End of the Line

This is it

The End of the Line...

The Last Test,

The Final Obstacle...

Our Greatest Fight

Are we ready?

Ready to win the coveted title of 

Best Combat Unit?

To prove to everyone that we indeed are the Elite fighting force of our Army?

To show that we are deserving of the Red Beret...?

Hell yes.

We are going to Thailand.

We are going to face our enemies

And we will fight like the bloodlust-driven demons that we are.

Nothing can stop us, nothing will prevent us from bringing Honour and Glory to the Commando Family.

The enemy has no idea what is coming,

No idea what lurks in the shadows,

Watching his every movement, like a Tiger stalking its helpless prey.

We will strike from the shadows,

Swift... Silent... Deadly

We are the Hunters of the Dark,

The Terrors of the Night

There is no Escape,

No Mercy,

No Compassion...

Our loved ones sleep peacefully in their beds...

While we keep the enemy up all night.

We are the Un-heard

The Unseen

The Undefeatable...

Victory is ours

Victory at all costs

For Honour and Glory

COMMANDO

Dusting off the cobwebs...

Wow... Its been close to 11 months since ANYTHING went up on my blog.

I thought I was the one who wasnt blogging any more, but it seems like almost everyone I know doesnt blog anymore, which is kinda sad.

Maybe with Facebook and Twitter, people feel  that blogging isn't as popular as it used to be.

Well, I for one intend on carrying on blogging on a regular basis, starting from today. But first an update on what's been happening in my life.

My last post was right before I became an Operational Commando. Ever since then, I've been living life as an ops soldier, training, planning missions, preparing for ATEC in Thailand next month. For those of you who dont know, ATEC is an acronym for Army Training Evaluation Center.

It's like the finals exam of our Army life, to assess our standard. It's also where they will decide which unit will win the coveted Best Combat Unit award. Commandos have been winning for 28 years now, so pressure's on us to make it 29!

But that's just my Army life...


I'm also a writer in an online magazine started by my friends called FLIPSIDE MAGAZINE. It's a magazine that covers all aspects of life; lifestyle, health and food amongst others. I have yet to submit my article, but I have a lot of ideas on what to write, so watch out for my articles!


In other news, it's the year 2012, and it's a year of change for me. For one, I'm going to ORD (Finish my National Service) in 3 - 4 months!

After that, I'm back to my own life again! One hadn I'm happy that I regain my freedom, but on the other I can honestly say that I'll miss my Army days. There were some bad days, but the company of friends you have makes every single day worth it. I'm going to miss all those crazy stupid things we do everyday, shouting at each other, playing with each other, competing, fighting missions...

Well, I have to focus on getting my life into high gear again. Got a lot of things planned this year, so watch this space, my Facebook and Twitter for more updates!

The Final Stretch

It's the final stretch... The last challenge left for me... For us.

It's been 10 months of hard work, and now we have one last obstacle to conquer.

One last Jungle to cross,
One last Mountain to climb

One last March...


There is something about ourselves that up to now still puzzles me.

We know what's coming, the hardship, the turnouts, the discomfort of living off jungles, climbing mountains and trudging through swamps covered up to the neck in mud, muck and leeches.

We know how fucked up it will be... But we don't give in to it.

We don't back away from it.

No matter how much we bitch and moan, we'll still walk through that door and into those challenges and face them, just so one day we can look back and say, "I did that. I went through it and gave my all. I earned my wings, my dagger and my beret."

If someone gave me the option to turn back time and told me I could choose if I wanted to go through it again or pick something simpler, I'll still walk through that same door.

Why?

Cause there is something addictive about pushing yourself through places you never thought existed, raising the bar for yourself.

There is something addictive about being what I am, doing what I do.

I will brag and say it's not something most people can do. It takes a certain level of tolerance, strength and willpower to do what we do. Many people can say, "I can do it lah. I could have been Commando." But how many will willingly go through it? How many can say that they have what it takes?

Am I boasting? Yes... It's something I'm proud of myself for. For going through it, for not backing out.


I am exactly one month away from earning my Red. One month away from finishing this journey. It's been long, tough and one hell of a ride.

But exactly one month away on the 24th of June 2011 at sundown, we'll don our Red and become part of the brotherhood.


One month away, I'll don my rightful status as Elite.


Now...how many can say they can do tt?

Time is too precious

Time is the biggest mindfuck of all.

