Saturday, March 27, 2010

My long awaited sport: Rock/wall climbing!!!

Finally I made it to do one of the sport (if you consider it sport too) i have been dreaming of!!! Yeah, it’s rock climbing!!! Never thought that I would do it here in Adelaide, Australia. I used to see pictures of amazing climbs from National geographic though just glimpse of people doing it for National parks e.g Yosemite NP and then seeing people doing indoor climbing at 1U. The thought of going for a course in 1U was tempting at one point, but this activity in Malaysia just haven’t been promoted enough, plus you don’t get it everywhere, thus EXPENSIVE for a student like me!!! Which is also why part of the reason I love to climb/hike Bukit Tabur due to its limestone rocky terrain that allow one some rock scrambling.

IMG_1182IMG_1161

Sure enough when I heard of AUMC (Adelaide University Mountaineering club), one of their main activity is rock climbing and that alone tempted me to join them, in which I did in July 2009. I join them as a board committee hoping I would meet more people with same interest and learn as much as I can from them. But it wasn’t until late November 2009 that I finally step foot into the indoor gym at Holden Hill to give it a try. Thanks to Johno again for offering to provide me transport otherwise I don’t think i would have went because time wise it must be Tuesday or Thursday to enjoy the AUMC member discount and also to meet other AUMC members that could climb with you and worst still, it’s heaps far from my house though I can take the bus (transit 2x), the problem to me would be going back at night after climbing. I’m just too lazy to get out from work to catch the bus to gym and go back alone after a tiring climb.

Compared to Malaysia, Australia is more of a nature paradise for rock climbing, I meant OUTDOOR rock climbing. They have one of the world’s best spot for rock climbing in the Grampians, Victoria especially the Arapiles!!! That answers why many Aussies boys and girls like rock climbing.

Bouldering (pics below)….climbing without ropes!!!
IMG_1224IMG_1225IMG_1226

Anyway, my first climb was an exciting one. There really are many people in the gym as expected, and of course the walls that soar to the roof really excites me but scared me in the same way as it was something I long to do but somehow when I faced it, I was really pondering CAN I?? after all, body wise I’m not fit and I’m not tall. The world’s best climbers usually have fit body and quite tall, understandable because they need the arm strength and the height to help them reach the next hole.  Then the next minute, i was trying to fit a harness on me, knowing that I’m super skinny, luckily I found one that I can still fit in not so badly. I did not try on the climbing shoes as I thought my old sport shoes will be fine (which turned out quite alright though not ideal).  Luckily AUMC provide free gears otherwise I have to hire one at the counter which would make the climb less attractive and more expensive , haha.
IMG_1223

I have to go through an short induction course to learn how to make sure the harness is tight enough, how to belay (Turn a rope round an object or person in order to secure it or him) and the idea of safe climbing. The training was not hard, and the climbing in the gym is always the top rope type which is the safest of all types. By the way, the walls are all graded from the easiest i think is 8 to grad 24 or 27, cant remember exactly. The grading is shown by the different colours of the holes you need to follow in order to get to the top of the wall and some walls are particularly hard because of the overhang.

As I watch my friend went up and down, finally it was my turn, they picked one easier route for me and encouraged me to climb, haha. I must say I was a bit delaying, a bit nervous too. By the way, the climbing must be carried out in a pair, u climb, the other one making sure u are safe on top :)

Johno climbing Grade17 and 18.
IMG_1162IMG_1165IMG_1173

Luckily I was not that bad and clumsy, and the whole process was very safe (if you belay correctly), haha. But it did took a while to make it the top partly because I’m not used to it, plus you have to work out how to reach the holes, change your hand or leg position, to find the best way to go up. Of course, the easier grade provides more holes or easier reach holes than the higher grades.

Me doing a Grade 9/10 (on the far left)
IMG_1185

Then they said try this and that, in which some I have to give up because i just can’t reach the next hole after multiple try. Rock climbing isn’t just about using strength physically but also testing you mentally. You have to climb smartly to avoid stressing your arms or legs, it’s about balancing yourself in the top air, so that you don’t leave one arm hanging, or pulling one leg’s muscle…etc. That’s why MANY AUSSIES LOVE IT!!! It’s about conquering yourself!!! haha.

