Shangri-La. Breath-taking

A friend of mine just recently returned from Chengdu, China, the place which has been dubbed as the real Shangri-La. For those of you who have not read the novel the lost horizon by British author James Hilton, Shangri-La was a mythical, fictional place of permanent happiness and harmony found in the Himalayan mountains which is isolated from the rest of the world. Reports by seventeenth-century missionaries returning from the East led to the modern concept of Shangri-La, an idyllic land set beneath snow-capped peaks, surrounded by dense forests, flowing with water and able to produce every food imaginable. People who live in Shangri-La are almost immortal, living years beyond normal lifespan and only very slowly aging in appearance. An earthly paradise, as people called it. It was a repository of cultural wisdom, where violence and materialism had no place.

Wow. How i wish i can live in a place like this. Only heaven will be better. :)

My friend - Jake Leong is a freelance professional photographer whose passion and love is to capture photos which speak a thousand words. If you want him to take photos for any special event esp wedding, he can be found in facebook - Jakepassion Photography.

The photographer - Jake Leong (second from left)

Week summary (19-25 March) - the Presence of God

Monday

Am - 21.6 km (425m elevation). Covering Mt Beerburrum (280m). 2:06

Tuesday 

Rest

Wednesday

Pm - 12.8km (144m elevation). 1:07

Thursday

Rest

Friday

Am - 12.8km (144m elevation). 1:03

Saturday

Am - Mt Tibrogargan 3.5km (394m elevation). 0:47

Sunday 

Pm - 26km (684m elevation). Covering Mt Beerburrum (280m) and Mt Ngungun (253m). 2:42

Total distance: 76.7 km
Total elevation: 1791m
Total time spent: 7 hrs 45 mins
Average speed: 6.06 min/km

It has been a tiring week for me. Work has been busy and draining as usual, and thankfully i managed to squeeze in some time to run in the midst of busy schedules. The final run today just completely sapped my energy, and i am happy to have finished the week well.

Once again as experts say, every third week should be a recovery week and focus should not be on mileage but other aspects of running eg strength training, cardio work-up (i.e speed training), and most important recovery. So this coming week I will have to drop the mileage slightly and spend a bit of time on strength training. Am going to do a combination of weights, plyometric and stationary exercises for all the important muscles required in running eg hamstrings, quads, calves, core muscles and a bit of arm muscles. Honestly, i dislike strength training. To me, lifting dumb bells is pretty much a narcissistic act of repetitive self obsession, for which most people either spend their time admiring their own bodies during the work-out in front of the mirror, or do so afterwards. Sturdy outward appearance with a shallow and fragile inner core. My only reason for doing this is because i don't want to get injured. Strength training has been shown to reduce injuries rate by a large proportion. Eg people with bigger calves muscles are less likely to get a shin splint because the shin bone (tibia) is well-covered and protected by the calf muscle (gastrocnemius).

Ok enough about running.

This week I have been thinking a lot of about the presence of God. Everyday we experience God in different ways. When i see babies wriggling in the cradles, and witness the most amazing miracle in the world, for which a sperm and an egg can result in such a delicate, irreproducible, biologically complex and psychologically unfathomable being, I can't help but to praise God for such creativity and workmanship in making us so fearfully and wonderfully well. When i see the beautiful mother nature for which He spoke into being, the rugged mountains, the huge diversity of vegetation and trees, the glorious sun, i can't help but to praise God for His incomparable artistic sense for painting the world the way it is. When i read a chapter of Psalm or a passage in the bible, i am reminded by God's everlasting love and engagement with His creatures throughout the history of mankind. Isn't it completely mind-boggling that this all-mighty, all-knowing God chose to love you and I who are nothing but a mere breath and a vanity?

You can reduce a human being down to a chain of chemical processes, a bundle of reflexes, or a collection of instincts. You can simply call the beautiful sunset a mindless work of nature. But you can't deny the fact that if there is Someone behind all of these, that whoever is responsible is a fierce and incomparable artist beside whom all human achievement and creativity dwindle as child's play.

