Off to become a man

Finally the day has arrive... Tommorow on the 7th of September at 9 in the morning, I Muhammad Syafiq Bin Mohamed Johan will take my first step into becoming a man. I will join the Singapore Armed Forces under the enlistment act as a National Serviceman for 2 years. I have yet to know my company but all I know is that I'm in BMTC school 2.

Had always anticipated this day since young. Use to go around wearing fake army uniforms my mum bought for me from the nearby market, with my toy M16 which will make a "rat-a-tat-tat" noise everytime i pull the trigger. Since I didnt have any brothers or sister then, my only companion was my cat, Pipit. Would chase him around the house shouting "CHARGE!!!" or "FIRE!!!" or any other words from my limited Army Vocabulary.

Then in secondary school, I joined the National Cadet Corps. Finally had a taste of how millitary life would be. Wore my first official Army uniform. The "No. 4" or "smart 4" as some would call it. Fired my first bullet out of a real M16. The feeling was exhilarating. The recoil of the weapon against my shoulder, the smell of the gun-powder after each shot and stripping down the weapon to clean up the parts after the shoot. I felt lucky. Not many 15 year olds got the chance to shoot or let alone handle a real rifle. But all those we during my adolescence years.

Now, its the real thing. A real soldier. A protector of my country. A protector of my love ones. Most importantly becoming a MAN. I don't know to the explain it but people who go through National Service kind of go through a transaction, a transformation, its like during that 2 years, you turn from a mere boy into a man. That is how i perceive it.

OK enough bout the mumbo jumbo Rambo thing. I'm excited really. Some of you might thing, "Syafiq's gonna join the Army". NAH, i actually wanna join the Police Force. Its funny right. I join NCC and in the end all I wanna be is a policeman. Then why didnt I join NPCC you might ask? Well to tell you the truth I almost did. But you know how fickle minded the 13 year old mind is. I was seduce by the NCC, brainwashed by the Cadet Lieutenant then. I can still remember his name, Senior Cadet Lieutenant Kumaran. He was a nice guy. Look after us and train us and treat us like his own siblings. Maybe thats why, I chose NCC over NPCC. But personally I think its the propaganda haha. "NCC is better than NPCC".

Yesterday had my last outing with a group of friends. Initially, I had other plans though. Wanted to surprise a friend over at her NTU dorm. Any of you watched "love Actually"? the part where the guy did some signs in front of the girl he love but she's married to his best friend?
Well I actually wanted to do that haha. It was crazy I tell you. I didnt know what overcame me. Borrowed my sister's drawing block and wrote a few messages. But my whole plan backfired. She wasnt at her dorm. Muhahahaha. The funniest part was actually going up to knocking her door. It took me 4 tries to actually pluck up the courage to knock. Each time I my hand would freeze just a few centimetres away from the door. And when I finally did knock, nobody answered. "KWANG KWANG KWANG" she's not home. So there goes my plans for the day. Left a note with her friend and went home. Surprise-surprise, Grandma came to visit. So spent a little time with her. Sent her home later in the evening and went to meet a couple of friends at the nearby coffeeshop. Zulhakim, Azrul, Fidi and Fizz. Fidi had to go off early coz of work. So the four of us, Zul, Az , Fizz and me talked bout off time over Milo dinasaur and fries. Azrul had just pass out of BMT earlier that day so he gave me and Fizz some tips. By the way Fizz is entering at the same time as me. Zul has yet to receive his letter. So after talking, we decided to head down to Taman Jurong Superbowl for a game of bowling, after which we had ice cream at the nearby McDonalds.
It was almost 2.30am when I reached home. Woke up late this morning. Double check my bag and make sure everythings packed and ready to go tomorrow. and here I am updating What would me my final entry of my adolescene life haha. Will try to update once in awhile when I book out during the weekends.

So thank you all for your encouraging words, good luck messages and miss you messages. I would still bring in my handphone but will ony switch it on at night. So if I dont reply your messages, I'm sorry in advance. Update me bout the outside world will ya guys? oh most importantly UPDATE ME BOUT THE EPL!!!! (someone offered to do that actually, thank you, you know who you are)

So farewell my fellow blogger readers... Till next time(I wonder when is that?)

-blog out-

Pre-NS routemarch from Tanjong Pagar to Orchard......

Hey all, as you all know. I've only 5 days left till bye bye pink IC and hello 11-B. Yes the day where all young male Singaporeans turn into MEN. 7 Sept is the date and 9am is the reporting time. So if any of you wanna leave any "bye bye, im gonna miss you" or "Go!!! and dont come back" messages please do so by the 6th.

Anyway to today's event, call me crazy, stupid, goondu or watever word related to insane but I walked from Tanjong Pagar all the way to Orchard road. So ok ok some of you will say "easy what!!! very near". Well lets just say I took a longer route.....



