Arhm. These few days, I've been booking out for a few hours at a time and it's taken a toll on my E-ZLink card. To think that I've just topped it up two days ago and now it's at half its value already. I booked out on Friday for 4 hours, booked out on Saturday for 4 hours as well and last night I booked out at 10PM, had BK takeaway at home and I'm supposed to book in at 11AM today. Hectic schedule. And I have guard duty today. That means there'd be a night of restless sleep and a uniform soaking with sweat for today.
Okay, as for my range test, I actually thought I failed. To keep the long story short, I got 9/16 for my day shot (okay, so it's that bad), and I only had to get 5/12 for the night shoot in order to pass (14/28). I was thinking that it'd be pretty easy, because they started when the sky wasn't pitch dark yet, but as it happened, I was unlucky enough that my lane had problems and all those who were using that lane had to form another detail to shoot last. The sky got dark. I got nervous. My promithium tip wasn't glowing bright enough. When it was my turn to shoot I didn't even know if I wanted to use the small or large aperture. Halfway through the shot I changed it to the big one. And I was frustrated and crazy at the same time that in the end I didn't aim and squeeze my trigger off properly because I couldn't see shit. After all that emotional turmoil of wondering if I had to go for another rerange, it was announced that I got 19/28. I was so relieved. Apparently those shots which I didn't take aim enough in my time of panic all hit the target! And thus ends the gruelling period of range. No more ATP!!! Yay!
There's been a lot of waiting during range and as usual, when almost everyone was asleep, I was reading and reflecting on stuff. I helped YC return a book about Scuba diving off some of M'sia's beaches and that prompted me to go look for such books to read. In the end I got a travelguide for Hawaii for the last range and this time round I'm reading about Canada. There were people who asked me why the hell I was reading the book, because it's not like I'm going to visit these countries in the near future. But reading them gave me a lot to reflect on, such as saving up money for one big and long trip to a foreign country to really experience something different, as opposed to the sometimes somewhat meaningless repeitition of things that I do during the weekend. I want an adventure. That being said, I also got to see a lot of photographs of how beautiful the natural environment of some countries can actually be and Singapore doesn't exactly have much to rival things like the beaches of Hawaii or the nature reserves in Canada. I thought about conservation and all the things I've learnt about it and how it came to conflict with my present lifestyle. All the things from Sesame Street and Captain Planet came to my mind.
I guess it's been instilled in me for quite some time. My love for nature. However, I've been caught up with the more superficial things in life. Maybe I truly am busy. Busy studying. Busy being in the army. Busy enjoying materialistic comforts. That's why I feel the need to step out of all this and start thinking about other stuff. Like recently, I just appreciate sitting in silence and staring out at the trees with their green leaves blowing in the wind.
I'm not actually sure what's the point I'm trying to put across. Argh. Hmmm, I guess for me I've realised that as much as I love indulging in luxury and commercialism and all that kind of stuff, I'd find it a more valuable exploring other cultures and places, or visiting places to gain new experiences and different perspectives of life. I'm even thinking of having the most budget travelling trip where there's only B&B and I'd be walking around and exploring new places most of the time.
Big dreams.
I hope to go for one such short trip (like 2 days or 3?) by the end of this year. Maybe I'll call a few friends to go along. Wait. Then again, I don't have the money. I still owe Mr Cheng 400 for last year's Myanmar trip.
*slaps forehead*
Maybe a short trip to M'sia then?
And it's my parents' 20th anniversary this weekend. And they haven't exactly been very quiet about it.
Hmmm... I'm rambling, time's running out. It's been pretty hectic being at home. There's only so much I can do in so little hours. I'll be back soon enough I hope. Oooh, it's amazing how much one can type given a limited amount of time.
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