When you want it to go fast, it slows to a snail's pace and when you want it to slow down, it shoots by, leaving you in the smoke...

I hate the fact that weekends blow by so fast. It means I have to book in... Haix...

And booking in to Helldon camp is gonna be a pain in the ass, amongst other body parts. It sucks to be me. Seriously. Most NSFs go through their toughest times in BMT, then they pass out. Some of them get posted to units that are quite active, so they have to be in camp from Monday to Friday, with some nights out thrown in. Others get posted to units that let you book out everyday, like a 8 to 5. But the common characteristics amongst all these people is that their lives are generally slack, or at least not as bad as BMT.

Mine sucks. I'm a 3rd Sgt, and I still get treated like dog shit. I'll book in today and will book out next Saturday...even then, camp will mindfuck you by dragging your bookout time, so I am mentally prepared for a late night bookout on Saturday.

On top of that, being the first few weeks in camp, they are gonna literally make our lives hell...

Haix.

Sometimes I wonder if all this is worth it. Will it be better if I just get posted out to some camp outside where the life is SOOO much better? Money wont be as much, but at least I will feel like I have some sort of freedom. But I know I wont let myself do that... And that is the dilemma. I want to quit, but I wont let myself.

I'm not a kengster. Dont get me wrong. I can take the physical pain, the trainings and all... But its the fact that we book out so late and have so little time for families and friends that is getting to me. Time is way too precious.

Every second of bookout counts... Every second that passes is another second closer to bookin...

Everyone of my campmates are freaking terrified of camp... Of booking in...

But I guess we have no choice.

Haix. Its only for 1 year and 10 months. I've already finished 6 months... Another 16 more to go...

I should stop now and start packing up for camp...

Wasted 10 minutes writing this out... DAMMIT!!!

Untitled

A Red Sun Rises Crimson Over The Distant Shores..

A Sea Gull Echoes Its Death Cry.

The Widows Stand By The Water With Faces Forlorn..

And The Waves Crash Onto Their Feet Like Red Dye.

Their Weeping Can Be Heard For A Thousand Nights..

Their Haunted Cries Echoes On The Gale.

When Would This Waiting Souls Finally Fade..

Or There Is No End To Their Ghostly Tale...

Rage

I dont get angry very often nowadays. I actually have more self-control now.

But when you feel robbed of your chance, raped of an opportunity and reduced to ashes, you feel nothing but fiery hot rage coursing through your veins. It's a feeling I haven't felt in a long time and I welcome it back.

It gives me drive, passion and a hatred for my friends-turned-enemies... For the plastic masks and painted on smiles, the prewritten words of fake encouragement. It is one thing to pick wisely, but when you make an obviously biased choice that hints at favouritism, you crossed the line. I thought I knew you, thought I could trust you, but now betrayal wont even come close to what i feel. You took the knife and plunged into my back, just cause you believed the words of a few incompatible pricks...

Now i'm just waiting to meet you again so I can wreack havoc in your life and house... Watch me burn your life down... Watch me tear your family apart, turn them to my cause....Make them mine...

Watch me turn you into the insignificant speck of dust you really are as I reclaim the kingship that is rightfully mine...


YoJi

Taiwan

A few more hours before I fly off to Taiwan.

Its not really that epic really... Taiwan is just slightly harder than Tekong... But the chances of anything bad happening is next to zero. The worst that could probably happen is that I die of food poisoning during our 2 day rest and relaxation or the plane crashes into the sea. Other than that, it shouldn't be THAT tough.

But the fact that I'll be so far from home for so long is what is getting to me and everyone else in camp. No one is worried sick about the missions to come. We know we will survive. It's just the fact that its a new country and there is no way of calling back home to your family and friends.

I never thought I'd ever go to Taiwan.... Not like I wanted to go there, but seriously, "Taiwan nightclubs are the shit" as quoted by my dear sergeants. It'll be smth to look forward to during our 11 day training. No point worrying about whats gonna happen to us during training... You'll just make yourself sick.

Plus its only 3 weeks....

Yeah, I'm trying to reassure myself. LOL!

But I'm going to miss a lot of things while I'm gone. Family, pet dog, friends, bed, food, bed, food.... Haha!

To Andrew:
Thanks for the gift bro... HAHA! That has got to be one of the best motivations I'll have in Taiwan. It really must have been hell trying to get it. I want to see the same thing on you when I come back! =D Love ya bro. TC!

