Gunung Angsi Recce 14-15May.
Gunung Angsi Trip 18-19May.
Despite the closeness of the date of the recce and actual trip, i'm glad my tiredness(hopefully) are not revealed to any of the participants along the trip with me.
Perhaps is because of the family of 5 with the 3kids (Jerrie, Jacques, Juliette) along the trip? I somehow felt what really should be called RESPONSIBILITY. not because they are younger than me that i've to show the sight of a grown up kid, nor because i'm assisting geraldine (my trip leader) in Gunung Angsi but rather the safety of the kids were in my hands.
Well of course that does not mean other participants are neglected, there were plans on how the excos are to splitted up along the trek itself AND the best of all, we have a wonderful bunch of participants along with us. Amazingly, knowing how much they will like to mak it up to the summit, they were too concerned with the safety of everyone. Understanding the slow pace and the delay along the way, the duty to look after the children and to help the parents too. Honestly, without this wonderful bunch of participants, my trip would not have been much enjoyable.
Nonetheless, though i didn't make it up to even near the summit on the actual trip, i was totally exhausted, much more than during recce. my attention was entirely on the parents, the 10year old daughter, Jerrie, and the 3year old kid, Juliette.
Something that i admired is the determination these kids have.
Jerrie definitely has the ability and stamina to make it near the 1st summit but she chose to stay on to accompany her parents and also to hold Juliette's small hand in the next half of the trek which is nth but scaling up all the way for an hr and half?
Juliette COnfiRmed deserved a praise from everyone.
No one would have imagined a 3year old kid telling you "i'm not tired, Let's Go! Let's GO!"
when both parents are resting at the muddy steps.
while i caught up with her, sth really touch my heart, she said "you follow me, both hands" (meaning holding both hands while she scale upwards), shouting JIAYOU all the way for her family.
And she can cry and tell her parents not to carry her just because she wants to walk..
what an impressive young girl.
Jacques's determination is superb. his desire to catch up with the 1st grp (the fastest trekkers). He did not stop to take a break throughout the upward non stop climb and make it to the 1st summit!
Well, trips are not always smooth. It started pouring real badly, just like a thunder storm on our journey down.
The dad has to carry Juliette along the slippery muddy trail, falling and slipping with Juliette crying in his arms.
Indeed a painful sight to see Juliette cry all the way down yet the love from a dad, depsite his tiredness to carry his daughter all the way down to safe spot.
All we could do is geraldine following n helping the parents and Juliette while i took care of Jerrie making sure she will b safe regardless of what, similarly Jacques was with ah pek.
As most of the trek, i was separated from the rest since i was the last man, it really draw upon me that i have no way not even a chance to lead them on the wrong trail NO WAY! they are dead tired, hard to catch up with the pack. any mistake from me wil just cause more misery on them and more delay for the rest. Their safety such as crossing the rivers in the heavy rain etc is in my hands.
Despite all the hiccups that occur, i really did enjoy mysef to the fullest at angsi. The 3 kids really make my day, chatting, playing around, the high enery level in them. I simply love them and hopefully if there is a chance, would love to keep in contact with them and meet them again =)
