Salam Merdeka Malaysia ke 63!

To all my readers out there ( honestly i dont think people read blogs anymore.. haha especially the erratic ones like mine nowadays!) 

MALAYSIA DI HATI!!

Since the MCO has been extended till the end of 2020, i would reckon there will be no more overseas trip for me this year! Luckily had mine in January and February... 

But Insha Allah, there will be summit to be reached in 2020 :)

Sapa, Lao Chai, Vietnam

Sapa is a nice town for holiday i must say. Being at 1300m above sea level, one can imagine a cooler weather than normal sea level weather. And Sapa being at a different longitude will certainly make the weather more breezy than normal. 

 SAPA is doable on foot; more so if one rents a motorbike to go around. Its fun to explore areas where you can't reach easily especially overseeing the vast view of the rice fields along the terraced hills:) 

We had 2 days in Sapa and we went on top of Nui Ham Rong - Ham Rong peak. The weather was superb as we could see the whole of Sapa with the clouds being the roof of any picturesque view. The only downside is Halal food. There is not much choice but at least there are a handful of places that we can go to. Coffee is also good with all the ciche cafes around town. I dont quite enjoy the egg coffee but at least I've tasted it.

The Maong Valley

top of Hung Rong

egg coffee..yucks

merempit

I do recommend this place for a short holiday overseas in ASEAN. I would love to come again and perhaps enjoy the serenity of the town one fine day. 

Top of IndoChina 17 February 2019

Fansipan 17 February 2019

Fansipan Roof of IndoChina 3

Dinner was good despite being full vegetarian menu. The tofu and the vegetables were fresh and the way they cook dinner was perfect. Everybody ate well, not too sure if it was the tiredness but everybody complimented on the cooking. The temperature was single digit but the soup and aroma of the food made the body warm. 

As how the weather forecasted it started to rain heavily at 10pm. We were all ready to sleep after chit chatting in the dark then suddenly the guide came in. He wanted to fix an extra layer of ground sheet because the roof will leak because of the heavy rain. I was thinking that probably we will delay the hike. We were expecting to leave at 3am and reach on top at about 5ish - just nice for the sun rise. But because it was raining, conditions maybe hazardous. Visuals are bad too due to the fog and rain.

At about 4am, it was still raining and the guide woke us up for breakfast. It was equally good too! Certainly opened up my eyes :) It was very cold and we then moved at 530am when there was light. 

The trek was slippery and visuals were limited. The fog was really thick and we trekked just following our feet. Theres a good part and bad about it. There were few segments which was dangerous; we needed to use ladders and ropes which were already attached. The rain made things slippery so we had to be diligent and careful. I enjoyed the trek so much.

                                                                  My Bear Grylls pose

                                                                      light but foggy

It was such a relief when we finally reached the cable car station. At this point it was mid morning and hundreds of people are getting ready to reach the peak. The Vietnam authorities have made the place to be a tourist attraction. There is a huge Buddha which was built for prayers as well. It was all steps (like Batu caves) all the way to the top. The weather was not good - it was drizzling and the fog was really thick! 

I had a sudden urge of energy (after switching on my phone haha) that i raced up to the top. Memang i just climb and climb the stairs without stopping. Geram! And reached the top at about 0850! mak ai.. by that time dah ramai gile orang! Everybody was rushing to take their picture with the pyramid :) Yes.. Fansipan! Roof of IndoChina 3143m!!

Fansipan Roof of Indochina 2

Mt Fansipan is the highest mountain in Indo China. 3143m above sea level. It is situated in Lao Chai province in the town of Sapa 1500m above sea level. Of course since 2016 there is a cable car that can bring you straight near the peak; as a climber it would be more satisfying to trek up as the wonders of outdoors is still intact in the jungles of Vietnam.

The temperature was chilly as it reached a single digit at night in Sapa. When i woke up in the morning, the view was stunning and the smell of fresh air was certainly tantalizing. I was excited to start my trek and the group got ready by 8am. 

