1 Star Kayking Course - Day 1

Right, so Jia Zhen, Eileen and myself signed up for the 1 star kayaking course. FINALLY. Haha after we've been planning to kayal since... the beginning of time? Sadly, Cherie couldn't make it. We really must find out if it is neccessary for EVERY single "kayaker" MUST have be certified with the 1 Star thing in order to kayak, or can just one person be certified? ANYWAY, today was day 1.

I went to bed at 3 plus in the morning, but i fianlly fell asleep around 5? SIGH, and i had to wake up at 7.00am in order to make it to Kallang Mrt station by 8.30am. SUPERBLY EARLY snoreeeesss... And guess what? I woke up at 6.50am. Why? Cause i didn't set my alarm properly. The alarm hand was set at slightly before the number 7 on the clock. Sickening. Wo hai zi ji (-.-)

Guess what? We were late anyway haha. We reached Kallang around 8.50am. OH WELL.

We started off with learning how to use the paddle and the kayak. Aiyoo. Three of us can't fit into one kayak, so Eileen partnered Jia Zhen. AND GUESS WHERE I LANDED UP? With the instructor. Darn. Haha. Was wondering if that's good or bad, i decided it's bad. Why?

1) Intimidating. Cannot have fun. Must paddle nicely with the instructor, who sat in front. I was at the back.
2) As an instructor, she has to make sure everyone's doing the right thing. So she had to look out for the slower ones. So. i didn't paddle much. I just sat there, while she instructed a particular kayak which was constantly going in the wrong direction.

That kayak was a two seater one by the way. (funny. As i'm typing this, i feel like i'm rocking on the choppy sea. Headache.) I realized why they had so much problems. They were not coordinating. That's why i think individual kayaks are more fun. I means it's nice if you get to partner a friend and kayak together, but it's so difficult to coordinate. For example, if you suddenly want to turn right, you must tell your partner you are going to turn right, then BOTH turn right together. Wah mah fan. If you're in an individual kayak, you do what you wanna do! Hahhahaa

After drifting in that kayak with the instructor, we did capsize drill.

Capsize Drill
1) Capsize (DOH haha)
2) STAY in the overturned kayak and hug the bottom of the boat, together with the paddle
3) Tap the bottom (top i guess, since it's overturned) of the kayak 3 times
4) slide out of the kayak with the paddle in your hand
5) Shout for help
6) And then swim back to shore with your kayak

I was laughing at Eileen when she tapped the bottom of the kayak 3 times SUPER QUICKLY, like taptaptap! Mind you, it ain't easy staying underwater STILL IN THE KAYAK. My bad for laughing. When it came to my turn, my arms were so short, i could barely hug the whole thing to reach the bottom. So my taps were like --> tap... Hand slip... tap tap tap... slip... forget it. Just get out of the kayak already! THEN...

Wah OHH MY GOODNESS! Blurb blurb blurb. I have this tendencey to somersault under water. So that's what yours truly did when she got out from under the kayak. Somersault. And blurb blurb blurb, all the water went into the nose. WOW. Snorts out water. Ah well. Whatever. Just swim back to shore. Then i realized, wah piang, i wasn't moving. It's super hard to swim with the kayak. So i was told to to backstroke. So i backstroke lor, without looking at the back of me, and backstroked all the way literally to shore. ZZZZZ

Another part of capsize drill was getting back on the boat in deep level, meaning out feet can't touch the ground. ZOMG that was the worse thing ever. I really, had no more strength left. My legs were wobbling. We had to jump up onto the bow of the kayak, and slither our way back to the seat, which isn't near the bow at all, by the way. Gah. Each time i got onto the kayak, ALREADY got ONTO it, i slipped off. Probably about 5 times? It's so hard getting on ONE time, and i had to slip off every single time. Frustrating. Finally got it though! Achievement! Eileen and jia zhen had it harder. Jia zhen didn't manage to complete it, because the string of ther kayak broke, but eileen did it, after quite long. It's REALLY hard. Me and Jia zhen encouraged her at the side ahahaha. See how much we love you?

Had lunch. ARGHH not so nice but we all ate it up, to get energy for the next part of the course!!

YAY! We could re choose our kayaks! Ahahaha hee! I pleadingly asked for the single kayak haha. YAY GOT IT! SO i was on my own! Whoa exhilarating...ly tiring. -_- Gosh, if you thought two people kayak were bad, one is worse!! But like i said, you do what you want ahaha. =)

ahh shiok. The rest of the day was on my own, in my tiny little kayak! A little lonely, but feels so good. After that back pain, legs pain, wrist pain, arm pain, everything pain la. Haha

Worst was yet to come though. When we were done washing up all the kayaks, paddles, and life jackets, AND CHANGED INTO DRY CLOTHES AS WELL,

drip drip POUR POUR MONSOON HAILSTONES...

okay not so exaggerating, but it was really pouring buffalos. The three of us were stranded there for super long... Jia Zhen and i decided to brave the pouring buffalos and went out to scout the area, to see if there were any bus stops nearby. We failed, miserable, and wetly. If was terrible. Kallang FLOODS can. Drainage system is terrible haha.

We were walking in HUGE puddles that might as well have resembled ponds. The grass patches became swamps, the canals rivers, the rives opens seas, the open seas tasunami... okay i'm getting carried away again, but you get the idea. The half the road was flooded, so it was inevitable that we would get SOAKED whenever a car zooms past? ARGHH

We went back really grumpy. And we couldn't find out way out of kallang as well. So we waited there some more, and FINALLY the rain slowed. Thank you Lord. The three gung ho females made their way back home.

Time out people! Muscles aching. I'm still floating on the river. Stupid computer screen making me real dizzy. Good night! Tomorrow's day 2! We'll be learning how to RESCUE people!!

The Rainbow Rangers --> TO THE RESCUE!!

Right... see ya! I love kayaking =) Just don't like the consequences after. hahahaha