Monday, November 12, 2007
9:02 AM
Finally, its over...haha....I'm part of the 4 men medical team for the marathon charity swim from batam to singapore. ..Sat afternoon we depart singapore to batam via Tanah Menah Ferry Terminal. At the custom, we came across some problem. The equipment we bring, Code Master, Propaq, drug box, and general supplies. They say we are not allow to hand carry in but have to check in. But we told them a straight NO.. as its very expensive and also fragil. After some arguement, we settle with a solution. Let them check in, den at the back, we load the items ourself into the ferry terminal as we don;t trust the layman in singapore.
After we board the ferry, embark our one hour journey to Batam. After we reach, we face another problem. The indonesia custom, as usual, saw our expensive equipment, refuse to let us go but wanted us to give money to let this clear as they claims that we need a clearance letter for this. We managed to get the Director of SAC, CK, to talk to them.They took down his particulars, and i think he also give him some money to let us go too.
After we go through the custom, they collect all our passport, im abit afraid of them holding onto our passport as you know, a corrupt country, haiz...As CK reassure us that no problem de as they will clear the immigration for us. Den off we go to load everything into the minibus which took us to our resort. Collect our key, load everything into our room and the doctors room, After that, we went down to the pool side to have a briefing session by the command ppl and also the organiser and our doctors. After that, doctors went to the boat with the swimmer to have a trial swim. Me and my paramedic friend liu went to the restaurant to have our late lunch.
After that we went back to our room and repack our stuff for the next day. TCSS for few hours, 7pm is our dinner time, so we went to the restaurant for the buffet BBQ dinner. They have such a good food and also the singer, blow our mind off, at first they were singing english song, after that we told them to sing chinese song, they realli sing lo. and 2 chinese song. After that they sang hokkien song..We were like WOW>.haha...after 1 hour of entertainment from them, just nice we finish our dinner, we went back to the doctor room and waterproof all the equipment we have. After that we go shower and me, liu went to the pub for a drink before we go back sleep.
After drinking, went back to the room and TCSS again..haha..boring sia...watch tv den i fell sleep. So tired...The most funny thing is that the next day morning, by rite we have to wake up at 4.30am, we even set 2 alarm, after that by 5am we need to go for breakfast...in the end, dunno what happen, both of us cant wake up. the 2 doctor came n knock on our door..haha...so PS lo...was like in a rush..pack everything and rush to load alll the things into the boat and we got no time to eat. So i told liu to tabo some food as me and the rest load the equipment.
He tabo hot cakes and some pastries. And we eat it in the boat. haha...the first 3 hrs still ok for us. Weather is on ourside too..not raining, not hot. When we reaching the international Water, we have to transfer all our stuff to the 70 foot yatch from singapore. Although abit tricky, but all of us can managed. After that we enjoy all the way. But for the swimmers to cross the channel very tough. So many big vessel cruising at a super fast speed. and we have to try ask them to slow down and ask them to change course.
It took a few hours to do that. After tat, another problem face.. The tide and current sudden change..swimming was drifted so far back and have to redirect them back on course. this is when we are reaching singapore waters. we fell sleep on the upper deck, enjoying the tann and breeze..Abt 4pm, finally we dock our yatch. Swimmers all safe and sound.
After that load everything into the red cross ambulance, 4 of us went to bath and we haf our late lunch at the clubhouse. After that went back to KK and unload everything and after that went back red cross HQ and return alpha...and after that took cab home and slp..
But last nite diff to slp..got sun burn at the back,..haha....
Jeffrey Tan was here.
