You know what you should do when all other "guides" to climbing Bukit Tabur do not seem too motivating?
Simple. Write your own. Which is what I will now attempt to do. I must emphasise that this article is written in all seriousness - everything I am about to write on is based on my experience climbing Bukit Tabur to catch the first sunrise of 2012.
A few days before Christmas, at a gathering, I got the inspiration to climb a hill on New Year's Day to catch the first sunrise of 2012. (I thought it was an amazing idea back then, but later on I found out that it has been done before. In any case, during our climb up, we were the only ones going up in the dark.) So I got around to asking a friend if it was an alright idea for me to climb Broga Hill alone on New Year's. After a short discussion, he jumped onto the idea, and suggested we go to Bukit Tabur instead. Another friend, who overheard the discussion, also came onboard.
"Which is harder?", I remember asking.
"Tabur. Broga is just a walk, but for Tabur you need to get on all fours" he said. "But takpe (it's okay) lah, we'll climb slowly." Yes, said these way more experienced climbers.
I was psyched about the climb, all the way until a day before New Year's Eve, when I decided to research on Bukit Tabur. I came across images and blogsites that told of the difficulty in climbing this hill. That was when I freaked out a little, but continued to psyche myself that I was going to be able to do it. But my fellow climbers, on New Year's Eve, kept saying it was possible.
So here are a few of my tips as a beginner on climbing Bukit Tabur:
1) Go with the mentality that it is a "walk in the park"
The fact that they kept telling me that it was simple, made me think that it was. Another friend, who came along with us, thought that it was going to be a "walk in the park". We came to realise that that made it easier for us. Thinking it was going to be a simple climb made it easier. I knew, of course, that it wasn't, but with friends who kept telling you that it was possible, you start to believe that it really is that simple. So go with more experienced climbers. Which brings me to my next point...
2) Go with more experienced climbers whom you trust
This is so:
a) You won't get lost so easily. If I had chosen to go alone, I wouldn't have been able to find my way up. We went up in total darkness. In fact, on the way down, when there was light, at one juncture when I was in front, I got lost and asked aloud, "Should I take the route that goes up again?" (Re-reading this, I feel like my mind must've really been almost toast to think that) So I know we should sometimes take the road not taken, but if I had gone alone, I would have definitely taken more than a day to get home. Or twenty years :D.
b) You can trust them not to hurry you up. They will understand if you need time to adjust. The friend I initially asked about the climb, at the beginning of the climb, told me to take it slow and go up at my own pace. You can also trust them not to leave you behind.
c) They can hold on to the rope while you hoist yourself up or down. The rope is usually loose and can be difficult to manage. So if you have someone you trust who has experience climbing, they will be able to help you on the way up and down.
d) They can provide you with things you forget, or just did not bring, like torchlights. Or water.
e) Most importantly, they are able to help you watch your back and front. So, in case you need a hoist up, or when your shoe slips (like mine did), you know you can trust someone to catch it.
3) Don't go alone
I wanted to say don't go alone unless you are really experienced. But I think it's still best to not go alone. In any case, you shouldn't go alone because you would want someone to take photos for you too! :)
4) Don't worry, your body may take time to adapt
I have a great fear of heights. So, in the beginning, I think about 1/4 of the climb up, I asked to stop once, and I slipped a few times. But when you feel that way, don't worry, just keep going. After a while, that feeling will go away, and your body will somehow adapt to the changes (like the gravitational unevenness). I think after that initial fear went away, my entire climb up and descent down became a billion times easier and smoother.
5) Don't be afraid to ask for help
Yeah, like when your shoe is slipping, you can ask the person behind you to hold on it. Or just yelp "My shoe is falling off!" like I did, and trust that they will hold on to it and say "Climb ahead, I've got it."
6) Find your own footing
This was one thing I realised while climbing up. I was right behind a friend, and I was trying to follow in her exact footsteps when I realised that her strategy may not be working for me. That was when I had to adapt, by holding on to a different branch, or stepping on a different ledge or rock. So, along with finding your own pace, I think finding your own footing is also as important.
7) Find your own way
On the way down, I was still on all fours a lot, sliding down the hill. My friend told me to stand, but I found it hard due to my fear of heights, or rather, fear of falling. So he mentioned that I should try bending my knees. What I did next was to bend my knees in a plie and put my arms up in the fifth position. I managed to walk down that way for quite a distance. So I suppose this means that you should do what you find is comfortable. Whatever works for you...
8) Go in the dark
Start your climb in the dark. My friend was right. He said that going up in the dark would be easier. Now of course, I have not gone up in light so I wouldn't know. But after we had gone down, looking up with the sunlight, I realised that it looked more frightful than it actually was. It's a certain kind of mentality. I realised that when you start climbing in the dark, all you're focused on is the climb up, one step at a time. You can't see the top, so you're not bothered by how far it is. You just continue going, until you reach the next checkpoint, and before you know it you're at the top.
9) Drink vodka
Okay, so I will not be held accountable for this *smiles sheepishly*. I had no sleep the night before, and I was drinking (it was New Year's eve, after all) all the way till almost right before we left for the climb. Yes, I was drunk. Tipsy, at least (but I was the only one). But well, "if the Russians can do it, so can you!" (to quote two friends) And if I ever have any doubts about pouring that vodka, I'll just remember them nodding and saying repeatedly "can can can can can can can..."
So yes, life's too short. Go climb that hill. And while you're at it, experience life.
I mean it both literally and metaphorically.
Love,
Sharon
P/s: This is a replica of the note I posted on Facebook, except that I removed names to protect privacy, since (almost) anyone can stumble upon this blog.
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