This was the most anticipated Airsoft event of the year for me. I flew to Bali, Indonesia to join the 3 day event, in what would become Indonesia’s first ever national Airsoft tournament.
Although I came alone from Malaysia, I would join up with two other members to form our 3-men team. Malaysia, Netherland, England… truly a multinational team indeed!
The format of the tournament is a 3 vs 3 match. We had advanced to the final day before we got eliminated, but for a team formed on the spot, using borrowed guns (in not so good condition I must add) and that half of the 23 teams present at the tournament are Special Forces, Regular Army and Police… I’d say we did a good job overall.
The organizing of the event still has a lot of room for improvement; each day would begin rather late in the afternoon, and with no strict schedule to adhere to we would wait for hours before our next match – and each match would end in minutes.
Even though we won no medal, I still took back a collection of team patches from the event, because I always make it a custom to exchange team patches with every team I come across.
My collection swelled yet again… and it is still my dream to get in US and Europe team patches into my collection!
First Airsoft game in Thailand, and after years of watching videos of zombie scenarios on YouTube this was also my first Zombie game ever!
The premise of the day-long MILSIM is shooting up bad guys who were doing some zombie experimentation – who in turn showed up at the later part of the day and night.
(Learned some of the ‘terrorists’ were Thai Police, which explains their skilled shooting – if it were real war, I would’ve died way back at the lake from the first stage, lol)
It is a shame indeed that despite bringing 2 GoPro cameras, I spent more time adjusting them than full immersion – or rather focused on shooting back. Hope there are better videos and pics to be collected soon.
About a dozen participants with a mix of experienced airsofters and some first-timers.
Weather was hotter than in Malaysia; I stripped my uniform along the way as time went on.
Airsoft guns used are WE M4 GBBR with the exception of the M60 AEG, which I used briefly too.
I’ve also learned to be more… understanding of ‘stupid’ characters in zombie shows. You know, those guys who stand around to be eaten and you wonder why they don’t just run away.
Because there’s fatigue, reloading isn’t as easy as in the video games, rounds are limited (all guns are gas blow back) and throw in panic, confusion, and duller sense by night… I was this close to become zombie food, lol
Check out the video here:
All in all, it was good fun!
There’s a lot of potential and possibilities for the Zombie MILSIM game to expand. I suggested to the Organizers at SIAM MILSIM to perhaps consider a survival scenario next bout with more zombies, and less ammo. That will put everyone in the REAL test for wits… and yeah, have the zombies run too!
Worth the trip to Thailand for a unique experience which I don’t have to fly to Europe or US to get. I might come back again if the scenario is unique and I’d like to come with friends next bout.
January 24 & 25. To think I almost didn’t make it here, and I thought I won’t come to this particular place again – at least not so soon!
I’ve enjoyed the 24 hour Airsoft MILSIM with you guys in Indonesia and of course learning your culture and way is as eye opening (or should I say, ‘tongue-piercing’? lol)
Thanks again my Indonesian comrades and the leaders behind FEDERASI AIRSOFT INDONESIA for your hospitality, friendship and teamwork. Also good to know I still hold the honor of being the only Malaysian to make it to your games so far – though that will change in a few month’s time.
I didn’t want to announce this until I was sure it was complete – and here it is! During the Raya season I collaborated with a group of friends to direct and produce a short action film of our own.
Presenting… HVT Run!
Behind The Scenes And Bloopers:
In 2011 and 2012, I made two attempts to put out a short action film for the fun of it. Even though we shot the pre-production footages – painstakingly – they never got past post-production because we were hinging our hopes on one guy to do it… and well… he sucks balls.
That was in spite of working with the likes of Dan Khoo, Joseph Germani and JinnyBoyTV on the second round and at the time, it seemed so surefire that the short action film will be out.
I was upset about it though I know that the opportunity will come again, and I will do it myself when I meet the right group of people and find someone reliable to do the post-production, even if it means paying my way through for a non-profit film.
And I finally did this time!
So in more ways than one, I feel accomplished that the completion of this piece has redeemed me of my past failed attempts, YES!
It’s not without its mistakes but then again, which movie makes no mistakes? Haha!
I look forward to making more like this in the near future, when I am not working. 🙂
Since I had to come to Indonesia to meet my IM associates in Jakarta and Bandung, I figured I might as well spend the weekend and experience Indonesian MILSIM for the second time. In the first 24 hour game last year, I fell sick later at night so I missed half the fun so I was determined to see myself through the rest of this 24 hour airsoft game.
My first stop was in Jakarta to meet Dee Ferdinand and his Calibreworks team and I spent my first 4 days here. Also got to check out the airsoft stores at STC Senayan Mall.
While there are more variety of military gears and clothing here compared to Malaysia, the prices are very expensive! It’s still better to buy your stuffs online – or go on a shopping trip in Hong Kong.
BTW this picture you’re seeing now? Those aren’t airsoft guns; they are Air Guns (yep there’s a difference). Shoots their own custom pellets, designed for small game hunting and if uses against human targets it can prove to be lethal too.
Not only are these air guns being sold openly, apparently you don’t need to have a permit to use them! As long as you have a ton of cash to spend – and A LOT OF IT.
On Saturday, I met up with one of the airsofters from Palembang, Dovi Spectrum, at the Jakarta airport and we both took a cab to the game site at Yonif 320 Badak Putih in Banten, which is 2 1/2 hours away from the city.
We arrived at about 10 in the morning and registered ourselves. On first impression, I think this MILSIM experience is going to be better than the last already!
While waiting for the rest of the players from all around Java to show up, the badasses of Yonif 320 treated us to real steel shooting. 🙂
Eventually, all the teams showed up and there were 130-140 players total participating in the weekend game.
I am beginning to catch onto Indonesia’s MILSIM tradition and format of the game; they started off with an opening ceremony – the regular army of the camp (Yonif means “battalion infantry”) would officially give permission to the Airsoft organization – Federasi Airsoft Indonesia or F.A.I. – to use their premise for war games (another synonymous term for ‘airsoft skirmish’).
After the ceremony, everyone had a quick lunch and the first day game begins. This would go on until evening when everyone rests, have dinner, and enjoy ourselves at a mini carnival.
Night game resumes at 10:00 PM until 5:00 AM. And I must say, the best part of the MILSIM was the night game!
Flares and explosives were shot every now and then throughout the night to illuminate the fog of war and as a bonus, add to the ambience LOL This time, I stayed throughout and I give myself a pat on the back for this 🙂
The next morning, everyone packed up, exchanged our badges and honors, take more team photos and then parted ways for our own destination. Oh yeah, I even got to shoot their Pindad SS-1 assault rifle – the standard issue weapon of Indonesia’s regular army:
Overall it’s been a great 24 hours of fun at the camp – and a great way to start the middle month of the year. 🙂 Besides the airsoft games, we got to shoot real steel, even get to have a mini carnival and the night game experience so far is unbeatable by my previous experience.
You are looking at my biggest badge exchange so far… and this is just teams from all around Java section of Indonesia!
Some more pictures from the event:
Thanks Federasi Airsoft Indonesia for inviting me to this event and even gave me a souvenir just for coming from Malaysia; the Badasses of Yonif (Batalyon Infanterie) 320 for letting us use their base camp and even their guns to shoot real steel!
At the speed and progress you guys are making now, I won’t be surprised you can host the biggest Airsoft event in 2016 on Asian or worldwide level. Take that to the Guinness World of Records!
Oh and now I got a new goal: to get badges from US or European airsoft teams next!
