Recollections from the Gulf

Well, now that we've gotten used to the duty watch system means i'm gettin bored on watch. So i was just randomly thinking up stuff to keep awake, to prevent my Chief from picking on me, even though nothing i do will stop it. I'll just have to get over it, though i know it's pissing my ass off. I try.

So indeed the below are the what i managed to come up with over 2 watches.





In the wind I stand.
Under the blanket of stars.
The watch never tires.



Land aloft the sea.
A bird does not lay its eggs.
Liquid gold it hides.



There are eyes everywhere.
Watching. Or scanning.
There are lights everywhere.
Illuminating. Or searching.
There are dhows everywhere.
Fishing. Or waiting.


A cold moonless night
The gunmetal cover of darkness

Lazy sunbeams peek through the shades.
I lay ensconced in a world of dreams.

My world is a vivid green haze.
Lights of faerie fire dance wildly.

Awake, I reconnect my consciousness to the world.
Graceful, I skim the web like a playful sprite.

Captured as blips on the radar.
Like bugs in a web.

Unfettered, I walk the cyber pathways.
Enchanted, I enter the portal of fantasy.

Invisible chatter zoom from ship to ship.
Calm or agitated, yet all fast and furious.

I command Hermes at my fingertips.
Engaging strangers, engaging friends.

Sharks secure the barricade like weary watchdogs.
A mine, a fount of black liquid gold.

A wicked rhythmn snares my soul.
And I surrender my sensibilities for a night.

A chopper roars overhead.
Reluctant, I leave my trance.


Enjoy,

There lies a question.

Someone talked to me today

Him: So you extended your service for one year?
Me: Yeah, i already pushed back my studies for a year?
Him: Really? That's stupid
Me: silence

He had no idea, no idea how much i went through just to get my sad ass here. And now that we are all fighting that mental battle within ourselves when things get tough, this just had to sink it.

Not that i blame him, i just hate that sickening feeling, yeah simply because he's ignorant or inconsiderate, or just tired when certain things slipped his mouth for that matter.

And right at the time when i'm beginning to wonder if i made the right choice, i began to question myself, i felt doubt poison my mind. There is still a long way more to go. This is only the beginning.

It didn't hit me at first, then after awhile, the creep infested my mind. Vile and revolting. I don't remember feeling so poisonous in a long while. For a sick, sick moment, I relished the feeling. Then cast it away.

Things your mind do to you in a cage of a ship.

Oh, I saw dolphins the other day.
Loads of em.
For some reason, they don't really excite me to tell the tale anymore.

The Beginning of the End.

Alas, our tour of Bahrain has come to an end. It has been a good stay, wonderful food. Spent loads on merchandise. Like USD 115 Oakleys, a watch and a whole lot of other stuff. So far things have been going well, just that our departure has been delayed somewhat due to some issues, so we get to stay longer and that means spending more money, sigh.

On a more sombre note, this is just a reflection of what just happened, no details, just go figure.

R.E.S.P.E.C.T

That has always been a touchy subject in the forces. Punishments are imposed immediately upon any breach of such. I understand it being discipline, but overdoing it makes us look pompous.

Down from the lowliest of the low to the king of kings, honestly, paying of such compliments being demanded as the law cheapens its intended purpose of paying respects, it simply becomes an aesthetic gesture.

I dont see how a senior officer should demand compliments more than a junior officer should. After all, who we are saluting is the President who bestowed the rank upon the officer and not the officer himself. Regarding the seniority of the officer it should be reflected in the behaviour of one interacting with said officer and not purely in the gesture of an empty salute or bland greeting.

Ultimately, respect needs to be earned and not given purely by virtue of one's rank or establishment, it's more of working to earn that respect due you. It's rather depressing that a some people are still subscribing to such a superficial mentality.

A senior officer demanding compliments VS a senior specialist who works to earn said respect.

I'll give it to the one who earns it.

A foreign land

A foreign land.
A land scarred barren with a khaki blanket.
A scorching and stifling land.

Welcome to Naval Support Activity Bahrain (NSA).
A U.S.N Military Base in Bahrain.

Hola to all of you.
I've just landed my first toes on Bahraini land yesterday. Things have been crazy, so has the satellite. Apologies for no calls and no emails and no updates. I'll bring you up to speed. We arrived in Bahrain yesterday, we've already been in her waters for quite awhile, just that port clearance took eons and Arabs are usually more liberal with their time.

