Outward Bound Malaysia, Lumut (Episode 1)

Yes, that is the name of the school. Contrary to what people thought to be “Outward Bound Lumut, Malaysia”, it should be the other way round. In fact, its abbreviation is OBML, and you can check it out here.

I have recently attended a seven-day course in OBML. I was in the second batch of PETRONAS scholars who were required to attend this camp. The camp began on the 9th till the 15th of June 2008. Instead of meeting up with the rest of my university mates at KLCC on the 9th of June, I decided to drive to OBML (of course, not after I had a hearty lunch in Pantai Remis first!) as it is definitely more economical in terms of finance and time.

At OBML, it was all about outdoor activities, namely camping out, kayaking, jungle trekking, etc. Initially, many of us thought that it was a physical torture. Well, it is fair enough to say that not many of us PETRONAS scholars are such “outdoor oriented” people, including me. Nevertheless, at the end of the seven-day programme, I felt that it was a worthwhile experience although exhausting. There was much laughing, cooperation, sharing, thinking, reflecting. There was no mobile phone, no laptop, no iPod, no MP3 player, no cash. It was all seriously “back to basics”, as the instructors put it. The only modern technology allowed to be used was my trusty camera.

We were informed that normally participants who wish to complete all of the courses available in OBML would take 25 days. Such courses included kayaking, whaler, jungle trekking, rafting, solo camping and many more, and they are definitely more strenuous and challenging than our seven-day programme. Nevertheless, our seven-day programme alone has already taken its first “casualties”, therefore I dare not imagine how bad things would be for a lot of us had we been enrolled for the 25-day programme.

Enough about the introduction on OBML. It’s time for me to relate the happenings that took place during the seven days of my camp there.

Day 1 (9th of June 2008): Arrival and Checking-In at OBML

At 1400 hours, we were required to register and check-in to our “watches” (sub-groups within a group). It was also at this time that we had to surrender all prohibited items: cigarettes, mobile phones, identification cards, cash money, iPod, MP3 players, outside food, laptops, etc. Then we were briefed about the rules and regulations of OBML and were introduced on some of the most important places within OBML, as well as its facilities. After that, we had a group photography session.

We were then allowed to check-in to our quarters and requested to come down for dinner at the dining hall at 1830 hours. At around 2030 hours we were requested to meet up with our individual instructors and were told about the activities that we were going to have during our seven-day stay in OBML.

We were instructed that lights had to be off by 2230 hours and that we had to assemble at the flag area just outside the Gym Hall (or Tan Sri Hutson Hall) by 0630 hours the next day. I spent the rest of the day taking pictures of my quarters and the surrounding areas.

Registration at the Gym Hall (or Tan Sri Hutson Hall). Our instructor, Yuzam Syah, is in yellow with a cap on. I was quite nervous, as I did not know what to expect for the next seven days.

This is my bed. My watch (Jerai) was put into Beremban block. Thankfully they did not give us Camah, or we would be climbing over hundreds of steps just to go up to our quarters! The quarters is very modest, but sufficient for us. At least they gave us bathrooms as well, so what more could I complain about? They had provided us with the most basic necessities.

This is the view of the participants’ quarters from the Gym Hall. No, my quarters are located elsewhere, although on a hill, too. The strange thing is that despite the quarters being built on hills, it had been very warm for the whole week. Perhaps it was due to the whole school being located near the sea. You could be well assured that it would be very cooling at 0100 hours.

The Dining Hall. Also very modest-looking, but this was where most of the socialising took place!

Quite a captivating view, don’t you think? This was taken around 1930 hours. The boat you see on the left is the whaler. The other two on the right are called “mother boats”. Remember, boats are always addressed as a “she”.

Day 2 (10th of June 2008): Our Journey Begins

At 0630 we gathered at the flag area and sang the national anthem before beginning our morning activity. We had a warming up session and proceeded with some land games. At this moment it was all mainly about ice-breaking. My watch also got to know an English supporting instructor. Her name is Polly Emmott. There is also a Dutch supporting instructor (but I didn’t see her much) whose name is Renske Verhaulst. My initial impression of the instructors was that they were quite cold (no offence, please!) but eventually they were very sociable people and I quite liked to talk to them. It was easy to have casual conversations once we got to know each other better.