I long to experience the presence of God everyday of my life. :)

Cycling to Mt Tibrogargan early in the morning

Trail

Road

Mt Beerwah from Mt Beerburrum

Mt Tibrogargan from Mt Beerburrum

Mt Beerwah from Mt Ngungun

Mountains view from Mt Ngungun

Bearing secrets

John

I have been working around street people, mostly homeless, for twenty-five years now. I help run a coffeehouse where they can drop in, and then on Sunday we hold a small urban church service upstairs. We never know what will happen there. Some of the people smell bad, disturbed people pray too long, and visitors wander in and out of the service. The other week one person prayed, "Thank you, Lord, for Metamusil," and another chimed in, "That's a 10-4, God."

I was surprised to learn how many street people are fundamentalists, at least those who claim any kind of faith. No wonder: the missions they go to preach a steady diet of hellfire and brimstone, and many street people carry around some notion of a mean God from their childhood. There is plenty of shame and worthlessness to go around. 

I have a theory that both street people and fundamentalists suffer from attachment disorders. Somehow in childhood they never learned to bond with parents and never learned to bond with God either. How can you trust another person with who you are, much less God?

My friends in Alcoholic Anonymous tell us that we are as sick as our secrets. I know many folks with dark secrets, and nowhere to take them. Sometimes they go crazy, literally insane, because they can't stand being alone with their dark thoughts and secrets. Or they get loaded, or get high. 

An acquaintance of mine ran a street ministry just a few blocks away. He had secrets about failures in the past and financial pressures in his present that he never told anyone. They bottled up inside him. One day his walked in the front door and found his body swaying from a rope. I cannot tell you what a blow that was for the people he ministered to. They barely hang on to life themselves, and then to have their pastor commit suicide...

We all bear secrets. Those of us fortunate enough to have a spouse, a friend, or someone we can trust, have someone to share our secrets with. If not, at least we have God, who knows our secrets before we spill them. The fact that we are still alive shows that God has more tolerance for whatever those secrets represent than we may give God credit for. 

If i am right about attachment disorders, the best ministry i can offer is a long-term relationship. I tell people that I hang with the poor all day, and that sums it up. I hope that over the years and decades they learn to trust me as someone who can handle their secrets. I hope that trust will gradually spill over to God. And i tell people who encounter the homeless on the streets and are confused about how to respond, that eye contact and a listening ear may be more important than food or money or Bible verses. They need to connect in some way with another human being. 

A German poet wrote a poem about the poor. It's really a prayer:

Make it so the poor are no longer

despised and thrown away.

Look at them standing about -

like wildflowers, which have nowhere else to grow.

Wildflowers

Wounded heart

Relationship

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matt 19:14

Week summary (12-18 March) - a close call in Mt Beerwah

Monday

Am - Mt Tibrogargan trail run (8.5km) ~ 440m elevation. 1:21
Pm - Mt Beerwah (Failed expedition)

Tuesday

Am - 11.8 km road run. ~ 135m. 1:02

Wednesday

Pm - 9.3km road run ~ 122m. 0:45

Thursday

Am - 7.8km road run. ~ 114m. 0:39

Friday

Am - 11.8km road run. ~ 135m. 0:58

Saturday

Am - 7.8km road run. ~114m. 0:40


Total distance: 57km
Total elevation gained: 1060m
Total time: 5 hrs 25 mins
Average speed: 5.7 min/km

This week i returned to road running, thanks to the wet and cold weather we have been experiencing throughout the week. When it's wet, it's not safe to run on trails (unless you enjoy stepping on mushy soils and having muds all over the body) or climb mountains.

On Monday i had a close call during my Mt Beerwah hike. The thing is, Mt Beerwah is currently closed to the public due to safety issues and rock falls which could happen at any time. It's a mountain that i have always wanted to explore but had reservation in doing so. About a month ago i met a couple, Geza and Helen from Hungary during my Mt Tibrogargan hike. They are both in their late fifties, and they invited me to climb Mt Beerwah with them. Given their 20 years of experience in the glasshouse mountains, i agreed without hesitation. Climbing Mt Beerwah with them was an enjoyable experience, and it seemed relatively simple and safe. (now looking back, i think this is owing to Geza's ability to navigate a safe route for us amidst all the steep slopes and rugged edges).

