From Left: Frank Lee, Leong Cheng Chit, Lam Peck Heng, Li Kexin, Kelly Choo, Chris Ng (Photographer = Jessie Tong)
Article by Frank -
THIS is really the virgin hike of the Raffles Chapter since creation, and I must say I quite enjoy the companionship.
Don't be mistaken - the group is not really a "garang" bunch armed with parang knifes, carrying backpacks filled with combat rations good enough for a 200km hike - I would not have enjoyed any of that.
The group is more a motely crew of ex-scouts of different ages (from 21yrs to 70+++ yrs), physical conditions (super fit to not-so-fit to heart-bypassed), and scout groups (RI01 [32nd Scout Troop] and RI02). What is similar in all of us is that we are all ex-scouts of Raffles Institution regaling in our past and wanting to actively keep a piece of that in our life journey.
The Start
We had a good start at the foot of the hill, simply by noting that the sky is kind to us, even though the weather report notes of "showers over several areas in the late morning and early afternoon". Although there were a few absentees who "overdrank the night before and could not make it" or were genuinely sick, this doesn't matter as old scores will be settled somedays ahead, and it will be better to make merry while the men are still merry.
As we started off, Cheng Chit, the Origami Master, was leading ahead of us all, as he was remarkably the fitter of the group despite no longer being a jumpy youth in his 20ths or 30ths. It was later that I found out Cheng Chit comes to Bukit Timah twice a week to exercise! Rather, 21-year old Kexin was trailing behind - but this is definitely NOT because he is not fit, but because he was selflessly helping our dearest Peck Heng in his own seemingly arduous journey. Such is the making of a young doctor and a President Scout. *respect*
Throughout the journey upwards to the top of the hill, I bore witness to a grandfather behaving like a kiddie, in Chris Ng. He was always in glee at being able to hike faster than Peck Heng, that at every rest point along the way, he will rush up and sit down at the bench and look back at Peck Heng with a broad "haha-I'm-faster-than-you" smile in his face.
The Top
Reaching the top of the hill, we took a well-deserved break and caught sight of children playing with monkeys (or it could be the other way around, I can't be sure). That's where we took the photo above.
We talked about how long it had been since we came up here, we talked about how high we think Bukit Timah hill is (163.63m), and we each boasted of the highest mountains we have climbed.. and we found that it was time to come down the hill for our lunch.
The Descend
Peck Heng led the way down the hill. He was the fastest of us all, despite having needed Kexing and me to help him on the way up! In no time we were at the hill bottom. We decided that there was still a bit of time left before lunch and went our way to the Hindhede Quarry Lake. It was a wonderful sight, with no other pesky hikers around. We would have liked to stay more, if not for the slight drizzle which reminded us that lunch is important.
THIS is really the virgin hike of the Raffles Chapter since creation, and I must say I quite enjoy the companionship.
Don't be mistaken - the group is not really a "garang" bunch armed with parang knifes, carrying backpacks filled with combat rations good enough for a 200km hike - I would not have enjoyed any of that.
The group is more a motely crew of ex-scouts of different ages (from 21yrs to 70+++ yrs), physical conditions (super fit to not-so-fit to heart-bypassed), and scout groups (RI01 [32nd Scout Troop] and RI02). What is similar in all of us is that we are all ex-scouts of Raffles Institution regaling in our past and wanting to actively keep a piece of that in our life journey.
The Start
We had a good start at the foot of the hill, simply by noting that the sky is kind to us, even though the weather report notes of "showers over several areas in the late morning and early afternoon". Although there were a few absentees who "overdrank the night before and could not make it" or were genuinely sick, this doesn't matter as old scores will be settled somedays ahead, and it will be better to make merry while the men are still merry.
As we started off, Cheng Chit, the Origami Master, was leading ahead of us all, as he was remarkably the fitter of the group despite no longer being a jumpy youth in his 20ths or 30ths. It was later that I found out Cheng Chit comes to Bukit Timah twice a week to exercise! Rather, 21-year old Kexin was trailing behind - but this is definitely NOT because he is not fit, but because he was selflessly helping our dearest Peck Heng in his own seemingly arduous journey. Such is the making of a young doctor and a President Scout. *respect*
Throughout the journey upwards to the top of the hill, I bore witness to a grandfather behaving like a kiddie, in Chris Ng. He was always in glee at being able to hike faster than Peck Heng, that at every rest point along the way, he will rush up and sit down at the bench and look back at Peck Heng with a broad "haha-I'm-faster-than-you" smile in his face.
The Top
Reaching the top of the hill, we took a well-deserved break and caught sight of children playing with monkeys (or it could be the other way around, I can't be sure). That's where we took the photo above.
We talked about how long it had been since we came up here, we talked about how high we think Bukit Timah hill is (163.63m), and we each boasted of the highest mountains we have climbed.. and we found that it was time to come down the hill for our lunch.
The Descend
Peck Heng led the way down the hill. He was the fastest of us all, despite having needed Kexing and me to help him on the way up! In no time we were at the hill bottom. We decided that there was still a bit of time left before lunch and went our way to the Hindhede Quarry Lake. It was a wonderful sight, with no other pesky hikers around. We would have liked to stay more, if not for the slight drizzle which reminded us that lunch is important.
Hindhede Quarry Lake
We had Boon Tong Kee Chicken rice and I was of the opinion that each of us had a net gain to our own personal assets after the fattening meal of chicken rice and pig trotter. Peck Heng disclosed that he was not supposed to eat pig trotter (doctor's advise) but he could not bear not to - we had to keep this little secret from his doctor.
At length we found ourselved immobilised by the amount of food we ate, and decided to call the hike to a close.
Next activities
As there were many matured gentlemen in our group, we started talking about the idea of organizing a Fundamentals in IT training course for those less adept in IT, where we will teach everything you want to know on IT, including setting up blog/email/Facebook/Skype/whatever accounts, and basic debugging and concepts of computing. The course will be taught by exceptionally qualified IT experts (Kelly and Frank).
Anyone interested, please reply to [email protected], if you have setup your email account already.
If not, bug Frank @ +65 9383 0241.
At length we found ourselved immobilised by the amount of food we ate, and decided to call the hike to a close.
Next activities
As there were many matured gentlemen in our group, we started talking about the idea of organizing a Fundamentals in IT training course for those less adept in IT, where we will teach everything you want to know on IT, including setting up blog/email/Facebook/Skype/whatever accounts, and basic debugging and concepts of computing. The course will be taught by exceptionally qualified IT experts (Kelly and Frank).
Anyone interested, please reply to [email protected], if you have setup your email account already.
If not, bug Frank @ +65 9383 0241.
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