ExploRally

I have always wanted to know what being a contestant in the Amazing Race feels like.



All systems go.

I got a little one day preview on Saturday. Together with Dixi, Quinn and team leader , Jared, we took part in ExploRally, an amazing race look-a-like with a focus on total defence. And so with the sun just rising from the horizon, we found ourselves at East Coast Park on a bright Saturday morning.


Division of three

The rules are all too familiar.

Competing with 96 other teams, we were to complete tasks around the island. Scores were based on how well these assignments are completed. I just hoped that bungee jumping was not one of the assigned tasks. I think I speak for my team members when I say being thrown down from way up high somehow doesn't sound like our cup of tea.

Despite numerous announcements not to rush out of the carpark when the horn blew, pandemonium still ensued . The carpark cleared in what must have been record time. A lady running past me had on a white T-shirt with a muddy back. Disturbed by the commotion below, flocks of birds flew away. Sensing intense competition, we leapt into Jared's vehicle to embark on our first task.


Ord lo!

With both Jared and Dixi from camp , Quinn( pronounced Qu-een ) is the only one in the group I wasn't too familiar with. The moment I heard his name, I knew I was going to like him. I found myself wondering while I was talking to him if any of his siblings is named King.

Our first stop was at a NTUC outlet. A 20 dollar voucher was given to us to spend on items to make up a "ready" pack. It was about this point that Quin exhibited his resourcefulness and borrowed( dangling parts and all) a portable radio from one of the shop learning us more bonus points. A few bottles of mineral water,canned food and biscuits later, we were given our next task and found ourselves en route to URA centre.

We mostly flopped our task there finding elusive answers in the exhibits.

Making our way to our next venue , the Civil Defence Academy for a test on our CPR and fire extinguishing skills, I felt my stomach doing weird things much like it would after coming out of zouk. For a moment, I thought I was sitting in a roller coaster.


Put on your seat belts!

True to Jared's predications, our next task required handling of a gun. We didn't handle the real thing of course but most guys would know what shooting at IMT is . It is like an arcade game which requires you to shoot enemy soldiers , only more real. Needless to say, us NSFs scored in this section.

We rounded off the day back at East coast where I got the answer to my question.

Being a contestant on the amazing race feels great 50% of the time; the other 50% is devoted to feeling nauseous.


Still un-dizzy Dixi

We didn't win but I think we deserved an A for effort.