December 11, 2023

In this SailorFanTalk special, we have a guest writer, Ernest Cheong! Ernest joined The Crew and SailorFanTalk in Korea for our clash against Jeonbuk last month. Here he writes about his positive experience and why he believes more should join in and lend their support to the Sailors #allhandsondeck Once Upon a Time Once upon a time, there was a lone man on a deserted island. He would watch the seafarers from afar, intrigued by their bravado and vigour when they sat sail on their voyages. He could see them even from his lonesome abode, for the sea was vast and wide. It represented the unknown, both the waters and the humans who navigated it. You see, the man had never once left shore, worried about the uncertainties out there.  One fateful day the man spotted an abandoned raft that had washed ashore, it bore the same insignia of the ships he had been in awe of. Curiously, a note was intact on the interior of the waterborne craft: “Ahoy stranger! Consider this an invitation to set sail with us on an adventure of a lifetime. Now the tide is too shallow for us to reach your residence, take this raft and come aboard to experience the thrills of sailing with us!” The man was confounded – his curiosity had been noticed by the seafarers after all. Perhaps there was something out there for him other than his life of solitude. Thus the man left the island on the said raft, into the vast unknown. The ship was not hard to spot, the crew were expecting his arrival. Nearing his hosts, however, his anxiety took over – what if his sea-legs did not work, what if he would not belong among this trope of experienced sailors?  The man went aboard the ship with conviction. To his pleasant surprise, the seafarers were not unlike him. They were once all island-dwellers like him, curious about the wonders out there. Each took a plunge and eventually formed a community of explorers. Inspired, the man and his fellow crew set sail for new lands, recruiting new like-minded individuals. The island days soon became a distant memory. Back to the Present That was an elongated figurative account of my experience meeting the Crew, but what an adventure it has been. It isn’t everyday you take the plunge to go overseas with strangers you’ve never met.  We travelled 4521 km to Jeonju, South Korea, to support our beloved Sailors for their ACL match against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, but that wasn’t all that transpired. The Crew felt like family – we didn’t just bond over football.  This was a group of passionate people from different walks of life that banded together on a chilly night in Jeonju. Though the match result wasn’t to be, we made sure we did not let ourselves down with the boisterous support we displayed. The First Meeting The vibes were immaculate the moment I met The Crew for the first time at Changi Airport Terminal 3. I’m not exaggerating – I tend to sit alone or with my own group of football kakis during LCS games. This was my first time interacting with the ‘Ultras’, and my only regret is not taking the initiative to do so earlier. I am fortunate to have been chosen by the club for this particular expedition – it was actually my second attempt nominating myself. Eddy was the one who encouraged me to try again. Frankly if it wasn’t for that, perhaps I wouldn’t be here sharing my experience with all of you.  Anyway, we collected our complimentary gift bag which included the ACL meal tee (how thoughtful of the club), took a few pictures for the club’s socials, checked in and had some time for ourselves before the flight. It took no time at all to warm up to my new acquaintances – again, the vibes were immaculate. Before long we were chatting away, and the smaller group I was with barely made it in time for boarding! It was a 2:45am flight, so once we got on the plane we knocked ourselves out. We had a long day ahead. Arrival in Korea After a flight where I could barely sleep, we touched down in Incheon and were greeted by our amazing guide Sujin. We were advised to pack some refreshments for the 3.5hr transit to Jeonju, and soon after we were on our way. I remember marvelling at the Incheon Bridge, a 21km cable-stayed bridge connecting Yeongjong Island to the rest of the cities. It gave us magnificent views of the Korean Peninsula and that was the first time it truly clicked in – we are finally here in Korea to support our Sailors!  Now the coach ride was where things became interesting. You wouldn’t believe it, but many of my core memories of the trip were from the time we spent traveling between places. We made full use of the microphone onboard, playing ice-breaker games that honestly were less cheesy than expected. We also recorded ourselves trying to sing parts of Korean songs – we were in Korea after all! There was a great enthusiasm on show, despite the long flight, and looking back it set the precedent for the amazing 3 days we would spend together. We stopped by a local rest stop along the highway. This might not sound like much but it was jam-packed with amenities. In Singapore we have petrol stations, but in Korea we have establishments with multiple food courts, eateries, convenience marts and the like. This was a proper mall.  We stepped out into the cool air, the seasons were still changing and the temperature was just right. The rest stop served as the first time many of us tasted authentic Korean food, and though it was not extravagant, I am sure the travelling party enjoyed our first meal together.  The rest of the way to our hotel was largely the same, we even had time