We woke up in the morning of the second day, to do our long walk back. I had woken up at 4 am, to catch the sunrise, and was pretty sleepy. I am not going to put up any of the sunrise pictures on this blog site. Or, maybe I will. I will figure out. I will be leaving for Singapore three hours from now, and I shall decide on what I want to do when I get back.
One part of our group went down to see an ancient township, and to do some shopping. The rest of us, intrepid adventurers that we were, decided to walk, climb, and to explore the area.
I was the only one who was carrying anything more significant than a pair of sunglasses. The walk was long, and this was fine. There were sections where the steps that were cut into the wall were steep. They seemed to be almost cut vertically into the wall, and I was determined that I was not going to look back, and down.
Vertigo, I told myself, at times; the weight of the camera bag would pull me into the void, is what I told myself at other times. However, at no time did I consciously tell myself that there were many times when my heart was in my stomach.
However, I was brave enough to take photographs whenever the opportunity presented itself.
When I took the pictures, like the one above, I was struck by how puny we looked against the mountainside. I was struck, like many times, by the magnificence of nature.
However, like many times, I was struck by how human nature can rise, and fall.
I am sure that many people who climbed up the steps were crapping little bricks, but they went up anyway, conquering their fear. And, there were others who had themselves carried up and down in a litter.
But, what of the people who actually cut the steps into the mountain side? This indeed was a superb act of achievement.
When we reached one of the high points, we were presented with a magnificent scene. Even though there was considerable haze in the sky, the mountain scenery was breathtaking.
I have always loved the mountains. I grew up in the mountains, and it is in the mountains where my soul lives.
Looking out over the mountain scenery that afternoon in April, I could have lived there forever.
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