Excursion (a Sunday getaway from hectic activities to basically tire myself out)

It's been some time since the last time I wrote my thoughts here. Hectic days - teaching and working have been what my days are full of. As if I couldn't tire myself enough, today, I went to Mount Sibayak for hiking. Maggie convinced me to join even though I knew I would be knackered. I have a lot of students to teach and work to do on Monday so I didn't know what I was thinking when I said yes to her for this hiking trip.

The troops consist of Maggie, Meilina, Marisa, Diana, and Sam. Cameron and Andi cancelled joining due to some stomach bugs. There was no toilet in the mountain, obviously. It rained heavily this morning, yet my excitement did not subside. Afterall the downpour was washing away the lingering heat. Packed with my jacket, a hat, and a tongsis (monopod/ read: narcissistic stick) to take a wider range of picture, I was more than prepared to embark on this journey.

That preparation, however, did not include not drinking much water and pee before getting on the bus. After one-hour ride on the bus, I knew I could not stand it anymore. I just needed to pee so bad. I asked Maggie to nudge Suryadi (her friend, the organizer of this tour) to stop at any gas station so I could use the toilet. Like a balloon that was growing larger and larger, about to burst, my need to pee was twice as explosive as that. No, I am not exaggerating. The driver had been notified and maybe he thought I was just joking, several toilets were passed and I was crying inside. Finally, I told them I would pee on the bus if I did not get the toilet to use. I was relieved that eventually I was heard. They stopped by a small diner, and I was able to do my stuff.
The journey went on, pretty uneventful. We arrived at Sidebu-Debu hot spring. It was also a bus parking area. Our journey began here.

I was walking allright at first, pacing slowly, breathing properly, enjoying the nature and fresh air. It lasted 15 minutes. When I started to climb stairs that seemed endless, hike the seemingly impossible pathways, my excitement flew away with the birds in the sky. HIKING IS NOT EASY, what am I thinking? Why can't I spend my Sundays like a normal person. Either I teach the whole day or hike. I HAVE TO ALWAYS TIRE MYSELF OUT. Why why why? These self-blaming thoughts ran inside my mind, squeezing my brain, my breath was short and I was panting. I was not able to hike more, I kept taking a break and I felt so bad to make Maggie and Yupitera (the other guide and also Maggie's friend) wait for me. I had also gulped down the one water bottle I took.

I oscillated betwen going back or  going on and after a long and arduous 1 hour of hiking, my legs had turned jelly. No matter how hard I tried to climb and walk, my legs were crying. The legs had the mind of their own, pleading me to stop. So I did. 

I told Yupitera and Maggie I could not make it to the summit. I asked them to go on climbing and I would go back on my own. Being a polite and nice guy, Yupitera insisted on joining me while Maggie, continued the journey.

Going down was so much easier. I was not fighting the gravity and I enjoyed it more.I wish I had not been this weak but lack of exercise, no breakfast contributed to all of this vulnerability. Yupitera and I reached the buses area and we found a place to drink and eat our lunch. Conversation with him was interesting and it helped to cope with my disappointment for giving up.
A few hours went by and we had to fetch the others from a certain spot. On my way there, this time on the bus, I had a chance to take a picture of this view.

I am sure the view they took from the top of the mountain was very beautiful but I was more than satisfied to enjoy this one for today. It is more than a pretty picture on postcards.

They arrived at the spot and we decided to grab some corns in the Penatapan (Viewing area) at  Brastagi and I got to enjoy another breathtaking view there. The weather was very cold, though.

We went back to the bus soon after and despite the long traffic we faced on our way back to Medan, I am sure today has been a fun day for everyone.

Hiking Mount Sibayak = Mission Accomplished failed.

Lake Toba trip 2012

I feel blessed that there was a holiday on last Friday due to the "Seclusion day" that Hindu believers have to practise. That means, holiday for me. My workmates and I went on a trip to Lake Toba. It was 3 days and two nights stay there, and it's definitely not enough for me. This place easily overcome even the most pretentious list of the ten most beautiful lakes,if more people actually knew it existed, but hey, when I got there, especially to Tuk-Tuk, I saw many foreigners there, compared to last time I came here, there were only view.So from Parapat, we crossed  to Tuk-Tuk located in Samosir island using regular ferry.  
I went biking, and believe me, I was running out of breath that fast, reminding how feeble I have become. I do need to bike more often! >_< Check out some of the pics I took there. How breathtaking views they are!