May 17, 2020

I was mentally preparing for a pre planned treacherous hike with my frequent hiker pals (all aged under 40 except 1..besides ME!) What can I expect from a name like “Suicide Cliff”? (About “Suicide Cliff”: https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.journeyera.com/kowloon-peak-hike-suicide-cliff/amp/) Ratings being “family friendly” & “moderate” difficulty. Ughhh….I had already hiked a previous 6 out of 10 rating 12 Kilometer mountain hike + 3 kilometers on flat ground to dinner which almost crashed my DNA. Friends made me work hard to eat!

Last Sunday, May 3, was 31 degrees outside, hot blazing sun, as we drove the long contemplative drive from HK to Sha Tin starting point at 2:00PM. My friends accommodated me to start late at 2:30PM cos I pleaded we can end up cooler! We were dropped off at the edge of an industrial overpass in the scorching sun, to meet our fellow hiking members, and I’m wondering I don’t see ANY mountains.. just streets & bridges. When I asked “where’s the mountain?, they point up high & way beyond all the huge apartment towers blocking the way.. to some VERY intimidating MASSIVE mountains! I took a BIG GULP of stifling HOT AIR. OMG.. how come we didn’t just drop off at foot of mountain? Everyone ignored me. Lucky I brought my sun reflecting GOLF umbrella.. My savior. Grudgingly stopped from complaining further, we proceeded to hike more than a mile just to get to the bottom of the mountain. I was huffing and puffing (only me) on these lower road hills just to get to the bottom START POINT of the VV HIGH MOUNTAIN. I was already exhausted and even HUNGRY but I already ate a big sandwich! It was FRIGGIN HOT..

FINALLY.. we got to the bottom of the MAIN MOUNTAIN.. I was almost in tears b4 I started! I was already miserable trying to take the 1st steps going up what seemed such a steep staircase… I only managed about 100 excruciating meters …. and then.. I just couldn’t go any further.. BOO HOO! My friend was trying to push from behind, even pulling me by my umbrella, but the big OX just could not move! I wanted to vomit. The rest of the group disappeared above us already. Many hikers much older than me climbing swiftly past (so embarrassing!). At that moment, I waved my white flag and threw in the towel in shameful DEFEAT.. I’ve climbed more difficult routes, but it was just so hot I couldn’t breathe.

So I dizzily announced to my friend I MUST GIVE UP and leave the group so I don’t pull them back. He was so determined to help me, but noticed my lips were turning BLUE. He was kind to take me back 100 meters, & I managed to push him back to his friends.. I gave him all my drinks, and took only 1 small bottle of water. When I saw him walk back, I felt deflated while drowning in sweat & disappointment. I wondered how my friends would make it up as it was supposed to be a 4 to 5 hour hike, and how I was going to make it home b4 sundown. I had NO IDEA where the heck I was, in HK or KLN even. I started walking aimlessly down the hill to find some life.

Just letting U know how I looked that day. I got down from the Mountain area and started looking for a direction to go in!

I have the worst GPS system and can turn the wrong direction getting off a LIFT. I suddenly felt excited as I remembered when I was in New Zealand shooting a movie, had a day off alone, so I rented a car and start driving somewhere I didn’t plan, with no schedule, no direction, expecting nothing, but hoping for pleasant surprises. I ended up on a beautiful homes area with lovely sea views, nature, and bought a lunch to eat, had a great time and found my way back just trusting to follow my heart.
Walking back down about 15 minutes, feeling much better now, I saw a bus stop wishing I knew which bus to take since Lam was such a fan. Not brave enough. I decided to try walking back to where we were dropped off. There were many underpasses for pedestrians so I quieted my heart to guide me in the right direction. I was feeling the soft warm breeze but blazing sun, and was happy again for my friend, UMBRELLA. I started to get a pace going and after about 20 minutes discovered a lovely tree lined cycling path next to a walking path with a river view. VERY NICE!!

