Jest Camp Amazing Race

A couple of weeks ago, Aileen (owner of Lens and Beyond) asked me if I would like to be her partner for an Amazing Race kind of event. I thought, “well sure, this is just some running and tasks anyway. She can always do the high end things since I am scared of heights.” 

 

As of this writing, I still don’t know if saying yes was the smartest thing I ever did.  

Yesterday saw me leaving the house at 330am. I had no sleep since I watched ABBAMania with family at Island Cove and since we got home late, I decided that sleeping and waking up in 2 hours would not be a good idea. 

Now we had a set deadline. We had to be at the venue by 545am or else the ride leaves us. At 5:17am, I was still in a bus in Cubao. I had to make a decision. I went down and took a cab. By 5:29am, I found myself at our 1^st pit stop.  

Since I was 16 minutes early, I got food from Jollibee and ate at a very fancy place, the back of the L300 that would take us to Subic. Thankfully, it was dark and I really just didn’t care if someone saw me.  Haha. 

Finally, we were on our way and most likely, due to adrenaline rush or we were just plain crazy, none of the 3 of us actually slept on the way despite the fact that all 3 of us had no sleep.  I myself kept talking and talking and talking and in a way, I know it was to get rid of all the nerves that were piling up since it was a first for me to join an Amazing Race kind of thing. 

First task: Dive for 10 coins with the year 2013 in 6 feet of water. 

OH MY GOD! I don’t know how to swim! Eeeekkk! 

My partner said I had to do it because she did not know how to go underneath the water. I said I did not know how to swim but she already went to the other side. I figured, they wouldn’t let me drown anyway so I jumped into the pool after taking off my shorts and socks and shoes. 

Big mistake.  It was 6 feet of water and I almost drowned. I had to remember everything the funny man told me before to ensure I’d float again. After many begging and pleading, they moved the coins towards the 5 feet area which was still hard because we had to go under so many times just to get a coin and then you get one and its not 2013. #$%^&*!

After what felt like forever, I finally charmed my way into getting 10 pieces of 2013 coins. I got out of the pool and then proceeded to change shirts as part of the instructions. I actually changed my shirt around the poolside. Yep, I had my porn star moment LOL. 

 

Second task: We were given Php40 and were told to look for a white caravan to get to our next destination: A jungle with a bird. 

We actually got a little lost while looking for this. We initially thought that it was a car that would take us there but it turned out to be those jeeps that were white. Now there were also cabs but since we only had Php40 and the cab cost Php120, I went around dancing, singing, and begging for money.

Yes, I begged for money in Subic and I danced and sang my way doing it. I got more than Php100 for my act though. Haha. 

Third task: Find an egg.

It sounds easy but it actually isn’t. You see, we had an entire “jungle” to go look for an egg and some of the eggs found had no clue inside it. Ugh. 

Finally, Aileen found it and off we went to the most disgusting task. 

Fourth task:  Eat 3 live words for sandwich and juice. Eat 5 live worms for chickenjoy and juice. 

It was Aileen’s turn and it was a revelation. I thought she would breeze through it but apparently, she has never eaten a live worm or anything alive in her entire life. I cheered her on, pushed, and short of eating the worms myself (I actually ate one for the heck of it. Looking back now I don’t know why I ate one.)  I could only push so far. 

After she ate all worms, we had to finish our sandwich and juice before we could get the next clue which happened to be a detour. I was the one in line and boy, was it a line I had to cross before we could move to the next level.

Fifth task: Cross the line in the aerial adventure and look for 3 small cubes of blue paper. 

This was beyond HORRIFYING! I am deathly scared of heights and this was my idea of a nightmare. I had to pass through not one, not two, not 3 but 6 aerial things. Ugh. Did I already say I was scared of heights?

I had to focus so hard that I didn’t even feel the scratches and bruises that I was getting from holding on to the ropes so hard. All I could remember was thinking that I could not fail because if I do, I would definitely fall and it would hurt a lot. Also, it was a pride thing. I promised myself that I would overcome fears this year and so I did. 

Sixth task: Go to the bird sanctuary and answer a question. 

This was a crazy one. Upon getting the question, I gave my answer but it wasn’t accepted. I apparently had to pretend to look for the answer inside and after a minute, I went back to the lady and gave her my answer.  She then gave the next and final task. 

7^th task: Build a fire using bamboo. 

This was tiring. It took so much energy and effort perhaps because we were already tired from running around for more than 4 hours. We were drained. When fire was finally built, all I could do upon getting to the pit stop was sit and nothing else. In fact, I sat there for more than 3 hours after. I was that tired. 

Overall, I am so amazed at myself for surviving. I learned how to swim by sheer force and wanting to not drown. I made friends even on a race. I overcame my fear of height momentarily and crossed all 6 aerial adventures. I ate a live worm. 

I SURVIVED. 

Now let me recuperate in peace.

before the game

after the game