After talking about it for so long, finally I’ve decided to drive over to Desaru – to be exact, Bayu Balau Beach Resort for a day’s stay. It’s about 50 minutes from home.
Hard to believe, the last time I visit this part of Johor was more than 15 years ago!
Last time I was here was in 2017-2018.
Usually, I prefer to take the public transport in Singapore due to convenience. But this one exception, I drove us in.
My second time playing foam darts, and first big game already!
The game is joined by players from Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan, Australia, and United States!
Some photos here:
First, how did I know this sport and get into this game?
After my last Airsoft MILSIM game in Thailand, I was connected to Amin Khairuddin, a mutual friend of Foo that accompanied me to the Thailand game.
Amin also stays in Johor, and told me of this NERF Foam Dart sport that’s been around for at least a few years in Malaysia and Singapore.
How is NERF Foam Darts different from Airsoft, Paintball and Gel Blaster?
Unlike the NERF Blasters that are seen in Toys R Us, these Blasters are a notch above, in that there are AEB (Air Electric Blaster) and Springer variants that can be tuned up.
These NERF Blasters also look a bit realistic to modern firearms i.e. can sport picatinny rails to mount optics. Though I think a red dot suffices; anything above 3x scope is excessive and adds needless weight to what is meant to be a light blaster.
Does it hurt? Nah, not at all compared to the above mentioned sports. Wearing a basic eye pro is good enough, and no need for full face concealment.
To give an idea, I’d rank the level of pain as follows:
Paintball > Airsoft > Gel Blaster > NERF
Will I buy my own Foam Dart Blaster?
I borrowed an M20 Loaner and 4 mags for the game, which is sufficiently good for nicking human targets.
However, I’m most likely NOT going to buy one. At least, right now. I don’t mind playing if I’m invited, but I’m not passionate to the point that I’d get a NERF Blaster.
Besides, for a foam dart shooter, these things are not exactly ‘cheap’. In Singapore, a well-modded Blaster can go for SGD6xx. Not to be penny wise, pound foolish, but I can think of more fulfilling purchases with that amount. But that’s just me. I might change my mind next time, who knows.
This was in the talks since end of December 2023. And here I was finally, 9 years later.
In 2015, I bought 2 properties (student hostel units) in Manila. I want to liquidate them, so I had to come over in person to sign some documents – which was done in just a couple of minutes.
Since I now stay in Johor, and there is no direct flight from Senai International Airport, I opted to go to Changi Airport, Singapore to catch a flight to the Philippines.
I took this opportunity to catch up with both friends and Clients at Changi Airport before I leave for Manila.
The Buyer / Seller meeting was held at the Holiday Inn Newport hotel, just 10 minutes walk from the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. And since it was done and dusted pretty fast, I pretty much chilled at the Newport Resort for the rest of the day and night, before going back to Singapore & Johor the next day.
First time at this particular game site, which is on a private property. Map is not that big, but deceptively hilly and the day was unusually hot.
Not really an eventful game this time around, so it wasn’t quite my day. At least, my toys are in working order after a recent round of maintenance.
