So long Jayelle – Not So Little Girl In A Reverie

Jolene’s gone, and, uh… I’ve been put in charge of helping her update her blog while she’s gone. This will be the only post that will be fully written by me though, cos the rest will be through letters she’ll be sending to me. Man, that girl is one hard-core blogger. I’m her brother Luzzio by the way.

We left the house around 8.10 . My sister’s bus would be leaving around 9.30(or so it seems. It actually never left till 10 something. Bah, typical Malaysian attitude), so we were sort of in a rush. I asked Jolene if she wanted to be the one taking the pictures, since she was more familiar with the way the photos on her blog should be like. Sis declined, saying she was very nervous about NS and didn’t feel like taking pictures.

We arrived at about 8.40, and already all the buses were waiting in line to bring them 18-year olds for 3 months of ‘fun’.

Of course, when I started taking photos, her expression changed fully. Professional camwhorer. Heh.

At this point, my dad got a little angry. Jolene had packed a little too extremely, and her luggage consisted of the following:

1) Rolling plane travel luggage bag(black)
2) Pink sling bag, heavy with bathroom stuff.
3) Grey school like bag behind the shoulders
4) Green bag for other ‘essentials’.
5) One pail. For washing clothes.

5 things to carry. The most that other people had were only 3. Of course, it was a little humiliating, but it’s my sister’s knack for being like this that makes her so lovable =)

Poor girl was punished to carry all 5 things by herself.

There were so many people there! You had to practically push through a crowd of people just to get to the other side.

Alot of other people had a pail of the same color, so we decided to write her name on hers.

Registering at the counter. Couldn’t take a good pic, cause I wasn’t that comfortable with taking pics of total strangers.

Dad was still grumbling about her luggage. “One trainee take so much space in the bus? It wouldn’t be a very good impression la, girl! How are you going to take all those things by yourself all the way?”

Of course, dear old dad wasn’t one to let his daughter suffer, even if it was of her own mistake. He tipped the bus driver abit of cash to help her load the luggage(s) and also to unload.

Haha, you can see him pocketing the money in this picture.

“Cintai Malaysia” was the bus’ name. It’s one of those beat up old school buses which itch your butt when you sit on the chairs.

Good bye Jolene! Hugs were given all around, and I could see tears in my parents’ eyes. Dad’s was a little hard to spot, but mom’s was pretty easy. I’ve watched TVB chinese shows with her for over 4 years, and it’s become an instinct to know if she’s crying =p

We went back to the car, and dad decided to tail the bus all the way to Taman Templer where my sister’s NS camp was located. I groaned, but it’s useless to argue. Felt strange, without her sitting on her side of the backseat.

My parents went for Bakuteh at some chinese restaurant first before following the bus. Nothing that involves Jolene here, so I won’t blog about it. Of course, if you’re interested, you can check out my blog. 😉

*time skip*

Finally! After a gruelling 1 hour drive(bus was so friggin slow!), we’d reached the NS training camp. Except…it wasn’t so much of a camp.

Looked more like a school. We later concluded that it was an abandoned boarding school that the goverment re-used as an ‘NS’ camp. Cheap bastards.

Looks alot like SMKSU, the secondary school I’m currently in.

Parents: “Can we come in?”

We took awhile before reaching the assembly area. All the trainees were waiting to register themselves.

Found Jolene. By that time, the socialite had already made around 5 friends, a variety of Chinese and Malay ones.

I felt a need to go to the toilet, so I decided it would be a good opportunity to take some pics around the area to show you guys what the place she’d be in for 3 months looked like. Easier for you to picture stuff for later entries, understand? =)

Hmm…with a closer look, it seems that the ‘assembly area’ is actually the canteen. Heh, this is where Jolene will be having her meals everyday, 6 times a day, 7 times a week, 4 times a month, for 3 months.

Finally found the toilet. Just a look from outside told me it wasn’t a very friendly place. ‘Kotor’.

But, SURPRISE! It actually looks clean! Wow, those must be expensive tiles, eh? I’m amazed, reall! What a nice looking toilet!

Even curtains for the showers. Hmm… of course, we all have to face…

…the Reality. The government can beautify the bathrooms as much as they want, but they’ll never change the attitude of Malaysians. All the cubicles were filled with ‘submarines’, and none were flushed. Sigh. Good luck Jo.

Kem? Kem what?

Ohh…cheh! Kem Rimba Templer issit? Don’t put so far la.