 We then went by van to the starting point to start our 5-6 hours trek. The weather was permitting ; definitely the best time to hike. The monsoon tropican jungle is very similar to our rainforest in Malaysia. But being in a higher altitude it was very refreshing and not too humid.

starting point

Van to ranger station

 The climb was slow and steady - the inclination rate was not too bad until the second half - we stopped for lunch before that at about noon. Wow, the trek became harder and because of my lack of conditioning, felt few strains on my thigh of near cramp! Ni la akibat tak training haha It was vital for me to ensure that i did not have a complete cramp, once it starts it will be a nightmare to continue! The trek kept going up and up and up :) I guess thats the joy of climbing, the panting and exhaustion. Most of the team members did well. 

The view was magnificient. well, in all climbs that will be the reward as we trek along. Good weather can make the trek fun especially with good company.  

                                                    Me & Azad admiring the view

We arrived at the base camp at 5pm. Alhamdulillah, but the weather then was starting to get cloudy:) The wind became stronger and little that we know how cold it would be to endure the night :)

Fansipan Roof of indochina - Part 1

I managed to coax Azad to join this trip. He had not follow any climbing trip for the last 5 years. I though why not rekindle the spirit of geng kain pelikat in Vietnam? Haha Of course, the organizers were Puncak ventures & Kelab Jelajah Alpine. The only club i truly trust to bring for trips around the world. :)

There were the 10 of us, Abang Lan and Susi from Keluang joined this trip as well - We had our fair share of fun in Pulag last year. Haziq was the expedition leader and we had bee and Cikapu as the puncak venture's team. to my surprise, TS Nordin Kardi and wife was in the group as well. Of course he introduced himself as Pak Din but im not too sure if other team members know that he was the one behind the Anak Kecil main api song :0)

nicknames

Me and Azad took an earlier flight to Hanoi via Malindo airlines. It was the cheaper alternative when compared to Airasia. Not many people realize his as when budget travelling comes into mind, Airasia becomes the default choice:)  Little that i know what was in store for us despite being early.

Upon our arrival in Hui Noi airport, Azad accidentally took another person's bag at the airport. I took for granted that it was my bag as well because we were in the midst of a very interesting conversation. That afternoon just after our prayers, a message came in from an unknown number.

Apparently i took her bag and mine was left in the airport. I quickly checked the bag and ooohh.. jatuh jantung wooo... Quickly i went to the lost and found department. I thought it was possible to exchange the bag but they insisted on the owner to come back and reconfirm. Damn. Luckily Flore (french backpacker) agreed to return to the airport as she was already in her hostel in Hanoi.

                                                                 Quecha confusion

Flore the french backpacker

 Alhamdulillah, it could have been worse i must say! Flore was nice as well and we were both very lucky. Honestly I would not have realized it say that we boarded straight on our van to Sapa. Allah's plan is the best and somehow as how this was meant to happen, it ended in a nice way.

All this was sorted upon the other team member's arrival. Alhamdulillah! I felt blessed and thankful as it could have been a catastrophic start.

The van then took us about 5hrs to Sapa. Elevation 1400m and when we arrived oohh sejuknya :) 

Tomorrow, the expedition starts :)

A thin line between deed and riak

One thing good about blog nowadays, whenever you want to rant it will be in a way personal until somebody actually browse into your blog. Really-really reading your blog. I imagine that one will know one is sincere and not for seeking attention. Unlike the current social media medium; when your post is out, it will appear on a number of people's timeline. Somehow or rather, people will know what you feel at that moment and there will be a thin line between venting out and seeking for attention. 

I guess i understand why the act of "mengungkit" is not encourage in our religion. Its evil on both point: the person who boasts on her deeds doing it to hurt another and the person being boasted upon, feeling sad and discouraged. There is no winner in that situation except to hurt the other again and again. Using it as an argument is really hitting below the belt but i guess that is life when the objective is to be always right. 

