A "Fool" Print

We reached Dali in the morning at 6.45am. The slept in the Sleeper bus was tolerable except a few itches at my back perhaps due to the bed lice. Jane was not so fortunate. She couldn’t sleep in the bus.

The driver whom to pick us up was waiting for us for an hour freezing in cold at the bus station. My first impression of Dali city was immaculately clean, with wide opening roads and quiet traffic. The Sam’s Hotel (http://samshoteldali.com/)was decorated in a mix of traditional style Bai Courtyard with comfortable, and generous room space. :)

After putting our things, we headed to our first destination -> Changshan where our dear lady landlord arranged a transport to bring us there. We took a cable car up to the mountain (~2400m). Perhaps it was due to the high altitude, it was tougher than usual for us to walk up the stairs. At noon, the weather turned bad and was raining heavily. We were totally unprepared. Luckily, I had my umbrella with me but my beautiful, hairy legs were exposed to the cold. The rain last for 2 to 3 hrs.

The descending from the mountain was a whole new experience to me. The cable car was we took exposed, with no shelter at the top. Once reached the foot of the mountain, We walked back to the edge of the old town to have our lunch (4pm). May was complaining our meal time was totally messed up. Hehehee

Then after, we took a local bus to Erhai Lake. Gen was really tough in her bargain skill. She managed to reduce the ferry price from $150 RMB to $80 RMB. The sky started to drizzle again. There was not much to see at the other side of the island. We were back to the mainland at 6.30pm. By now, the bus service had stopped.

A man approached us telling his friend could drive us out to the old town. I suspected the guy was telling lie and the lady driver was not his friend. Nevertheless, we agreed to him by forking out $50RMB, to give us a ride to the foreign street, Dali Old Town.

Walking in the old town was an enjoyable experience. The old town was buzzing with pubs, shops, cafes and local eat house. We stopped over a cozy café to have a coffee and desserts. Based on the staff’s direction, we managed to locate mountaineering gear shop which manned by 2 young pretty looking ladies. May and Chin Yen both bought a gore-tex China brand trekking shoes, while Jane and Gen each shopped for small items. The price was reasonable and not much discount was given.

At 10pm, we had our dinner at Panda Restaurant before taking a cab back to our hotel. It was midnight till then. Yawn…

Finally!! After weeks of preparation, phone calls and emails, we had made it to the final day. For a moment, I couldn’t even think that the trip to Yunan would pull through.

I woke up earlier at 4am and did some last minute packing before heading to the airport at 5.30am. Chin Yeh called out and informed me our plane was malfunction and we were shifted to SQ instead. He hurried me as our plane took off at 7.10am instead of 7.40am. Great!! That was the last I could need, Surprise! Now, I worried if the rest of the guys could make it to the airport on time. We were all being hold back at the check in counter for an hour before managed to board the plane.

Reached Bangkok 10 a.m. The flight to Kunming was not too smooth. After 2 unsuccessful took off by the pilot with the last nearly felt like a crash, we were transferred to a new Thai airplane. In the end, the whole flight was delayed by one hour. Oh gosh!!

Once touched down at the Kunming Airport, we quickly took a ride to the West Bus Station to buy our sleeper bus tickets(1150pm) to Dali. Subsequently, we proceeded to cloudland hostel to book our accommodation for our return trip before going out to do some shopping. The sky started to poured heavily at 8pm. We were all freezing in cold. The locals told us the city had not been raining for 6mths. We had brought them rain. OMG! I hoped it was not going to rain in the mountain. *Praying hard*

Went by home at 9pm. Had a quick dinner, and rest for a while before starting my run... Gosh!! By the time I was out of my house, it was a quarter before 11pm. I would have missed the Everest Beyond the Limit Season 2. I did a quick three loops around Tiong Bahru Park instead, which used to be my usual training ground.

The Everest Beyond the Limit Season 2 was showing some of the climbers trekking towards the North Col Camp.. It looked treacherous and difficult which made me start to wonder if my physical condition could allow me to succeed in reaching the campsite... Hmmm.

Today, I official out of my student classification and fall back to the category of unemployment. I must admit there are difficulties for me finding me what I want. Interviewers being telling me I so good in my previous line that I shouldn’t have attempted a new career.. In fact, many of them were encouraging me back to my old job.. Truth, I listen but it is between the fine line of reality and what I want to achieve in Life.

Life, the simple four letter words but with profound meanings. Wait!! Isn’t this blog about friends & Food, all the good stuffs without any serious note!! Well, got to forgive me since this is my blog. :P

Ha.. I admit, there’s no simple solution and it’s simply don’t!! And we all just have to hold on to our values and beliefs to make every possible step – Faith.

Faith has failed me times to times but are we going to let go? No, the answer is not. Without faith, life would be meaningless with nothing to believe or live on. Looking back, I have three turning points in my life , including the coming now, and be fighting all my fate ever since.

I won’t bored you all my details and sorrows whatever. We just have to look ahead.. no matter what. I ever chanced upon a Hallmark Channel’s “Life is drama” blitz with Tan Keng Hua talking about Midlife Crisis. It is inspiring and seeing how she has achieved “change” to push her to live better. Is not liked climbing “Everest”, but what would be more commendable than fighting on and overcoming all the obstacles in life? I would say it is much tougher when compared climbing a mountain. The mountain will be there forever, but goals tend to shift as time flew and lost forever. Just liked doing a climb, you need good stamina and health. As for reality, the truth sense of enable “change” is your FINANCIAL means resembling those of your stamina. The trek would be treacherous and weather would be bad. A shelter is where your LOVED ONES, FRIENDS and FAMILY are there providing you. And well, if summit could not be reached, don’t lose heart as there always be another summit to reach for. And who knows, by chance it will come by again and you may reach a greater height. Everest does rise every year hor..

In addition, it needs the will and mental strength to reach a Summit. What this has transformed is your FAITH. The faith is the mental strength that inspiring you to move on..

In the every last, it is also a matter of luck of having good weather etc. That would be translated into THANKFULNESS. Without thankfulness, we tend to attribute our failure to someone or some events. But, thankfulness helps us to see a better light of everything even things do turn sour. The positive energy of thankfulness will transform into good Karma and tends to change our luck into better sense.

In conclusion, before anyone would make a “change”, always assessed these four elements – Financial, Faith, thankfulness with friends, family and loved ones surrounding you. Without any of these, reaching a summit would be nearly impossible. Or it would be fake summit which in fact there is a greater peak rests ahead.

I congratulate all whom have able to achieve their goal and treasure what you have (like enjoying the scenery) before making back to the base camp. :) God Bless..