back from taiwan

Hi all! Finally back in Singapore, after almost a mth long overseas exercise. Felt so detached from the real world all tis while and then, wham! Welcome back to civilization, dude. It's my 2nd time in taiwan, but it's a total new experience. During my last trip i went back to camp regularly, but tis time i was deployed up in the mountains continuously for 12 days. On the initial journey, i had to lead a convoy of six big bulky army vehicles thru the tricky civilian roads and up the winding and narrow mountain roads. Then my platoon and i had to live like hermits in the mountains. We survived on our own rations and the occasional food delivery service. Weather was hot in camp, but turned extreme in the mountains. Warm in the day, and freezing cold at night. Brrrrr...















Perilous and narrow mountain roads














At the top of the world














Beautiful sunset














Lord of the Flies! The incredible flytrap that saved me from countless hrs of irritation















Guys with an attitude














Food glorious food! Teez fabulouz steak, with free flow soup and drink, cost juz S$5.














A friendly local gal

R and r was shortened fr 3 days 2 nights to 2 days 1 night, to everyone's dismay. Due to lack of funds, ridiculous lah. Tis juz shows how inefficient the army is, last min cock-ups here and there. Even though tis is a large scale army ex, visited even by the Chief of Army. But the shopping was fun, esp at the night markets. ome of my peers also went for massage lol. Food in taiwan is, as always, fantastic! I had a dim sum buffet which juz rox. Nicer than anything in s'pore i think. Ji pa (chicken cutlet), oyster mee sua, sweetened gui ling gao with super smooth tau hway (chew on it, lindy), hot plated pork and beef steak, snake meat, tempura and so much more.

Overall it was an ok trip. Less xiong than when i went last yr as a trainee, but more responsibilties also. I'm very relieved that everyone involved is back home safe and sound, cos 7 yrs ago when my unit last went to taiwan, one of the vehicles (the same type in the pix above) crashed off the mountain road, killing both the driver and veh comd. So glad that tis trip was not marred by such tragedies.

Aniwae glad to be back. Thanx to zhixuan and joel for organizing the chalets. Paiseh didn't get to help. It is very sobering to read Christine's appeal for Joan. Once again it made me realize how vulnerable life can be, and how fortunate the rest of us really are. And it's really heartening to see the efforts gone into raising funds and garnering support, to give Joan a fighting chance. May our sincere prayers be answered.