William Chong

Had a fantastic time orienteering at Eastern Beach, Macleans. All I’ve got to show for it this morning at work is a sore right foot, but I’m still buzzing from it. There’s just something about looking at a map, seeing a point on the other side of a river in the middle of the forest, knowing you have to get there as fast as you can, then just throwing all caution to the wind and trailblazing your way through trees and thistles and ouch-ouch-ouch-ouch-ouch -

Hurtling through the jungle bush was at times Tropic Thunder, at times Blair Witch Project – paths and walkways are so last season. The most nailbiting moment for me would have been stopping at an uncomfortably high ledge with a creek running through below, and seeing the control point I needed to reach at the other side of the 2 to 3 metre-wide abyss.

It seemed insurmountable; I hesitated.

Risk of injury. I’ve come this far.
Looks like a gorge. Need to be somewhere in 10 minutes.

I suddenly found myself lunging (a la school athletics) over the creek, tumbling into the mud on the opposite side, and scrambling up the hill in triumphant exertion. I think courage whispered in my ear that beautiful summer’s day.

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I actually came 3rd on Course 3! Which was funny because in my opinion, Course 3 would have been just as difficult (if not more so) than Course 2.

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Now that the halfmarathon‘s over, there’s a temptation to just slouch back and relax as summer 08/09 rolls in.

But that wouldn’t be very fun, would it?

The 21st Auckland Orienteering Summer Series has started up again for the 2008/09 season. For those who don’t remember orienteering as one of their childhood camp activities, orienteering is a sport where you find your way across unfamiliar terrain with the help of a map and your sense of direction. The aim is to find all the control points on the course in the shortest time possible – and track back and forth across any one of the beautiful parks, forests, suburbs of Godzone in the process!

Last year I gave a couple of events a good go, and loved it. I think it’s being amongst the sights and sounds of Auckland parks in a totally refreshing way that’s most rewarding. Add to the fact that you actually get to see more of places like Cornwall Park, Eastern Beach and the Domain than you usually would if it was just a leisurely weekend picnic at the BBQ areas.

I think I’ll try my best to make this Wednesday’s event at Western Springs (will be my first time there!) – after being sick for the most of last week I’m raring to get running again!

Take care everyone, and if you’ve had exams I hope they all went well!

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Korean plums. Hot bubble milk tea. Blogging at work. Life is a diaspora of edible things and credible thoughts.

On Wednesday I had the misfortune of rolling my ankle while running down a hill searching for the next control. I managed to still lose to Leo, but Jared and Kristy tried out o’teering for the first time, which I think they enjoyed.

Went to Alicia’s birthday bash at Sixth Sense - being sociable, catching up with other people. Rainbow decided she wouldn’t like to be a flight attendant now that she’s been unsuccessful twice. Logan’s at animation school, May’s in her job for the benefits, and Joel wore a half-cowboy hat.

Paperclip was good – just sat around and chatted with Sonny and Dennis. One of the things about working as a writer is that you’re in mostly solitary mode through the week, except for the odd meeting or chat. So scheduling time to see friends and family is still paramount.

My dad came and went this time round. It’s good that we’ve moved on from our previous misunderstandings about his not-so-new relationship with Jennifer, and in any case life just goes on. I think the struggle now is trying to fathom why my mother doesn’t burn in my heart as strongly as before, and whether that’s a good or a bad thing.

2 years on and look where everyone is.

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Kelly O’Connor from the Rational Response Squad once said in a TV debate, “I’d rather go to hell than worship a megalomaniacal tyrant God.”

The last I heard, He took the fall for us – is that so tyrannical?

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You know,

I’ve been back in Auckland for two weeks. Settling into the double, no quadruple life as a medical writer, violinist, songwriter, and maitre d’ of the home (at least until Richard returns on the 24th.)

Some highlights:

• Running under an eclipsed sky in Cornwall Park, chasing for the control I need
• The dezoning nature of long summer evenings spent on a congested motorway
• Dinner dates with my sister over gentle Mando-pop
• Reading AJ Jacob’s interesting, thought-provoking Biblical living book (makes you question literalism)
• Friends and family, ebbing and flowing

Anyways, will try to update when I have the time. Not dead! Not dead!

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So I finished a week. After hours work so far has been pretty much zoning out, relaxing – by the time I’ve prepared dinner and taken a shower, it’s usually 9pm and not much time to do anything more than a little bit of a wander.

The news about Sir Ed came to Sydney pretty quickly. That was pretty sad, made me wish I could be in NZ if just for more solidarity. Also they have tourism ads for NZ here (100% Pure New Zealand). Feel a bit homesick pondering these things, but I’ll see how I feel after 2 more weeks.
I’ve also been navigating the Sydney public transport system. Took a train and a bus to get from work out to St. Josephs College near Tarban Creek Reserve. Sydney actually has suburbs! Orienteering is really cool here, their rules are slightly different and make you think more strategically (you choose your own route and get different points for different controls).  Feels like the Amazing Race a little bit, which I’d love to do someday.  Richard and I sometimes joke about it, considering some of the contestants in the Asia Edition really look like fish out of water!

On the way home on the bus, started chatting with a Nirish (Northern Irish, lol) guy called David. He’s been OE’ing and seeing the world for 3 months now on a round-the-world ticket. Amazing stuff, what freedom. But we had some company, which aside from work people is hard to find at the moment (though a relative of mine will be in Sydney on Sunday, so will see what happens from there).

Anyways, if I can navigate properly again, tomorrow I should be able to attend church at a place where John recommended.

But as for today… I’m doing the BridgeClimb.

Take care everyone!

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You’re standing in a patchwork of green hills. The mounds of grassy knolls and ledges surround you, dancing free and fondly in the light breeze.

*me-e-e-e-eh*

You’re looking around. The sky is clear azure, a few cotton-candy fluffs. You look at the sheet in front of you – stylised crosses and lines and contours telling you how steep the hill you’ve just climbed is.

*me-e-e-eeeh*

You’re trying to read your map as the sheep watch you with quizzical expressions. The sobering fact dawns on you that you have been racing through fields of poo in the past hour.

And you have been doing it willingly.

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How free I feel right now.