1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour #377 - Everest Base Camp @ 5364m, Day8

1001 Places/Experiences to See or Savour After Remission #377

- Lobuche to Gorak Shep to Everest Base Camp @ 5364m, Day8

 

(On Day8 and after a gruelling 10-hrs of almost non-stop trekking via Gorak Shep village, we reached Everest Base Camp, the world's highest base camp! It took everything out of us - at one point with 40minutes left to reach EBC, we were asking ourselves if we should continue. The gloom of the day, with cold wind, rain and then snow beating down on us and the failing daylight, we were seriously on the brink of calling it a day. Just look at the moon-like landscape we had to traverse - see video. But we summoned up enough strength to make it to the EBC 'summit' - surely, the most physically and mentally challenging thing we have ever done. But what a most fulfilling adventure it had been! Everest Base Camp - been there, done it, post-chemo, post-cancer. Just so, so happy - and proud of myself!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My 10th Anniversary "Beating Cancer" Holiday..

This is my 10th Anniversary "Beating Cancer" Holiday, and it's a whopper!

Out in the Alaskan wilderness and on Celebrity Cruises' #1 attraction, the top highlights for me were big indeed - the majestic humpback whale and the powerful brown bear. Their raw power inspires me..to continue fighting the big C, to continue experiencing this wonderful world - there is so much life out there to savour still.

What a warm glow of happiness and love emanating from this entire holiday...hmm..so cool, so endearing..(as this video shows..)

Celebrating my 8th Year, Cancer-free!

My 8th year of remission:
I celebrated it with our travel to the furthest spot on Earth that we have ever travelled to..Brazil and Peru!

 

 

 

 

And being able to complete that climb up to Huayna Picchu, to look down on Machu Picchu from 300m high up, even with my numb toes today? That was my pinnacle in achievement, my symbolic victory over cancer!

Follow me to South America on this video clip, from the mighty Iguazzu Falls in both Argentina and Brazil, to the magnificent Machu Picchu and Huayna Picchu, and onwards to the awe-inspiring Christ the Redeemer and the beautiful Copacabana in Rio! Enjoy this Peruvian treasure-song, El Condor Pasa, from the traditional windpipes of a Peruvian performer at the Sacred Valley,Urubamba ..

Exotic Eastern Europe - mystery, beauty

The mystery and history of Eastern Europe came to me under the cover of the coldest winter in 28 years. First, it was -7C in Prague, and then it went down to a brain-freezing -18C in Krakow..wow!

But without that deep chill, I wouldn't have picked up my first fox-skin ruskie-hat in Krakow, or brought the true horror of the Holocaust into reality..deep winter in striped pyjamas for the millions who perished in concentraion camps across Poland, Austria and the Czech Republic. What an experience indeed.

And then the beauty of Eastern Europe unfolds - exotic Prague, the Berlin Wall, the "Buda" and "Pest" sides of that beautiful city, followed by Vienna and Strasbourg. The contrast between the past and now for these cities is amazing and must be there to really appreciate it. Try to be there, for at least once in your life, if you can. Especially, in winter.

Hanoi and Halong Bay - "Heaven & Earth"

The raw beauty of Hanoi and Halong Bay is simply captivating!
Perhaps it's the cool weather that surprised me. Or perhaps it's the old beauty of hectic Hanoi ("beep-beep!") coupled with the handsome, awesome islets of Halong Bay..

But whatever it was, the combination of Hanoi and Halong was a clear winner for me. I am beginning to learn that my short getaways to world-class beauties like this one at Halong Bay and last year at Angkor Wat have more meaning to me, carving out outstanding meories along the way.



What a way for me to start my own "1000 Places to See/Experience After Remission!", taking inspiration from the travel series-cum-book, "1000 Places to See Before You Die".

And Hanoi and Halong Bay are indeed the first 2 of my own 1000 Places!

My 5-Year Milestone!

My 5-year milestone of being cancer-free is here, and it's today, 16-06-11!
Let the fireworks begin..

Thank you to everyone who have supported me, no matter how small or how insignificant you thought it was. I am so grateful, words cannot describe how I feel right now..

The Inner Child in Us..

There's a child in all of us.
And for me, watching Justin Bieber on stage brought back the teenager years, as he brought the house down last month.

And when The Lion King roared on the brand new stage at Marina Bay Sands, I know I am in touch with my inner child. What a spectacle of pure simplicity and beauty, at the same time. Makuna matata!

The Eagles have landed..again

What is it about this band, The Eagles, that simply melts all our cares away?

