I never thought i'd be writing this down..

But, unfortunately and sadly, it has come to the point in my life where I begin to question my continued involvement in the sport of archery.

I've always dreamt of winning big in archery. Really big. But that's not gonna happen - really. I've never won anything in any local tournament before and that speaks alot of my ability at this sport. Nothing at all. But I have taught several people to achieve medals and trophies at tournaments. I'm not good at actually shooting but only at coaching.

I've always told myself that not everybody has the talent to instantly pickup a recurve bow and shoot well with it, some people have to work hard to be good. I'm one of those that has to work hard. And I've been working hard for the past few years. And nothing seems to improve.

But it's not entirely based on that. It's more about my social circle. In archery, the social circle is rather limited. Look at it this way, for the sport of archery. A person's social circle would only expand if an archer would participate in tournaments and competitions where they would meet archers from different clubs. But what about those none competitive archers? Those that just like the sport as a recreational one. The only way for them then to increase their social circle is when new members join the club.

And with that, the hours spent at archery really is a great committment into someone's life. And it does take away a chunk of it.

The downside to archery is that for any prolonged absence from the sport, it will have a adverse affect on the person's performance. And not everyone is that free.

Already army has taken alot of my time and sometimes it goes over into the weekends. And since archery is mostly done on the weekends. I haven't been going archery for quite some time. In addition to that, the field bookings isn't consistent. Sometimes there's field maintenance and exams where there's no booking but i'm available.

Now I've spent quite some time at paintball.. The atmosphere and company there is just simply awesome. I really like it there. The sport is great too. Is damn fun and the adrenaline rush is phenomenal. Kinda reminds me of soccer. But it's much much more than soccer. It's much more aggressive than that. And the thing is, the aggression is legal. And that ups the intensity of the adrenaline. Making it all more fun.

The thing about paintball is that the social circle is ever growing. I get to meet new people every single time I go down to play. And that's just great. I get to meet people from all walks of life. From upper class businessmen, airline cabin crew, students. accountants ( lol ). All sorts really.

most importantly I get to meet GIRLS..!! okay. it sounds horny and desperate. But hey, i'm a guy.

The reason why i get to meet new people from paintball is precisely the fact that the only tournament field in singapore is the same place where customers come to play paintball.. And the place is not so big. So the tournament players sometimes catch the eye of the customers. Some returning customers recognise you then the approach you and ask more of the sport. making new friends in the process. And these returning customers, they eventually become tournament players joining the ever expanding sport of paintball. The plus point is, there's no need to even go to a tournament to make new friends.

Paintball is a much more athletic and adrenaline rushing sport. Pretty much like my old favourite, soccer. There's running, diving and sliding. Making it much more dynamic than archery. Keeping fit in the process as well. As for archery, it's rather static. Standing on the spot and only working out the upper body. Any other way of keeping fit in archery is to do supplementary running outside of the range.

Financial wise. Both sports are equally expensive. For archery, the costs of the equipment are high, with each component costing the hundreds, well at least for the good quality ones. And a typical set costs at least $2000. My set costs about 2.7k. And as time goes by, with the improvement of technology, new items roll out of the factories and these don't come cheap. Okay. So if you get a set. That's all you ever need.

Paintball requires forking out dollars for every trip down to play. But for that adrenaline rush and the means of keeping fit. I'm okay with it. And it doesn't amount to such big of an expense as compared to archery. Each trip costs about 70bucks. And for now, the SPLAT X package provided by Red Dynasty Paintball Park, provides a good rental programme for paintballers. That's like from 1k to 2.5k for the level of rental programme and 250bucks for renewal. That's a good package. But I have yet to enter the programme.

The things that's really making me think about this is the social circle and the fitness that the different sport provides. And from that, paintball looks like it's up on the plus side now. It's kinda sad to leave archery, I've spent so much time on it. But like everything in life, we must move on.

But I'm leaving time to allow me to decide.

If you, the reader, has any opinion about this matter. Feel free to let me know.

I CAUGHT MY FIRST FISH FOR THE YEAR 2011..!!!

Initially went to Paintballer's World to get SPLAT but then i forgotten to bring a passport sized photo.. Or rather even knew i had to get one for SPLAT application.. I could have gotten in then by going to a ID photo kiosk but i was already short of time for my fishing trip..

Went to jurong lake northern side. Met matt a.k.a guitalk.. he just arrived too so we started fishing together.. he saw my casting form and taught me a better way of casting. a much more effortless way of casting.. had to practice it.. finally got the hang of it.. we fished at his favourite spot but unfortunately.. we got nothing.. so we slogged it out for 2 hours.. casting and casting.. but no bite at all..

until about 715pm.. i decided to move out from that spot and try elsewhere.. and OMG i caught a big peacock bass...!!! was quite shocked too.. the line like twitched twice irregularly then i quickly set the hook.. and there it was..!! a big peacock bass.. it was real big.. rather pale coloured but big.. so i retrieved it to shore..

only to have my inpatience allow the fish to take a leap of the bank and throw the hook.. GODDAMN..!!! I LOST THE FISH..!!!

