An expedition which I will never forget for life. I have always imagined living in the cabin by the mountains. Everyday waking up breathing in fresh air, watching the sun rise and sitting beside the campfire. Haha, maybe I am just influenced by the adverts or travelling documentaries. The mist of Mt. Ophir's peak
At least, I was satisfied to be able to reach the peak of all the mountains I’ve climbed. And this particular one seemed to be the one I was most challenged. It was a 4-day expedition leading 22 AJ girls, most of which have never climbed mountains before. Nevertheless, it was the place where tests kept coming, if not for me personally, for the rest of them. But I have my own story to tell.
The 700 fleet of stairs as our welcome drink of sweat
The beautiful Bonsai Tree, nearing to the peak (Sunrise)
The cool breeze of the river @ base camp
Rice Digging
Of all the girls, there were a bunch of them who had that strength and stamina. Since I was the 2nd person leading for the whole trip, I’d turn around and see this particular group of girls, the common faces who’d reach first for each and every check points we rested. They are a tough bunch I’d say. There were 4 rangers with us. . Because of different capabilities, we had to divide into two groups. Mainly, the rangers guided the back. The weather was good the first 2 days. Come the Subuh time of the third day to the peak, it has started raining cats and dogs. The sisters had two choices of departure time. We moved off from base camp around 1 am as the as the majority's choice. A ranger led the way and I was the third person. So, we had our Subuh at one of the stop overs with our ponchos on and the crampy situation while performing our prayers. And from there the rain keeps coming and going away. So there were times I had to be the first woman in line while the first person helped some pax along the way. That time, the leading ranger wasn't with us. He was totally exhausted during the rest point we had our prayers due to the few groups of climbers he had to guide the past few days.
It was a challenge for me, reason being it was a night trek and I had to take the lead at the point where there was a gaung and to ensure the sisters' safety. Moreover, this is the part where we had to climb big rocks, vertically with ropes and meeting a mini cave while taking a safe route for them to climb. Being at one of the stop overs called Bukit Botak and the peak itself reminded me Naruto’s episode of the Village of the Mist? Some friends said that usually at Bukit Botak, they would reach there with a scorching sun. Unlike this time round, it was surrounded with mist and the cold breeze of the place. Basically, when we were on top, we were surrounded by mist. That’s the scenery of the day. And the best thing was, the first 3 persons to be able to watch sunrise and reached Taman Bonsai were Hattz, Sakinah and me. It was quite some time before the rest of the crew reached our place. So, some ‘lame’ jokes were shared among few of us to kill the exhaustion.
Basically the 3rd and 4th day were raining continously. Had broken nails along the way. Burnt some skin too from the boiling oil as souvenirs back home. . It was a 2nd degree burn. To answer the curiosity, yes, My right foot, half of it was scalded. No footwear when the boiling oil hit directly to my bare foot. I was my own medic after all. My 2 AJ sisters helped me and they slept the moment they were in their tent. I slept in their tent that night with the asatizahs. That was the most painful jungle night I ever had as I only managed to sleep an hour after that due to the terrible pain I had to bear. I couldn't think of anything else except for Allah. It was only after much tears that I felt sleepy and dozed off until Subuh time at 5 plus. We had our own Subuh prayers in the tent because it was raining early morning. Anyway, I thank Allah that it wasn’t a thunder-lightning situation as things would be much more risky for us. There were only rains creating mini rivers on the terrains. Some surfed, others slid. And I had to take care of my cooked skin on the way back down because my bottle accidentally dropped on the affected area. Then, it created water bubbles like the look when you are cooking an egg, those bubbles. I was using sport sandals my friend lent to me because I only brought slippers. Only during the way back that I fell twice because of the heavier load due to the rain and my own injury. Alhamdulillah, no major injury happened to the pax except for a sister who had fever during the trip and I had to tend to her during some intervals and also when we reached Singapore. And so, I find out that she was a sister of a brother in my Relite organising committee. Small world.
My takeaways?
It is very very important to work as a team. Failure in helping one another will result in one or any members hurt. We have always been reminded for us who work in groups that there is no ‘I’ in a team. There is only ‘Us’. From here, we know who is organised and who is not. At least I know who is more disorganised than me. And calling me organised? Wow! That’s an over statement, hehehe. And who’s really your friend in need is your friend indeed. I realise the meaning of true friendship. It’s not a matter of who’s older or younger (as I am the eldest female trainer of all) but who is there when you really need someone you can rely on especially during the tough times. But I really learnt my own self, as the eldest sister, as a team mate, as a leader, as a medic and many more. He has made this trip not an easy one for me, but I think my stamina have build up than my earlier trip I had at Belumut. Challenges from every aspect. Dugaan menggunung, apa lagi kalau naik gunung lebih tinggi? Subhanallaah…
From the bottom of my heart, I am really moved by the company of my four much younger AJ sisters who entertained me along the way. Even in the bus while the rest are sleeping and tired, we were still the lively bunch. Salute to 3 of the Asatizahs whom with much hardship and a much slower pace reached the peak and the goal they strived for. Allahu Akbar! The nasyids we sang at the peak surely perked the determination they all had. It actually reminded me of my yesteryears while singing along with them, especially the Arab song Al Jihad Fi Sabilillaah. Well, thanks to two orang kuat, Hattz and Jamz as bat mobiles for the expedition.
May Allah bless us all
And personally for me, it brings me all the memories I could bring back home. I miss the pax like Shaza, Sakinah and Ain and the trainers, especially my four dearest sisters – Aisha, Fariya, Atiqah & Rafidah.
Allah has bestowed upon me a beautiful ukhuwwah with the four of you...
May Allah unite us once more in any other events that we have!
Betapa tak susah masuk syurga? Dalam satu keterangan dinyatakan: orang jahil semuanya binasa kecuali yang berilmu. Orang berilmu semuanya binasa kecuali yang beramal. Orang beramal semuanya binasa kecuali yang ikhlas. Untuk mencapai darjah keikhlasan perlu banyak berjuang. Ibarat mendaki bukit yang tinggi, hanya orang yang lasak saja berjaya sampai ke mercu. ;)
Next adventure? Perhaps I’d still go on with my plans I’ve laid down since my Cameron trip last year, which is a cave expedition which didn’t materialise. I’ll see about it, since I’ll be missing out on the backpacking trip with my pre-u2000 clan this July. It’s funny when you tried to initiate something but in the end you can’t get involved because of working commitments, ha ha.
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