Hope and dreams propel and sustain us in our pursuit of a happier life. The challenge for us is to wake up from a dream and turn it into a dare – the courage to do something.

 

This is the journey of my dream – walk the 10,000 “li” (万里长城) Ming Great Wall of China from Jiayuguan (嘉峪关) in the west, to Shanhaiguan (山海关) on the coast in the east – each year targeting to complete 1,000,000 steps, with the expressed aim of promoting the awareness of C.O.U.N.T (Compassion, Optimism, Unity, Nature and Tomorrow).

 

“It is most enlightening to witness live, the beauty of the new crescent moon beside the lone bright North star at 6am with the Great Wall and the Shandan mountain silhouetted against the orange rising sun, walking through the fields of bowing yellow sunflowers, the saluting and listening corns, the herds of 2-humped camels, the smiling faces of villagers and children awaiting the return of their sheep, goats, donkeys, horses from pastures up in the hills across a setting sun.”

 

I grew up in the state of Kedah, Malaysia, spent 10 years in the UK – learning and working; another 10 years in Singapore working regionally and returned to Malaysia in 1993. After more than 30 years of corporate life, I retired to resume my innate passion of wanderlust.

 

In the last 6 years, I have spent months trekking the Great Wall of China, experiencing great humility, humanness and learning the simplicity of humanity.

 

I hope to complete my walk in my next trip, trekking the section from Yumu Lingcun (榆木岭村) in East Hebei to Laolongtaou (老龙头) by the Bohai Sea (渤海).