Rambo III

After the ordeal at Fong Seng, Tb and company managed to make it back to NUS in one piece. Heaving a sigh of relief, the gang trudged back to the dusty small room to enjoy some air-con.

The excitement of the misadventure had not worn off; Tb and gang were reenacting the damn scene ad nauseum from different perspectives. A short time later, the adrenaline rush ran out and was replaced by fatigue.

2.30 a.m. The gang took turns to bathe at the 6th level toilet. Tb declined to immerse his body in the freezing cold water. Instead he chose to cut more cans with the rest who were left behind. It's just like a normal field camp day, Tb thought to himself.

By 3 a.m, everyone in the room was feeling sleepy. If they had not wasted one hour waiting like a kuku bird in Fong Seng, they might have cut 100 more cans. Like the rest of them, Tb removed his gloves and washed his hands off all dirt and metal splinters.

Initially, Tb had wanted to sleep across two chairs, but it felt too uncomfortable for him. In the end, he opted to sleep on soft mats with a large pillow borrowed from the nearby shelf. The company of heroes arranged themselves so that they do not end up kicking each other in the face. Snoring was almost immediately heard once the lights went off.

After a while, Tb crouched into a fetal position; he feared that stretching himself too much would cause someone to eat his foot in the morning. Four hours later, someone's alarm clock rang; the morning rays were already peeking through the blinds. Two of the original gang had to leave early for work.

At Tb's behest, the remaining souls decided to go to Engine Fac for McBreakfast. Their morale were slightly lifted with the luscious thought of delicious hot pancakes/egg sausage burger in their mouths.

When they had arrived, a sign "This outlet will only be open from 11 a.m" greeted the hungry wolves. Whatever excitement that was built up during the shuttle bus trip there vanished into thin air. With disappointment, they resorted to eating normal food to fill their stomachs. Basket, 11 a.m onwards means no $4.50 McBreakfast liao! Na@#$ come all the way here, Tb thought angrily to himself as he stuffed tau sa pau pieces into his mouth.

In the end, after their miserable breakfast, everyone else had other commitments to fulfil, leaving only Tb and two other guys to bring the screwed up lorry back to Bishan.

10 a.m. The lorry made its way from NUS to Bishan. This time, Tb was not roasted like a duck sitting at the back, he was now the second vehicle commander, with air con comfort all the way.

Finally, they reached some automobile shop. Seemed to Tb that the niche in the whole lane was vehicle parts. Under the blazing sun, Tb alighted with his barang barang. Tb and his other friend helped his driver friend to carry his barang barang as the latter went to find the owner to settle some issues, namely the screwed up lorry.

After finishing their business with the lorry workshop, the trio walked some distance to the nearest bus stop; Tb was by then listless. They had waited what seemed like eternity before the bus came and brought them back to Bishan MRT.

As expected, there was no seat for the two Easterners. It was a struggle even trying to stand throughout the journey, as Tb had found out, even with two hands clutching onto the metal bars.

When he had reached home, he let down his barang barang and took a nice bath, though it felt uncomfortably warm to him. He brushed aside the niggling thought and went to change into another pair of clothing, ready to leave his house to another friend's house to design a birthday card.

3pm. The lone figure alighted from bus 15 and ambled slowly through his friend's condominium. His black messy hair did not help matters; it absorbed more fricking radiation into his head. Damnit, is it me or the sun? Tb squinted as he tried to locate his friend's block under the glaring star.

When he had reached his friend's unit, the both of them were already busy cutting artwork for the handmade card. Tb felt unusually thirsty; somehow his thirst was insatiable, even after drinking his friend's winter melon tea and some water from his bottle. He also felt lethargic throughout; the simple task of pasting double-sided tapes and cutting letters exhausted him.

His two friends asked out of concern after seeing him trying to struggle for the past two hours. After much consideration, he decided to make his way back, leaving the house early.

5p.m. The second time he had reached home. This time, he headed straight for the freezer, obtaining an ice pack to soothe his burning head...

Rambo: Second Blood

The familiar smell of roti prata and murtabak greeted them as the hungry souls ,released from their confinement, made their way to a table. Tb spared not a thought for his wallet, since he was eating supper/dinner/lunch. Though $6 for a chicken cheese murtabak seemed expensive, it was actually quite economical---spread over 3 meals. The tao hui in Tb's stomach is long gone by then. To satisfy his cravings, Tb ordered a Milo dinosaur.