Time was about 3:15PM. I thought hey.. I came here to hike..I might have failed to climb the mountain, but I can still walk on this beautiful path, so I started exploring my own exciting journey. I kept my pace and after 25 minutes, suddenly had to go to the bathroom, thinking where in the world would I ever FIND ONE!! The oasis appeared miraculously, walking right past a public sports facility with incredibly clean bathrooms and FREE TOILET PAPER! I felt SO BLESSED!!

I now felt like I had an ENERGY BURST…I just kept on going enjoying just everything in my path & didn’t feel like HK was in a pandemic or state of emergency at all… I only realize wow.. HK pple are so healthy! It felt VERY FRESH! Birds were flying and singing, happy families with children chatting & exercising, just living LIFE.

By 4 something… I started thinking of how I was going to get home.. I had played with MTR thought but was worried bout my GPS, but keen for the adventure of finding my way home. I stopped to ask a resting biker texting. Still staring at his phone, he told me there is NO MTR around here. NO MTR? IN HK? HOW? I said Thank you and asked another resting biker. He looked at me very puzzled, thinking hard and said the same, no MTR around here.. U have to go into the other side, where the buildings are. I just didn’t believe it.. HK has MTR’s everywhere! Trudging on.. I saw the bike path winding to a right winding down turn somewhere further so followed my heart LEFT out onto a main street instead with busy traffic whizzing by. Seeing a big traffic sign for Kowloon East with a TUNNEL so at least I’m near a tunnel! I kept going, and finally saw THE SIGN! I quickly sent a photo & text to my PA Rebecca who thought I was still on the mountain, Is this an MTR sign? Does that mean an MTR is nearby? She text back YES!! Yayyy!!

I galloped ahead and reached….TA DAAAA… at 4:59pm arrived at Che Kung Temple Station!!!! I made it!

From there it was super FUN.. I consulted Becca for my route..she directed me to explore the big route board to go from Che Kung to Diamond Hill Green..to Prince Edward Red.. to Admiralty Blue, to CWB then Exit A to Times Square.

I thought Exit A was another train but it was a long, winding underground walk to the exit and there I was, emerging in Times Square!

It was about 6:00PM by then and total cost for such a long journey by MTR only $16 total!!! How amazing is that!? Taking a 2 hour walk, & 1 hour travel on public transport half way around HK Island with only 1 small bottle of water, & $16 HKD?? I don’t think we can find this anywhere in the world!! When I got to TS, I still had some energy left so I decided to walk home & even went up a big hill just to make up for the hill I didn’t climb.. I made it home by 7:00PM & went to the hospital to eat with Mom. Perfect!

What could have been a completely miserable HOT day turned into a most DIVINELY ENCHANTING exciting experiences I’ve had in a long while!!! I started alone in unknown territory, and all I did was follow my heart & gut, TRUSTING with FAITH that the Universe, & Becca, would gently guide me back home! It was truly invigorating!

Another happy discovery & appreciation was how efficiently well planned many districts are. All were immensely clean, well managed, different color tone for each station, impossible to get lost, and bustling travellers were proper, law abiding, all having a happy Sunday with their friends and loved ones. I have to say each station was People Mountain, People Sea. The whole of HK takes the MTR bcos it’s just a wonderfully efficient & privilege mode of transport! The endless, beautiful, winding, nature rich bike and walking path, with the vast river accent is meticulously designed for the people of HK to enjoy, the leisure exercise with several small parks off-side the paths to enjoy, very clean restrooms, under freeway pedestrian crossings to shopping malls & apartment complexes opposite the health boosting outdoors provided.

HK is actually so compact.. it’s probably not easy to get lost, as all roads are designed so meticulously. Everything is so accessible and there is a FLOW of what is natural and manmade merging together in remarkable harmony.. but most of all .. it’s all so enjoyable, even on such a hot, humid day. I felt so very BLESSED during this carefree journey, and realized that we all CREATE our OWN JOY! We can choose to be deflated and defeated by what seemed impossible for me, but, it was POSSIBLE to magically conjure another alternative and, I still enjoyed that burst of energy & accomplishment for a full two days after! What if we applied this to all aspects of our life!!?? Wouldn’t that be wonderful?