To my close friends (You knw who u are u losers! =D):
Don't miss me, I know I'm awesome. I'll be back before you know it... Haha! I'll be throwing a BBQ when I come back, so all of the AFT members plus plus a few ppl here and there invited... Yeah thought I should let you guys know that... Me and Naathan are trying to make BBQs a norm... Do you really need a reason to enjoy good food, music and company?

And this is to my girl out there:
4 years is nearly over dey!!!! You're going to finish your papers in just a week or so! HAHA! I've known you for 2 1/2 years (My God! It's been THAT long!) but I'm so proud to see how much you've grown in that 2 1/2 years. Exactly a year ago, you would tell me that you couldn't.... Now that word won't even leave your lips.... In my eyes, you are one of the strongest person I know. I'm not just saying that. I mean it. Every single word and letter. You have become someone I can proudly say is my friend...My sister...

And I know I'm not going to be here for 3 weeks... I can't call you EVERY single night like I normally do... And I won't be here when you're A's finish... But just know that somewhere far off in a foreign jungle, your soldier will look up at the moon on the same night you finish your papers and smile... Cos I know you'll be looking at the same moon. And if there is no moon then fuck it, I'll look at the brightest star.


We will party like rockstars when I get back...
Everyone one of us. =D


I'll be leaving Changi Airport in a plane in a few hours as Specialist Cadet Trainee Yogaraj...
And I'll be coming back on the 11th/12th Dec at midnight as 3rd Sergeant Yogaraj....


Signing off
Mr Yoji

Jungle Warfare

Fuck Rambo.

Seriously.

You cant carry a baooka and machine gun and fight an entire war on your... I know... I tried.

Just booked out of camp.

Past 9 days has been... well... shagged is a bit of an understatement. Its like you not doing ALL the projects in school for a year, and then the night before the deadline, you are rushing ALL of it in a few hours while trying to run 5km in 30 mins and carrying all your belongings in your house right now in a field pack.... It s a bad way of explaining what Tekong was, but that was basically how we felt constantly for 5 days. Total of 120 hours of that. Less than 12 hours of actual sleep.

The rest of the time, we are either planning, walking/jogging, bashing through a thick jungle, waiting for the enemy, attacking,planting detonation charges and then pulling back 4-5 km carrying your buddy on a stretcher who had apparently 'been grievously injured in the raid'.

My brain is not functionaing properly right now.

Our bodies and minds have gone beyond the point of 'Damn! Im tired', gone beyond 'STOP NOW BITCH!'... Gone beyond ' This is it, im gonna die'...

Haix... This is what happens when you try to squeeze a 12 week course into 7 weeks...

Tekong is not fun... Trust me on this.

Every BMTC dude out there will tell you the same thing, but he's probably been IN THE FIELD for maybe 5-6 days tops...

When I mean in the field, I really mean in the field.

We dont sleep in shelters or tents... or even on ground sheets.

We sleep in a circle formation in a muddy clearing in the jungle with our field packs in front and our guns pointed outwards. We sleep with one eye open, cos there's a likelyhood that a wild boar carrying off your field pack in the night, or that 'enemy forces' will attack your patrol base in the middle of the night.

I always admired the soldiers in the movies, out in jungles fightin Vietcongs and shit... But when Im finally doing it, with a bazooka at my feet and machine gun firing non- stop on my right, its not that fun at all...

Maybe Im just not totally used to it yet.

Commandos is fun, but you just have to get used to it.

There is ALOT of cool stuff, and we do get to learn and do the shit that all those heroes in movies do.

But its not fun when you're being graded on how well you do it. Not fun when you are carrying a $20,000 night vision goggle on your head that could snap off and drop away into the night, leaving you to answer, and probably pay for it. THOSE things are not fun.

But spamming 120 rounds on full auto is fun... Seeing the looks on your 'enemy' forces faces when you kill them is fun... Reporting,' Mission Success' on your comms set is fun...

Stressed!

Taiwan is gonna be better... Way better.... I hope....

At least we get to party after 11 days field camp there.... And IM just waiting to party hard...

Brothers

There are many people you'll meet in life. You'll befriend most of them. But there's always one group of friends that you will set aside from the rest, hold them in your heart higher than anything else, ready to throw everything you have to run to their side, no matter the consequences...

We call them Brothers...

It's a unique bond that you share with each other, stronger than any normal friendship. It's a bond that once formed, can never break... Shouldn't break. Ever...

