C5-9 Final Treasured Days | count1million-trlogs

Hin's 5th C.O.U.N.T. 1,000,000 steps (Sep 20th – Oct 13th, 2013)

9. Final Treasured Days.

Thean Hin Ooi <ooithin@gmail.com> Tue, Oct 22, 2013 at 5:20 PM

Our weary spirits were lifted on the last day (13/10) by the cool weather, easier access to the wall and complemented with a memorable inscribed Ming wall brick each. Mine weigh a hefty 6.3kg and now I marvelled at how I managed to carry it all the way down from the high mountains.

11/10. 08:05 – 17:13. Yunxiugu Natural Scenic Area. 11.3 km, 19,123 steps. TA 597m, MA 972m.

Visited 2 fortresses at Jijiayingzicun and Guanmen before hiking up at Madigou – a 4km, 300m ascend, for a 100m wall in 2.5 hours – not much wall to see.

Beautiful country roads in full autumn colours – red, brown, yellow, gold, green, hues of blue of the leaves of the maple, poplar, oak, pine, shrubs and fruit trees. Stopped at a scenic spot and were mesmerised by the panoramic view of the Gubeikou, Jinshanling, Simatai and the Bailingguan walls meandering along the ridges of the mountains. Unfortunately the camera couldn’t capture the full splendour of this magnificent scene – only one’s eye-witness presence could conjure up such exhilarating breathless experience.

Then back to Xincheng town to refuel before heading to resume the small Qiangzilu Great Wall section from Nanliang, ending at the village of Beigoucun. Fascinated by a couple wheeling their load of corn sacks on wooden trolley up a steep slope – quite a challenge with the man pulling and the woman pushing from behind.

Took our leave and drove to a wonderful homestay at Huangyankou. 10 km away.

12/10. 09:55 – 16:33. Laoyemiao area. 9.1 km, 14,962 steps. TA 366m, MA 914m.

Winding down weariness settling in. Spent the morning mulling around Huangyankou searching for “gates” and “passes”.

We then proceeded to Laoyemiao (Old Father Temple) to walk the short Quanshuihe wall section, past Beigoucun thru Qingshuihe to Qianzi Castle village (provincial road S311). Initial bush fight to get to this not so impressionable wall section, a couple of difficult climb downs around huge rocks and descended upon reaching the road.

And back to Huangyankou for the night.

13/10. 08:03 – 17:20. Huangmenzi area. 14.8 km, 24,008 steps. TA 884m, MA 811m.

Started at the Barracks Tai (Yangjiatai – Huangmenmiao) entry point, along the Quanshuihe-Qiangzilu great wall. Turned out to be a very good hike – found some ancient bricks with inscribed characters. After some difficult review, decided to a take the fractured 6.3kg wall pavement brick with the embossed traditional Chinese character 東 (east) in reverse print. AL picked up another broken off battlement wall brick with the 河間 (between/among river) characters indicating the place the wall was built – most impressive.

We found many wall bricks with inscriptions, probably signifying either quality check, place of manufacture and/or reign of the Ming emperor. Of course it would be sacrilege to chisel these ancient items out of the wall – so much history.

Reached the end of the southern Qiangzilu GW, crossed to Xiaokoucun village and resumed the trek through Huadoudou to the end of Quanshuihe GW.

This is the most satisfying day of hiking and pretty much cover the Beijing wall.

Thanks for your audience and I shall compile the pictures of our travel in my final travellog.

Take care and have a good year.

Regards,

Hin

Comment:

Boon Chee Lee <xxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.com> Tue, Oct 22, 2013 at 5:45 PM

Dear THin,

Congrats. Thanks for all the notes and write-up. You won't believe me - at times, I felt "excited" (and envious, of course), just reading about your awesome adventure along the Great Wall!! You shd be back by now! Hope to see you soon in Kiara (but I shall be away from Thursday onwards to Bkt . Mertajam and perhaps Trang/Krabi till next Monday.

Take care,

PS Your last attached picture looked intimidating!

Thean Hin Ooi <ooithin@gmail.com> Tue, Oct 29, 2013 at 11:21 AM

Hi BC,

Sorry for belated response, still recovering from my strained right knee and left ankle. Next year's training at Kiara shall only start in 2014.

Last picture intimidating? ... only a state of mind ...... when you look back, then it's exhilarating that you have managed it ..... and if it's ahead, then it's excitingly challenging ...... state of mind of the moment....

Take care.

Rgds,

Hin

Boon Chee Lee <xxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.com> Wed, Oct 30, 2013 at 7:21 AM

Dear THin,

Sorry to hear that you had a sprained right knee and left ankle. Hope you shall recover quickly. Met Kiong yesterday and I was asking about you "when do we see Hin walking again?". Anyway, you take care.

Warm rgds,

PS I was away to Bkt Mertajam since last Thursday till this recent Monday!

Catherine Tay <xxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.com> Tue, Oct 22, 2013 at 9:16 PM

Bro, well done!!!

Thean Hin Ooi <ooithin@gmail.com> Wed, Oct 23, 2013 at 10:25 AM

thanks sis

Irene Tan <ixxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.com> Wed, Oct 23, 2013 at 10:25 AM

Hi Hin,

Thanks for sharing and taking us along with you on your arduous and wonderful journey.

