Rant: Inconsiderate Campers at Ubin :( from NUS
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Over the weekend, I was camping overnight at Jelutong Campsite at Ubin.
This happened on Friday Night. About the middle of the night 3 am, a whole big group of teenagers stopped near my tent. They were speaking loudly, giggling, laughing at bloody 3 am in the morning!
After tolerating it for about 5 minutes, I got up and went over. There were about 20 of them I guess. I requested they keep their volume down please. It is the middle of the night and campers ARE trying to sleep. They told me they were going to sleep at this campsite for a couple of hours. Fine.
I returned to my tent, and still the discussion was going on in non-modulated, cannot-be-bothered-to-speak-softer tones. The giggling continued. Eventually though, they dragged out their fly sheet and the nearest group camped less than 10 m away from us. I wondered why. The campsite was HUGE. I mean H U G E, for anyone who have ever been to jelutong campsite, it is one big stretch near the beach. But NOPE, they camped less than 10m away from us. FINE.
My friend and I eventually gave up, sat up in the tent and observed them, waited for them to settle down. One guy actually came to about 5m away from us and SHINED HIS TORCH INTO OUR TENT. walao eh. (we were camping inside a hut because it was too damn hot to put up a flysheet) We were so shocked by the torch shining in, felt a little like deer caught in headlamps, mouth open probably could not talk.
later, a girl and a guy approached our tent. I don't know for what, because they sure did not 'call out' when approaching. We asked them where they were from.
They said NUS. No teacher with them, They are the leaders. At 3 plus am in the morning, I didn't have the clarity of mind to ask them exactly which organisation in NUS. I suggested to them that as part of their camp, they should also share with their participants on the basics of Camping Etiquette and Basic Courtesy which will make everyone's camping experience a more pleasant one. They said eventually to give them a bit of time for their participants to settle down.
Fine, eventually some of them did. More groups came throughout the night. All equally noisy. We have given up in the need to get more sleep. Finally they left and we had peace.
But u know what's the worst thing? The worst thing was waking up at 7 am in the morning, and finding the front of the campsite littered with rubbish. Ziploc bags, half used mosquito coils, paper plates. These were all not there before.
WHAT THE HELL! NOTHING annoys me more than campers who are so bloody inconsiderate they can't clean up after themselves!!!!
Jelutong campsite is such a lovely campsite despite the lack of trees and heat. I felt like I was camping in the australian bush. I even saw a hornbill, a lovely sunset, lots of birds, butterflies and flowers.
so yeah. Please.. if you happen to know WHICH group of kids these are - Let them know that if they continue to do this, there will be NO nice places to camp in Singapore sooner or later, NO place they are have fun, night walks, and all the great memories they have of their trips - will be JUST memories - simply because they don't know how to take care of it. -
maybe they thought there'll be banglas to clean up after them, like other parks in singapore ? ...
but this is not the worse I've seen shro ... i've actually seen people bathing WITH SOAP at the quarries there !!! .....
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whatever happened to personal responsibility?
do you know what group they were?
it would be sad if they were some kind of "conservation" group... -
sigh u know stuff like SOAP and all... is a bit 'advanced' knowledge in the sense that many people still think its 'clean' and don't think of chemical pollution in terms of SOAP. Which is why so many of Malaysia's waterfalls are polluted.Originally posted by Fatum:maybe they thought there'll be banglas to clean up after them, like other parks in singapore ? ...
but this is not the worse I've seen shro ... i've actually seen people bathing WITH SOAP at the quarries there !!! .....
BUT tangible LITTER. PHYSICAL objects. I mean isn't that BASIC habits? How CAN anyone walk away with a guilt-free conscience?
Bear: Not sure what group they are from. Regret not finding out... I will happily write a letter to the organisation offering 'free training' on ethics. -
I'm not sure if it's really "advanced" knowledge ? ... I mean ... you throw away soap suds, but don't drink them eh ....Originally posted by ShrodingersCat:sigh u know stuff like SOAP and all... is a bit 'advanced' knowledge in the sense that many people still think its 'clean' and don't think of chemical pollution in terms of SOAP. Which is why so many of Malaysia's waterfalls are polluted.
