Camping at Bentong...

It is kinda late to blog at this time, after 1 week?

Anyway, this Benting trip was a memorable one.
At first, I was very excited to be there with the Ng's...
On the first day, we got to attempt abseiling...although I went to Outward Bound School, the height was daunting...
but still I managed to land on the ground quite smoothly...
Huay Theing did quite well too while Andrew gave her some usefel guidelines,
" Use your feet!"
" I know la!" was Huay Thieng's reply, shouting from above...
Since then, we were making fun of her imitating her accent... Haha..

Our next stop was The flying fox...But we had to cross the hanging bridge to the other side before playing that...
Well, thanks to Andrew.. Huay Theing and I were the loudspeakers of the day... we were shrieking all the way because he just couldn't stop shaking his butt to move the bridge...
I was swaying in the middle of the air because of Andrew, and Soo Ann was the other culprit teaming up to slow us down... Finally,we've got to play the flying fox...
But I felt more like a Flying Dog, because the speed was not fast enough...

After that, we settled ourselves with bath and dinner along with group discussion.
Then we participated in Nightwalk through the jungle. It was thrilling to see fireflies glowing in the dark, there were roots that glowed too..There were also the stars, sparkling above the sky . when veiwed from below the canopy, it was beautiful.
Our team work was remarkable that night. Everyone was holding hands to go through the jungle to be sure that everyone was safe, as it was pitch black.

We went back tired but was freshen up by the shower of ice cold water at night...
It was freezing without air conditioner, I couldn't imagine myself sleeping without a jacket.

I was grumpy the next day...I was a lady in RED...
Well..I was worried that I could not proceed with the rakit that day...
We set out to our camps site...which was about 20 minutes walk into the jungle...We've got to cross a small stream... I screamed again when I encountered a leech meking its way for my flesh...
Luckily,Ah Beng came for my rescue by pulling it away...
We cooked lunch and proceed with the rakit...
I was really concerned about myself at that time but after much persuasion by Huay Theing, I decided to give it a go.
It was loads of fun and my group was the first to finish assembling the rakit...
thanks to the guys in my group... They were really sweet and gentlemen... Huay Theing and I were only helping to tie up the ropes...
At night was the time for group presentation...
Girls got to sleep at the open- air hall because the tents were spoiled with holes...While I pity the guys because they had to squeeze in two tents...

That night was hard especially for the PICs...
Group 1 was presenting while suddenly it was raining rather heavily...The presentation had to be carried forward to the next day and we were chanting for the rain to stop as it would be a trouble for all of us...it did stopped a while...
According to out PICs, there spotted a scorpion and a centipede... Tan Leng was brave enough the chase the creepy crawlies away before they could harm us.

The girls were well taken care of by the PICs... when we were in our dreams sleeping on the harden ground with roots, it rained heavily again. We were awakened by the PICs and they covered up the area with the available canvas, so that we would not be splashed by the rain.I could still remember that it was 1.30am, and 5 to 6 of the PICs were staying up to chant for the rain to stop.

In the morning, the rain ceased.All of us prepared and go downhill to the meeting hall. We proceeded with the group presentation which were quite well done. Then it came to the experience sharing which sent people to tears.
Group leaders and members were being frank explaining their faults while participating in this camp...
Most surprisingly, a lot of or PICs were in tears too...as this Bentong trip was not as organised as the previous one..
Especially Yu Wen, he was sobbing all the way. But I was gald that they were frank for they would learn from their mistakes. This wouls make a person a great leader in the future.

In conclusion, although I felt grumpy most of the time during the Bentong trip, I gained a lot of insight and learned many things about Buddishm and Gakkai spirit...
Members of Soka Gakkai would always stick together through thick and thin, which I felt throughout this trip...Participants would help each other out, and the PICs were willing to sacrifice their well-being to ensure our safety; which I found quite quite touching.

I am very grateful to be a member of Soka Gakkai Malaysia.I just hope that I would learn more in the future...