The Joys of Life

It has been 3 days (edit: make that 3 months as I stopped drafting this halfway and have been busy till now) since I touched down in Singapore Changi Airport and it has been a long period of recollection of memories and experiences gained while in Rockhampton, Queensland, reaffirmation of what I already know and reminiscing. Lots and lots of reminiscing.

For the uninitiated, Rockhampton is a small, quaint town. Laid back and quiet, it channels a different vibe from Singapore. For the tourist then, this is a bane, for shopkeepers pull down their shutters 5 minutes before the stated closing time. Last order is at 9 for most restaurants. The streets are quiet at 6 pm. This was the town in which I spent my 10 nights.

In the days, I was off to Shoalwater Bay Training Area for work. Battling sand flies, horseflies and other critters, enduring the scorching heat (up to 40 degrees!) in the day and freezing cold at night, this trip was not an easy one. Waiting around for things to happen - to be rewarded with nothing.

Why reminisce then?

I boldly proclaimed once that I could survive without human companionship; as long as I had all the basic necessities, there was no need for anyone to be beside me. Thus began my long struggle between proving myself right and desperately wishing I was wrong.

This trip has shown me how wrong I have been.


I have been to Australia for an exercise before, the exact same one I went for this year. The previous trip was short, uneventful and filled with a singular purpose - work.


In the first six days of my trip, everything that could go wrong did go wrong. Wrong location, wrong timing, wrong instructions - all these worked against me, worked against us. This being a common occurance, I was not surprid. What seemed out of the ordinary was this: not once was there any grievance aired. Sure, there were mock grumbles and the odd jab at our predicament, but the bunch of people I was with gamely stepped up to the challenge and took it in their stride. "No need for apologies..."

So, it was not the town, it was not the training area or even the troops that were there that made this trip any different. It was the team that went Down Under, the people from the different departments that made the trip bearable and even somewhat fun.

It was the 5th night that we spent outfield. While I froze in the outback at night, wishing I had prepared a little more for the stay, it was Hel on Earth. Yet, that night yielded the greatest experience I had ever endured. It was the enthusiasm of friendship that kept us watching the galaxies and shooting stars, the warmth of company that allowed me to survive that cold desert night.

I loved that most memorable night. Thinking back now, I wouldn’t have wished for any other situation.

In my job, I have met people I cannot work with, people I can work with, people I can live with and people I cannot live without. I was wrong to say that I did not need human companionship - I now think that I would die a little each day if I did not have someone to talk to everyday. During this trip, I have made friends, strengthened working relationships and re-evaluated others.

I have also forged a friendship that I hope will last for a long time to come.