Vietnam - Mount Fansipan

 

Asia trek is not about stamina or determination. Rain is a killer... it makes the  path muddy and slippery. Sometimes, I need to be on my 4 to to crawl under the tree trunk, grap the roots or bamboo to pull myself over big rocks and trunk, etc. And at the end of the day, all the dirt goes right into the nails and no soap can help.

For 3 nights, I was sleeping on cold hard rocky ground.... it takes me a month ++ to recover from the strain backache.... I was pretty angry with the guard who didn't take good care of our welfare and safety, but at the end of the trip, he plead for our good feedback to get him better bonus from his agency. We did and updated the survey form as according to his preference.

This is a awesome shot. Water dew on spider web, among the leaves. These droplet looks like flowers from far. Nature is amazing!

Relaxing treat in Phuket

Is back at Phuket for more luxury retreat. Holiday with sister is definitely better because we know what to expect instead of what to accommodate.

But I sense that she doesn't want to come for the holiday. Her heart is bonded to home...

Phuket Holiday with Colleagues

This trip is a first time of many thing:
First time ignoring my Country big occassion... it's President Election Day the day I set off
First time being disrespect... it's 金花姑 49th days the day I set off
First time going holiday with colleagues... colleagues is never categorise as friend after all these years
First time rented car on vacation and then got battery flat.... waited for hours before getting "jump start"
First time changing car tyre in a dark windy raining street, getting help from 3 drunk ang-mo without realising it... but all my colleagues sense it
First time staying in a bungalow where I can see the high tide to door step

Now, back to office and everyone is still in high spirit, planning for next trip and a BBQ session. I ignore all mails because I have piles of work to catch up.

Fail to achieve Rinjani again /(4th to 9th Aug)

Supposedly to go Rinjani from 4th to 9th Aug, but fell sick on the day before set off. On that day, I did a last minute packing and then took a cab to airport.... but did a U-turn back later. Slept for the whole day... but the next day, I still went to work.

Received a SMS from one of the Climber and heard that only 7 of them make it to the top.... feel so depressed. Why share such news with people who can't make it? Why these people so insensitive?

I don't care, I am going to Nepal. I am going Everest myself. I don't need companion, I just need determination. I realise that ever since the Everest, everything seems to be messed out. No interesting, fruitful trekking. I need to go back to Nepal to gain back that energy.

Gunung Panti

Due to the permit issue, this trip is organised again. It is not tough at all. I would think Datuk is tougher... maybe it is because for Datuk, we need to carry the tentage up for camping whereas this Panti trip, we just need 1.5 litres of water up. Leeches are everywhere and everyone got bitten, except a few of us. I would thanks sister for buying me the leather shoe.

Basically the team is easy going. Though a few prefer to form their own cling, but overall, it is definitely better than the recent Nepal trek. I will never never forget that terrible 2 weeks trek with those guys.

After trip

Spend almost 3k for a painful 3 days simple trek in Nepal.

Due to 'team spirit', the group remain stagnant at Namche for 3 days. It's also because of 'team spirit' that keep me trapped in Kathmandu for 4 days, just waiting for the team to be united again.

Send down by chopper is unneccessary. Only if I were to take a day rest at Dibochi, I would have fairly well recovered from my dehydration and continue to EBC... If only I did not lose the 2 days in Namche.

I do not want to be a lone ranger, but I am not sure when I became one. Everything starts smoothly... until the day we left Kathmandu to Luklas. I don't know when and what I did or say that makes them drift away from me. I must have done something which is wrong, but they never let me know. They are guys and yet they bear the words among themselves. "Team spirit?" A term which they picked to use at their times.

In the airport, they simply gather around and checked in themselves, leaving me behind dragging my big backpack. I have been travelling alone before and I can handle such times of being lone ranger... I don't care!

It will be last time I would go with people of different channel. Just wonder why a Singaporean Chinese meet another Chinese speak English, but a Singaporean Malay meet another Malay speak Malayu? Nepal is definitely a trekking place which I should go alone, with no friends. It's either I or she/him is a burden to each other. Investing such a great amount, going to the summit or high pass must definitely be achieved. This time will also be the last time that I failed to make it to Nepal summit or high pass. 