It's hard to explain the bond, but every guy understands what it means on some subconscious level. It's ingrained in every man from the day they were born.

I have never forgotten the people I called my brothers, cos I don't do that easily. I call almost every guy 'Bro', but only a few my 'brothers'. I hold them in high regard in my heart, and I'll always throw away anything to save my relationship with them, even it means throwing away pride and dignity. There's a nothing wrong in it. Brothers fight all the time, but are ready to fight for each other in a second. I'll fight you face to face now, but if you are in trouble, I'm fighting with you back to back...

That is the sign of a brotherhood.




People might forget what they once meant to us in the heat of the moment..


They will throw out punches that hurt, and words that hurt even more... 


But never forget you once called each other Brother and would have given all for them in a second... 


They might have forgotten that, but you should never forget it...


 Ever...










I used to call them brothers... 


They've forgotten...


But I haven't...

To my special Girl...

There are many types of women in my life. Some are the ones I cant tolerate, the whiny, crying for attention kind that just act cute. They freak me out.

There are the clueless helpless ones... The ones who are blur and dont know whats going on and everyone bullies them cos they are such an easy target. I pity them. There are the headstrong women who are independent and know what they want in love and push ahead irregardless of what others say. I admire them...

In fact the list can go on.

But there's only one girl... ONE girl in my life that I owe my life too... One I adore and love with my life... One I would go to any lengths to keep happy. There have been moments when I felt down and out and she was always there for me, even though she never had to say a word... She just knew that her boy was troubled and she would know exactly what to do make my day and help me through the pain.

Her smile is my sunshine and can brighten my day no matter how dark the clouds are.... Her tears like cold drenching rain on my heart that brings me to tears. Her very presence sets me at ease and I can sit down and talk to her about everything in my life and she will just smile and listen to me for hours without tiring...something most girls cant do...

I am truly blessed to have her in my life.

I never knew how important she was to me... But now I am eternally grateful to her...


There are many types of women in life.

There are the whiny, act cute ones...

The pathetic ones....

The headstrong ones...


But none of them can compare....

Cos she is the only one of her kind in my life....

And I love her with all my life..



Even though I know she will never read this, I just wanted to let her know how much I appreciate her...And let her know this....



Happy Birthday Mom.... =D

I dont wanna be anything...

I dont want a career...
I dont want people to talk about me...
I dont want to be a leader...
I dont want to be a role model...
I dont want to live a life...

I dont want anything...

I dont want to be like everyone else...


Sounds depressing? Kinda.

Past 2 weeks have been hard on me. Im not just saying. I really mean it. I've never had to endure so much physical pain and mental torture in my whole life.

Leaders course wasnt as rosy as I thought it would be. I knew it was going to be hard, but who would have thought it would be this hard.

I wake up at 5am everyday and do strenuous PT, followed by hours of lecture and lessons. And then we have to settle alot of stores and admin for our trainings the next day and by the time we hit the sack, it could easily be 11 or 12pm. Next day, we wake up and we are off to God knows where to spend the whole day doing exercises, like urban ops or navigation until 1030pm and then we are dropped off in Mandai to navigate through the night or something like that...

I'm not whining. Dont get me wrong. I am actually trying to take it all in stride. But the most painful thing about this past few weeks is how I've let my attitude slide.

I used to be so full of energy and vibe during BMT. I wanted to accomplish so much... But now during leaders course, Im just worried about getting through the day, surviving...

Just survive... endure... take it...

Words that work to keep me down and out while the rest of my fellow trainees take the chance to step up to the plate and show what they've got. And when i look at them, I get even more depressed... and its like a vicious cycle that keeps going on for the whole 5 and a half days...

I booked out of camp this week with one aim in mind: Next week onwards, its gonna be different... Its gonna be like BMT again,

No matter how tired I am, Im going to keep pushing, keep marching, keep singing and soldiering on. No matter how down I feel, I am going to keep my guys' spirits up. Keep them motivated. Keep them  moving.

No matter what the day brings, Ill take it, and go through it without breaking a sweat...

Leaders is a whole new challenge for me. For the first time in my life, I'm facing an obstacle where I have to use my 100% energy and willpower to clear it.... maybe more.

Its refreshing to push urself to the limits and accomplish your assigned task and tell yourslef 'good job'...

