I woke up at 5 30am to start preparing for the strenuous day ahead!!! The room was extremely cold, as high up in the mountains, the tempurature will definately be colder then on the ground. After preparation, I woke Meow lin up and we started taking turns to use the bath room. At exactly 7am, we were all ready to check out of our room and leave our bags at the counter, as it will be too heavy to bring along for the climb. We also heard from some of them, that the water and lights were all not working in some of the rooms. So, we were very lucky to still have both the lights and the water working, but the sad news is, the heater isn't working!!! >.< After we had a simple breakfast, we headed off for the climb!!!
After breakfast, we gathered at the main lobby before the climb to prep us for the strenuous trip ahead. At just the main lobby, the temperature was already so low that, we can actually breathe steam for our noses and mouth. After the prep, we headed of for a short walk before actually reaching the starting point for our climb. It was very refreshing to be able to take a walk in the cold morning. At the starting point, the tour guide told us that this was only the beginning before a very strenuous climb, as the climb was actually many steps to overcome and that the whole process needs about 5 hours to the top and back down.
We started by having funny talks about the climb and took many amazing photos with the fog as the background. There were many steps down and it was not a good thing. It just meant that, on the return trip, we had more steps to climb =( My legs cannot take this. For the first few hundred steps, I was still feeling fine and ready to climb more!!! But after a few hundred more, I could not take it anymore and was ready to quit, so I told the girls to go on without me. But soon after, a fellow resident teacher from the university kept encouraging me to continue and that is was very near and we will be able to reach very soon. So, I felt more determined to make it up the mountain as we were very near. But after reaching the next resting stop, i realized that t was not the final stop and there were still a long way to go. So, i just sat at the resting stop and decide to slowly get up the mountain. After sitting for a while, Wei Qin joined me. as she is not feeling well too and she wants to take a short break. So, we asked everyone to move on without us and we headed up slowly by ourselves.
As the both of us were not feeling well, we took many short breaks during each few steps that we climbed, to prevent us from puking =( It was a very crowded day, as there were many tourist who were trying to get up the mountain to pray to the Daoist temple. As we were heading up the mountain, we saw many labourers lift chairs with tourist seated in them, up the mountain. =( This is extremely tough work, as some of the tourists are quite heavy and climbing up - hill is very tiring.
After climbing back to the starting line, we took 03 shots, without Fathullah. Sadded. =p We went exploring to some cliffs behind the shops and found a spot where the view is exceptional. And there are 3 groups within the 6 of us (without Fathullah); Hazel and I, Si Hao and Meow Lin and Noor and Eline. So, we took some photos and waved hello to the tourist above us. =)After exploring the unknown path, we went back to the hotel and grabbed our bags and took the shuttle bus down the mountain. When we reached the bottom of the mountain, we were already running late. So, we rushed to the resturant and had a very late lunch. It was actually the first time where we were eating at such a fast pace, unlike when we are dining in Singapore. After having the late lunch, we boarded the bus and had a 5 hour journey back to the dorm.
Reflection
Singaporeans are people who are laid - back and relaxed and like to take their time for perfection. While the Chinese are fast - paced, everything has to be done within the shortest time possible and it has to be done correctly. So, when we were late for the lunch and the bus ride back to the dorm, this irritates the chinese tour guides, as everything has to be done fast and efficiently. Therefore, we have to "do what the romans do", and be as quick as them, in order to show respect.
Loves, Charmaine
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