Nepal Trip III - Mount Everest Base Camp

This time I finally got someone to conquer Nepal together. Six guys and me. I know on the way, there will be many times when we won't communicate, but I just want someone to go along. It's funny that when the Chinese meet together, English is a common language, but when the Malay comes together, there is always 2 different channels

Actually, it could be quite stressful to go with them. Everyone has bought expensive gears. To me, this is a once every 3 years activities, why get somethings that will not be useful anymore on the next return. Moreover, why buy things that need space to store... for 3 years

Itinerary
27 March -Day 01 Singapore – Kathmandu (1 night in Thamel) Pre-Trip meeting and Welcome Dinner.
28 March -Day 02 Kathmandu Fly to Lukla (2804m) trek to Phakding (2600m) – 35 min/3.5hrs
29 March-Day 03 Phakding trek to Namche Baazar (3440m) – 6.0 hrs
30 March-Day 04 Acclimatization day in Namche Bazaar
31 March-Day 05 Namche Bazaar trek to Dole (4200m) – 6.5 hrs
01 April - Day 06 Dole trek to Machhermo (4500m) – 5 hrs
02 April - Day 07 Machhermo trek to Gokyo (4790m) – 6 hrs
03 April - Day 08 Acclimatization day in Gokyo- Climb up to Gokyo Ri (5483m) – 5 hrs
04 April - Day 09 Gokyo trek to Thangna (4800m) – 4.5 hrs
05 April - Day 10 Thangna trek to Dzongla (4800m) via Cho la (5300m) – 6.5 hrs
06 April - Day 11 - Dzongla trek to Lobuche (4900m) -4.5 hrs
07 April - Day 12 Lobuche trek to Gorak Shep (5200m) - walk Everest Base camp(5364m) -2 hrs/7 hrs.
08 April - Day 13 Gorak Shep –climbs up to Kala patthar (5555m) and descend to Pheriche (4200m) – total 8.5 hrs.
09 April - Day 14 Pheriche trek to Namche Bazaar (3440m) – 7 hrs
10 April - Day 15 Namche Bazaar trek to Lukla (2840m) – 7 hrs
11 April - Day 16 Lukla flight to Kathmandu transfer to hotel
12 April - Day 17 Free day 1 in Kathmandu.
13 April – Day 18 Fly back to Singapore.
14 April - Back to work.... definitely OT!!! I don't mind if things are completed for testing.

Sign 1: Flight to Lukla cancelled

Guess it's a sign that the trip would be an unsuccessful one, but I didn't get the hint. Flight was delayed for hours and finally cancelled for the day.

Sign 2: A sleepless night for the team

Spending our first night at 2000++ above sea level, Azmi (our medical supplier/nurse) cannot get use to the attitude and coldness. His room mates knocked on everyone door to seek help... only one door remain unopened and that's mine. Could this be the key factor that makes me a lone ranger later? If yes, then they are unaware that the pig sleep like nobody business.

Spectacular view of avalanche

On the way to Namche Basar, we heard an uproar of continuous thunder. Next, we heard people shouting "sliding". We run to the exciting point and in front of us is a white slow moving waterfall.

So, that is afterall not a frozen waterfall... felt betrayed by my AC porter guide.

Sign 3: Infection

One after another get sick. Azmi was frozen since the way up to Pakhding. In Namche Basar, Alan fainted and Helmit vomitted every night. We extended our acclimisation to 3 days 2 nights.

Losing my patience waiting for the team. Selfishness kicked in on the third day. Is the team going to move on? They sat together for tea break, played "Monopoly" together, crowded around during dinner time... I felt so outcast.

On the last night in Namche, I got flu and sore throat. Guess I have over expose myself under the windy cold sun... the group is enjoying themselves. I just need to go far away from their laughter.

Hope tomorrow I will recover. It's just another 7 days to go.

Sign 4: The group split

After much discussion among themselves, 3 guys decided to go down. We bid one another goodbye with blessing. They hugged one another but I stayed far from that.

Continuing our way up to EBC, Alan is always very fast. I was pretty worry that I can't catch up with them.... though I have done AC before. After lunch, I seek Alan to walk slower but not behind me. He gets impatience with my definition.

Yes, I want to go to EBC... but I don't want to go with teams of this attitude to me. Where is all the ang-mo? They are the best trekking company. I begin to miss my Helena and Marie... AC best trekking partners....

Chopper and me

It's a disasterous. I secretly take 2 sticks before setting off. The air is thin, but I just feel like having it. AC air is thinner and these 2 sticks won't do me any harm....

After walking less than 50m, trying to catch up with the pace of the team, I found myself get weak. Every step is so difficult to "push". Gradually, I see mountains, trees and walk path almost covered with snow. My heart told me to stop for a while. I sat down and closed my eyes: "a while, rest a while".

When I opened my eyes again, I can't see a thing. My world is in a white. "No! Get up! Push remember!" I tried but my body is too weak. I feel that my legs are being raised up high, giving me back soar. After a while, I heard my team mate voice: "Te! Don't sleep! Wake Up! Don't sleep!"  Next, I felt that I was carried to a grass area, I guess.

