. I mean they could have easily felt annoyed and angry at the person for slowing down the group but instead the boys took turns in helping her carry her bags (with their already heavy bags loaded with tents and other cooking utensils) and nobody showed any signs of resentment or hatred. That was golden. Because sometimes in life although a person has given their best, sometimes their best isn't enough so it's important for other people to try to understand and help instead of making the situation worse.

On the fourth day, we had to Kayak around Pulau Pangkor and camp there. The night before, we gathered to discuss about the formation of our kayaks. We needed a pair to become captain, Left and Right planker and lastly a sweeper. Horng and I were captains. For Kayak, I was tested to the point I felt down and disappointed in myself (I wasn't doing bad, but I wasn't doing great either and that for me wasn't enough) however things did turn around after lunch (it's amazing how a happy tummy can change things) and of course with encouragements from my partner. At one stop, because the waves were getting stronger and we didn't have much time left before the sun sets, we had to decide whether to continue or to stop and go to our camping site on a yacht instead. After discussing, we unanimously decided to stop because some couldn't proceed any further. It wasn't easy making that decision because we did feel disappointed for not completing the route but we decided it was the best decision to make for the whole team. Fast forward to the point where we were sitting on the deck of a yacht with our legs dangling from the sides, the wind in our face, the beautiful scenery, and the angry tides making it impossible to kayak without capsizing, we knew for sure we had made the right decision. 

It took roughly an hour to deboard the yacht because the tides were too strong. On reaching the shore which was quite a distance from our campsite, we had to take an unexpected 20 minute hike into the woods in our water shoes and it was already dark  (without flashlights you could barely see what was in front of you). Although exhausted by the time we reached the campsite, everybody played their part; some made the fire, some set up the tents and some started to prepare to cook. It was one hell of an experience, imagine kayaking for hours, riding a yacht and hiking in the dark all on the same day. Quite the package aye?

Overall, it terms of difficulty I would rate OBS a 6 out of 10 but in terms of its worth as an experience it was priceless. It's sad when you take in the fact that you can not guarantee when or if you might see some of the friends you've spent those seven day with again. But I'm grateful, thankful and happy for the experience. I'm thankful it happened and I shall look back on the experience as one of the happy moments of my life.

This picture was taken on the second day of our kayak and a few minutes before we reached the shore. I remember how I took a moment to just take in how beautiful the scenery was. The sky was a healthy blue, the clouds fluffier than ever, and the hills looking all green. It was amazing. 

                                                                                Till more adventure and excitement oxo.