Anyway, the weather here SUCKS. Singapore is PARADISE. One day we were sailing and the night winds were chilling, the very next day it was like sailing into a heatwave. I often wonder how i managed to survive under my helmet and anti-flash gear for so long, its a constant 38 - 42 degrees here. It's hot hot HOT!

So far it's my second day of liberty, the first day wasn't much cause most shops were closed when we arrived, and it is Ramadan period now, so that means fasting from sunrise till sunset. Bahrain will revive again after sunset. So now, i'm actually inside the U.S encampment NSA, it's sorta like a R&R area for the military, and the only place alive in Bahrain during Ramadan. Gonna go out and explore Bahrain soon, it's almost sunset. Gonna look for decent oakleys, cause the heat is ridiculous.

Hikari

Lights. If i had the time. If i had the luxury. I would gladly write a poem in awe of nature's beauty like dear Coleridge would. I miss poetry. Yes, i have seen the endless seas. Yes, i have witnessed brilliant sunrises and sunsets. Yes, i have stood through the misty rains. And yes, i have seen the sky painted with stars.

But tonight was different. I saw lights in the ocean. Little blips of blue green orbs, everywhere. It was like fireflies, in the ocean. And as the ship plows through the ocean, majestic waves white waves are thrown side to side. As the crests of the waves break, it bursts into life with a bright luminscent glow, as if burning as brightly as it can before it expires into nothingness.

And there i stood, utterly mesmerised, i simply stared, and admired the naked beauty of nature. It was as if the ship was sailing on a bed of stars, ruffling them as we go by, like we are sailing through the skies... No words are adequate description.

Did i mention we saw whales? And flyin fish skittering across the ocean? A story for another day =)

Lost at sea.

So many things are goin on now at this time. I'll admit i'm in quite a mess. Watch duties are due in about 8hrs time. The official watch duties are comin in soon. I managed to get into youtube somehow. Listenin to Paige Williams - So Much More.

It's gettin hectic. Drills. Gunnery work. Watch duties. Stress. It's all takin a toll. And it's only like 8 days? I've lost track of time. Things are really gonna go up one notch now. I'm not broken yet. Not by a long shot. No. It's just that ... I can't place it, it's so many things that i'm feelin. Yeah, i'm missing the life back in Singapore.

Perhaps i just need more sea breeze to blow it all off. Bask in the moonlight and a sea of stars.

Anyway, we'll be calling to port in Bahrain soon, can't say much about it, hope it's gonna be fun, yeah, i can't wait to get off the ship. The routineness is really gettin to everyone, it's pretty scary to see sparks fly from the most unexpected of people. I pray i'm not one of those.

So many things are reminding me of so many other things, it's like a jab of heartache every now and then. There's that nagging feeling at the back of my head, i just can't put my finger on...

Listenin to Disturbia

Rihanna's my best friend this trip man. I'm hooked, i'm listenin to her at every turn. Hah, as i said before the sea is indeed gettin alot worse now. People really can't stand still heh. I just had firing the day before, it was alright. I think it's really all about managing stress and confidence. Somehow the firing tested my nerves, how i must be able to pin it down when needed and not fumble on the job, coz if i fumble, it's not just my life at stake... That is a chilling thought. So i guess i'll take this time before we begin proper to prepare.

It's been almost 5 days, it's the 5th day now. No, homesickness hasn't kicked it yet, not for a long shot, but tempers are already flaring, fuses are burnt. It's scary, but it's cold hard reality and it tests us and most importantly myself to be able to handle it. Be it calming the related people or takin someone else's wrath. It's chilling how primal us humans can get when it comes to the basest of our emotions.

I should prolly get going. It's dog watch now.

The High Seas

The floor is never stable onboard a ship, now i know what that means. And its gonna get worse, might have been fun for the moment but not when u start to feel a little top heavy in the HEAD department. Yeah, i'm missing everyone back home, missing all the crazy things we used to do. It might be a little quick for all these homesick talk, but if i don't say it now, i might not have a chance to use the coms when EVERYONE else starts feelin homesick, which is like a hundred over other people.

Otherwise its been a good sail. The open sea sparks of freedom, such pure unadulterated freedom. It's rather ironic that we are stuck onboard a ship... I shall share some nice expressions of sunrises and sunsets if i see some and put them in words as best as i can, coz i can't do any media transfer here...

Now, its about time for dinner. And i'm drained.