My journey started off at Tanjong Pagar MRT station. Dress in a white t-shirt and jeans, arm with my trusty Timbuk2 sling bag and not so trusty Mp3 player(I'll come to that non-trusty part later), I head down towards "GB building" to collect some gift pack for my parents from AXA insurance. After collecting the stuffs. Was contemplating whether to head home or maybe do a little sight-seeing(wasn't really litte but alot). The initial plan was to met up with a friend of mine but he was kinda busy so its just me myself and I.



Headed towards MPH which was along "Robinson Road". Browse thru a few books. Msg a friend and after awhile head off towards "Lau Pa Sat". From "Lau Pa Sat", I headed to Raffles Place MRT station and it was here that I made my decision at a fork. Left to Raffles MRT which means home or Right to "one Marina Boulevard". Being the adventure cum curious type, I head right.



Came out of "One Marina Boulevard" only to be greeted by contructions. Not much scenary. So I walked along "Collyer Quay Road" past the now deserted and under-construction "Clifford Pier". So I press on. walk along the river towards "One Fullerton" and guess who I met?



Good old Merlion, spitting litres and litres of water into the river. You may think, I'm a little "Jakun" or excited. But to tell you the truth. In all my 20 years. I've never really travel around Singapore much. So I dunno what is where or let alone seen the Merlion from such a close vicinity. Usually I would just look at him/her from the esplanade across the bank. Ok back to the story...

After bidding farewell to Merlin(thats what I named the Merlion), Walk across the Anderson bridge to a path called "Queen Elizabeth Walk". God knows why they name that walk after the Queen of England. But I guess it has got something to do bout the time she came to visit. Walk pass the "Padang" and "Parliment house" and turn right into "Esplanade".

So it was here that my Mp3 player ran out of batteries(thus the not-so-trusty) and I kinda ran out of cash to buy extras. So I took a short rest here along esplanade. Took a sip of water and watch some band setting up for tonight's performance.



After resting I head down to "City-link mall". Pit stop at "MPH" and "HMV". After which I head out towards "Raffles City". After "Raffles City", Walk along "North Bridge Road" and found out where "Raffles Hotel" is (Yes I didnt know where Raffles Hotel was, so laugh if u want too). Press on and found out the location of the new National Library (Yeah laugh again if u want 2, I didnt know bout this either).



Reached "BUGIS". Head up to Kunikuya(or something like that) bookstore browse thru a few books and comics. After I got bored, I decided to head back down to town. Unfortunately, with my limited knowledge of the Singapore map, I went the wrong direction. Headed to wards "Sim Lim Square" by cutting thru "Bugis village".



Even after I had past "Sim Lim Square", I headed straight ahead and found myself at "Rochor Canal Road" just opposite "Tekka Mall" any further I would have hit "Bukit Timah". It was then that I realise how far I had walked!!!

Pit stop at "Little India Mrt station". Found a map and I tried to get my bearings right again. So backtrack to "Rochor Canal Road" and slip into "Selegie Road". OK now im back into familiar territory. Pass the old "Rex theater", stop by "Parklane Shopping Mall" to check out some comics and made a right at "Prinsip Street" out into "Orchard Road".



Pass "Cathy building". Pass "PLaza Singapura". Pass the "Istana", oh I saw the "royal guards" change shift and a car being inspect before going into the "Istana", pretty cool shyte. After that it was all the way up Orchard road.



Time check it was already 6pm. Stop by "Al-Falah mosque". Did my almost overdue late afternoon prayers and final pit stop at Taka's Kunikuya. Found some stuffs I was looking for and by then It was already time for evening prayers. Head back to "Al-Falah". Rest for awhile at the mosque and since it was already past 7pm, I guess its wise to head home now.



So there you have it. My Pre-NS route march from Tanjong Pagar all the way to Orchard Road. But I didnt really head home. Drop by SP for some TKD training. Muhaha. Crazy I tell you. If my legs could talk, I guess they would be cursing and swearing by now.

After that long walk kinda realise how small Singapore is. Probably the reason why I didnt feel tired was that I was kinda enjoying myself. Saw places I didnt knew existed. Found out where Raffles Hotel and The National Library is. Saw the different walks of life. From the Japanese tourist at the Merlion to the Chinese at Albert street to the Indians at Tekka Mall and of course the malays and other races all over Orchard Road. I guess it wasnt a wasted day after all. I've learnt loads of stuffs and guess what, my dad got lost once when he was young and he too walked along Padang, pass Clifford Pier. But he walked along Shenton way down towards Harbour Front, back home at, I cant remember the name of the street he was staying at. But still the similarity of us walking great distances and using Public transport as our guide was overwhelming. (I use the MRT as a guide as where I should move next while my dad had to rely on the buses). Like Father Like Son I guess.....

So here I am after a loooooooooooooong days walk. Updating my blog, feet feeling alittle numb after all those walking, feeling alittle sleepy also. I guess Thats all for now. I'll try to update before the 7th. Probably thats gonna be the the last for now. Won't be updating so often (as if i was updating everyday). So yup. Take care all and good nite... ciao

-blog out-