武当山 would be the final weekend excursion trip for us before we officially end our OIP trip. And this was also the longest ride. A total of 7 HOURS!!! All of us were looking forward to our lunch as throughout the whole 7 hours, all we had were just biscuits. Reached at around 1 pm, had our lunch before heading out for some historic site visits.
Yin Yang.
Most of the places that we went to were temples which portrays the past and history of Wudang. It is a Taoist holy ground thus temples are everywhere.
Adriannnn!
Visit to the temple.
Tea Appreciation session.
1st Try.
2nd Try.
The visits ended around 6 pm and we checked into our hotel. The weather was also extremely cold compared to our hostel. We were already shivering without the hotel room air con on.
Our Room for the next 2 nights.
Took a night stroll with some of them before heading back to our hotel room to watch our long lost Television =D Had a nice sleep due to the super cold weather. Slept early to make sure I had enough energy for the physically challenging Wudang mountain climb tomorrow!
Day 27 – Huff & Puff
Had breakfast at 6 in the morning. Tried to fill my tummy so I have sufficient energy to conquer the mountain later. Everyone gathered at the starting point of Wudang mountain trekking area. Initially, everyone were all walking close to one another, but at the middle part of the climbing session, space started to form in between each person. And slowly, some were walking in front, in the middle and some right at the back. I was walking at the front! =X hehe!
They do this for a living. And looking at their tired faces, it was really heartaching.
The steps seemed never ending.
It was really physically demanding because we were climbing flight of steps one after another. By the time I reached the peak of the mountain, my legs were numbed. Slowly, people started coming in groups and you could see the wide smile on their faces. The sense of accomplishment!
The time I completed this challenge.
Stayed on for awhile before we head back down the mountain using cable cars.
Cable Cars.
And our weekend trip ended with us taking the long bus ride back to hostel again. Arrived in school at around 9.30pm.
SLEEPY!
Reflection:
Strangers turn to friends in times of hardship. Initially I was walking with my group of MDE people. But slowly when things gets tougher and gaps start to form between people, I was walking alone. For quite a distance I was self motivating myself to endure and to just continue walking. And at one point I met 3 other students from the other divisons. Initially we didn’t communicate but after walking for awhile, all of us opened up. Waited for each other before conquering another flight of steps and we also motivated each other along the way. Finally, we reached the peak together. That’s how friendships are formed. There is always a fine line between stranger and friend. Sometimes such things just require a small action for it to happen. Teenagers nowadays are too soft spoken and hesitant when it comes to opening up to strangers. In my future work life, I have learnt not to hold back when forming interrelationships with new colleagues or customers as friends do help to bring you further in life be it in a negative or positive way.
xanier!