Congrats on your mission completed!

Waiting eagerly for your next exciting journey.

Warmest regards,

Irene

Thean Hin Ooi <ooithin@gmail.com> Wed, Oct 23, 2013 at 10:27 AM

thanks for your interest and encouragements.

Martin Wee <xxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.com> Thu, Oct 24, 2013 at 8:23 PM

Dear Ooi ,

Firstly, let me offer my warmest congratulations to your amazing achievement in the physically, mentally and psychologically challenge across the Great Wall Of China.

Your incredible commitments, endurance and never give up spirit will serve a great source of motivation, encouragement and strength will surely spur many people to follow your astronomical feat.

When can we meet up for some wines and beers with my old UMW Toyota Motor good, close friend and former colleague in arms, Ong Chong Beng ( who is also an adventurer and global traveller of many definitions !! ) .

Please call me when you have rested and ready to socialise with human creatures !! Cheers and well done, Ooi !!!

Thean Hin Ooi <ooithin@gmail.com> Thu, Oct 24, 2013 at 10:05 PM

Hi Martin,

Be glad to catch up again.

Will let you know next week?

Take care.

Rgds,

Hin Mon,

C B Ong <xxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.com> Oct 28, 2013 at 3:12 PM

Hi Martin/Hin/LiLi,

I am OK for this week too. Can I suggest we meet at Le Delicas Cafe(opposite Meat Works) on Gr Flr Citta Mall (along Old Subang Airport Rd) at 7pm on Wed 30 Oct. Citta Mall is not crowded n we can have good conversation. There is plenty of free parking.

We can have good cafe food & good beer (German & Irish) there. The Cafe belongs to a New Zealander.

I am inviting James Lee who is my trekking pal to come along. We are keen to hear all about Hin's adventures !

Regards,

Chong Beng
Sent from my iPhone

Thean Hin Ooi <ooithin@gmail.com> Tue, Oct 29, 2013 at 1:53 PM

Hi CB,

Be glad to share my humble story: "C.O.U.N.T 1,000,000 steps".

May I suggest The Coffee Bean (TTDI Sinaran), TTDI (opposite Shell station/Affin Bank). Wednesday 30Oct, 8:30pm, instead.

Coffee would be just fine and it's nearer my place?

Rgds,

Hin

PS. My mobile: 012-3059836

C B Ong <xxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.com> Thu, Oct 31, 2013 at 12:15 PM

Hi Martin,
Just want to thank you for making our meeting with Hin last night possible. It was a case of learning pleasure for me about the Great Wall of China and its beauty. I also want to thank Hin for sharing his wonderful experience and his beautiful collection of photos & video with us. I am very tempted to follow Hin on his last & final leg towards accomplishing his COUNT vision in the name of Charity.

Martin, let's do this again with the Frenchman and this time I shall bring along my own wine glasses. I am sure between Hin,James & the Frenchman there will be a lot of interesting trekking experience to share. Who knows we may all end up in an adventure together one fine day !

In terms of timing, James will be away to China till mid Nov and so will I golfing in JKT. I have a week window from 18-22 Nov and hopefully you can make this meeting possible. After that I will be off again to HK.

We did not do justice to last night Brunello and I will bring it again on our next meeting together with another bottle of beautiful Amarone. These are two of Italian finest wines. Didn't think it's appropriate to bring French wine for the Frenchman !

So until we meet again, stay healthy,happy and continue living the Moments ! 😊😛😛😊

Regards
Chong Beng

PS: TQ again for the Toyota pens.

Thean Hin Ooi <ooithin@gmail.com> Thu, Oct 31, 2013 at 4:56 PM

CB/James,

Thanks for your time to listen to my story.

I'm amazed and fascinated by you and James's ambition and dream to scale Mt. Everest. I truly wish you both abundance of health and the fulfillment of your dream(s).

Take care and keep in touch.

Rgds,

Hin

James Lee <xxxxxxxxx@xxxxx.com> Thu, Oct 31, 2013 at 5:14 PM

Dear CB, Martin & Hin,

It has been an enjoyable night sharing the personal trekking experiences of Hin.

Hin - thank you so very much with your most interesting sharing on your

personal ventures of a very special kind and only with the Great Wall of China.

This is especially unique in that it is not any story one can read off a book,

it is without doubt a true story hard to come by.

Appreciate tremendously, do accept my most sincere word of thanks.

Thank you very much for your time and sharing with us.

Martin, thanks for your gift. Great meeting, feeling is certainly that given time to interact among ourselves much episodes on the human living ways, beliefs and facts of life can be enhanced and advanced. I hope.

Indeed looking forward to our next get together. Your French friend must have his most enticing one of a kind experience to share and to be savoured.

Real adventure storied coming out of the snowy European Alps are hardly without unique icy cheers and creamy excitements of soul tales to tell and talk about.

CB, much appreciated for a wonderful arrangement last night. My dash from Melaka last evening was all to do with right decision. Thanks for your effort.

Kind regards,

James