Me attempting to do a Grade 11 (pics below). Tried a few times because there’s always one part where I just can’t reach it, FINALLY I made it to the top. Must say thanks to Leigh and Johno waiting for me to hang around in the mid air taking my time to regain back my energy. Today I could only do Grade 11, and that strain my arms, shoulders and legs so much, haha. Have to do lots of chin ups to train my arms. By the way, being NOT TALL enough is a major disadvantage unless you have STRONG arms that can carry your weight, because it’s just so PATHETIC that due to one higher up hole that you can’t reach and you are forced to either jump to grab that hole which seriously strain your energy or give up which I hated the most. You would just be thinking, how good if I’m a bit taller!!!!!
IMG_1186 IMG_1191 IMG_1196 IMG_1200 IMG_1202 IMG_1218

Johno trying to do a Grade 20/22 through a bit of overhang type.
IMG_1222    

Though I did not do many climbs today, but it was SERIOUS GREAT FUN, I LOVE IT but just took me a lot of energy, and they did it every week!!! I knew I can’t. Haha. I need probably at least 2 weeks to regain energy and relieve my sore arms & legs, haha.

Well, first climb is just a start for me, hope to do more in 2010 and possibly kick some ass at outdoor rock climbing, yeah!!! Arghhhhh, my fingers!!!!
IMG_1229 IMG_1236

Sunday, March 21, 2010

Marino-Seacliff-Brighton Coastal walk, yeah!!!! 12th dec 2009

Woke up later than I thought, hmmm,….. should i to go Port Willunga and Maslin beach, until i decided, i was pretty much in a rush, saw the wrong timetable, walked the wrong st to the wrong bus stop (have a short glance on google map), so i ended up delaying and walked into this bonsai garden selling bonsais.

Quite a pretty well organized and planted bonsais :)
IMG_0786 IMG_0787

This owner even built a house for pigeons, not sure is wild or tamed ones.
IMG_0789 IMG_0795 IMG_0796 IMG_0798 IMG_0799 \

Walked pass this house which somehow seem to me like a chocolate house, haha.
IMG_0800 IMG_0801

Finally got on the bus, but the bus was late for the next bus i needed to catch, #@%^%$&*…… luckily i have back up plans. Catch the train, and went to Marino conservation park!!! Which turned up to be very well!!! As this conservation park is located quite near to the coastal, as i walked uphill, the coastal sight cheered me up from the shitty bus, haha.
IMG_0802 IMG_0807 IMG_0808  IMG_0810

The dried grass was all slanted to one side due to the wind from the coast. And out of these dry dry grass, there turned up to be some pretty wild flowers!!!
IMG_0811  IMG_0823

As i went up higher, the view was just FANSTATIC. The pictures below can hardly do the view justice!!!
pano1IMG_0825IMG_0834
IMG_0850

On top of the hill is a lighthouse which i’m no sure is still functioning or not. My frind told me he and his friends used to climb up here to hang around to view the nightline of the coastal, which will be something i will do in the near future, hehe.
IMG_0851 IMG_0868 IMG_0872 IMG_0877

JUST LOVE THESE PICS that i took!!!!! Din thought that the effect looked so incredible!!!
IMG_0878 IMG_0880 IMG_0882 IMG_0891

The lighthouse. The fences that marks the boundaries of the park. The fences became my shooting theme, haha. Love them!!!
IMG_0894 IMG_0903 IMG_0907 IMG_0914  IMG_0928   IMG_0934

Saw a ‘truck’ that looked to me like toy when i saw it, i quickly grabbed my camera to shoot it. This “truck” just look so CUTE in this picture, LOL. Love it too.
IMG_0936  IMG_0941 IMG_0942 IMG_0947 IMG_0955

Me acting COOOOOOOOOOOOOOL, :)
IMG_0969

Continue my walk down the coast, saw this house (lower left pic). Wished i owned it, haha. An open balcony overlooking over the coast!!!

Reached Seacliff…
IMG_0972 IMG_0977 IMG_0978 IMG_0979

Family time…… NOW THAT’s a GOOD DADDY with his kid (lower right pic)!!!!
 IMG_0986IMG_1002

Seagulls…..cool vs what ya looking at!!!
IMG_1016  IMG_1018 IMG_1030 IMG_1034

2 thumbs up for the one leg handicapped seagull (lower right pic)!!!
IMG_1035 IMG_1038

Simple yet elegant!!!!
IMG_1071
IMG_1073 IMG_1075

Beautiful clouds and multi-storey holiday villas along the beaches!!!
IMG_1079 IMG_1083 IMG_1093 IMG_1094

Fun time at the beach…:)
IMG_1105
IMG_1113 IMG_1116

Serious shit lots of caravans!!!
IMG_1119 IMG_1120  IMG_1132 IMG_1134

Finally reached Brighton, it’s getting dark, haha.
IMG_1142 IMG_1145 IMG_1151 IMG_1152

The Marino lighthouse from Brighton (bottom left pic) :). Love the coastal walk, will do a coastal jog when i’m in the mood from Hallet Cove to Brighton!!!
IMG_1158 IMG_1159