The Olympic Adventure: 2010

Saturday, January 23, 2010

A new soul

Now that you have rested, it is time to accept that you have to move on.

You have to move on after scaling sharp rocks, negotiating 52 km of uncompromising road and living off nature for 48 hrs.

You will never experience such a camp again.

All you have are good memories that you should try to actively recreate as you live your life.
The scars that you have tell a story that only a few would understand.

Everything that you have returned to is the same.

The difference is that you are ready to face the challenges coming your way with new found confidence.

The difference is that your new soul is faster, higher, stronger.

The difference is only 4 olympic days in Pahang.

What a big difference!

Friday, January 22, 2010

Finale

The sporting soul of Resilience 2010.

Reprise

Let's listen again

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Stronger Each Day

Facing Fear

Faster 1 Cools Down

After showing their determination and resilience during yesterday's cycling expedition under the scorching hot sun, Hermes Faster 1 gets to enjoy the cool breeze and refreshing water of Jeram Besu.

Treetop launch

View from landing point

Soaring through the air

Incoming budding Hermes

Going against the flow

River cruise

Team huddle

Apollo II

Gearing Up

Safety checks

Pep talk

Kick off

Suspense

Cliffhanger

Success

Facing Fear

A day in the jungle with the Athenians

Later this afternoon we were fortunate enough to venture back into the depths of the Jungle and visit the Athena party. We arrived to a camp well set up for jungle survival with well built sturdy shelters and fires burning. The Athena apprentices were in buoyant mood listing all of the survival skills they had learnt over the previous days – it was clear we were in a well organised camp.

The pupils spent the afternoon competing in entertaining games using simple jungle tools such as leaves to capture and save water. The mood of the camp was cheerful and upbeat, although during discussions many conversations included the topic of food and how hungry everyone was.

This evening the Athena's students are dining on chicken which was prepared jungle style! After the afternoon activities, the pupils observed two skilled Orang Asli slaughter chickens for the evening's feast. The chicken combined with the bamboo rice also prepared by the students will certainly provide them with a well earned and much craved for feast.

Higher Rocks

Highlights from Faster 2

Day 3 arrives and the weather was perfect for a bike ride, Hermes, Faster 2 students had spent the night on the banks of the River Pahang. They awoke and enjoyed their substantial breakfast - stocking up on carbohydrates to provide them with necessary energy they would need to complete their 52 km cycle ride.

The group then proceeded to dismantle their tents and everyone took part in a warming up and stretching excercise to loosen and prepare their muscles for the long cycle ride to their final nights campsite, again situated on the banks of the beautiful River Pahang.

Hermes students made their way off the sandy bank onto the road where they met a massive selection of bikes and after much kicking and prodding of tyres, and testing of brakes bikes were chosen and the convoy headed off down the road, a little after 9 am.

The 52 km ride was intermitted with various water and food stops throughout the day, with the whole group stopping to enjoy lunch at the 22km mark.

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Wearing a huge smile and punching the air with joy the first student rode into Taman Negara at about 4.30pm. It then took about 45 minutes for the remaining Hermes second troop to cross the finishing line.

It was certainly a jubilant atmosphere as the pupils that had already completed the 52km challenge stood and cheered in the remaining pupis as they enjoyed the satisfaction of crossing the finishing line.

After many cheers, 'well dones' and plenty of high fives, the group made their weary way down the lane to set up camp for their last night above the banks of the River.