There's a line in the Leaders' creed that we have to say out every day before meals that really struck a cord with me. here it is:

Resolutely will i honor the trust bestowed upon me. I will apply my dare and skill. I will use my initiative. I will not fail...I am a leader, follow me.

I will not fail. Everytime we say this part, no matter how tired or shagged we are, everyone says that one part with so much energy, with so much power it sends shivers down my back. Its a powerful line. Its a devastating line. People have overcome so many impossible obstacles in life because of that one line...

And its that one line that gave me a new perspective of life last night. A new direction... Energy and drive to push on and conquer the barriers that they have thrown at me....

So here's the second part to my intro:


I dont want a career...  I want an adventure

I dont want people to talk about me... I want them write stories about me

I dont want to be a leader... I want to be a hero

I dont want to be a role model... I want to be a Legend

I dont want to live a life... I want to live a lifestyle... My lifestyle

I dont want anything... i want everything...

I dont want to be like anyone else.... I just wanna be me... One and only...

Are we losing it?

At times, i feel like we've lost it, what we once had. the magic, the passion and the dreams. i dont know if you feel it, but i do. i see it everytime i book out and it hurts me deeply. i dont know where we went wrong or what we did, but we dont seem excited about it the way we were so many months back. 

Frankly speaking, i think we have to wake up our fukcing ideas if we want to go on together and acheive what we set out to do. im not the only one who thinks this way. 

Time is running out. soon we will just be memories and everything will drift apart. its already happening. please do something about it before we lose it... cos its the only thing ive got.

ps: the way i see it, theres only us. if anyone else tries to intrude into our lives and change us, ill fuck them up. cos this is ours, and i wont let them destroy it.

SCT RAJ

Its been a month since I blogged.

I barely have time to blog, even on the weekends. I come out of camp, rush home to change and go out, mostly to Semb. Weekends have now become so precious to me, and every second wasted is like gold dust seeping through my hands... Haix. I dont even know what the heck the gold dust thing was about.

Anyways, POPed last week Friday. It was spectacular. I enjoyed it, especially since my family was around, along with Anaz, Suadz and Kanitha. I received the Platoon best award, which was a fucking big surprise to me... Never expected it. I was also posted to CSLC, Commando Small-Unit Leader COurse, which is what  wanted.

But somehow, Im not that happy. The last 1 week in camp was really stressing on us. New people, new bunk, and a whole lot more shit to learn... Life in the army just got tougher. For the last 3 days in camp, all I could think about was Booking Out... I didnt wanna be in there. I missed my old bunkmates. I missed my old Platoon. I missed my BMT... Fuck. Its only 1 week into our new course and Im already feeling stressed...wtf.

Maybe its cause we didnt get a nice long break after our POP, like the rest of the NSFs did. Everyone else got 10 days... I only got 4...

Which was why I was so fucking relieved to get out of camp this week... I wanted to spend it with people I felt comfortable with, doing things I used to do back when I was a civvie. Saturday musical practice didnt turn out the way I wanted it to... Half the guys were gone by the time I got there. But that was ok. Went over to Palani's house to surprise him. Then me and Nats left to go lan. That was probably the most relaxing thing i did this weekend. Just the two of us thrashing virtual Chinese Army and Middle Easter forces in our baddass chopper... HAHA.

Miss doing Hamsam show with the...em...PINKY-GS guys. Lol. Crazy care-free days. Fuck la, we need to do an episode again guys. Soon. Doing an episode with you guys will feel like a well spent weekend.

 Maybe go for a movie after that. And then thon overnight somewhere and lepak.

Hmm, letting all this out just made me feel better. Lol.

Maybe thats what I need to do. Plan my weekends so that I have something to look forward to each week... Something to get me through the days. Haha.

I think i've found the answer to my dilemma.

Shake the dust off

Its been a LOOOONG time since I blogged.

And tonight I feel like blogging again. A lot has been happening in my life in the past one month.

Most importantly, National Service.

I've realized more things about myself and learnt a lot in these past few weeks than I've learnt in the in the past few months. Army life has been an eye opener for me.

People have always told me how army life is a waste of time, how it sucks away your precious social life etc etc.

I honestly dont feel any of that.

Army is fun.

Straight up. Its Freaking fun! I enjoy every minute of it. This may sound like bullshit, but hear me out.

Army has taught me how to accept changes in your life and take them into stride, and perform to the best of your abilities, no matter the situation. Everyday is another challenge for me.  Getting up, doing PT, marching, learning new things about being a soldier, more PT and then more learning.

