5.00 Woke up
5.30 Depart to University Tower
5.55-6.40 Read newspaper while waiting for Matt (if we are selected, this must be resolved at once! Sigh. 10 minutes became 40 minutes, was very upset and angry...)
7.15 Finally arrived at Bukit Cahaya, Shah Alam. Stupid miscommunications, stupid road map, so many contestants thought the initial meeting point was at UiTM! And the road map led us to the wrong way, damn it!
Breakfast was served (egg sandwich, curry puff and another piece of kuih, plus free flow of isotonic drink and mineral water for breakfast? I don't think so! Luckily I ate at home - Milo, bread with kaya spread)
Sasha's the new face replacing Daphne as host this year. There are at least 2 cameras running around, and when the producers shoot, they favor close-up shots so much that it feels intimidating - just like the impressions some of the well-built contestants left me with.
The first task of collecting a black tag and a white tag from limau nipis and starfruit tree turned out to be a joke simply because the producers wanna "warm us up". What a prank! Tiring even before we really started. Anyway, thank TV3 for being humane to let us rest for 5-10 minutes before we really started the race.
Production for reality show wasn't easy for TV producers and contestants when it requires more than one take, or when it requires shots from different angles (when there isn't enough cameras). Partners are required to stay together throughout the whole race for teamwork (and shooting) purpose.
The
real first task requires us to cycle. I thought,
arh, cycling! I did train myself uphill and downhill yesterday! Shouldn't be a problem, hehehe. But soon enough it turned out to be worse than I had expected. Normal roads and downhill weren't problematic (but staying at par with partner while going downhill is), but when going uphill, gosh, that was killing. Long distance of steep uphill, most contestants weren't able to cycle so we had to get off and push the iron horse. There was a moment when we went uphill when I felt the lack of oxygen in my brain, exactly just like how I felt each time before I black out, that was very awful. On that particular moment, I re-thought why I wanted to participate in this race, I thought about giving up (and the time when I almost gave up kayaking in open sea in OBS last time), and I thought about how worried would mom and dad be if I collapse.
Mom and dad. Thinking of them and I knew I had to continue the journey to the finish line without failing myself, without failing those who love me. Slowly I took deeper breath, pushed myself and the bike, trying to keep up and closer with my partner Matt.
At the checkpoint, we were to discard our bicycles and go on feet. Uphill and downhill again. It seemed and felt like there's no ending to the race as if it was the longest morning I've ever lived (which is really true thus far!). Next task was the old joke - searching for a black tag and a white tag on limau nipis and starfruit trees. Duhh!! But then on the other hand, I feel thankful for the producers' prank early in the morning - I see it as an exercise session for us to get a hang of how the race is. A KM or two downhill, we realised we have passed all the lime trees area, Matt decided that we should turn back. We flagged and ask for directions from two motorcyclists, we chose to believe their directions and ran back uphill. The tags are stapled on trees. But just imagine how tough it was to search for black and white tags, each sized approximately 5" x 1.75" on trees, and there are so many trees on the hill!
After getting the flags, we had to go on feet for a few KMs uphill and downhill before we finally jungle trekked. The view wasn't as wonderful as when trekking in forests in Perak, but it was very easy. Yes, jungle trekking's so much easier than jogging on tar roads even though it's all wet and muddy. And that was another few KMs of trekking across the reserved forest, until when reached the lake. Another task: Hold the rope and get to the other side. Water, I thought it'd be easier to swim across instead, but with full track suits and sneakers and life jackets! Swimming while having to hold on the the rope (in order to abide by the instructions to be qualify) was incredibly heavy, especially taxing for the legs, as it two heavy rocks were tied on to the feet! ARggh. Having to run and cycle for KMs (and yes, uphill and downhill again!) was even worse. Feeling cold, wet, dirty, exhausted (but surprisingly more charged), hungry, it was terrible. But then again, thankfully for the morning rain before the race started, the weather wasn't unbearably hot (or was it because we
showered in the lake? Haha, I don't know!)
After returning our bicycles, we had to run to the paddy field to complete our next task - to search for a red tag and a yellow tag IN the mud! It stinked when we pass by in our bicycles just now, now we've to crawl in it and search for the tags? ARrgh, this reality show is the meanest joke I've made to myself. But then, no matter how much I hate it, we still have to get ourselves in. Stepping on slippery, wet, stinky, soft mud was bad (it felt like quick sand actually), having to bend low (Matt literally lied on his chest to search for the tags) and use hands to feel for tags was worse. The fact that the water's so muddy you can't see through it at all, and that there are so many spectactors (TV crew and park walkers) and cameras staring at the whole bunch of us... For me, I'm not a big fan of the camera, not a fan of diva (in fact I hate attention unless it comes from my family, lover and friends), do I need to say more?
It was very kind and generous of Elvin and Lesley's team to share the extra yellow tag that he found. Glad that Matt returned a red tag to them, so support was built then and there. I was actually surprised to find out the generocity of Elvin in the race audition. But then again, I also noticed (and heard of) some selfish behaviours in some other teams...
Seeing the
FINISH word, Sasha standing in the mid was very encouraging. Upon arrival, we had to queue for our turn somemore - for short interviews and wave to the camera again, what else! Hehe. Anyway, thanks to Excel for the cooling and refreshing (and filling!) drinks. First time I gulped 2 cans of carbonated drinks at once, within 2 minutes!
While cleaning up ourselves (thank God for the tap!!!), we were all busy cleaning ourselves - James took off his clothes and showered there! I must say that washing under the tap without having to worry to wet my clothes is definitely enjoyable! So cooling and stress relieving! Ooh, ahh.. A leech was happily sucking my blood though, bloody fat already, luckily it didn't stuck on my finger when getting rid of it. Unlike the others, I didn't even bother washing my coffee-colored socks (it was white when I left the house, thanks to the mud therapy). And then David said he lost his socks in the mud, another girl said she lost her shoe soles probably in the lake, how the heck could that happen? Hahaaha, it was so funny I couldn't stop laughing!
The IQ test before lunch was like stabbing a keris on a dying man - suffering but you've to go through it. General knowledge questions (objectives and subjectives) and slogan. After that we were all excited about lunch (er, before we opened our lunch boxes) - chicken rice, soup, apple, and again free flow of Excel and mineral water. No other choice - on one hand was very worried if my stomach will strike before the race ends, on the other hand, if I don't eat I'll starve - no questions, no third thought, just whacked :p
We were given enough time to rest after lunch while all groups are being interviewed about goals, bla bla bla, and group profile video are being taken. Wet and cold.
Later we went to UiTM for swimming test. Was surprised that many contestants can't swim to save their lives! Anyway, after that there was a tea break, following by photography and video session again, before we called it a day.
The fact that Matt and I did not train together before the audition, I believe we did ok.
So, thoughts of the day:-
1. Thankful for being healthy
2. Thankful for the opportunity to the audition, hopefully we'd be selected among the 36 teams.
3.
We can always push ourselves beyond limits, but nothing is beyond endurance. If we try really hard without having the slightest thought of giving up, we'd be surprised by the speed we sprint and the distance we proceed forward.Overall, despite the tough competitions, in general most contestants are nice and friendly. There are times when I feel desperate and frustrated, but overall it was bearable. And the fun and satisfaction that comes while overcoming the obstacles made the attempt to participate worthwhile.