It was breakfast time at 0730 hours and at around 0900 hours my watch, together with two other watches, were given our training on how to kayak. We were briefed about the boat-house and on how to paddle. We were also taught on how to handle the kayaks and what are the safety regulations that must be followed. We then put up our lifejackets, got our kayaks ready by the beach and did some minor exercises to help those who are afraid of the water.

Our instructor requested that we formed a circle and held on to each other’s hands. He told us not to let go of our hands under any circumstances to prevent others who have the fear of water to panic. We were then taught on some floating techniques that would come very useful for non-swimmers. After about ten minutes, we got out of water and were taught on some rescue techniques if any of the kayaks capsize during our sea expedition. Once we have been taught such techniques, it was time to put them into practice so we got our kayaks into the sea and started paddling. Initially, it was quite fun to kayak (we had no idea what was to come next!) and there was much laughing. Then we were told to have one of the kayaks to capsize so that we could have a rescue drill.

After all the training, it was about 1130 hours. We were gathered at the Gym Hall together with two other watches (Bubu and Camah) and were told that our sea expedition to Pangkor would begin on that evening itself! We were excited and were immediately briefed about the process that would take place before, during and after the expedition. At 1230 hours we had our lunch and after that we immediately packed up all our necessary things into a waterproof, transparent, plastic bag (which they call “magic bag”). By 1400 hours we had all our things ready and had to get our tent-sheets, gallon bottles, jerry cans, dry rations, etc. ready. At 1430 hours, we had all our camping materials and personal belongings loaded into the mother boat called Rotarian, and at 1500 hours we started our kayaking journey to Teluk Sekadeh in Pangkor Island. If things go well, we should be able to arrive at the campsite latest by 1700 hours. We were going with the sea currents, so that should help us speed things up.

During the expedition, we had a sea-captain who would lead the whole expedition and direct us where to kayak, the left and right flankers who would make sure that no other kayaks would get out of formation and a sweeper who would ensure that nobody gets left behind! There was some magnificent sights: a lighthouse at Tanjung Terengganu and jellyfishes as big as a steering wheel, maybe bigger!

We arrived at Teluk Sekadeh an hour an fifteen minutes later, exhausted. We started to set up our camps, looked for firewood, set up our campfire and started cooking. As we were quite inexperienced with camping out, we had some delays and that cost us having dinner in the dark. Nevertheless, dinner was good and at 2030 hours we had a meeting with our instructors and were briefed about the forecasted current conditions and things that must be done before the next morning.

After the briefing, we returned to our camps and started to cook our next day’s lunch (we wouldn’t be able to stop to set up another campfire to cook the next day!) while the rest would have the night off sleeping in the tent. I slept first at around 2300 hours, only to be woken up at 0300 hours to keep watch. Yes, we had a nightwatch to do.

In the morning we had games for ice-breaking. I must admit it was quite fun!

Polly Emmott, our supporting instructor.

“Trees and Squirrels”

Another group from INTAN was preparing for their whaler expedition to Pulau Sembilan. They were the ones who participated in the 25-day programme. Most of them are clearly very exhausted.

Our instructor, Yuzam Syah, with an example of the tent. This was the tent in which we would stay in during our camping out sessions in Pangkor Island as well as during our jungle trekking activity later. Note that the tent-sheets are supported on a string at the top and stakes at the bottom. If we did not tie our knots properly, we might find ourselves covered by the tent-sheets while sleeping! If we did not hammer the stakes deep enough into the ground, strong winds might blow the tent-sheets off! Note: NEVER SET UP A TENT UNDER A COCONUT TREE. The above tent was just as an example.

Training for participants who are hydrophobic.

What to do when one of your friends’ kayaks capsize during the expedition.

One of the dishes that we prepared during our camp at Teluk Sekadeh. Trust me, it was not bad. The container is called a “mess-tin”. Apparently, it’s the type that the military uses as well. Interesting, right?

Need I say more? You get to see our tents in the background and the activity that was currently taking place at the foreground. Yes, we were cooking some sardines.

Eggs, too! There was actually barley, fruits, bread, rice and many more that came with the dry rations, but we could not finish them. We even had hamburgers for lunch the next day! Three hamburgers per person, what do you think?