But every day I wake up with only one thought in my mind: Today's Yoga will be better than yesterday's Yoga. Today I will break yesterday's standards. Today I will set new standards for myself.

Everyday I force myself to run faster, push harder and climb higher than I did the day before. Its a challenge to me, a chance to push my limits.

And being a Commando recruit, your limits get higher and higher each day.

My first IPPT test, I ran my 2.4km in 9mins 54 secs. I've never run that fast in my life. And i thought I would never run that fast again.

2 days ago I ran again... 8 mins 53 secs. Seeing that drastic improvement made me realize how much Ive been pushing myself, how much my endurance has risen. Im proud of myself. I am. I wont deny it. Its one of those few rare opportunities in life where I can look myself in the mirror and say: Good Job Dude!

But more than anything, I'm proud of my fellow soldiers, people who cant run, who cant push, but they refuse to give up, refuse to let pain affect them. People who believe in mind over matter.

The old army saying: You make your best buddies in BMT is true. Suffering together, pushing each other, motivating each other has brought me and my bunkmates close together to the point where it seems like I've known them for years, even though we've only known each other for 4 weeks.

Learning how to motivate each other and take care of each other is something I take away with me when I leave camp every week. What the Army has thought me, I apply.

My sergeants have taught me the best way to lead people is not by screaming at them like dogs, making us do pushups and torturing us. It's by treating each and every person around you as an equal, as a man. As someone who is responsible and mature, irregardless their age, background and race. Thats the way they treat us.

Give respect and take respect.

I've gotten back in touch with my Dad, talking to him a lot when I have the chance. It no longer feels like a father son talk, but more of a friend to friend talk. I want to have more of this talks with him, even though my weekends are so limited.

But one negative thing about the Army is how it has freaked up my body clock. Nowadays, no matter what time I sleep, i still automatically get up at 530am, and I cant go back to bed.

So forgive me if I seem tired or worn out. I just need a bit more adjusting.

But on the overall, I love NS life. Why must I hate it?

I'd rather learn to love the next 2 years of my life than bitch and moan about it. You just have to look at the positive side of things.



For my AFT:

Tonight was a really great night guys. I had a load of fun with you guys, hanging out at Vivo, playing board games and listening to that crazy ride back home.

If I seemed tired or out of it for the past few weeks, its not cos I am 'step' cool or whatever. Im just tired. But I try my best to be lively around you guys. Its not that hard. You guys cheer me up everytime. EVERYTIME.

Every night, I stand at the railing of barracks and from where I am, I can see all the way across the island to the City. I can see places like Hougang and Punggol. Its beautiful, being able to see civillisation from camp.

My only gripe is that I cant see all the way back to Sembawang. Back to home.

 This may sound mushy, but Im just gonna say it.

Knowing Im going to see you guys on the weekends is what keeps me going through the week. Every night I go to sleep, I know its another day closer to hanging out with you guys. I do miss you guys while Im in camp. Its hard not to.

You spend the better part of the past 2 years with people who you treat and love like family and suddenly you only get to see them for a day in a week? Its hard.

Thats why the moment I book out of camp, I rush back home to change and go out to the CC to see you guys. Walking from the MRT station to the CC is nostalgic to say the least. The thousand and one walks we've had there, the nonsense we've done, the shows we've put up...

Maybe most of you dont understand it, but to me, it really brightens my day up when I walk into the Theatrette and I see all of you all there, doing what you guys love doing best, and suddenly, it seems like old times again.

Some wise dude once said Absence make the heart grow fonder. It really does. Even though I dont seem like I miss you guys, just know that I am happy as F*** to see you all. Screw BF2. I'd rather just sit there and just watch you guys perform for hours. Its like therapy. It motivates me. It energizes me and preps me for another week of hard pushing.

Tonight was one of those nights I wont forget for months to come. Im going to take back the letter with me back to camp and pin it up on my mirror. So every night before I go to sleep, I can take a look at it, and go to bed with a smile on my lips knowing somewhere far off across the isalnd, I have people I truly care for waiting for me.

People who I call my family.

PS: Im going to break the Commando 2.4 km timing record before my BMT ends... And Im going to do it for you guys...

The Karate Kid

So I haven't posted in a while. Thought I might start with a short review of the movie, The Karate Kid. Haven't done reviews in a while either...

