C3-11 Back restored | count1million-trlogs

Hin's 3rd C.O.U.N.T 1,000,000 steps (Sep 19TH – Oct 12th 2011)

11: Back restored.

Thean Hin Ooi <ooithin@gmail.com> Sat, Oct 22, 2011 at 6:36 PM

Dear All,

Returned to KL on Oct17 night fully restored............though still nursing a few scratches, bumps and blisters.

It has been an incredible journey this year – very tough, challenging and most enjoyable thus far.

I’m blessed by all your prayers, words of encouragements and angels sent to ensure our safe return. Little acts of kindness such as my Indian barber giving a closed cropped hair (so that I don’t need to worry about shampooing), my optician’s sponsor of a green polarized sun-glasses (so that I don’t step on a loose stone and slipped down the mountains), T-shirts to shield some of the sun’s rays and many more.

To have friends to walk and share the experience was a great plus and to have guardian angels (AL walked 20 of the 22 days, CH all the while ensuring our daily place of rest and food) was just phenomenal. So many friendly, kind and generous ordinary country folks offering to share their simple dwellings and food at the end of the day, just made this trip that much more special.

And to top it all, a great friend and “fattening” angel, PW, made a special trip to Beijing, whence we (with another great friend LM of Beijing), feasted on a special Ming 1416 recipe Beijing duck at Bian Yi Fang restaurant, home-cooked Xinjiang rice meal, and a sumptuous dinner on the high 66th floor of Park Hyatt Hotel with an awesome view of Beijing city (with an equally high priced bowl of rice at RMB25), has almost restored all of my vital statistics – Weight 59.7kg (61.5), BMI 22.5 (22.6), BodyFat 17.7% (17.9) and Waist 31.5” (33). Of course we had relaxation walk to the Summer Palace, where after a descent of 50m from the Tower of the Fragrance of the Buddha to Kunming lake, he suddenly “found” his long lost climbing muscles – now, that is a start of a Great Wall walk in the near future.

Shanxi, a rich coal province (anyone wants to import mountain quantity of coal, do let me know), with proud, reserved and honourable people is predominantly dry, where to get access to water, some wells are up to 380m (1,250ft) deep. The land is fertile and it has a long history of trade and battles with its northern neighbours.

Hebei is equally full of history with huge presence of dynasties from the Warring states, Qin, Han, Bei Wei, Bei Qi, Jin and Ming Great Walls still in evidence. It has the best preserved, highest architectural quality of the Great Walls with well over 200 passes spanning well over 2,000km. It’s most famous pass, Shanhaiguan (termed “1st pass under heaven”) was also where the Manchus were led in through the Great Door and stayed 300 years. Xifengkou pass is the only section where the Wall dips under water.

This year’s trek across Shanxi into Hebei is the most challenging thus far, where I barely managed 1,005,782 steps (553.18km) and ascended 23,824m (78,167 ft.) over a 22 days period. Each year it’s getting harder for me – I guess age plays a large part, not least helped by equally difficult terrain going eastwards. I’m informed next year would be very very tough – there will be sections where there is impossible continuation from one mountain top to the next – that means climbing to the top and then down again. I’m most probably not able to cover the geographical distance of 550km but probably cover the 1,000,000 steps.

As part of the research expedition, I GPS marked 1,467 towers and fortresses, collected some relics: 400ml of Huanghe River water, Qin and Ming ceramics and porcelain shards, and carried a 3kg Ming “canon” ball 20km down the mountain. Shall be spending lots of time piecing the shards together.

I hope some more friends will be able to join me next year and C.O.U.N.T 1,000,00 steps as we tackle the Hebei province. For a brief of the challenge ahead, please take a look at this year’s journey at this link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IPIIEALtq4

Warmest regards to all and again, here's wishing you enough.

Rgds,
Hin

PS. Have you donated to your favourite charity this year?

C.O.U.N.T (Compassion, Optimism, Unity, Nature, Tomorrow) :-

"Every fortunate person to demonstrate the Compassion of one's heart and donate to the destitute and needy, so that together we can share and partake in the Optimism and hope for the Unity of all peoples to preserve the wonders and beauty of Nature for our children of Tomorrow."

Comment:

johan <xxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.com> Sat, Oct 22, 2011 at 9:16 PM

Well done!
J

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device via Vodafone-Celcom Mobile

Thean Hin Ooi <ooithin@gmail.com> Sun, Oct 23, 2011 at 12:02 PM

Thanks bro.

Did u get a call from my friend...about roof paint?

Johan Tan <jxxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.com> Sun, Oct 23, 2011 at 9:25 PM

Hin,

I now golfing in Italy. Back to Singapore on 26th.

Sent from my iPhone

Catherine Tay <xxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.com> Sat, Oct 22, 2011 at 10:07 PM

Hello fren, glad u hv reached home safe and sound. Dun know if u hv collated all yr trips into a book so Tat yr grandchildren will get to know what e grand dad has achieved.

Sent from my iPhone

Thean Hin Ooi <ooithin@gmail.com> Sun, Oct 23, 2011 at 12:02 PM

Thanks cat.....

many more years .......to go.....