As I reached the MTR, my friends also reached their beautiful HEAVEN IN HKG Destination! Look how amazingly beautiful this incredible view is!

Hong Kong is full of these abstract trails with fantastic mapping routes which provide GOD’s VIEW FROM HEAVEN ABOVE! We are so privileged to have so many stunning trails to walk with a unique experience on every trail not seen anywhere else.. there is so much to offer in Hong Kong and it will take a whole year to finish walking them.. I’m eager to explore and will get myself fitter and ready for the Autumn to tackle one a week!
Hey everyone.. if U have all read to the end of this long article, please see the song which I was inspired to post with the article… then it became a journey to tell a story after Vicky tenderly post some photos to go along with the video.. then we really got into it and put something we felt very interesting together.. hope you will like to share it with us and please share it with your friends and family too!

Thank youuuu ALL!!!!

Link to the Video I would like to share with all of you: https://www.facebook.com/yehsally/posts/10158121318053605

​​我之前在為一次計劃已久的高難度徒步做着心理準備，同行的是經常一起徒步的好友們（除了另外一個人以及我之外，其餘的人年紀都在40歲以下！）。對一個像 “Suicide Cliff (自殺懸崖)” 這樣的名字，我還能怎麼想呢？(關於 “Suicide Cliff” 更多信息，請訪問: https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.journeyera.com/kowloon-peak-hike-suicide-cliff/amp/) 對它的評價是“家庭友好”且“中等”難度。嗯……我之前試過徒步走一次評分是6分（滿分10分）的12公里山地，然後為了去吃晚飯又多走了3公里平地，差點壓垮了我的DNA。我的朋友們讓我拚命運動才給我吃東西！

上周日，5月3日，氣溫31度，烈日炎炎。按照計劃，下午兩點的時候我們應該開車從香港到沙田。朋友們對我很寬容，允許我晚一點，等到兩點半再出發，因為我希望結束的時候能更涼快些！我們在一個工業天橋的旁邊下了車，和其他的朋友會合，當時仍然是烈日當頭。我覺得很奇怪，因為我什麼山都沒有看到，只看到了街道和橋。當我問說“山在哪兒？”，他們抬手往高處一指，越過那高聳到完全擋住我視線的公寓樓……我看到了高得嚇人的大山！立刻深吸了一口氣，連吸進去空氣都是呼呼熱的。天啊……我們為什麼不能到了山腳再下車呢？！大家都選擇無視我。幸好我帶了一把防晒遮陽傘，簡直是我的救命恩人。我只好忍住了滿心抱怨。又走了一里多路，才到達了山下。只是走完這些平路，才到達這座超！大！山！的山腳，我就氣喘吁吁了（也只有我在氣喘吁吁）。那會兒已經感到累慘了，甚至有些餓，儘管我已經吃過一個大份三明治了！真是！太！熱！了！……

終！於！……我們到了主峰的腳下……都還沒開始徒步，我就差點要暴哭！才嘗試去爬第一級台階，我就覺得好苦啊，那些台階看起來真的很陡……我只走了一百多米吧……然後……就覺得再也走不了了……BOO HOO！我的朋友們試着從後面推我，甚至拉着我的傘拖我往前走，但我這頭壯牛根本就動不了！累到想吐。隊伍中其他人已經消失在我們上方。很多比我年長的人都很迅速地從我身邊走過（好丟人呀！）。那一刻，我只好舉白旗投降，把頭埋進毛巾里……其實我也曾經爬過比這更難的路線，但是那天實在是太熱了，簡直讓人喘不過氣。