Now before I start, let me just say this.... THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO KARATE IN THIS FILM.

Not to say I did not enjoy this film; I did. But it doesn't make sense to me to call it the The Karate Kid, when its all just Kungfu. But thats my only gripe with this movie, and that aside, it was an enjoyable 2 hour flick.

The story is your typical Hollywood style Western-kid-goes-East-doesn't-like-it-gets-bullied-by-other-Eastern-kids-wants-to-go-home-finds-another-Eastern-guy-to-teach-him-some-cool-shit-then-wins-the-tournament-thingy.

To put it simply, take the entire storytline of Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift, replace the driftng with some kungfu, Sean with Dre, Tokyo with Beijing and you've got yourself the Karate Kid. 

Oddly enough, both mentor characters from both movies share the same name; Han from Tokyo Drift and Mr Han from Karate Kid... Hmm...

Anyways, you might think that the same formula might bore people, but what worked well in Tokyo Drift works well here too, albeit with better acting. 

Jaden puts up a great performance as a black kid in a chinese country learning kungfu to defend himself. For his second performance, I was quite surprised that the young Smith can act. But given who his parents are, it wasn't really that surprising after all. There were even times when I saw a bit of Big Willie come onto the screen, especially in the comedy scenes. And the romance between Jaden and his female co-star didn't play that important a role in this film, which if you ask me is a smart thing to do. Experience tells me action directors can't direct love scenes (Anakin and Padme anyone?)

Jackie Chan also delivers as the quiet, serious Mr Han, a man grieving the death of his wife and son who redeems himself by teaching the young Jaden kungfu. Most of us are too used to Jackie's hilarious actions and dialogue, so when this film presents a slightly more serious tone to him, it feels like a completely different person is acting. But there were a few scenes where the Jackie we knew poked through and the audience had a good laugh.

The film is a solid 2 hours, but we didn't notice the time passing til the end. Then some of us had to run for the last trains... 

On the overall, the film is definitely worth the money and time. If you're looking for something light-hearted to enjoy with your friends, this is definitely THE movie to watch.

I'd personally rate this movie 3.5 out of 5 stars.

PS: Several well-known kungfu stars also make a cameo in this film... Can you spot them? 

Resorts World Sentosa

It's been quite some time since I blogged... A month actually. I've been caught up with a LOT of stuff; Peter Pan,  working and of course Resorts World Sentosa... So this blog might not be as epic as my other posts...

How can I not blog about Resorts World Sentosa...Haha.

The past one month has been a very fulfilling experience. Rehearsing like mad, goofing off, pissing people off, saving PA's ass and then putting up an AWESOME SHOW! We had a LOT of fun on stage, of that I have no doubt.

To all my fellow AFT family members, we have gone through some very hard times in the past one month. We've shouted at people and been shouted at by people, danced and sung our hearts, lungs and knee caps off. But we all deserve a round of applause for accepting everything on a positive note and improving ourselves. In Sameer's words, positivity and negativity equals prosperity...

Last night will be the talk of the the town for months to come. I'm proud of Saras for taking bullshit on both ends, from PA and from us, proud of all the non-dancers and non-singers (almost everyone) for trying their best and putting themselves into an uncomfortable position.... just fucking proud.

Last night is as significant as CInderElla Revamped! Arteen Furteens has just achieved a greater height. Once again we've proven ourselves to everyone. Every freaking YEC will now know we exist, will now know we are out there and they obviously know we are fucking good!

Now lets just relax and wait for the phone calls to come in. We'll up to our necks in performances for the next few months..

Tired and Happy Mr Yoji...

I'm kinda Busy

The War on Terrorism is taking a toll on our soldiers... BRING THEM BACK!!!

Now I'm just waiting for Al-Qaeda to release their remake on Bad Romance...

Never Second Guess Yourself

If there is one thing I learnt this past few months is to never let people make you second guess yourself. 

Never doubt yourself. Never let yourself think that maybe THEY were right... Maybe it isn't really a good idea... 

Its an IDEA.. YOUR Idea.

Who's they to tell you you didn't do a good job... Fuck them. We pulled through and made it. People just say shit cos they want to give comments and suggestions, but when it comes to doing it, they run away. They're too afraid to make their dreams work out. 

Let the haters hate... Let the spectators spectate. It's our court and we're the ones playing the game. Believe in what you do. If you KNOW its going to work, let it happen. Don't stop yourself. 