Day 3 (11th of June 2008): Kayak Return to OBML

At 0300 hours I was woken up to keep watch. At 0400 I tried to get somebody else to keep watch of the campsite but nobody could be woken up so I decided to continue my nightwatch. As it was quite cool outside I decided to take my blanket out and wrapped myself with it. Soon, I felt comfortable and happy. I felt so sleepy at about 0430 hours that I decided to cleared a few things away at the place where we had dinner and slept there. The tent was quite narrow and uncomfortable for me. Soon enough, I dozed off outside. Mosquitoes? Well, I lit a mosquito coil and put on my insect repellent so I had a good sleep.

At around 0515 hours I felt very cold as the wind from the sea was blowing hard. Those who slept in the tents shivered as they stepped out of the tents and started cursing the cold conditions. A few of us wanted to use the toilets so we made our way there. Halfway through there was a campfire which was lit by the navy campers. After visiting the toilets we made our way to the gigantic campfire (which was dim but still gave us enough warmth) and sat there. The wind that blew past the campfire brought us the warmth which was very welcomed. At 0600 hours we returned to the campsite and started to pack up. We woke the girls and they prepared breakfast while the guys took down the tents. At 0700 hours, we took our breakfast which consisted of bread and at 0730 we loaded all our things back in the Rotarian. At 0800 hours we started our expedition back to OBML.

It was during the return trip that I had the most unmemorable experience. The kayaks, for some reason, were not engineered for tall people like me and another friend of mine. We were instructed to keep our knees inside the kayaks. That forced my legs to be positioned in an awkward manner and caused my thigh muscles to be constantly strained. It came to a point that the strain became painful, which resulted to a cramp at around 1030 hours. I could not kayak anymore as I was in pain.

My partner began to give the rafting signal, which told the other kayakers around that someone at my kayak was in trouble. Two kayaks came to my side and my other friends asked me what went wrong. I explained my condition and they gave the emergency signal to the Rotarian. It took quite a while for the people in the Rotarian to notice the emergency signal but eventually it came. My partner paddled hard to the Rotarian and after explaining my situation, Polly handed me some hydrated salt to drink and then I was pulled into the Rotarian. Apparently, another girl was suffering from sea-sickness so she was taken into the Rotarian, too. My partner moved into another kayak and they paddled away while I rested.

At around 1200 hours the kayakers reached the lunch point. During the two hours of my stay in the Rotarian, I was bored and eager to get back to kayak after my cramp problem was gone. Nevertheless, I welcomed the temporary rest gratefully.

I joined my watch-mates for lunch and was pleased to find that another group had also paddled from OBML towards Teluk Sekadeh. They took the opposite route and we met at the lunch point. They explained that they had to take the opposite route as the navy was having some training at the original route which we took the day before. We enquired about the distance from the lunch point to OBML and were informed that we had at least another three hours of paddling before we would arrive at OBML. As we had excessive amount of ham left, we gave them away to the other group that was going to Teluk Sekadeh. Extra food was welcomed very happily.

At around 1300 hours, I took my place once again at my kayak, praying that I would not have another cramp. This time I decided to experiment on the positions of my legs inside the kayak so that I would feel most comfortable. In the end, after about an hour trying, I found that crossing my legs was the best way to keep myself comfortable and to avoid cramps.

The sun was hot, and that was the primary cause of exhaustion. Everybody was demotivated and although the distance seemed short, it seemed forever to get from one point to another. I kept persisting myself to continue on, although I did stop quite often when my arm muscles finally could not row anymore. After about half a minute, I would continue to row and steer the kayak. At 1500 hours we were still about a kilometre or so away from OBML, and the sun was still not so forgiving at all.

After much coaxing and pushing, my partner and I finally made it to the shore of OBML at 1600 hours, dead exhausted. But that wasn’t the end of our expedition yet. We still had to clean the kayaks, the lifejackets, the tent-sheets, the paddles and unload the Rotarian! The expedition could only be declared complete at 1800 hours. At 1900 hours we had our dinner, and at 2030 hours we met our instructor once again to be told that the whole kayaking expedition was about 21 kilometres long! At about 2100 hours we returned to our quarters and had an early sleep.

There were no pictures taken during our kayaking expedition as my camera was kept in the Rotarian. It is not waterproof and I dared not take it with me during the expedition in case my kayak capsize!

Nevertheless, check out for Episode 2 tomorrow! I can promise you more pictures.