Date: 28th March 2009
Event: 4th District Rotaract Conference at Eagle Ranch Resort, Port Dickson
A conference in Port Dickson, with fun water activities and laughter. Sadly, I didn't get to enjoy the first day on the 27th which is Friday...I had a night class. I went to college the next morning, and ended up absent from the supposedly Advance Corporate Reporting class. It wouldn't look nice for the lecturer to see me leaving with my bags and stuff...especially Ms. Menon. So I went for a bit of cyber games and breakfast with my friend. Of course my luggage was kept in my friend's car till it's time to set off with Amanda around 1.30pm (thanks Billy ^^). Luckily she's working half day or else it'll be difficult to find a transport to the destination.
We picked up Kevit along the way from his home and had our lunch at Burger King. Then we continued our way the whole afternoon chatting in the car. We slowed down a few times due to accidents along the highway and typical busybody attitude of Malaysian drivers slowing down just to have a look. How long will it take them to understand that this is pointless unless they're intending to stop and help?
When we arrived to Eagle Ranch Resort, it was about 6pm and just in time to get ready for dinner. The participants of the conference were placed in the Log Dormitories which is actually a nice place to stay in with electricity, attached bathrooms and toilets and double decker beds. Of course Amanda was assigned to a different dorm so that leaves me and Kevit with 18 other dorm mates. Just as we settled down, our dorm mates returned in a wet and soggy state. They definitely had a real fun time down the nearby beach and they definitely need to use the bathrooms to get ready for the dinner. So, I waited a while since I wouldn't take long to shower.
The theme of the dinner was cowboy night, I had the proper shirt, jeans, a bandanna as the scarf, but I don't have the shoes or the hat. Turns out, I'm the only one dressed like a bandit. Kevit was dressed like a proper sheriff with a vest and cowboy hat. There was also a best cowboy and cowgirl competition. There were 3 cowgirls and 5 cowboys including myself. But I didn't win the competition. Everybody had fun strutting in their catwalk and made their best poses. There was also a birthday celebration for the District Govenor who was the guest of honour for the conference.
After the dinner, we also celebrated the Earth Hour by switching off our table lights and a night walk. Of course we had to get back to change into a proper attire and carry bug repelents. Some of my dorm mates and myself went back to get changed and was stumped as none of us had the dorm key. We found a way in through the back window which was not locked. the 9 of us got changed but only one didn't joined the walk. So the rest of us waited for someone to get the dorm key and open the door.
The night was cool, and the participants were ready. We were briefed by the resort staff and was told that there were a few spiritual beings before setting off. The resort staff brought us to the back gate, did a head count and we're on our way into the forest for our walk. There were a few other resort staffs travelling along with torchlights to show the way. We bent, squatted, went up the slopes and went down. All the while watching out and warning those behind us for branches, roots, stumps, stones, slopes and ditches. When we got out of the forest halfway, I looked to the sky and it was beautiful. A clear starry night sky which you can't find often in the city. After a while of walking, we're back into the forest and made our way back to the resort.
At the end of the walk, we're all sweaty and enjoyed ourselves. Most of the participants went out for late night Ramlee burger supper. While some hang out in the dorms to have fellowship. I only managed to last till about 12am before I had to retire to my bunk in my dorm room. I woke up the next day around 6.30am, rested for a while before freshening up myself and listened to my iPod outside the dorm. Around 7am, I went to get a shower and ready for breakfast. At that time, the guys who shared the dorm with me were still sleeping. I went ahead to the breakfast venue and was joined by few of the girls from the organising committee (Lucky me ^^). While we started to have our breakfast, there was another group of residents who had a family day at the resort entered to have breakfast as well. By the time everyone's inside, all the tables were taken save for the ones we occupied. Each table is occupied by one family.
Due to unforseen circumstances, everyone was suddenly called to wake up and got ready for the remaining programs during the day. Once prepared, the participants were motivated by the talks given by the Rotarians and there was also a forum session to discuss and suggest how to improve the District as a whole. After a short break for the participants to pack up and clear out the dorms, there was a short closing and certificate presentation ceremony. While waiting for the members of the organising committee to completely settle their issues, we had our favourite cam-whoring sessions (I wonder if such a term even exists...Lol). Followed by a drive to Seremban to have crabs or lunch. I've enjoyed the conference and really looking forward to the next one (I had so much fun that sometimes I laughed until stomach pain and I sounded like a ghost...Lol). That is, if I could attend the next conference ^^".
