Adventure Trekking with the US Navy! :)

Could this, by far..be, the most 'envied' post? hehe. Much jealousy when I tell some of my girlfriends about meeting the US Navy (wooohoo) and bringing them to the jungle, and here it is, where Cherry's happy at work!

I work for Enviro Concerns Sdn. Bhd., a company that provides Corporate Training in Adventure and besides corporate, also all of the Outdoorsy programmes open to all, for individual/group sign ups. Click on link to read all about it! :) I started off as a facilitator since end 2007 until present and have learnt so much over the years, now I am also working on its PR and Communication matters and I'm really thrilled whenever I am slowly but surely given the chance to conduct some of the sessions which what I thought was impossible when I first joined. I am really really thankful to still be attached to this company because I personally feel that not only the concept is great, the money and most importantly the work environment especially with the bosses rocks my socks big time, so thank you all for that! Anyone would know I have big time passion for it. BIG TIME!! ok relax cherry..

Adventure trekking with the US Navy of U.S.S Nimitz definitely is one of the most interesting programmes ever conducted (I had a lot of fun!), by having different batches each day which lasts three days long, 8th-10th Feb with a total of good 58 of them, I must admit I am exhausted!! but it's worth the cardio! ;)

Waking up early for good (typical) Malaysian breakfast is a must, considering the energy needed. This is famous Roti Kraft (as in the cheese brand) and it's awesome really. But I had to 'creatively' eat with an unsual traditional dhal, which is of big balls, have you seen it? Picture taken before the dhal idea came, sorry. The dhal was already bad, it tasted really sour, and I thought it was the cheesy taste of my roti? and also assumed traditional dhal has to be really sour? Had bad stomach condition the whole day, but to pull through I must!! Told Paul my baas (boss in Dutch) and he said "sour and moving"? No joke, there could be worms in it and I am really too blur to differentiate texture and taste that morning *really tired*. It's okay cherry, LOVE THE NATURE! It's meant to be this way!! Not? haha.

sour breakfast@newly renovated restaurant next to KL Sentral Monorail, I don't remember the place's name. Don't order traditional dhal.

We have arrived! 8am, to meet with the clients..at the secured parking lot in the heart of KL. It's that serious. You want to know why secured parking? Well our clients are Americans, and the bombing of churches' quite recent, no? I know I look very Malay, I got stopped at the gate because I didn't have an ID. Which I don't know what ID was the big guy (morning bouncer) talking about. He didn't care about my IC, Student ID, Orange T-shirt, My English Speaking and Persuasion Skills. Funny how cute Cherry seems threatening or a potential....ok nvm. But admiring the contingency plan and tight security. From the bottom of my heart.

Loving the KLCC shot, from my view. I'm such a shortie. :)

My bosses are Andrew, Paul and Bart, with great colleagues Emilio (who was with me first day), and Suba (second and third day). Great thing is? They are all under my quality friends' list. I'm serious and I love them to bits! It's never easy to be working with a best friend or to find a best friend from workplace.

Andrew, Suba, Paul

Andrew, me, Paul. With this hairstyle, Bart calls me Mongolian.

Busy Bart who could not join us, you are never forgotten, a good 'ol pic of us on the way to Jeram Besu, Pahang, another fantastic destination! Bart, me, Suba.

We're all on our way to Congkak Forest Reserve, Hulu Langat, not far from KL, 45mins or so journey for some great jungle trekking experience, yummy Malaysian food, waterfall, more trekking and river crossing and some friendly leeches haha.

Batch 1

They are welcomed with Coconut Water and some Kuehs.

Batch 2

Batch 3

The jungle is tricky, I must admit. What a great workout, step ups, especially!

What normally takes 2 hours to reach the foothill, they did it in one hour only, do not question the US Navy fitness level. haha!

Everyone loving lunch and they finished a big bowl of sambal. Yum!

More trekking, around 30 mins to the waterfall. Oops slippery, but great teamwork there! ;)

This is Kacip Fatimah. You know, female energy drink. Traditionally boiled to consume, and I honestly have never tried, even the commercialised one. will try one day. One day..

After lots of climbing, tripping, crossing, making trails, check out the relief on everyone's faces once we reached at the breath taking Perdek Waterfall. They claim this as rewarding to be able to experience the beautiful nature after quite a challenge.

That's me saying "wooooo" it really is cooling, chilling, simply rejuvenating. The simplest remedy that washes away your problems for a while. No, I'm serious. That's how calm you can be.

They are happy, they said they have never seen something like this before and they are just really glad to be able to get out of the ship and chill! :) Definitely everyone's favourite highlight of the trip.

Just look at him, and soon, nature and angelic music humming in your head :)

I find this really sweet, this is Matt and he said his baby son Max is the firefighter. Took photo of Max being part of the adventure, sigh good family man.

Suba's first leech encounter and no, she doesn't like it hahaha. Tip: Don't freak out, just leave it on and do not pull it out. Let the bloodsucker do his job, taking out all of your toxin in your body. It will go off after it's fat and full.

I'm really used to it, this is me squashing the leech after removing it with aid cream. Looks like mayo and ketchup eh. No, more of Strawberry Sundae!

The US Navy are very very approachable, polite and positive!

Everyone's having loads fun, I'm holding our best friend of the trip, aid cream that removes leeches. Tobacco helps, too.

Journey back to the checkpoint, via River Crossing really needs your focus. I fell down multiple times, because of all of the slippery rocks I had to land my feet on, most of time no idea what I'm stepping on :) It was like game/maze/puzzle with nature, I like.

Our trip back home, I couldn't stop bleeding. Three days straight, I have many leech bites on me..

O' Briens' will be my new favourite place to be! After work makan reward.

Three-day-trekking got me physically. But amazing how my mental works, telling me that I must do this, I must be around for the clients, looking for a replacement was almost impossible. I'm telling you this because I'm surprised myself I survived without fainting. The place is so beautiful and refreshing. It was worth every time, energy, emotion invested, I already miss the jungle. I'm beginning to get annoyed with how the city smells when the jungle smells too clean and I really want to go back there soon. I even imagined myself finding a spot to camp there. Hmm that's an idea! :) The US Navy are the nicest people I've ever spoken to, glad to have engaged them. Initially I was intimidated, I thought they'd be all tough and rough but I'm so happy to know they are very friendly, we even exchanged cultural stories!

If you are interested to experience what I have just experienced, yes you can. Share this crazy idea with your family/friends/colleagues who are just as outdoorsy as you are and we can arrange something nice for you. No, it won't be too pricy, trust me.

To reach us, official website: http://www.enviroconcerns.com

and for the most recent happenings, we're on Facebook too, http://www.facebook.com/enviroconcerns

I highly recommend this because the beauty of Malaysian greens and its ecosystem are some of the things that you don't see everyday, living in this havoc KL Gold Rush. At least, allow some adventure to begin in your 2010! :)