It's been quite awhile since the previous post. To be very honest, I don't think it's because of lack of time or weekends being too cramped up with activities. I think i've not been spending my time well. To say the least, I've been wasting my time doing unproductive things and before i know it, weekend's gone and i'm back in camp. I really need to re-think the way i spend my days off...
I'll go in chronological order so things aren't that difficult to recall. Since my last post was before Starlight, I guess it's only logical to start off from where I left off.
Ex Starlight was I would say the most fun 21 days of my NS so far... I have to be honest, while we were there, it felt like the days passed so slowly, especially during the preparation for the exercises. Once we hit the exercise time flew...I kid you not. So in a way, we were all looking forward to them, checking each exercise off the list as we progressed through them. I shall just briefly run through them for the sake of it. :P
Pieces - Vehicle Navex and more like an orientation to the roads in Taiwan. I had difficulty being the Veh Comd, as i found it a little awkward at first to speak in Chinese, plus reading the Chinese road signs. But i'm actually quite proud that i managed to overcome the initial barrier. Following which things became easier.
Capricorn - This was like a preview of the next exercise, 2 days long though.
Virgo - the be all end all of Starlight. The exercise that we have been preparing for for the past months. 4 Days of continuous planning and execution. Toughest and most tiring.
Aquarius - communicating over long distances with detachments spread out over a 100km radius. Quite cool. Need I mention the much appreciated trips to the family mart and bubble tea.
Spitfire - longest route march ever. 32km. What made it fun was that it was more than a route march but a foot navex with checkpoints and test stations.
RNR LO!
I shan't touch on this for too long. Taiwan as a tourist is much more different than from the eyes of a soldier.
We hit multiple theme parks over the 3 days, hit all the extreme rides, definitely a way to blow off steam after the 19 days of training. Nights were fun, went out with quite a unique bunch of guys who were really fun to hang out with. Hit the night markets, food food and more food. Love the food stalls there. But really unhealthy I must say. Almost everything is deep fried. But binging out once in awhile is fine, most of used the "tough" training as a reason to binge. Wouldn't mind going back next time.
I must say that I made quite a few good friends during the entire starlight. From the random HTHT sessions in the middle of the night in the freezing chilly weather to just working together and helping each other get through the days together. Grateful :)
I'll go in chronological order so things aren't that difficult to recall. Since my last post was before Starlight, I guess it's only logical to start off from where I left off.
Ex Starlight was I would say the most fun 21 days of my NS so far... I have to be honest, while we were there, it felt like the days passed so slowly, especially during the preparation for the exercises. Once we hit the exercise time flew...I kid you not. So in a way, we were all looking forward to them, checking each exercise off the list as we progressed through them. I shall just briefly run through them for the sake of it. :P
Pieces - Vehicle Navex and more like an orientation to the roads in Taiwan. I had difficulty being the Veh Comd, as i found it a little awkward at first to speak in Chinese, plus reading the Chinese road signs. But i'm actually quite proud that i managed to overcome the initial barrier. Following which things became easier.
Capricorn - This was like a preview of the next exercise, 2 days long though.
Virgo - the be all end all of Starlight. The exercise that we have been preparing for for the past months. 4 Days of continuous planning and execution. Toughest and most tiring.
Aquarius - communicating over long distances with detachments spread out over a 100km radius. Quite cool. Need I mention the much appreciated trips to the family mart and bubble tea.
Spitfire - longest route march ever. 32km. What made it fun was that it was more than a route march but a foot navex with checkpoints and test stations.
RNR LO!
I shan't touch on this for too long. Taiwan as a tourist is much more different than from the eyes of a soldier.
We hit multiple theme parks over the 3 days, hit all the extreme rides, definitely a way to blow off steam after the 19 days of training. Nights were fun, went out with quite a unique bunch of guys who were really fun to hang out with. Hit the night markets, food food and more food. Love the food stalls there. But really unhealthy I must say. Almost everything is deep fried. But binging out once in awhile is fine, most of used the "tough" training as a reason to binge. Wouldn't mind going back next time.
I must say that I made quite a few good friends during the entire starlight. From the random HTHT sessions in the middle of the night in the freezing chilly weather to just working together and helping each other get through the days together. Grateful :)
