Ultraman the Techno Dungu

Here’s my list of favorite realizations after climbing Mt Kinabalu;

#1) sometimes looking like a dork can save your life, including bundling oneself like a modern ninja with a headlight stuck to your forehead (see pic for example). It ain’t about looking good or cool when you have to fight the elements.


#2) never look down on the smallest things in life, even as simple as a garbage bag. Tip from the mountain guide, the best insulation you can get against the cold is with a garbage bag. Seriously, that little piece of thing is the standard equipment for the quides. Not only is it cheap, water resistant, it is the best insulator. All they needed was a t-shirt, garbage bag and wear their jackets over it. (closely ties in with point #1 as well)



#3) don’t believe everything you see in advertising (except for powerbar*). Ironically this is coming from an ad person. So let me funnel that statement a little more. When you buy a pair of Nike Air shoes, you are not buying just a pair of shoes. You’re buying dreams. You’re buying hope. And damn right about buying hope; you just hope you still got a pair of air cushion shoes to go home with by the time you are done. Coz that’s exactly what happened to one of the climbers. By the time, we came back down, not only was the air cushion punctured, but the foams from the sole was falling apart and looking like a “crocodile’s mouth”, unfortunately I didn’t snap a pic. Alas the shoe was left at the foothills. So here’s a climbing tip; just buy a RM40 pair of boots from Parkson or Bata; they’re much better and comfy.

*powerbar – that shit really works and it’ll probably save your life too. So make sure you have a couple to keep you going up there.



#4) never take things for granted in life. So stop complaining about the expensive price for a bowl of maggi curry noodle when you are up there. Think about the guy who had to carry the gas tank up everyday, just so the water could be boiled in order to cook your maggi curry noodle. So think about what you have now and how you got it, and then appreciate it.


And finally…..





#5) most importantly, it’s all about who you have in your life. It wasn’t about who made it up and who didn’t. It wasn’t about who got up to the summit first. In fact, it wasn’t even about the summit (at least for me). It was who you climbed with, your friend, your buddy, your partner. Coz in the midst of the hardship, a person’s true character will show. For me, the hike down came as the biggest realization, especially when you do it with that special someone. Believe me, walking down is physically harder than up. But it makes you realize if that is the person you want to spend your future with. With each aching step down, you realize you are not complaining to each other about the hardship. You realize you can still joke and laugh with each other to keep morale and motivation up even when both your muscles are on the verge of cramps. Think about it, coz when you are over the hill and the sex is over, there’s only laughter to keep you both going. Its about moving at the same pace, not getting ahead or slacking behind. Coz when you are old, you still got to hold her hands to cross the roads, so you walk slower if you have to. With each painful step down, its about supporting each other through the hardship and challenges life throws at you now and then. And believe me, by the time you reach the foothills, you will see that person in a different view. You see the future too.