Any point arguing with such person? Nope absolutely pointless! Haha but its easy to say this out but when you are in that situation it is very difficult not to engage in the name of defending yourself. I have however learnt throughout the years to not be jumpy. Its so easy to reply to the arguments and just say things to hurt the other. What is the point? I guess when one is happy to keep it to oneself is the ultimate self control. Takda faedahnya hahaha 

Allah berfirman: "Wahai orang-orang yang beriman! Jangan rosakkan (pahala amal) sedekah kamu dengan perkataan menyebut-nyebut dan (kelakuan yang) menyakiti, seperti (rosaknya pahala amal sedekah) orang yang membelanjakan hartanya kerana hendak menunjuk-nunjuk kepada manusia (riak) dan ia pula tidak beriman kepada Allah dan hari akhirat. Maka bandingan orang itu ialah seperti batu licin yang ada tanah di atasnya, kemudian batu itu ditimpa hujan lebat, lalu ditinggalkannya bersih licin (tidak bertanah lagi). (Demikianlah juga halnya orang-orang yang kafir dan riak itu) mereka tidak akan mendapat sesuatu pahala pun dari apa yang mereka usahakan. Dan ingatlah, Allah tidak akan memberi pertunjuk kepada orang kafir." (Surah al-Baqarah : 264)

2018 dalam kenangan

Cambodia HBB missions x2.
Mt Pulag (Luzon) expedition.
Finals Champions League, Kiev, Ukraine.
Mt Siguniang expedition.
Beijing AACA.
Doha, Qatar - ECMO course.

Not bad eih juggling my time to do this. :) 

Siguniang, China Dafeng Summit 19-28 October 2018

It was a wonderful trip. Almost a reunion of Stok Kangri in 2016. 10 of us, new to me was Hani, Abang Rahim and Mat Dinz from Labuan. Usual suspects: Pak Am, Deeno, Abang Ayob, Mang, (Ustaz Wong aka Great Leader), and Loe. 

This trip to China was my first, and my first impression of China will be WOW. They are a great country and somehow we have to be at par with them. How could you not as their civilization spanned more than 1000 years BC? 

Summitting on my birthday was a first. It was very memorable. I could not have asked for more.
Thank you team for making this trip something to remember!

42 on 24/10

42 on the 24th of october 2018.
Dafeng, Siguniang Summit, Sichuan, China. 

Shah Alam 21k night run

After the talk during the day, guess what i did that night? haha

I DID NOT PRACTICE AT ALL FOR THIS RUN. And i registered post hajj aritu kononnya motivation la to start running again. Haha My mileage before this run was probably only 6km per week itupun tak tentu!

I've totally lost my fitness and slowly trying to regain it back. I had second thoughts about not coming for this run but its the new year, so i have to change something! Haha so belasah je la. Lets see how far i can go. I sort of "retired" last year and hence i can say that i've not run competetively for almost a year! I registered for few but chickened out at the very last minute because i did not have the motivation. 2016 lain sket aa.. 

 Puncak Event became the main organizer for this run. ALhamdulillah, bisnes Deeno and Pak Am maju jaya as they are organizing more races now. Doing really well insha Allah and I will supportthem in any way that i can. Termasukla join the race hehe 

 The running route was phenomenal. It was superly humid but that is not my excuse for doing a very slow time. Obviously, i did not train for this run so it was a disaster. If it was 10km i would have been not too bad. But 21km?/ haha memang gila lah. But then again, 10km is of not so much challenge. The pain of reaching the finishing line is something i've missed for at least one year. Ada umph lari 21km! But definitely not 42km hahaha yang itu kalau tak train memang cari nahas! 

 I ran for 10km and after that a leisurely walk for the next 11 km hahaha seriously! Felt good at the beginning thinking eh.. macam boleh je ikut pace. But reaching 8km i knew it was my delusion haha time tu pun kaki cam nak cramp! hahaha So better slow down as if i injure myself tak habis the route, lagilah buat malu! 

Managed to reach the finish line in one piece. NO obvious injury but at times twitches je lah. Alhamdulillah, yang penting tak injured. I do need to buck up for my project this year! Especially to get back my fitness. It made such a difference when you are fit! I do hope to find time in between my busy days to run insha Allah.