Like hungry wolves, Tb consumed his meal with much gusto, though he was still the slowest eater. His ravenous hunger displaced the tiny worry in his mind about his throat---it seemed to be in pain whenever he swallowed his murtabak pieces.

Satisfied in the flesh, Tb and gang made their way to the nearest 7-11 to walk around the convenience store. They ended up buying nothing. The merry gang made their way back to the lorry which they had parked beside the road.

There was an ominous foreboding. In front of the screwed up lorry, there was a middle-aged man with a potbelly staring at the vehicle, together with a woman that had eyebags outside (presumably) of her red car. Whatever jovial mood the gang experienced before instantly vanished.

They walked cautiously towards the vehicle. "Are you all the owner of this lorry?", a demanding voice queried. Tb's leader and driver affirmed meekly. The scene: the semi-d with the gate half ajar and the offending vehicle blocking the only way of traffic. "Sorry, sorry , sorry..." "Already called the police, it's best if you all do not leave."

It was a one-sided exchange. Tb and gang looked dejectedly around them.
"You all youngsters ah, dunno how to think about others...."
"You all are fortunate enough to study so high, yet after so many years of education dunno how to think. So many heads here none of you all thought whether this lorry will block the way or not."
"I shouted for 40 min like a madman across the 3 coffeeshops, nobody responded..."
"If its 5 min for a quick bite I can understand, but then 45 min...You know I dun like to do this (call police) but then..."
"You know in Christianity, do unto others what you want to do to yourself; Buddhism got this karma thing..." Tb glared at the old man. He had to bit his tongue to resist saying anything, since he knew that his group was already in the wrong; but still, it felt like an insult to his parents from a self-righteous person.

"What happen if my wife kena heart attack how? Need to rush to the hospital and find our gate block? Can cost human life you know?!" Tb looked at the semi-d. There was already one car inside. The man said that his daughter, his son and himself could not park their cars due to the lorry. So in total, they possessed four cars. Tb was SO sure that they will just not call a taxi to send the wife to the hospital and sit around the lorry.

The police indeed took their time to come. Mr Lee and his daughter, whom the gang thought was Mrs Lee, impatiently called back to the police numerous times to check their status.
"Hello, I am Mr Lee, I called the police 15 min ago...." "....1/2 hour ago, yes, 34 Clement_ Drive" "Hmm, take so long, this police, when they come I will give them a piece of their mind!"

Meanwhile, Tb and his gang waited around the lorry. While Mr Lee told his son that the police is coming, they did likewise to warn other vehicles illegally parking nearby for a quick bite. A taxi driver was just about to park behind the lorry on the single zig-zag line.
Just as the taxi driver was about to leave his vehicle:
"Eh uncle, jing cha yao lai le." Tb said with a glum face, at the same time, pointing to the lorry for the taxi driver to see.
"Zhen de..ma?" came the hesistant answer. "Zhen de" Tb's friends chipped in. There was strength in unity, in persuading people.
The taxi driver quickly drove off his taxi, leaving Tb and his gang to wallow in front of 34 Clement_ Drive. Several groups of undergraduates passed by as well for their happy supper, giving Tb's group some curious stares.

It seemed like eternity. For a moment, Tb thought that the police would not come. The slight drizzle did not help---Tb had wished for a downpour so that everyone would get wet together. "I already take photo with my camera handphone liao," said the daughter whom they mistook as Mrs Lee. Most of Tb's gang stared into space away from the commotion, leaving their leader and vehicle commander to face the music.

The police finally came. Surprisingly, the pieces of minds that the house owners promised to give to the police also vanished in thin air. Instead, all Tb heard was a soft and polite conversation.
"You must understand, Mr Lee, we have other priorities and emergencies also, we will take some time to come here." Meaning=low priority
"Yes, I understand, I understand."
From what Tb gathered in the bits and pieces of the conversation, the policeman came from the expressway to that area.
"You know, I shouted like a madman for 45 min in the three coffeeshops and no one responded." Tb could not hold back his tongue anymore. "Sorry, it was 1/2 hour only. And we could not hear you shout as well." The man did not say anything.

