they climb in slippers!

Subject: they climb in slippers!
Date: Monday, September 17, 2007 11:17 am
To: chengwee@sph.com.sg

Dear Mr Teo

Thank you for the very timely article.

You see, me and 4 crazy friends embarked on that same journey one week before you did. So your story came at the very appropriate moment for us to "look back and reflect". Is it time for a 36-year-old man to stop putting his life in danger? (and who says driving is not dangerious?) That 3,726m was.........very far. And no, we did not reach the summit. The wind was way too strong. (If Kian has us in his group, we'd have broken his record.) Our guide said that we were 100m away from the top. People who overtook us on the way up and overtook us again on the way down said that the view was not so different from the top than from where we turned back. I think the bottom line is: we tried. We all can't be Mother Teresa, but we do good anyway.

And the slippers! The thick blankats! Supermen of Lombok! You captured all the thoughts I had during that longest 2 days of my life (so it seemed). Other than redefining physical abilities and limits, trips like this also brings out the value friendship and togetherness. On this trip, my group met a very lovely French couple who instantly identified us as Singaporeans. They have come to work in Singapore and it's too bad that we only met them towards the very last days of their stay in Singapore. And they said we're kind of different from the other Singaporeans they know generally. We were not bold enough to ask further.

Thanks again for the very timely and well-written piece. Your article shall take up the final page of my photo album, when I eventually do it up.

Have a good one.

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Subject: Re: they climb in slippers!
From: Teo Cheng Wee
Date: Monday, September 17, 2007 4:17 pm

Hi

Thanks for your email and sharing your story. I think we have a common bond now with that difficult experience on that mountain! But you're right - at least you tried and I'm sure that will provide with memories as deep as anyone who made it to the top.

Don't give up though. Maybe you guys can return to conquer it another day. =)

Cheers,
Cheng Wee

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Subject: Re: they climb in slippers!
Date: Monday, September 17, 2007 4:26 pm
To: Teo Cheng Wee

i think the sun is nice enough from 100m away from the summit. no need for a re-climb :)

u hv a good one too!