From a good 20 people, it dropped to 7 on the day before and 3 just a few minutes before meeting time at 230pm... And that was how my many sms, calls, time and effort went down the drain...
We had trekked from Ai Tong to the forest path entry point, all the while catching up on the changes since the 2 year plus seperation, while braving the drizzle and walking towards huge dark storm clouds. Looking at the signages, we realised that we were only 1.4km away from the treetop walk, and thus, ventured happily into the forest trek.
Overly engrossed in our continuous conversation ( we still had not lost the talkativeness inherent in 6A as our teachers would enthusiastically lament), consisting of jokes on the definition of CLASS outings, the OBS experience, lamenting on how HCI had a longer recess despite only having half the student population size so they could spend much of their recess playing basketball, while RI students had to descend 7 storeys from their classes followed by a mad 200m sprint to the canteen with a grumbling stomach, before spending most of recess time waiting in line etc. Then, I saw a sign: Tree top walk: 1km in the opposite direction.
We realised that we had overshot and completely missed it, after laughing at ourselves (surprised? we were miraculously optimistic that happy day), and went backwards while continuing ranting. Then we noticed DL's Judo shirt with a judoka throwing a bear, and we happily changed the subject:
Me: Daniel...
DK: ?
Me: No, the other Daniel
DK: Orh
DL: yes?
Me: would you throw a bear that tries to eat you? Or would you bite it first?
Before long, we were nearing the entrance, yet not seeing any opening to any treetops. Sensing something amiss, we saw a beaten track into the dense jungle, with a treetop sign pointing vaguely at it, we decided to venture into the unknown.
Having to fend off slippery muddy slopes and thorny bushes, I decided, enough was enough! But does that mean we turn back in retreat and surrender?! NO! It meant: Me: Judoka go first
Thus, the judokah charged and bulldozed through.
Taken aback, the other Daniel and I followed cautiously behind (actually, we expected a dead end and didnt wanna waste energy detouring). DL was soon out of sight. THen, the terrible happened, there sounded like a scuffle, growling, biting and throwing. And DL came back happily, dragging a bear behind. All we could say was: Ah damn! detour!, and headed back to the entrance.
Then, it started to pour. And you wonder why the canopy keeps away sunlight so well but lets all the rain in... And we saw a frog! Leonard the happy photographer whipped out his camera and prepared to take a picture. It was a small frog.
To protect the camera from the rain, DL held the bear in one hand and used the other giant umbrella hand to shade the camera. Little did he know that he was blocking the happy photographer's view. SO Leonard fumbled with the zooming functions while straining to look through the giant hand. Leonard did not dare talk to the hand for seeing what the other hand was doing to the other bear was intimidating. ANd then the frog jumped away. Oh well.
Deciding that the rain was too heavy, and that the treetop walk was playing hide and seek, we decided to camp at a shelter.
Time: 330pm Here, we talked non-stop, indulge in DK's happy biscuits (he was the only who remembered to bring stuff, luckily, or the bear would have been eaten, and DK and I wont get any for sure!), and act like camera celebrities.
This photo was taken by the bear. Bet you doubt its existence right? But this is evidence! 410pm
Labels: Very long 3 man class outing account, with pictures