Driven by my curiosity to attempt to hike Mt Beerwah on my own, I set off on Monday at around 4.30pm, hoping to finish the entire hike by 6.30pm, when it gets really dark. When i reached the first steep surface, my adrenalin and excitement got me through the climb fairly easily. However, as i went further, it started becoming challenging. I soon realised that i was not making much progress due to lack of rock-climbing skills and lack of understanding of the area. Besides it had rained the night before and in the morning. So there are pockets of water and wet & slippery rocks everywhere. I reached a dead point where I could not find a safe way to go up and there was no way i could head down too. At that very moment, my confidence took a significant dip and my heart started racing out of fear. My legs started shaking too each time i rested it on a foothold. I was trapped.

At that time, a few things ran through my mind. 'Why did i choose to come here on my own?'. 'Why am i so dumb?', 'I need to return in one piece to marry Rachel'. Filled with frustration and fear, there was only one thing i knew i could do. Pray. 'God, help me!' I know that no matter what, I had to take risk by either moving up or moving down, otherwise i would get stuck there for the rest of the day. Keep in mind that i didn't have much daylight left. I asked God for courage to do what i was afraid to do at that time, wisdom to choose the correct route, skills to able to move my way out of danger, and protection to allow me to get out of the mountain safely.

To cut the long story short, i eventually got out of the danger spot by moving up, and subsequently found another way to head down and out of the mountain. It was a close call indeed. Bear Grylls said in his book - 'The young do not know enough to be prudent, and therefore they attempt the impossible - and achieve it, generation after generation'. Not sure if i would agree with it this time. :D Yes, the line between courage and folly is very thin. It takes wisdom to discern both. 

Moral of the story is: Don't climb mountain when it's wet! Stay calm and think when in a similar situation like this. And most importantly, to pray. To always pray. Before, during, after any event, early in the morning, mid-day, before you sleep, before meals. There is no time that you can't pray. Praying places you in the right frame of mind (allows you to know that God is in control), restores the connection with God which may have been momentarily lost, gives you strength and courage to do what you are afraid to do. I pray because i am weak. I pray because i need to. I pray because i know God listens and cares.

Mt Tibrogargan covered in clouds

Mt Ngungun

Mt Beerwah (Left), Mt Coonawrin (middle) and Mt Ngungun (right)

Road. As you can see from above photos, the weather has not been good. :(

Passing by macadamia farm.

Gravel road at my place

Climbing Mt Beerwah with Geza (picture) and Helen

The main reason Mt Beerwah was closed is because of dangerous rock falls, which have been sighted throughout the year

Week summary (5-11 March) ~ A week with my love

Monday
Rest

Tuesday 

Am - 6.8km (0:32)

Wednesday

Am - 6.8km (0:31)
Pm - Climbing Mt Ngungun with my gf

Thursday

Rest

Friday

Am - Mt Tibrogargan trail run 4km, ~363m elevation. (0:50)

Saturday

Pm - Climbing Mt Tibrogargan with my gf 

Sunday

Rest

Total time spent: 1 hr 52mins
Elevation gained: 363m
Total running distance: 17.6km

Experts say that for every third week you train, you have to decrease your total time and mileage in order for the muscles an joints to heal. This scaling down will turn out to be beneficial in the long run as it ensures the longevity of your training and prevents overuse injuries. This is exactly what i have done this week. :D

My gf flew all the way from Malaysia and joined me here. It really made my week all the more sweeter to have a companion to be with. She spent her day in my place watching tv series, cleaning up my kitchen, preparing warm and delicious food whilst i worked. In the evening, I returned home to find her either cooking, or feeding the cattles in my landlord's farm, or playing with neighbour's dog - Bandit. That's always best time of my day - to return home from work to give her a big hug.