The policewoman wielded her power as well. She reprimanded some MATs along the way, who had parked their motorcycles on the pavement near 34 Clement_ Drive and were stunned/gawking at the scene. "You all know this is illegal parking...park here I am gonna summon you!" They hurriedly left the scene.

"If these people are gonna park here everyday, I am gonna call the police everyday you know,"said the female Lee. Tb immediately felt pity for the police personnel. Other meaningless conversation ensued, like what happened if the offending vehicle left the scene, towing charges, what measures the residents could take, etc.
"I'm sorry. There's nothing much that we can do, " was the official police reply.
"I mean, my house has just enough space to park four cars..." An invisible flying fish came out of Tb's mouth. Yeah great, who would have thought you all have F@#$#ING four cars, Tb thought. They had presumed the owner was at home because when they had first arrived, the lights in the house was off and there was already a car parked in that semi-d.

Finally, the policeman whisked Tb's leader aside and said gently. "Next time, remember, don't park in front of people's house. Don't get your driving license earn so hard then lose it just from parking....And tell your friends about this also! You can go now." Sounded to Tb like a plea from the police that they did not want future trouble/nuisance. Tb felt that the police could have been given them a heavier penalty if they wanted to. Perhaps they already knew that the resident was a regular.

Tb and co. left the scene, with the couple still talking to the police. By the time they had reached the campus, it was already 0130hr, Tuesday. 3 hours since they last had murtabak.....to be continued.

Rambo: First Blood

Monday, noon. Tb made his way out of Bishan MRT. The last time he saw it, it was still under renovation; it still is. The gantries seemed to have shifted. He then made his way to the toilet at J8 instead of the makeshift ones outside the station. People are naturally late, he thought to himself.

Found out that he was not the sole person to arrive early. Met another of his classmate in the same toilet. Both of them made their way outside to wait for the others. After 5 min of stoning around breathing in cigarette smoke and getting baked by the sun, they decided to loiter around J8 instead.

After some time at Comics Connection, they received a call to meet the rest soon. Both of them made their way down back to the station. Joined by two others, they waited at Bishan bus stop. Some time later, a pathetic looking lorry made its way toward them.

"Up the lorri!" The four of them had to make their way at the back together with their barang barang, since the front cabin was fully occupied. The searing afternoon heat was quite unbearable; they were occasionally relieved by the wind generated when the lorry moved.

The gearbox of the lorry was cranky. Tb's friend had to use all his might to change the gears, resulting in an uneven ride. The four held on to their dearest lives at the sides of the lorry. It was a double whammy of searing heat and a screwed up lorry. Tb almost flew halfway across the lorry when it suddenly braked. Other minor events happened as well, such as a taxi tailgating the lorry as well as several horns here and there. Tb noted that his skin was turning red.

Picked up another person at Bedok MRT after an uneventful ride from Bishan. Went to her factory to collect junk materials, which made Tb wonder if they were really karang guni in disguise. Went to Ubi, in almost the exact same way back to Tb's place of nightmare. The humps did not help alleviate his mood, as there was no suspension in the lorry.

The lorry managed to successfully parallel park, though it took some time and by then there were two cars behind waiting; Tb was surprised that they didn't horn. Alighted from the lorry to do sai gang; transported some wooden pellets, sieved through dustbins and helped the factory owner do some spring cleaning by lugging away their cardboards. Tb and gang must have cleared away years of dust in one single day. And hence the dust and millions of microbes were displaced onto their hands. "Geez, we are not even paid to do this," as Tb thought to himself, pulling out a styrofoam strip from a rubbish bag, "even recruits get paid to do sai kang".

Returned back to NUS. Once more, Tb and gang were baked twice under the sun. Once baked, twice roasted. Dumped all the junk, or rather, the recyclable materials into a small room in NUS, not before pressing the oil to the max trying to reverse the lorry upslope. After a short respite, the lorry made its way for a second round to get more junk from IMM, leaving Tb and one other guy to breathe in the dust in the air-con room.

Both of them rested a while in the room. Tb decided to illegally used the com to watch Rambo. He realised that tvlinks.com can go to hell, seriously. Youtube is a much better alternative to watch Rambo III and IV. After satiating his bloodlust for TV violence, Tb had no choice but to start on the dreary job of cutting cans.