You decide what you do with your life

Not God, not fate, not them... Only you.

Faded Photographs...

Life is funny. 

It's like a scrapbook of old faded photos thrown together that only makes sense to those in those photos...

 The people who smiled and posed for those flashing lights... 

But we forget what those photos were taken for...

It was for us to remember the happy moments, to capture them as they pass before our eyes so we may never forget they ever happened.

But sometimes we forget about these photographs, and they fade away in the dark recess of our drawers. Those happy moments that were so precious to us fade away and become just photographs... 

Just people we knew, places we visited... 

Happiness that was temporary.

Now as I go through these old photographs, 

I realize the importance of those moments...

Why we were smiling...

Why we were posing...

It wasn't cause we were happy that we survived yesterday...

It wasn't cause we were looking forward to tomorrow...

But we were living in those moments..

Where we were happy to be around each other..

In the company of our loved ones...

In those precious moments that meant the world to us... 

That still do.

Don't ever forget those moments,,

Those smiling faces in those photographs might never smile again for us to see... 

So take out your photographs, take out your memories, your life, and look through it before it truly becomes lost...

Life is funny. 

It's like a scrapbook of old faded photos thrown together that only makes sense to those in those photos...

 The people who smiled and posed for those flashing lights... 

But even those faded photographs can't take away those moments from us... 

The Grind behind the Magic

Whats goes on in the most entertaining, supposedly 'magical' place in Singapore?

You know what I'm talking about...

Resorts World Sentosa. Singapore's first casino, Singapore's first and only Universal Studios Amusement Park, Singapore's biggest convention centre blah blah blah...

I'll tell...

Pain, confusion, screaming, anger, hatred and God knows what else.

Let me start by describing the resort... ITS HUGE!

The WHOLE resort is built on the BIGGEST under ground car-park I've EVER seen. There is a freaking bus route through this car park; a total of 5 bus stops serviced by 20 over buses that drop off and pick up the hundreds of staff working there at various stops, like Casino stop, Universal Studios Stop etc.

To describe the carpark in the quickest way possible: Remember Moria from The Lord of the Rings? All those pillars? Yep, thats RWS basement for you.

Once you get off at your bus stop, you make your way past the lorries that are constantly loading and unloading and you enter the staff corridors, a winding, confusing labyrinth that will have newcomers lost in a jiffy.

I was lost a couple of times and the signs don't help at all. There are like several main kitchens, dozens of side kitchens, trolley bays, trolleys, store rooms, laundry pick up and drop off points and freak knows what else1. The whole thing looks and feels like a complex fortress built only for ONE purpose:


Confuse the FUCK out of the staff so that the Managers can fuck them up for taking their time to walk from one point to another!


Not that I was scolded by any manager... I'm too alert for that... For now.

The Casino oddly enough is boring .

Just people burning away their money in the hopes of winning a grand sum or fortune. The Casino is even giving away a freaking Lamborghini as a lucky draw prize... Who's money do you think they bought that Lamborghini with..??

MICE is interesting enough. The whole complex is ONE HUGE Ballroom that can be separated into 6 smaller ballrooms. Each of these ballrooms can easily, EASILY hold a thousand plus people, so guess how freaking big the entire Ball room is?

They will probably hold the next National Day in there and don't snort cause I KNOW it's possible. The ceiling's high enough to let off a couple of fireworks and if they can roll a lorry THROUGH the ballroom, I'm sure they can squeeze in a tank or two.

Setting up a ballroom for an event however, is back-breaking. Carrying tables, setting up tables, setting plates, unstacking chairs, pushing and pulling heavy-ass trolleys and God knows what else I did today... It is definitely NOT fun. It hurts, it's depressing and there is absolutely NO rest cause the managers are always watching, waiting like freaking hawks for a chance to swoop down on you and tear you apart with their verbal talons.

But once you're done with your work, you can take the time to admire the amount of money and work that has gone into the construction of this epic resort. The chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and the beautiful wooden panel walls will put any Disney castle to shame. Everything is washed or cleaned during the off-peak hours so everytime you walk back in, it's brand new again. 

From the staff corridors/labyrinth that services over 10,000 staff workers, to the beautiful designs and architecture that has gone into the buildings itself, Resorts World Sentosa really is an interesting place to work at, full of 'magic' and 'adventure'...

Now can someone get me a fucking map to the staff corridors PLEASE!?