But at least i got it..!! PHEW.. a real sigh of relief..!! the rapala clankin' crank works.. time to get more colours of it.. or maybe even the crankin' minnow.. need to get more bright, striking colours as matt told me..

that fish marked the end of my fish drought.. i haven't caught a fish in a very very long time.. and today was a good day.. even though i didn't managed to hold that fish in my hands.. it's a sign of hope for my fishing, that i'm doing it right.. and also a sign of hope for jurong lake..

till then..

Tight Lines

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I've started watching GLEE.

It's a great series. i thought it was something about high school musical since EVERYONE keeps telling me that. But it really isn't.

Glee really addresses the daily issues of teenagers going thru that phase in their adolescence. The raging hormones. Being Popular and such. And they couple all these problems with great mash-ups of music which expresses these emotions.

yeah. Think that's the way to put it. Expression.

Glee is all about expression. It's about not being afraid to express one's self.

And i think it really compliments my new year resolution. =)

go and try watching Glee if you haven't. it's real nice. Even though Rachel Berry can be a pain in the ass with her self-centeredness. the other characters really balances it out.. especially them Cheerios.. *slurps*


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Before the new year ended, I went to Universal Studios Singapore with compliments from BMTC. They got us the tickets. Real nice place. though it is kinda small but hey, it's only PART of Resorts World Sentosa.

Sentosa really did go through a real big and fast revamp since the last time i went there. Now it really looks like a resort island.

USS was fun especially the part where we went with our buddies from camp. An impromptu cohesion and the first cohesion without anything to do with the army. Great place. Would definitely go back there again. Maybe with my girlfriend (if i can get one..!! xD ).

Just a point to take note. If u really wanna enjoy the place. Go get the Express tickets. it costs more but it really pays off. Every ride has a super duper long queue which can snake around the whole building. and adjacent to this main queue which is for the normal tickets, there's an Express queue where pple have a shorter queue and can get to the ride faster. Sure beats waiting an hour for a one minute ride.

USS's a real great place. the battlestar galactica rollercoaster is still on trail. so the only good ride was the Mummy rollercaster. Real unpredictable.. Damn nice.. lol.. if u happen to go there. u MUST try,

Hello hello 2011.

The year of my ORD. ehehehe.

okay. like every entry that i make at the start of the new year. It's time for me to reflect back on the events, happenings and emotions of the past year - 2010.

lemme see.

I started 2010 in NS, in SCS. Got to realise the emotion of hating the world. Where you've worked so hard and the results show but you don't get what you've worked so hard for. epic time.

2010 was a year which really tested out my mettle, my mental focus, my physical tolerance. I pushed myself to heights i never thought i could reach. All of these of course, through the army.

I went to Thailand for Exercise Crescendo. A real test. The hottest and driest condition i've ever been in. A place where I know who my real friends were. A place that weeded out the strong from the average. That size and physique don't matter, it's the mind within that counts.

A place where I found out from my friends how having someone was a real motivation to them. That they pushed themselves to the limit so that they can go home in good health to them. Then what motivated me to push along with them? I don't know. I still don't.

A place where friendships were cemented. A place where I saved some people's lives. I cringe at the thought of it. The feeling of helplessness as you look into their glassy thousand-yard-stare eyes. I don't like it at all.

Thailand did something to me. It changed me.

Now i'm posted back to where it all began -- Pulau Tekong. Home of Basic Military Training.

Of course, i gained new friends.

I learnt how to fish and became addicted to it and now it's become one of my hobbies. i got ryan addicted to it too.

Speaking of hobbies. I picked up paintball again. I'm in a team called Heartbreakers together with yazid. I like this team. I'll do my best to bring it up tops. I figured that paintball was the only avenue for me to let go of all the aggression in me. I can't let it just subside by doing fishing and archery. I need to let it loose.

as for archery. i've been coaching geraldine. she's been doing well. She won quite a number of medals after i taught her. But i'm trying to slowly not teach her, let terriss do the coaching. His coaching's conflicting with mine so i don't wanna ruin things for her. So i'm hoping this long absence i have from archery due to a real bad case of weekend training and duty, coupled with field maintenance, will slowly drift her away to terriss' teachings. I really have to do some supplementary archery training on my own to keep myself in shape. I kinda miss archery. This year. I'll go for archery more.

I've made a lot of great friends this year. and spent more time with friends that i already have. i've considerably spent alot of time with ryan the past year. spent doing lots of things. fishing especially. lol.

orh ya.. and about running. i've never participated in so much running events in a year before.

There's the 10km Army Half Marathon. Then there was Nike 10km run. Then there was the main highlight of my running calendar last year -- the Standard Chartered Marathon.

I've already signed up for 2 runs for this year. the 12km 2XU run and sundown marathon. I'll most definitely sign up for Standard Chartered this year once registration opens.

hmm.. lemme see what high-key events that i'll have this coming year?

12km 2XU run. sundown marathon. Standard chartered marathon. some more other runs maybe.

there's 2 legs of the Singapore Paintball Series. Maybe i'll be going for World Cup Asia this year with the Heartbreakers.

and of course. the MAIN highlight of this year. my ORD..!!!

i don't think i have a definite resolution for this year.

think i'll be much more high this year. think it's more me. i'll be more awesome this year.

yeah.

My resolution for this year would be to be more AWESOME.

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