於是我頭暈腦脹地對一個朋友說，我必須得放棄了，跟大家分開走，免得拖累其他人。他下定決心想幫我，但是他看到我的嘴唇都藍了, 於是好心地把我往回帶了一百米，我還是把他推回了他朋友身邊……我把我的飲料都給了他，只帶了一小瓶水。看到他往回走的時候，我覺得很泄氣，整個人淹沒在汗水和失望里。我想知道我的朋友們怎樣完成這段預計耗時四五個小時的徒步，以及我又該如何在日落之前回到家。我根本不知道自己到底在哪，是在港島還是九龍? 我開始漫無目的地往山下走看看是不是能看到些人，但我的方向感簡直宇宙最差，平時出個電梯都能走錯方向。不過我也突然感覺有點興奮，因為我回憶起曾經在新西蘭拍電影，不用開工的一天，我就租了一輛車，隨意地開，沒什麼計劃，沒有時間表，也沒有方向，沒什麼明確的目的地，但是希望能遇到驚喜。最後，我開到了一個很美的住宅區，有着怡人的海景和自然風光，買了午餐，度過了一段美好的時光，最後跟隨着內心走，找到了回去的路。

往回走了大概十五分鐘，我感覺好多了。看到了一個巴士站，我希望我知道應該坐哪輛車，畢竟Lam如此愛坐大巴。但是我沒這麼大膽。只能試着走回之前下車的地方。那裡有很多地下行人通道，所以我靜下心來，讓它帶我去正確的方向。我能夠感覺到柔和溫暖的風，而不是烈日了，這時候我再一次為擁有我的朋友——遮陽傘——感到慶幸。於是我加快了步伐，大概二十分鐘后，看到了一條有樹蔭的自行車道，旁邊是能看得到河邊景色的人行道。好棒呀！那會兒大約是下午3：15了。我還在想，哼哼，我是來這裡徒步的……雖然沒能爬上山，但是我仍然能在這條美麗的小路上散步啊。於是我開始探索這次屬於自己的激動人心的旅程。我保持步速走了25分鐘，突然想去洗手間，想着這可去哪裡找一個啊！但是天降奇迹！居然被我路過了一個體育場，不僅有超乾淨的洗手間，還有免費的手紙！我真是如有神助哎！

現在我覺得自己的能量好像迸發了一樣……我只是繼續走着，享受着路途上的一切，並且完全不覺得香港正被疫情籠罩或是緊急狀態……我只覺得，哇……香港的人們是如此健康！這感覺是如此煥然一新！鳥兒在飛着，唱着，幸福的家人和孩子們在一起聊天、運動，就是這樣生活着。

到四點多的時候……我開始思考該怎麼回家……我有想過坐地鐵，但是又擔心我糟糕的方向感，然而又暗暗期待這個找到回家路的冒險。我停下來問了一個正在路邊發信息的騎行者。他都沒抬頭，直接回答我說這附近沒有地鐵。沒有地鐵？在香港？怎麼會呢？我向他道了謝，然後問了另外一個正在休息的騎行者。他困惑地看着我，想了半天，給出了同樣的答案：這附近真沒有地鐵……你得往另一邊走，走去有樓的地方。我還是難以置信……香港明明到處都有地鐵！走着走着……看到單車道在前面向右轉了，於是我跟隨自己的心意，走出了單車道，來到了一條車水馬龍的主幹道上。我看到了一個醒目的九龍東的交通標誌，有一個隧道的符號，所以至少我都離隧道很近了！我繼續往前走，終於看到了那個標誌！我連忙拍了張照片，把圖片發給了我的助理Rebecca（她以為我還在山上），問她這是不是地鐵的標誌？這是不是代表附近就有地鐵了？她回信息給我說是的！！耶！！我飛奔向前走，終於到了……TA DAAA……在下午4：59分到達了車公廟站！！！！我做到啦！

