First Movement: Shock and Adjustment

200905 9:24p.m
Still at home waiting to say goodbye to my family. Cannot believe that today is the day. A part of me says that this is a good opportunity but yet the other thinks otherwise. Well, time to to go now, must be at the airport by 2359hrs today.

210905 11:24a.m
Now lying down on my bed (it's the top double-decker) thinking about the journey that had just passed. The flight was terrific, seeing all the night lights on the ground while on an airplane was truly breathtaking. I even saw Pulau Tekong on the way. Certainly reminds me of my BMT days. Upon arrival we took a bus to the jetty where the fastcraft took us to Temburong district. The journey itself took around an hour but it didn't felt long as I was asleep during the journey. The final trip took us from the jetty at Temburong district to Lakiun camp. Feeling sleepy and hungry, the bus ride seems to go on forever. It didn't took more than 20 mins to reach the camp where we will call it home for the next 3 weeks.
At first glance the camp looked decent enough (didn't expect a lot from a place that looked like a kampung resort). Although there is a lot of dos and don'ts, I think that overall the place is not bad. I just think of it as a change of environment. Later learnt that time spent in the camp itself is kept to a monimum. Cover that lasts up to 4 days will occupy us most of the time here. Well, nobody said that it was going to be a holiday. Now just killing time before lunch time (wonder if the food is good... no plates, only metal trays)

210905 1:22p.m
Just came back from lunch. Hmm... let me describe how tedious lunch is;
1) all metal trays are to be washed before use as you can never trust how well the person before you cleans it
2) must bring your own fork, spoon and mug as these items will not be provided
3) there's only 1 queue, which makes the moving slow
4) after the trays are washed, it must be wiped with a towel that has been used by everybody... now unhygenic
The good news is that we will not be spending most of the lunches and dinners in camp (ewww... combat rations). Now going to take a nap. Too tired and its just the first day.

210905 4:56p.m
Just woke up from a long nap feeling cold. It's raining outside (actually drizzling). The weather sure took a quick turn as it was very, very hot just now around the time the previous entry was written. Already missing all the people and the things that I left behind back in Singapore.

210905 10:49p.m
Felt good after taking a bath. Time to turn in soon. 1 day down man! Tomorrow I have no cover so I hope it will be a good day for me. In Brunei, the sun rises and sets early so training will be cut short early too. The living conditions is not exactly 5-star quality but once in a while living in this kind of place is not so bad... correction, once is enough. Reveille should be around 6 a.m, definitely a change from the norm of 7 a.m back in Singapore. Covers aplenty this next few weeks. Will find time to write as often as possible. Haiz... September not even over yet...