The first team mate I see is Aziz. I hold his hand tightly. I know I need time to move on, but I want them to continue. I hold him tightly: "Please move on"
"No worries. Don't sleep but take a rest"
"No! You all have to go EBC"
"Ok! Ok! We'll move on"

I don't trust him. I turned to call for Alan: "Don't worry. Don't worry". His answer sounds like we are all turning back.

I asked for Suhari, our team leader. Holding his hand, "Please move on, I want you guys to go EBC"
"Ok! Ok! We'll move on"
"Promise me?"
"Yes, I promise."
I stick up my last finger, "You promise?" We did the endorsement. Next, I asked for my bag and with my eyes still closed, I feel for the flag and passed it to him sadly. I can't move on and they have to fly our Singapore flag at EBC. I hate myself

The trekking doctor gave me 2 aspirin to ease my chest pain. I was then moved to a room. My eyes remain close but I know Alan is all the while right at my side. I have back sore and he pushed me side way to keep me balance.

"I want the team to move on!". That is what I care at that moment.

When the chopper finally arrived, I can feel that there is at least 6 people carrying me up and down the hill towards the chopper. Half opened my eyes, I saw Helmit and Garnesh. I know everyone has a hard time carrying me. I hate myself for causing the trouble.

Before the chopper door closed, I stopped them: "Chocolate is in my bag. The team need the chocolate". "It's ok! They don't need it"
When the door closes, I hug onto Helmit: "Sorry! Sorry!"

Helmit, Garnesh and me flied away... while the other 3 continue fighting their way to EBC.

Appreciate Singapore

Back in Kathmandu, never like this place. Full of vehicles noises, choking dusty street, disorganised broad crossing, people spitting and smoking, shop keeper splashing water every now and then...

No matter how many times I visited this place, I will always get lost. Wish to be in Singapore ASAP!!! Desperately, I went to travel agents and also do web browsing for cheap airfare.

Then, heard that the other 3 guys also turned back and I need to wait for 3 more days for them to arrive. I can't wait... but "team spirit" is their motto. I am not a lone ranger now... I just have to wait.

Dragon Boat at PA Sembawang Water Avenue

A different way of paddling on the water. Kayat is more of self leisure which I go according to my pace. Dragon boat is more cooperation job... but I doubt that the 2 guys (from the so-called dragon boat society) understand this basic logic

Different experience.... especially attending the activity with a China lady. Luckily, it is only a 3 hours thingy... I am almost drown in her repeatedly complains. It will definitely be the last time!

Cameron - Trans Irau Yellow Pass Camping Trek

Another camping trek after Gunung Datuk. It's a pre-training to Everest Base Camp, so I volunteer to carry the tentage. The group is small, initally 8 and after half a day it becomes 6. Three gals and three guys.

In fact it is a challenging trip and can be more enjoying if there is team spirit... very disappointed with the stupid guy who keep pushing us to the summit; another boastful guy who keep blah blah his trekking experience. The poor Germany guy is suffering with his height and big backpack. I really wonder why the people whom I go trek with is always carrying such a big bag. I don't run out of anything to borrow... so? what's hidden in their back pack?

Very unexpected experience. Need to go through mud swamp, crawl under branches, hooked up by thorn bushes, climb up the rocks, jump over fallen trees... a messy trek!

We didn't get to reach the Yellow Pass submit for the night camping. We were still in the forest at 11:45pm. Being worn up, we slept in the mossy forest, above the sloopy rocky ground. By the morning, we found ourselves gliding down, while the tent stay firmly where it was set up.  

Kayak in Sembawang

It's a 2 day course from 10:00 to 17:00pm. Learn different stroke of paddling and also practise the skill of being a victim, rescurer and rescurer assistant.  

The boy scotts was also attending the same course as us. We see a boy crying, refusing to go under the water, another boy refusing to pay attention, another boy stay stubbornly at the beach... but at the end of the day, they cling on and enjoy the lesson. This is a good training ground... and I see the patience of the instructor feeling proud when their boys completed the task of rescuing... A day of lesson.

I wish to take up the 2-star award, but my freckles are warning me... So, afterall I am still a vain girl.

Gunung Lambak

Initial plan is Gunung Panti, but at the foot of the hill was told that our permit is not approved. So, tour leader suggest for waterfall trek, but the "girly" trekkers prefer to take the dry road. In the end, we went to Gunung Lambak. Easy trek... Regretted! Should have go back to office to finish my testing.

Anyway, hope the follow up Cameron trip will turn good