On going through some old album recently I found
some photos that brought memories flooding back to my mind. It was really nice
to see all those photo of the past, some taken in Black and White, an era
before the advancement of colour photography. Above is a photograph taken in
the early sixties when I attended the Outward Bound School course at the school in
Lumut, Perak. I was just in my early twenties and apply for the scholarship to
attend the course there. I was told by friends that it provides good leadership
program but it tough. One had to go through endurance programs that lasted for
almost a month, living in camp, excursion into the tropical jungle, boating,
canoeing on the high sea around the island of Pangkor. Since l love
adventure and had been in the Scout Movement from my primary school days I love
to go to such training and meet others of the same mind-set. I was awarded the
scholarship and went all the way to Lumut in the state of Perak to attend the
month long program; the 50th course. We went through a tough and challenging programs on various
aspect of leadership as well program on civic. We were not spare the task of
keeping the pit toilet crawling with maggots clean every day and had to sleep in the jungle
where at time it rain and rain. Even having our meals was never at the same place, from the hall to the beach or in the middle of the jungle. We were told to go on a jungle expedition to nowhere
and expect to survive the track on our own. It was tough sleeping in the middle
of the jungle among leeches and wild animals but we endure and manage to get
through it all. We had to canoe into the open sea the whole day. I did get
seasick and vomited when reaching the shore. We had to scrap boat and paint it
underside, thus we learn the skill doing painting works. We had to keep our
sleeping quarters spot clean all the time. Everything went like clock works from
breakfast time till bed time. Because we were all dead tired it was easy to
sleep.
The whole programs toughen us all and did teach us all various
leadership skills that we could use in any endeavour we took. As for me the
training did help in my career in the government agency that I was working.
Until this day I still could remember vividly the time we had spent in the
school. It turns out to be the best leadership training that I had ever
had in my whole life. The Outward Bound School did made what I am
today.
Have a nice day.
Six decades ago OBS in Lumut was one that we heard of in KT but it was it was like talking of Sandhurst in England. It had the aura of toughness and discipline life. Now, that explains your love for active life today. Looking at the picture one can imagine the smart looking group of people looking so proper and smart, even the way legs were crossed. There was none of the giggling and two fingers up. During those days sticking two fingers up was about the rudest sign and now favourite even for elderly ladies.
ReplyDeleteAl-Manar, Pokcik Hassan thanks for the visit and sharing your thoughts on the subject of this posting.
ReplyDeleteWell I have always love adventure. That is the reason I join the Boy Scout Movement. It was through scouting that I get exposed to living in tents while camping, going on an expedition to nowhere where and experience the adventure with friends. It was really exciting and I love it. So when the chance came I apply for the scholarship and got it, thus I went to the OBS course in Lumut, Perak.
As I had narrated it a tough program but at the end of the day we learn many aspect of leadership which later on in life became useful indeed.
Have a nice day.
Great photos and a fascinating post as usual, Pak Idrus. I am glad you earned that scholarship. I can think of no-one else more deserving. My older brother attended OBS when he was 13 years old. He saved up his own money for years. I wanted to go too but my parents told me: "For Heaven's sake you need Inward Bound School."
ReplyDelete~CovertOperations78~, Ee Lynn thanks for the visit and sharing your thoughts on the subject of this posting. Thank too for the good words. Well I have always love adventure and the training at the OBS was among best leadership training I had ever had. It was tough though but it worth it. The skill learnt became useful as I move on in live. I am glad that my dad let me go and I am indeed grateful for his foresight.
ReplyDeleteHave a nice day.