從那裡開始就超級好玩了……我問了Becca路線，她告訴我去看大的路線牌，從車公廟轉綠線到鑽石山站……到紅線的太子站……到藍線的金鐘站，到銅鑼灣后從A出口到達時代廣場。我以為A出口連接的是另一輛地鐵，但是它是一條綿長而蜿蜒的地下路，一直通往出口。到達出口就是時代廣場啦！那會兒差不多是下午6點了。這麼長的一段地鐵路程，居然只要16元！！！太了不起了吧？！2個小時的步行，1個小時使用公共交通工具足足饒了香港島大半圈，需要的無非一小瓶水，再加上16塊錢？？世界上應該找不到其他這樣的地方了！！到達時代廣場后，我感覺自己體力還行，所以決定走路回家，我甚至選了一條在大山坡上的路，來彌補我今天沒有爬到山的遺憾……終於在晚上7點的時候到了家，然後去醫院跟媽媽一起吃飯。太棒了！

那本來可能是徹頭徹尾狼狽痛苦又熱到爆的一天，但是卻變成了很長一段時間以來最令我心神陶醉，又激動人心的一次經歷！！獨自一人，從一個未知的地方出發，憑着內心和直覺，秉持着信念，相信宇宙和Becca會溫柔地將我指引回家！真是好振奮人心呀！

另一個讓人快樂、欣喜的大發現：這些地區的規劃是多麼高效。所有的地方都那麼乾淨，管理得當，用不同的顏色標識不同的站點，讓你幾乎不可能迷路。而且熙熙攘攘的行人都很有序、守法，在周日的時光里和他們的朋友親人一起度過愉快的時光。不得不說，每一站地鐵都是人山人海。而所有的人都願意搭乘地鐵，是因為這真的是一種非常高效而優越的出行方式！那些有着一望無垠、秀美而蜿蜒的、包含大自然氣息的自行車道和人行道，旁邊是寬闊的河流，這都是精心設計的景觀，全供香港市民欣賞。休閑運動的同時，路邊也有幾個小公園可以休憩，還有着乾淨整潔的洗手間。高速公路下的人行通道可以直達商場和公寓，為大家提供了健康的戶外運動場所。

香港是如此的擁擠……可都不容易迷路，因為每條道路都是精心設計的。但一切都是如此的方便，自然與人造以異常和諧的方式融合在了一起……最重要的是，我們可以享受這一切。即使是在這樣炎熱潮濕的天氣里，也是如此。在這次無憂無慮的旅程中，我感到十分幸運，也更意識到我們隨時都能夠創造屬於自己的快樂！我們可以選擇為自己做不到的事沮喪或感到挫敗，但是，也可以奇迹般地走出另一條道路。而且，即使是在兩天之後，我也仍然沉浸在那種迸發的能量與成就感中！如果我們把它放到生活的方方面面去，會怎麼樣呢？！難道不是很美妙嗎？

當我到達地鐵站時，我的朋友們也到達了他們美麗的“香港天堂”目的地！ 看看這個令人難以置信的景色多麼美麗！

香港到處都是這些抽象的行山徑，還有奇妙的地圖路線，可提供好似神從天而降的景緻！ 我們非常榮幸能擁有如此多的令人驚嘆的行山徑，每條路徑都為步行者帶來獨特的體驗… 這在其他地方非常罕見。香港有太多的選擇，要花整整一年的時間才能走完所有這些路徑。我渴望繼續探索，令自己變得更健康，為到秋天的時候可以每週探索一條路徑而做好準備！

Hey everyone.. 如果您已經讀到了這篇長文章的結尾，那也請一定記得去看我被這次經歷啟發而想與這篇文章一起同大家分享的一首歌…… 在Vicky溫暖地在歌曲視頻中添加了一些照片之後，這變成了一個來講故事的旅程… 逐漸這，我們越來越投入其中，將我們覺得非常有趣的一些東西放在一起… 希望大家可以與我們一起分享它，也請與您的朋友和家人分享！ 謝謝大家！！！！

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