<p>As the title goes. Thanks!! </p>
<p>The cold and chilling wind blew into my face as I exhausted my every ounce of energy to hoist myself up the white rope. I was just meters vertically away from the peak that I have strived so much to reach over that two days. These were however, the most daunting meters to cover as I struggled against altitude sickness, the icy weather and fatigue. I held my breath and edged further upwards towards it, which was by then congregated with mountaineers who succeeded. By now, the morning sun was gradually rising, illuminating the entire spectacular Borneo right before me, amidst the view being shrouded by fluffy clouds. This eventful journey, my first, on Mount Kinabalu has been a stimulating one as I soaked in the rich biodiversity of the flora and fauna, pastoral and surreal landscape spiced with transient animal calls , all at this fabulous world heritage site. </p>
<p>Soaking in the rich coffers of nature has been a fervent aspiration of mine to indulge and appreciate the surroundings. Being in this urban, competitive lifestyle since young, I have never let myself be a caged bird when it comes to seeking out exotic activities that thrill me. I love and crave adventure. I do not like to be confined to monotonous routine. Doing so makes me restless. I need to get my hands dirty. Cycling 100 km from Hualien to Taitung at Taiwan, cross island kayaking in the straits of Johor to long distance hiking, I have done them all. Muscles ache and weariness do slow me, but the peace of mind that such adventure offers is worth any and all the pain. Such enjoyment and exposure can never be compensated in material sense. At the end of it all, sipping a nice warm cup of tea after a long day of activity simply overwhelms the experience of being in a five star resort or hotel. </p>
<p>Time comes to a slow whenever I embark on such trips. It is like an addictive drug that flushes out my unhappiness together with my perspiration while allowing me to straighten out my thoughts, suppressing any anxiety within me. My creative juices start running again without being held back by the practical needs of academic results, research and co-curricular activities, some of the many frustration of student life. I am able to dream, and build sandcastles in thin air, something so simple but lacking among city dwellers in the urbanized place (Singapore) I hail from. Yet at the same time, I feel my endurance spiking to new levels as the surge of adrenaline sharpens my perseverance that pushes me beyond my personal boundaries to the end point. This end point paradoxically also serves as a starting mark for my enriched and newly charged up mind to embark on the next phase of the challenges of life.</p>
<p>As for now, where shall I go next? Climbing the Great Wall in China or scuba diving in the cool waters of Pulau Tioman, Malaysia?</p>