The lorry had left at 3pm. It was 9pm and the lorry had not returned. By then, stomachs were growling. The only thing that Tb had for breakfast was tao hui, which was not even considered a proper meal. Innumerable can shrapnels had filled the table , as Tb tried to distract his stomach by cutting more cans.

930pm. The lorry had finally arrived. As expected, it carried more junk for the sai kang warriors to dump into the room. After washing their hands off it, the tired and hungry guys proposed to go to Fong Seng for supper, since Subway at NUS was closed by then.

The lorry stalled a couple of times, due to inexperience in handling the lorry as well as the screwed up gearbox. After stuttering its way across NUS, they finally made it to the 24hr coffeeshop.

"Eh, you sure you wanna park here?" Tb asked. His concern was that it was in front of semi-d. "There's still a couple of space behind that lorry" "Never mind, just eat chop chop can liao, the lorry also need some space to reverse"

By then, Tb and his gang were already in "Man mode". With growling stomachs, they hastily agreed and made their way for their lunch/dinner/supper.....To be continued.

Redemption

Finally, I managed to haul my lazy ass and go to the nearest GV cineplex and redeem my movie ticket. Was absolutely bored out of my socks staying at home. I decided to redeem it for Kungfu Panda. Tampines Mall was really crowded; had to spend around 15 min queuing up for the ticket.

Tried the new Mac meal; the onion rings were crap. I would rather exchange it for fries any time of the day.

Video streaming is atrociously slow; I had to manually stimulate the website to prod it continuously. Grr. Nothing much happened to the TTC either--Eddie surprisingly went all the way to Tampines to help his friend repair com; I assume zx and ao are stoning at home as well.

Just met up with zx and Ernie yesterday, the latter who is rather...well-stocked. Luckily, I wasn't as red as a lobster even though I was under the sun. Both had just spent 6 hours worth of LAN on a simple meal of chicken rice. Unfortunately, no one could lure AO out of his meditation. Exhaustion did us in after a while, and we returned home since we lack one more person in playing Battleship.

The Can Cutter

Went back to NUS to help the Log head cut some cans together with six others. The muscle-brain coordination is much better now and everyone ends up cutting more cans than the first day, though we still have 500+ cans left.

Tried the Peg Legs at LJS at Jurong Entertainment Centre, since we were all sick of Science Canteen cheap but tasteless food. Prices have increased as usual, with the 2 piece meal at $3.90-$4.20. Ate slowly since it was pouring cats and dogs. Loboed there until the rain had subsided.

Met up with two of the trees at Funan checking out rechargeable batts. One of the other tree was already happily engaging virtual enemies. Walked from that place to Kopitiam near Paradiz. After a simple dinner, the trees went to Cathay to discuss our options at a basement Ya Kun. The rest of the details can be extracted from Ao's musings in life; no point repeating here.

Two consecutive days, or rather nights of sleeping less than ideal. Went to Suntec together with 3 of my other friends to help cut cardboards (more stuffs to cut, great) and helping to colour with crayons/play with white glue that looked strangely like...shall not go into too much details.

Went our separate ways after both events. Managed to catch a wink in the train, though it gave me a neck ache on my right side when I awoke at Pasir Ris.

East Coast Park II

Met a few of my classmates at Dhoby Ghaut to take a bus to ECP. People are naturally late, so we waited for 1/2 hour for all to arrive. Horlanded and did a mini route march before we managed to find the secret underpass concealed by vegetation. Reached the crowded Macs with the rest of the people.

With the blazing sun in our face, we made our way through the skate rental shop. $10 a person. A hefty price to pay for skates and guards(for the palms and knees. Strangely they do not provide for elbows) that stank of rotten feet. Put on the disgusting skates that were worn by gazillions of skaters, who were probably beginners like me.

One of my friend's friend was a rollerskating instructor, so we managed to secure his services for free. Managed to pick up the basics quite easily, much to my surprise. It seemed almost like deja vu to me, although I seriously cannot recall any single time that I have skated before.

In the middle of the skating session, it rained heavily. Quite taxing on the body to keep trying to balance, hence sustained quite a number of minor injuries. If you don't fall, you can't learn anyway. I guess practice makes perfect. Must have lost quite a lot of water, as well as contributing more sweat to stink up the skates, because I was feeling very thirsty. Returned back to the shop exhausted.

Later went to the usual hideout to play Battlefield 2. Eddie and his army friend were there as well. What a small and connected world.