Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Climbing, anyone?
Woke up on a high cos I was going climbing!
For those of you who know me, I love climbing. But I haven't done that in a while, and I'm growing fat and heavy and weak and old already. Not as agile and energetic as before. Heh. But I still love the thrill it gives me.
Anyway, I was due for Level 1 course. Well, overdue in fact. Been doing belay school and ropes and setting up anchors for years already, but never was I certified. Why? Maybe cos there never was a real need for it? And I was giam-siap too lah. Why pay to learn something that you have been teaching? But those of you in the field worth your harness, carabiner, ATC and rope, you know the importance of certification in this time age and space...
Yep, so off I was, whizzed into a dreary theory lesson where I focused on what the youngster was leaving out, and how he could improve his teaching instead of the details. Soon I was bored to tears and my head grew so heavy it threatened to topple over. It didn't help that my tummy wasn't cooperating and off throwing its tantrum and growling at any moment possible! Thank God there was a tiny break to sort that confused body of mine out before the next session which was interspersed with hands-on activity. Well, literally hands on the equipment.
Belay school. I love belaying. I love dangling my climbers in the middle of no where, letting them swing from side to side as I torture them. Wahaha! I like the feeling of being in control, to be trusted with the responsibility of safely belaying the climber. I like being good at what I do. (Though the things I'm good at can be pathetically counted by using my fingers, and not even my toes!) Though my ego was boosted when the senior instructor said I was a pro. Heh. Cheap thrill. I wish I was out there belaying some Big Mac and flying in the process due to the difference in weight while earning some bucks!
My tummy needed a spanking, so I wasn't really in the mood to attempt the other walls which required more brain and brawn. (Both which I lack... I only had one persistent growling tummy!) We rushed to lunch. High point of the day! The satisfaction, the shuang-ness of food entering the throat and down to pacify that recalcitrant tummy of mine... I soothed it further with peanut ice kacang. Hahaha!
Back to climbing. With the tummy appeased, there was peace of mind to climb again. I innocently attempted a wall and scaled to the very top, where I struggled to reach the final jug at the overhang. I struggled and struggled to no avail. There was absolutely no grip for me to reach out for that "star". And then I gave up. I felt disappointed... a little disgusted, for failing. But when I learnt that the entire wall was actually an overhang, I felt a little better. And when I observed that others could not complete the wall either, I felt a whole lot better. Haha! Though that didn't make me feel better about myself cos pride is no good. Where is the humility I should have?? Maybe I should stick to lower ground. Like bouldering.
Bouldering is like a torture chamber to me. A gym where you train your upper body strength and do problem-solving. No rope is needed, just a spotter in case you fall. I just whacked the bouldering wall, determined to solve the problem set. Problem was that you needed to progress from a specified series of one hand hold to another till you reach the final destination. Rules are that you can place your feet anywhere, but start and end with both hands on the hand hold. After much touching and feeling and grabbing (k, that sounds gross... hahaha!), I ended up like a koala bear stuck to a tree, or a baby monkey stuck to his mummy's body, unable to move at a height of 3 meters. I held on for a bit before letting gravity take its toll on me as I experienced the all-too-short free fall.
I love heights. =)
I'm now certified with Level 1 climbing. Behold! Level 2 climbing certification on its way!
For those of you who know me, I love climbing. But I haven't done that in a while, and I'm growing fat and heavy and weak and old already. Not as agile and energetic as before. Heh. But I still love the thrill it gives me.
Anyway, I was due for Level 1 course. Well, overdue in fact. Been doing belay school and ropes and setting up anchors for years already, but never was I certified. Why? Maybe cos there never was a real need for it? And I was giam-siap too lah. Why pay to learn something that you have been teaching? But those of you in the field worth your harness, carabiner, ATC and rope, you know the importance of certification in this time age and space...
Yep, so off I was, whizzed into a dreary theory lesson where I focused on what the youngster was leaving out, and how he could improve his teaching instead of the details. Soon I was bored to tears and my head grew so heavy it threatened to topple over. It didn't help that my tummy wasn't cooperating and off throwing its tantrum and growling at any moment possible! Thank God there was a tiny break to sort that confused body of mine out before the next session which was interspersed with hands-on activity. Well, literally hands on the equipment.
Belay school. I love belaying. I love dangling my climbers in the middle of no where, letting them swing from side to side as I torture them. Wahaha! I like the feeling of being in control, to be trusted with the responsibility of safely belaying the climber. I like being good at what I do. (Though the things I'm good at can be pathetically counted by using my fingers, and not even my toes!) Though my ego was boosted when the senior instructor said I was a pro. Heh. Cheap thrill. I wish I was out there belaying some Big Mac and flying in the process due to the difference in weight while earning some bucks!
My tummy needed a spanking, so I wasn't really in the mood to attempt the other walls which required more brain and brawn. (Both which I lack... I only had one persistent growling tummy!) We rushed to lunch. High point of the day! The satisfaction, the shuang-ness of food entering the throat and down to pacify that recalcitrant tummy of mine... I soothed it further with peanut ice kacang. Hahaha!
Back to climbing. With the tummy appeased, there was peace of mind to climb again. I innocently attempted a wall and scaled to the very top, where I struggled to reach the final jug at the overhang. I struggled and struggled to no avail. There was absolutely no grip for me to reach out for that "star". And then I gave up. I felt disappointed... a little disgusted, for failing. But when I learnt that the entire wall was actually an overhang, I felt a little better. And when I observed that others could not complete the wall either, I felt a whole lot better. Haha! Though that didn't make me feel better about myself cos pride is no good. Where is the humility I should have?? Maybe I should stick to lower ground. Like bouldering.
Bouldering is like a torture chamber to me. A gym where you train your upper body strength and do problem-solving. No rope is needed, just a spotter in case you fall. I just whacked the bouldering wall, determined to solve the problem set. Problem was that you needed to progress from a specified series of one hand hold to another till you reach the final destination. Rules are that you can place your feet anywhere, but start and end with both hands on the hand hold. After much touching and feeling and grabbing (k, that sounds gross... hahaha!), I ended up like a koala bear stuck to a tree, or a baby monkey stuck to his mummy's body, unable to move at a height of 3 meters. I held on for a bit before letting gravity take its toll on me as I experienced the all-too-short free fall.
I love heights. =)
I'm now certified with Level 1 climbing. Behold! Level 2 climbing certification on its way!
# posted by Banana Saviour @ 7:58 AM 