On Wednesday and Saturday, we both went hiking together. It's been a while we last hiked. It was through hiking, mountain climbing and running that we became good friends, and i definitely treasure all the moments that we spent hiking together. Mt Ngungun was a fairly easy hike, and we reached the peak without much difficulty (except that she hit her head against a fallen tree and hurt herself.) It's so painful to see someone you love hurt, I wish i was the one who bore the pain rather than her. On Saturday, we hiked Mt Tibrogargan. Initially i was quite concerned that she might not be able to make it, as ascending and descending Tibrogargan requires a lot of sound rock-climbing techniques, courage and stamina. She surprised me by making it look so easy, and she was definitely more agile and confident than me when i first climbed the mountain. Good job girl. You really made me proud. :)

At night, we spent most of our time talking, reading the bible and sharing our thoughts and feelings with one another. We discussed a lot of things, and most importantly about her church. For confidentiality reason, i won't reveal much of what she shared here. Maybe in future post, i will talk about what i personally felt about that church. I know she cares a lot for the people there, and she wants to be a part of what they are doing and grow together with them, it's just that many of the doctrines and practices by the church are too constricting and stifling. I really pray that God will reveal more of His heart to her and guide her in her decision with regards to church.

I am so thankful to Joy - my landlady for keeping my gf company when i was not at home, and for lending me an air mattress so i could sleep well on my floor whilst Rachel slept on the bed. It's a commitment that my gf and i make to preserve our purity till our wedding day. Though it's difficult for me, I believe God has the ultimate joy and pleasure in store for those who are willing to listen to Him and delay sex till marriage. It will be foolish, short-sighted and unloving of me to let impatience and lust to take control.

 Rachel left yesterday. I woke up this morning feeling sad (and empty). It's time to return to the trails. :)

Climbing Mt Ngungun with Rachel

Mt Ngungun peak

Sunset in Mt Ngungun

Rachel climbing Mt Tibrogargan

This is not suitable for those who are afraid of heights

Staying focused.

Treading on narrow cliff edges

Tibrogargan peak. Am proud of my baby. :)

Descending

Sunset at Tibrogargan

Birthday celebration with my love

Week summary (27 Feb-4 March)

27 Feb (Mon)

Rest

28 Feb (Tues)

Pm - Mountain-biking. 30km. 1:30

29 Feb (Wed)

Am - Mt Tibrogargan (364m). 0:47
Pm - Mountain-biking. 16km. 1:07

1 March (Thurs)

Am - Mt Tibrogargan (364m) + 3km trail run. 1:00

2 March (Fri)

Am - Trail Run (122m) 5.5km - 0:38

3 March (Sat)

Am - Mt Tibrogargan (364m) + 3km trail run - 0:48

4 March (Sun)

Am - Mt Tibrogargan (364m) + 3km trail run - 0:46

Total time spent: 6 hrs 36 mins
Elevation gained: 1578m
Total biking distance: 46km
Total running distance: 14.5km

This week has been a good week for me. I started the week cautiously, with the hope of not aggravating my ITB. So I chose to mountain-bike, as it helped to strengthen the quads for running. It has been awfully long since i last mountain-biked (back in IMU days when i used to cycle to school everyday). I also remembered riding mountain bike down some steep rugged hills in Chiangmai, Thailand with J boy and Anke, and screaming our lungs out as the bikes kinda lost control and went swirling down hills. Those vivid moments of thrill and adrenalin release returned to me almost immediately when i hit the trail this time. A few times I almost fell off the bike and did a 360 degree somersault with it. Phew.. The price you pay for adventure.

Now i am getting into a hang of running up and down mountain and doing some trail running everyday. Hopefully i can sustain this level of activity. One thing i really hope to do is to wake up earlier so i can hit the trails in the wee hours of dawn to awaken my spirit, and then to spend some time praying and being with Jesus in the mountain as well before i head to work. 

Finally, some photos for the highlights of the week. :)

Trail

Mt Tunbubudla ahead

Bumping into my forest friend again. :D

Mt Beerwah ahead