Christine Choi was Farley <xxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.com> Sun, Oct 23, 2011 at 4:21 AM

Hi Hin, Thanks for sending this. It was lovely to watch and I am pleased to see you looking so well.
Take care
love always
Christine xxx

Thean Hin Ooi <ooithin@gmail.com> Sun, Oct 23, 2011 at 12:03 PM

Thanks that u liked what u saw.....

Leng Tang <xxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.com> Sun, Oct 23, 2011 at 5:02 AM

Hello Hin,

I have been reading your postings, and you have my admiration and respect for all the tenicity and courage shown throughout your journey. May the force be with you. I shall look forward to reading your next posting of your next adventure. I hope one day I may have the opportunity to join you on one of these trips.

Best regards,
Leng

Thean Hin Ooi <ooithin@gmail.com> Sun, Oct 23, 2011 at 12:04 PM

U can........you have 2 years to get mind and body ready.....

Jerry Tan <xxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.com> Sun, Oct 23, 2011 at 9:16 AM

Hi Hin,

Very well done video Only thing I may suggest a little bit more time before switching from picture to picture as to allow time to read and admire the pictures. I must say that the photograph and writings were very well done, and very impressive.

By the way, 3rd count, does that mean you have covered 3,000,000 steps and how KM is that and how much more to cover?

All the best to you.

Sent from my iPad

Best Regards, Jerry Tan

Thean Hin Ooi <ooithin@gmail.com> Sun, Oct 23, 2011 at 12:12 PM

Thanks Jerry.

Thus far, 3,165,657 steps (1,703.78km). The total walls discovered thus far

is about 6,700km. Since I have elected to only walk the 1st line defence

walls (i.e. mostly between China from Mongolia), I have probably another

1,100km to go to the designated end at Shanhaiguan Pass - another 2 years, I

think.

Rgds,

Hin

Tony Tan <xxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.com> Sun, Oct 23, 2011 at 11:02 AM

Dear Hin,

you are awesome man!!! incredible and how I wish can have the stamina to join you.

well done

keat ee

Thean Hin Ooi <ooithin@gmail.com> Sun, Oct 23, 2011 at 12:01 PM

U can....start with the mind and train up your body...u have 2 years to get

ready.....

Keu Heng Tat <xxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.com> Sun, Oct 23, 2011 at 1:28 PM

Well done Hin, I really admire you to have the courage to pursue your goals. I will need to catch up with you soon to get inspiration. Keu

Sent from my iPhone

Thean Hin Ooi <ooithin@gmail.com> Mon, Oct 24, 2011 at 7:33 AM

Dear Keu,

For you, I'm available any time.....

Your call.

Take care, young friend.

Rgds,

Hin

Kenny Tay <xxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.com> Sun, Oct 23, 2011 at 9:20 PM

A Big Welcome back Mr OTH.our hero.free 4 lunch or dinner?

Sent from my iPhone

Thean Hin Ooi <ooithin@gmail.com> Mon, Oct 24, 2011 at 7:34 AM

Mr Tay,

Thanks. Am available anytime.

Your call , bro.

Rgds,

hin

"Christopher D'Cruz (EQPT SA)" <xxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.com> Mon, Oct 24, 2011 at 8:43 AM

Welcome back thean Hin glad all’s well with you and that you survived well this journey with happy thoughts and fond memories

See u soon .

Chris

"chee" <xxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.com> Mon, Oct 24, 2011 at 12:39 PM

Bravo Bravo....Bello Bello...Multo Bello....

susie phang <xxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.com> Tue, Oct 25, 2011 at 11:50 AM

Hi Thean Hin,

Tq for sharing your experience with all of us. Congratulations on your fantastic 3rd conquest of the Great Wall ! And most important you came back safely and with so much experience. Teik Soon had been sharing your email about the "battle" with me and enjoyed reading them very much. Guess it made one very humble with each conquest. May you be bless with good health and move forward on your next battle.

Warmest regards,

Gaik Wah

Thean Hin Ooi <ooithin@gmail.com> Tue, Oct 25, 2011 at 12:00 PM

Thanks. Glad u enjoy the read......couldn't have done it without your prayers.....

Thean Hin Ooi <ooithin@gmail.com> Mon, Dec 26, 2011 at 8:17 AM

Dear Carmen, Something for you to read over Christmas. This is what I have been up to the last 3 years......2 more years to go (hopefully) to complete the border wall between Mongolia and China. Perhaps you want to join me? Rgds, HIn

MCarmen García <xxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.com> Sat, Jan 21, 2012 at 11:41 PM

So many steps, Hin, you must be really fit ! Me, just four days , 20 kms a day, at the beginning of November , Saint Jacques Track, from Pamplona to La Rioja ,Logroño. Not much but I´ll carry on one day . At the moment little free time or too hot. ENJOY your Chinese New year.

Love and regards to all at home.

MCARMEN xxxxxxxx

Thean Hin Ooi <ooithin@gmail.com> Wed, Jan 25, 2012 at 11:12 AM

Thanks Carmen, So good to catch up with you again. Warmest regards and Gong Xi Fa Cai (good luck, good health, and good wealth) to you and family.