Monday, September 11, 2006
Finally completed my Star 1 Kayak course yesterday!
I've thoroughly enjoyed myself throughout that 2 day course.
Got to learn lots of new strokes that I had never learnt previously,
and we were somehow more bonded after attending this course together, especially on the second day.
Sadly Christle wasn't there...
Day 1
First thing we did was went out to sea in single kayak.
Condition wasn't good, high tide and strong current.
Got really worried for Christle as I saw her struggling to get away from the shore.
Went back not long later.
Practied at a stimulated 'sea' instead which in actual fact is a pool filled with purified sea water, hence the water is salty.
Learnt our different strokes and practiced in that pool. All 22 of us.
To think of it, the pool must have been quite big.
Played a game of exchanging kayak.
It was a failed attempt.
As the guy whom I was suppose to exchange with capsizae whichever kayak he landed on. Haha
Out in the sun from around 8am-3pm.
As a result, sun burn.
Walked all the way to Parkway and had our lunch there.
The funny thing we did was to buy our food and waited for all to start together.
At that point of time, I was already suffering from hunger pangs, probably gastric pains as well.
Crapped along the way home on the mrt.
Somehow we were getting along well.
Reached home around 6pm.
Everyone in my house was already having their steamboat dinner.
It's funny I could still eat.
Day 2
Started out in the pool to learn the remaining strokes.
Thought that we won't be heading out to sea as it began to rain.
But after the weather cleared up,
We headed out to sea again.
Played some games with our paddles on the beach before launch.
The current was much better compared the the previous day.
Did capsize drill and rafted TX rescue in the sea.
It wasn't easy. Due to the waves.
Had a mini excursion.
It was easy paddling against the waves, especially when your arms were already aching.
I thought that it would be easier to come back as we would be going along the current, but I was wrong. We were easily carried to shore instead.
On the way back, I saw my team mate, Daren slowly capsize by sinking down.
The weather was already beginning to turn nasty.
Waited for another team mate, Gary,to come and rescue him together.
The instructor sent Gary back and asked me to leave as well as it was already raining heavily.
But I couldn't paddle properly with another paddle lying perpendicular to my bow and blocking my own paddle.
Got washed off shore.
Got out, launched myself out to sea again.
This time round it was the toughest time I had.
The current was super strong.
I had to paddle hard against it to go out to sea, keeping away from the shore.
My instructor was very nice, he stayed and guided me through.
Waves kept hitting my kayak and a few times I thought I was going to capsize.
Bobbing up and down vigorously.
It was quite an experience that I never had throughout the times I went kayaking.
Did my best and finally I gave up when I was about 50m away from my destination.
Everyone then helped out and cleared up.
Had our debrief.
I was praised by my instructor for being able to withstand the weather and kayaked back. ^_^
All of us passed our course!
Had a mini celebration for the twins firstly by playing a prank on them.
Made them do capsize drill and sang birthday song when they resurfaced.
Stayed on longer to have fun.
Made fun of the instructors using the age and look factor.
It was a good day afterall.
Lunch at Parkway hawker centre.
There are so many good food there!
The hawker we bought food from even asked us if we went swimming and said that one of us,a guy, looked like he got boxed in his eyes but to realize that the entire group of us looked pretty much the same. Haha...
Kind Racheal gave us a ride to Eunos mrt, where we saw Pan Liling, Lee Nan Xing and Felicia Chin.
Felicia Chin even smiled at me when she walked past!
Gossiped on the train.
Reached home around 5 plus.
I was told that my hair got much lighter in colour.
Aunt disallow me to dye my hair.
But I really dislike this colour now.
I don't care. I'm going to dye and she can't do anything anyway.
Going to start work this evening...
Hopefully I can speak properly with my slightly swollen lower lip due to sun burn...
Bleah~
s e n s e d @ 10:55 AM
