Rangers in Jeram Besu

The morning after...Day 2 activities for Rangers

Rangers
One Half:
The cycling expediton was flagged off at 0900hrs under fine weather condition. After a night's rest of sleeping in tents at the sand bank of Pasir Sia, one half of the Rangers were raring to go.


Along the 54 km route, Rangers were treated to sights of the countryside but had to negotiate challenging terrain which included avoiding potholes and cow dung. Muscles strained as Rangers toiled to take both man and machine uphill and downhill to cover their distance. At about 4pm, the last of the Rangers (the remaining half) crossed the finishing line to show true resilient spirit.

The other half:

The weather was very fine in the morning, when the Rangers set out to fly, cross and paddle against the non negotiating strength of the river. One half of the group was geared up to conquer their fear of heights by attempting the Flying Fox. Their flight would require them to scale up a tree, soar over the river and land on the opposite bank. They then had to challenge the strong current of the river with just the help of a rope to get back to base.

Rangers then gathered at the river bank to start off with the water confidence course, which enabled them to be one with water and to harness its power for their benefit. They then proceeded to white water raft, rafting their way in between the rocks and amongst the current. By evening, they went back to their campus to wash up and prepare themselves to depart to their next destination..... their next challenge..... Their Cycling Expedition!

A word from Resilience Initiates

Night Time

Starting is the hardest thing

Departure

The Hunters' launching vessels

The Oracle speaks

Having survived the hunger pangs through the long journey, the students finally reached the first stop at Yong Peng where they had their breakfast and toilet break.After at least 12 hours of sleeping on the bus, they finally reached their destination where they would set up their tents for the night. I was really excited as this is my first time to Pahang.

I was paired up with Sara and the first group we were checking was the Rangers at Pasir Sia. By the time we reached the jetty, it was already pitch dark. We were supposed to get across the river in this small local village boat where the campsite was. We waited for a while for the boatman to arrive and we were flashing our torch lights to communicate with our teachers across the river. While waiting in pitch darkness and listening to the music made by the insects, I was starting to wonder if there were crocodiles in the water. We finally boarded the boat and made our way across the river. The entire area was full of students, not just Temasekians but also students from 2 other schools. Our students had already set up their tents and all of them had gathered in their groups sitting on the sandy shore. Some groups were cheering while the rest were simply chit-chatting with their friends and teachers. Most of the students looked fine and comfortable though many expressed that they are exhausted from the long bus journey. Not long after, it started to drizzle and lightning could be sighted. I started to get a little worried as I looked out for trees that might have caused possible danger. After seeing that the tents were far away from the trees, we were assured that the students would be safe. As we getting ready to leave for the second destination of the night, the students were returning to their tents getting ready for a good night’s rest.

After about half on hour of car ride, we reached Kota Gelangi where the Explorers are camping. Wow, the cave was magnificient! The students' tents were all inside the cave, protected, and safe from the rain and strong wind.No worries from falling trees finally! Going back to the hostel, not hotel like what Anthony had promised.. tired.. but looking forward to tomorrow's programme. :) Nite!

The road to Pahang is paved with ...

276 initiates set off for Pahang at 0745 to learn skills that would equip them for modern life. One of the first obstacles they had to overcome was the massive jams at both immigration checkpoints. Having cleared the bureaucratic hurdle, the intitiates transferred to Malaysian buses to continue with their quest.

2 pitstops and 1 bus breakdown later, the cohort arrived at their respective destinations safely after 12/13 hours on the road.

And so we begin

(psst, we're raring to go)

Rites of Initiation

The Society for Modern Living says:

Forget about technology. Forget about intelligent buildings, new cars, or molecular gastronomy. Modern life isn't that. It also happens to have them. but it isn't about them.

It's about speed. The quickening pace of life and being ahead of the game. It's not enough to have the right answer: you have to have a great answer.

Modern life looks safe and comfortable but is more deadly and difficult than ever. A roof over your head? Earn it. A loving family? No time. A steady paycheck? Forget it, yours is being outsourced. Bills? Up to your neck and drowning in them. Recognition? What on earth did you do to get any?

If you're going to stop and admire yourself, you aren't just going to lag behind. You're going to be last.

So what's it going to take to make it?

Early explorerers like Magellan and Columbus faced the unknown with little rules to guide them about what to expect. Our Explorers will do the same. And like deadly accurate hunters across the world, our Hunters will turn the landscape to their advantage. The Rangers, like others that share the name, will overcome everything thrown at them. Those traits will be necessary to survive.

Forget everything you know about modern life. Start over. This is your initiation.

The Hunters
Like nomads and aboriginals, this initiation group will live off the land, finding food, water and shelter in the most obvious yet unexpected places - right in front of them. By the time they walk out of the jungle they will be able to look at the most hostile situation and say, "Sure, I can handle that!"

Day 1: Initiation Begins, Prepartion for Inner Jungle Experience & Daily Reflection
Day 2: Inner Jungle Experience & Cave Stay
Day 3: Orang Asli Experience & Jungle Survival Skills
Day 4: Trekking up Dedari HIll, Canopy Walk & Reunion Dinner
Day 5: Back to Modern Living

The Rangers
This initiatiion group will endure distances they would never dream of back home. They will walk, ride, paddle and fly farther than ever, and they will never doubt themselves or look back. When the marathons are done, they will be able to see anything through to the end, no matter how long it takes.

One half
Day 1: Initiation Begins, Camp Craft at Jeram Besu & Daily Reflection
Day 2: Water Confidence, White Water Rafting, Flying Fox & River Crossing
Day 3: Cycling Challenge
Day 4: Trekking at Kuala Tahan, Canopy Walk & Reunion Dinner
Day 5: Back to Modern Living

The other half...
Day 1: Initiation Begins, Camp Craft at Pasir Sia & Daily Reflection
Day 2: Cycling Challenge
Day 3: Water Confidence, White Water Rafting, Flying Fox & River Crossing
Day 4: Canopy Walk, Trekking at Kuala Tahan & Reunion Dinner
Day 5: Back to Modern Living

The Explorers
This initiation group will be either above, below or holding onto rocks at all times. Surviving the darkness of the caverns and of the night, to emerge at the end, a glorious initiate.

Day 1: Initiation Begins, Camp Craft at Gelanggi & Daily Reflections
Day 2: Abseiling (1st Half) / Cave Experience (2nd Half) & Solo Drop
Day 3: Cave Experience (1st Half) / Abseiling (2nd Half) & Night Walk
Day 4: Canopy Walk, Rapid Shooting, Orang Asli Experience & Reunion Dinner
Day 5: Back to Modern Living

The Society for Modern Living presents

Resilience: the antidote for modern life.