BUT tangible LITTER. PHYSICAL objects. I mean isn't that BASIC habits? How CAN anyone walk away with a guilt-free conscience?
Bear: Not sure what group they are from. Regret not finding out... I will happily write a letter to the organisation offering 'free training' on ethics.
... and best of all ... the quarry's an enclosed body of water ! ... that's more than a lack of cow-sense, that's just pure stupidity ! ... and being city folks' no excuse in my books ! ... one doesn't have to be crocodile dundee to figure something like that out ... -
never underestimate the power of stupidity...
seriously...
when i thought it could not get more stupid, i am always surprised...
just like some fella thinks that if an athlete has a musclebound body, the athlete can consume more calories than he expends and still not grow fat -
advanced as in compared to littering ba. Because littering is something that should not take place ANYWHERE not necessarily in the wilderness or places of nature.Originally posted by Fatum:I'm not sure if it's really "advanced" knowledge ? ... I mean ... you throw away soap suds, but don't drink them eh .... ... and best of all ... the quarry's an enclosed body of water ! ... that's more than a lack of cow-sense, that's just pure stupidity ! ... and being city folks' no excuse in my books ! ... one doesn't have to be crocodile dundee to figure something like that out ...
While soap, gets 'washed away' so fast people THINK it doesn't matter, until it is too late. The pollution its not something immediate that they can SEE.
Also people 'associate' soap with 'cleanliness' that it is hard to imagine that stuff like toothpaste, soap, shampoo can pollute as much as toxic waste - as long as it doesn't belong there to begin with.
But there's a difference between people who don't know and people who do but don't care. I've met people who KNOW it and still furtively use soap and toothpaste etc and say nevermind - Simply because they managed to convince themselves - just me won't matter.
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I'm the living example of that ....Originally posted by the Bear:never underestimate the power of stupidity...
just like some fella thinks that if an athlete has a musclebound body, the athlete can consume more calories than he expends and still not grow fat
once upon a time I can eat with impunity ....
now that I'm desk bound ... I'm starting to get depressed looking at myself in the mirror .... -
oh, btw ... those expensive bottles of bio-degradable soap sold under brands like MSR pollutes too ...Originally posted by ShrodingersCat:advanced as in compared to littering ba. Because littering is something that should not take place ANYWHERE not necessarily in the wilderness or places of nature.
While soap, gets 'washed away' so fast people THINK it doesn't matter, until it is too late. The pollution its not something immediate that they can SEE.
Also people 'associate' soap with 'cleanliness' that it is hard to imagine that stuff like toothpaste, soap, shampoo can pollute as much as toxic waste - as long as it doesn't belong there to begin with.
But there's a difference between people who don't know and people who do but don't care. I've met people who KNOW it and still furtively use soap and toothpaste etc and say nevermind - Simply because they managed to convince themselves - just me won't matter. -
oh.. actually.. think about this...
if you are an athlete and still do all your rigorous training, and you still overeat, you will still be fat
Sumo Wrestlers are living examples..
back to the topic... some people don't think at all... sadly, our society now almost celebrates ignorance... if i had a dollar for each time i was derided for thinking, i'd be richOriginally posted by Fatum:I'm the living example of that ....
once upon a time I can eat with impunity ....
now that I'm desk bound ... I'm starting to get depressed looking at myself in the mirror .... -
Yeah... we don't use that either. The folks I go camping with that is.Originally posted by Fatum:oh, btw ... those expensive bottles of bio-degradable soap sold under brands like MSR pollutes too ...
You just got to live with not being squeaky clean for a few days. It ain't that bad
if there's a water source you can go for a dip in (and pollute it with the sweat and dirty on ur body. Nothing more than other regular animals though)
But waaa.. in tropical weather, no water source nearby....
