Monday 26 April 2010

Pushing The Stroller Up Kinabalu

It was

HARD,

VERY VERY HARD.

But I needed to do it.

Strolling is easy, but pushing the stroller while strolling is not so. With a baby inside it becomes quite a bit of work.

And when you yourself is the stroller and you yourself is the  baby inside that you yourself have to push, it becomes a thousand times harder.

And I huffed and I puffed and I prayed  a thousand prayers all the way up from the Timpohon Gate at 6,100ft (1,866metres) above sea-level to Laban Rata Rest House at 10,700ft (3,270metres).

And I inched and stepped and zig-zagged and I breathed gratitude all the way down.

Because I MADE IT!

With the unfazed support of my husband (who constantly kept close by me) and my two girls, I MADE IT!

And now my children can tell their yet-to-be-conceived children how at the ripe age of 56, granny MADE IT TO THE SUMMIT ooops BASE CAMP LABAN RATA - OF KINABALU -  6 km of trekking up the mountain! Yay, not quite the summit but I conquered MY Everest!


The summit is a further 2 km up - which the girls and their father reached early Sunday morning to watch a splendid sunrise and appreciate God's majesty.

Our legs are stiff from the strain and will ease soon enough.

But the euphoria of our achievements will remain for a good long while.

30 comments:

mamasita said...

I puji you sangat2 Zen..you're one hell of an old gal!
You,RA and the girls have my biggest applause and standing ovation!
Congrats to the mountain-climbing family!

NanaDJ said...

Zendra,
Congratulations, you made it. I dare not even try. A group of breast cancer survivors and their supporters (the NGO I am with) will be climbing the Kinabalu this June. I can only cheer them from afar. Dare not take the risk, nanti sakit orang lain yang susah bukan kita saja. For that, I will find my satisfaction through reading your adventure and cheering the other climbers.
Bravo!!!

kay_leeda said...

WoW!!! Way to go dear Zen!! You did it. I so really wanna be like you. So next mana? Kilimanjaro? Heh..heh....

Naz in Norway said...

YAY!!! BRAVO!!!
So proud of you, Zen! :)

Zendra-Maria said...

mamasita, thank you, thank you - it was the Kinabalu Park but it wasn't "a walk in the park" hehe

Zendra-Maria said...

NanaDJ thanks, I'm still buzzy from this little adventure. Macam nak ikut pulak your PRIDE team this June! Actually there are a lot of trails at the resort itself you could trek if you want to be closer to the climbers. I recommend that you at least do that Nana :)

Zendra-Maria said...

Kay, Kilimanjaro, Kinabalu - they all start with the letter K like your name kan? Go on... make them your dreams and do it while you're young and fit - if I can, so can you lah!

Zendra-Maria said...

Aaaw... I'm so touched Naz. I couldn't have done it without my ole man. I think i kinda tested his mental limits too, hahaha

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Aunty Zendra,
Yeay! I salute you! purrr...meow!

Zendra-Maria said...

Hi Sydney citizen, like to be the first cat trekking up? I noticed none of your kind up there - mew,mew. Your mum should really take you there and hunt some mountain mice heheheh

Cat-from-Sydney said...

Aunty Zendra,
We've cooked up sumthing for u at our base camp... purrr...meow!

mekyam said...

kudoz, zee!!!

you'll be my inspiration when i'm unable to drag my butt on some trekking slopes next week.

Tommy Yewfigure said...

Haiyah Zen, I feel a tat disappointed with u for giving up just 2km to the summit, look like u have let us 50+ down BIG TIME….kakaka look who’s talking.

Well done anyway, what was that song that goes, ‘I did my best but I guess my best wasn’t good enough.”

Lucky u got to spend some quality time with the princesses & the King himself.

Cheers,
Tommy

P/S – At my age, I don’t think I’m likely to indulge in activities that might create self inflicting pain…muahaha, but then again it does sound exciting with all the ‘pushing, huffing & puffing’ especially when u start your post with this line; “It was HARD, VERY VERY HARD. But I needed to do it.” (sic). What were u thinking?????

PP/S - Great finishing line too;

"But the euphoria of our achievements will remain for a good long while."(sic)

I know it does, wink..wink

Zendra-Maria said...

Hahaha Cat, that was nice how the zebra was done in by the prowler... Grrrr... I sure kena marah dengan the Perthian tom-cat!

Zendra-Maria said...

mekyam, aawww I wish I could come along.... but I WILL be cheering you on. In which beautiful place will you be trekking?

Zendra-Maria said...

Aiyah Tommy, I pancit just short of the summit... looks like the days of multiple euphorias are gone hehehe but then again the climb-down was quite a pleasant qi-enhancing experience for me.

PS - where's the youtube link for the song? Should I make it my battle-cry for my assault on ...... ?

Tommy Yewfigure said...

Hey as if u don’t know this, my signature karaoke song…hehehe. I choose his more recent 'botak' version instead of his younger afro days version so RA don’t feel too bad….kekeke;

Cuma Satu Kali Aje

Cheers,
Tommy

P/S- What..what this Tom-Cat????? Tom Cruise & wifey Katie Holmes ka?

Cheqna said...

many, many congratulations for your achievement ~ reaching the "ooops, Base Camp Laban Rata", tabik spring lah..next u'll surely reach d summit..GO! GO!... ~

from me yang yet to reach Kinabalu town,

waaaaaaaa.....

zafi said...

Oh KK.... i wish i could join you!

tireless mom said...

BIG congrats Zendra. You have conquered!! You have now become my inspiration to conquer my fears in whatever, including climbing the real Everest! (Larrr... bila pulak ni).

I am sure the unforgettable feelings is great and with full of emotions.

Zendra-Maria said...

Tommy, ermm nice song old man....

Zendra-Maria said...

Cheqna, thanks so much - i tabik you balik haha

Zafi, come to KK and enjoy the whole of Sabah! You won't regret it

Zendra-Maria said...

TM, you're right the feeling's exhilarating. I should ride on it and get into the housework now. Shall we do everest sometime?

Capt's Longhouse said...

,,,the fruits of hard labour is the most sweetest of all pleasures !

hardcore yaa...eerrmm but remember this, we are all constantly climbing our mountain of challenges daily too ! The higher we climb, the clearer would be our day...plus future too.

...but kind words conquer most mountains hihihi !!

Zendra-Maria said...

Capt, all very inspiring words from one who walks the talk :)

Lee said...

Hi Zendra, next stop 2nd Base stop of Mount Everest. Holy Smoke, I sure admire you....
I can imagine your huffing and puffing like KTM arriving station, ha ha ha.
Regret the only hill or mountain I climbed was Bukit Nanas.....ha ha.
Zendra, you're an outstanding lady! No 2 ways, Lee.

DrSam said...

Bravo Kanda and the geng! You are my inspiration lah. Send my warmest regards to Kanda RA.

Zendra-Maria said...

Dear Lee, huffing and puffing in daylight couldn't see any moons hahaha I just heard moans and groans ;)

Thanks for the approval, means a lot coming from big boss like you :)

Zendra-Maria said...

Dinda, susah ni dapat title peng-inspirasi. I myself needed a lot of support from the geng without whom it wouldn't have happened at all. But we would really love to see other bloggers take the kinabalu challenge after this. Would be so very nice... maybe starting with you? :)

DrSam said...

One good idea kanda. have to boost my stamina first otherwise semput. Lama betul tak buat aktiviti panjat memanjat ni.