Scenery around was beautiful. The limestones made perfect backdrops for the place, giving it an isolated feel from civilization. I wouldnt mind having NS, actually, if the scene was really this good. But I laughed that thought of though, cos I remembered about-

-the toilets.

I have no idea how my sister is going to survive this.

It’s a 3-storey high course for heavy drilling(as in excercise la). Looks…hazardeous.

My parents decided it was time to leave, and let Jolene handle things by herself from here on. We gave each other hugs(again), and I bid my sis farewell. So long che, we’ll all miss you for the next 3 months T^T It’s really sad, not having my sis at home for 3 whole months… but I keep telling myself:

“When the cat’s away, the mouse gets to use her room”

Hehe, Luzzio, signing out.

*blog entries from here forth will be written by Jolene through letters*

1 thought on “So long Jayelle”

Din Jul 13, 05 Delete
ur righ luzzio, she must be one hardcore blogger to force you to update for her….i thought she was joking when she said you will be posting for her…heheheh

Bkworm Jul 13, 05 Delete
Nice blog…almost felt as if we were there too. Particularly liked the pics about the toilet facilities. NS is not some vacation but Jolene will survive. She’s one tough girl!

milly Jul 13, 05 Delete
heyhey..i can go to visit Jolene everyday aredi..!! y?? becos my hosue is near to that kem….just 20 minit of drive can reach aredi…akakka..!!

then i can send something for her…yuhoo..

Name Jul 13, 05 Delete
aiyo kesiannya have to go to NS, luckily there was none during my time!

good luck jolene – and btw, i hear Templer Park is really haunted :Ã¾

Makan Kings Jul 12, 05 Delete
Hey!

Nice blog!! Looking forward to reading about your NS experiences.

Cheers,
-Makan Kings-

narrowband Jul 12, 05 Delete
Wow! That’s an awesome post! Doin’ a great job, man.

Love that Kem Rimba Templer shot. The “P” is artistic. Not Photoshopped, right? Right… Just as “E” in “DeLL”.

Hey the camp actually looks okay, knoe – It’s just like a school, only diff is that you sleep and eat there. How bad can that be? Of course, that toilet thingy is almost universal now in Bolehland…

But it’s a nice place alright. Jolene will love it! ;p

Belacan Jul 11, 05 Delete
jolene, just enjoy yourself. and luzzio, nice post 🙂

simon Jul 11, 05 Delete
eh, i’ve stayed there before for a training!!! Except back then the toilets had no door or curtain, just open…

the camp doesn’t look half bad… i expected much worse!

keep the blogs coming…!

tiger Jul 11, 05 Delete
The “school buildings” were actually built for the International Scouts’ Jamboree way back in 1990. The buildings have been used by the Selangor Scouts’ Association since then.

I’m glad they’ve managed to maintain the place; although I think you shouldn’t have posted that pic of the “hole”. Some ppl eat while reading blogs la dey.

lilian Jul 11, 05 Delete
Awww…poor girl looks like she is about to burst into tears when boarding the bus but when you mentioned the socialite, I know she is safe. Like your blogging style, such cosy bro-sis you two.

luzzio Jul 11, 05 Delete
iewilgirl: I’ll be posting her replies to your comments once every two weeks…so keep checking

kenneth: its up to you =)

jason: cos our dad was scolding her…I’d have that face too if i was her.

expectation: thanks. But I think the letters are gonna be slow. If she sends everyday, I’m dead.

meldee: Haha…no so far. It’s my first and last. All other entries will be by her.

boon heng: …u can rot in NS for all I care. Seriously. See you in school tomorrow.

Boon Heng Jul 10, 05 Delete
I DONT WANT TO GO TO NS !!! (Even if the toilets are made of gold. Unless I can shift my own toilet there !) XD Wakakaka…

meldee Jul 10, 05 Delete
*starts to cry* poor poor jo!!! she looks so pasty and sad. thanks for doing this mervyn, good job so far 🙂

expectation Jul 10, 05 Delete
hahaha mervyn, you did a really good job. it’s so hilarious.
can’t wait for the first letter.
eh thought she’ll come home every week or so?

Jason Jul 10, 05 Delete
She look so charm, sad, dissapointed, sorrowful after loading her luggages into the bus…

Kenneth Jul 10, 05 Delete
Ermm, shall I address Luzzio or Jolene? Anyways, just pass the message that we will “miss” her and ask her to take care ya? 😀

iewilgirl Jul 10, 05 Delete
hey Jolene! u looked reli cool in da pics!;)hehe. have fun and enjoy urself in NS babes! do take care of urself too yah… cheers

1 thought on “So long Jayelle”

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