Hi, I'm Gah Gee - Trip Leader for 2010 ODA 1st expedition…..
Thanks to ODA committees & advisor, assistant trip leader Chian nii, helped me on the trip planning…Thanks to Fu yaw , Chian nii, Bee Suan - Helped me to check the equipment and purchase gas.
Thanks to Siew ting on grocery.
Thanks our advisor & president - checked all my planning and guides me before until the end of the trip. ODA committees have their task in every expedition, and most of ODA committees are employer or employees who is busy as everybody too..…therefore, thousands thanks to ODA committees for helping in the whole expedition process.
To all the 2010 Datuk trip participants, thanks for participating in this expedition and posting blog on G.Datuk trip. Very Glad to hear that you all have fun on this trip although some is having "some feeling" about this trip.
I guess my task as Datuk Trip Leader isn't ended yet. It will be great if the question been asked during the expedition, which will be more effiecient as we can talk openly to clarify every questions - such as SDJ did not need to worry about whether is he offending anyone's feeling after he posted his blog???? Anyway, the 1st clarification to DJ ..... We hear your comments, for some good points, we absord it and continuos improve; We will forget on those irrelevant comments as well, don't worry about your comments that whether will offended any of the ODA and affected ODA's operation. "No matter what happen - "ODA trip is always ON, at least once a month for the past 5 years, and it will be continue to be that way for many years yet to come"
To clarify some of the "Question Feeling" express by our friend:-
For your information, ODA Trip Leader visible Task ->Trip planning, such as :-
a) Car arrangement and allocation
b) Meal Plan - Proper food to eat, based upon water resources, group size, gender in group, food quantity.
c) Trip Schedule - Schedle planning based upon group size, majorty is experienced hikers or 1st timer, duration of hours will be taken to complete each task such as hiking, cooking, setting up tents/flysheet, cleaning, clearing tents/flysheet.... all these need to take into consideration in order to ensure everything goes as planned, On Time, to be fair which without wasting everybody's time.
d) Tent Allocation - Based upon numbers of guys/gals we have in the trip and arrange enough tents for everyone. Carry extra is a waste, carry less is a pain when face bad weather.
e) Organize group items allocation - What is necessary to bring, what is luxury items should be avoid, fair numbers/weights of items for each group to carry and share out the loads.
f) Organize task to do for committees before trip, during trip, and after trip
g) registration at the Ranjer office.
Above tasks mention are some of the job a trip leader does. So maybe most of us do not see what a trip leader does during trip, which all the task is done before trip. And for group leader is guided their group members, to share out their skills with the group members, to ensure each group know "when, what, how" during the expedition. As what we see in this trip, most of the participants are 1st timer, therefore it is crucial for group leader to ensure their group process is accurate, proper and getting familiar with the RIGHT IDEA of mountain climbing/outdoor activity.
Trip Fee - Included transport from Setapak to Gunung Datuk both way, Entrance fees, Campsite fees, Meals in the Mountain, Equipments such as Gas, Dome, Gas Lamps, Groundsheet, Ropes, 1st Aids, Flysheet, Foils, Flysheet.
In fact, it is written in trip invitation on what is included for the trip fee. It is reasonable for SDJ to ask about the trip fee because this is his 1st time joining the trip and it is no suprise that he will be wondering and being sensitive with dollar and cents because it is relevant with his career as auditor.
The reason of after paid then only can know the trip schedule. Because in the trip schedule we included trip schedule, meal plan, individual items and group items to bring. After each participant paid then only trip leader can confirm on group size, how many is first timer, because the whole expedition process timing will be much more different than experienced participants, group size, quantity for each meal, items for each group....etc.
I believe that all of us will prefer received everything ONCE only and CONFIRMED trip planning more than keep on receiving different version of trip planning when there is new members add in.
For personal items such as clothes, pants, toothbrush, sleeping mat, sleeping bag. This is very personal items, I am sure nobody is willing to share out and ODA can't provide as well. Group items such as sugar, salt, shampoo, tooth paste we divide and bring some from among our group members, this is because we only used for one meal. Everyone is discussing about how to save the planet, recycling. As a educated person like us, combine each of us energy and spirit i am sure we will able to save the planet well just with little bit of self effort and sharing concept.
I think at lubuk petai nite, many participants didn't sleep well because of "bugs" ..that bugs we call "AGAS or sandflies". This is one of the most common insect in our jungle nowadays. This is something ODA can't do anything about it and I believe we can’t control the "bugs" not to come in jungle :P As trip leader and part of ODA, I can ensure that.... All domes other items we bring along is "pre-check, pre-clean" prior trip.
It is a new experience for me being as trip leader and being as dog's owner. First time bring my "Happy" to gunung datuk… he's just too excited and he has playful character when outdoor, sorry to cause uneasy moment for everybody. Feel glad to see some of the participants really enjoy having Happy along as well.
Prior expedition, I feel very exciting and worry…excited because I can meet with ODA again, we can’t meet each other often due to distance (KL, Banting, Batu Pahat). When we meet each other we always have a lot of things to chat, my apology to everyone that maybe Banting and Batu Pahat people always talk and laugh very loud...... Next time we will bring the remote control to tune down the volume....
As for Worry - It is because it's been very long time I didn’t be ODA trip leader, huge responsibility, wish to make sure everything been done accordingly and worry that majority is 1st timer....But finally everything goes smoothly and everyone reach safe… thanks god…
Lastly, share something to every new climber…Mountain climbing is a very good activity… I believe it and all oda members also agree with it...This is the reason we put our hearts and efforts on it..and we hope that we can share some experience and knowledge with everyone… we believe that 爱爬山的人都是好人。。coz we learned to accept, tolerate, appreciate, respect…we can realize our limitation and we able to identify our strength as well…Hope after this expedition , you all can learn something in mountain climbing…and Thank you all for sharing your excitements, positive energy with everyone in good manner and proper language. Looking forward to see you next coming trip.
Happy Chinese new year oo…
From, Gah Gee