... it is good that NOBODY GETS TO BATHE. we all smell diligently like snake powder.
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uhhh.. fine sand is a pretty good cleaner
anyway, i don't get it either... you want to rough it out, yet you want to soap yourself??
maybe we can blame the ads on tv where the stupid woman shampoos her hair in a waterfall or something... you know.. you've watched the ad -
anyway, NUS or not, i've got to keep saying this:
never ever mistake education for intelligence -
well, here's a tip for cleaning up without soap or detergent ...
no, I don't mean your bodies, but the utensils and pots ....
I use a bottle of lemon juice concentrate ... together with a sponge, the acid in the lemon juice degreases utensils very well ... and it's 100% natural and organic .... -
Thing is.. for some people who have just been introduced to camping and all...Originally posted by the Bear:uhhh.. fine sand is a pretty good cleaner
anyway, i don't get it either... you want to rough it out, yet you want to soap yourself??
maybe we can blame the ads on tv where the stupid woman shampoos her hair in a waterfall or something... you know.. you've watched the ad
they never expected to be THIS far out of their comfort zone
It is a baby step for them to be already sleeping in the wild
but.. no bathing for a few days!!!??!!??
It is difficult. I remember occasions where I can't bathe, my hair is getting grimy from the oil and sweat, no water source and the humid tropical heat - and I ask myself - what AM I DOING HERE?!?!?! But eventually something always convinces me, its worth it
the temporary discomfort 
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Cool.. possibly it might work for the greasy hair too.Originally posted by Fatum:well, here's a tip for cleaning up without soap or detergent ...
no, I don't mean your bodies, but the utensils and pots ....
I use a bottle of lemon juice concentrate ... together with a sponge, the acid in the lemon juice degreases utensils very well ... and it's 100% natural and organic ....
HEEHEE... -
most guys already know that if they have been in a combat unit
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ermmm .... no .....Originally posted by ShrodingersCat:Cool.. possibly it might work for the greasy hair too.
HEEHEE...
it frizzes your hair .... too acidic ...
I haven't found anything for the hair yet .... but to me bad hair is like something to be expected when you're out playing in wilderness ... -
oh yeah and no much fine sand in our tropical jungles.Originally posted by the Bear:uhhh.. fine sand is a pretty good cleaner
organic rich dirt mud though.. there are lots. And no way am I going to risk grappling a handful of dirt with leeches in it. Its all I can about do to NOT think about leeches. I can't STAND THEM.
That's about where my comfort zone goes into siren zone. -
sigh expect it but not necessarily have to like it.Originally posted by Fatum:ermmm .... no .....
it frizzes your hair .... too acidic ...
I haven't found anything for the hair yet .... but to me bad hair is like something to be expected when you're out playing in wilderness ...
I cut my hair short once thinking it might be more convenient. Until I realise limp greasy SHORT hair is worse than .. limp greasy long hair that can be tied in a pony tail, clipped to submission and ignored hopefully till return to civilisation. No wonder NS guys all shave their heads. -
actually, i've always wondered.. are leeches edible?
if so, what do they taste like?Originally posted by ShrodingersCat:oh yeah and no much fine sand in our tropical jungles.
organic rich dirt mud though.. there are lots. And no way am I going to risk grappling a handful of dirt with leeches in it. Its all I can about do to NOT think about leeches. I can't STAND THEM.
That's about where my comfort zone goes into siren zone. -
shro cat, teachers and principals who go for lectures/courses etc also litter the venues with used tissue, empty water bottles, sweet wrappers etc. I kid you not.
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That reminds me of the twits who feed monkeys and mishandle wildlife at Chek Jawa.
I wonder what's happened to the standards of parenting and schooling in non-academic areas. -
hey.. whatever happened to the mantra:
take nothing but photographs, leave nothing but footprints -
well ... they make a great fishing bait ... so I reckon they'll be edible ? ...Originally posted by the Bear:actually, i've always wondered.. are leeches edible?
if so, what do they taste like?