Here in the Singapore Indoor Stadium for a second bite of the cherry, we made sure we got our tickets again..no questions asked. And they were that good, as expected, and more..

We didn't quite catch them 'live' on video the first time around in 2004, but this time, our pocket Sony did the trick. "Welcome to the Hotel California.."..what an anthem for a generation.
They have to be the ultimate band of the 80's..

Ok, at this point, you must be thinking.."Did they do it on stage? Did they do that guitar solo?" Yes, they sure did. Here's Joe Walsh doin' his thing..

Enjoy..

Eric Clapton made it a Wonderful night..

Mr SlowHand himself, Eric Clapton, took to the Indoor Stadium stage and gave a polished performance last month as part of his World Tour, and hubby and I were able to be present for this rare occasion of seeing a real guitar maestro at work.

With songs like "I Shot The Sheriff" and the beautiful "Wonderful Tonight" sung 'live' on stage by the legend himself, what can go wrong in one's life, huh? Enjoy these 2 gems with me..

The legend lives on..

Eat, Pray, Awe..at Angkor

The beauty of Angkor Wat was in full display, as we jet into Siem Reap (and Cambodia) for the first time.

Over 900 years old, but once you see Angkor Wat in person, it is as if it was built only this century.. solid stones, intricate carvings, silk-cotton trees, ancient temples and all.

We came, thinking that this may be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. But we left, knowing we are just but a hop, step and jet-stop away..and we want to be immerse again in the beauty, peace and tranquility of Angkor Wat and its awesome surrounding temples of Angkor Thom, Bayon, Ta Promh and the Phimeanakas Palace.

It is indeed one of the true 7 Wonders of the World.

-Eiffel Tower (checked)

-Great Wall of China (checked)

-Great Pyramids (checked)

-Acropolis (checked)

-Colosseum (checked)

- and now, Angkor Wat (checked)

..now, which is the last Wonder? Our search continues..

Peace and Hope..

Opportunities to help others can sometimes be few and far between. But hubby and I have signed up for food deliveries to charity homes through Food From The Heart since 2002, and also Run For Hope since 2007.

This year, FFTH brings us to the PeaceHaven Nursing Home, run by the Salvation Army, where we bring much valued food items from The Sandwich Shop at Changi Business Park, for the staff there at the Nursing Home.

And as for Run For Hope, another 7000 runners showed up again this year to support a worthy cause : research for cancer cure. That's over $300,000 in the bag..well done, organisers!

Yes, let there be Peace and Hope..for all.

Foster-ing Friends..

Can there be anyone big enough to bring these big-timers to our doorsteps..biggies like Natalie Cole, Charice and yep, Peter Cetera?

It must be none other than David Foster, record-producer extraordinaire!

No one can bring these names all on one single stage..at the opening act of this year's Sun Festival at the Esplanade.

Seeing Natalie Cole on stage was a larger than life experience, especially when she brought her father, Nat King Cole, to 'live' on the same stage..very surreal. Charice blew eveyone's mind, with enough oomph in her for both Celine Dion and Whitney Houston songs..what an incredible talent indeed!

And the night was complete when Peter Cetera sang "If You Leave Me Now" and "Hard to Say I'm Sorry"..goodness, gracious! My body was tingling as he crooned these all-time favourites!

Simply Red ..Simply Wonderful!

What a simply wonderful concert!

Simply Red blew down the Indoor Stadium with their polished performance and controlled style in their "Farewell Tour". The lead singer is a real gem..will we ever hear his soulful voice again?.

If only I can stay here and listen to him all night long..what a treat for my body indeed! Can you feel the vibes of these 2 wonderful songs?

Recharging with my Team..

Took 18 members of my staff to Malacca for a weekend retreat..a much-needed break from the daily grind of our preschools .. to recharge our bodies and minds.

And Malacca was indeed a natural well-spring for this re-charging, with streets filled with history and food.

Looking at the team brings a surge of warmth within me, realising that I am now impacting the lives of over 20 adults in my immediate circle of influence, and they, in turn, touching the young lives of over 150 children..

That's a nice feeling to have..

(thank you, ladies, for taking this journey with me in touching the lives of our young ones in our own special ways..)

"Oh yes, it's ladies' night.."

Bringing 2 of the best acts in R&B together to the Esplanade, this year's Mosaic Music Festival out-did itself compared to previous years.

And yes, it was Ladies' Night all the way!

With Babyface one night, and Kool & the Gang the next. They turned back the years for us.

How can one not "feel alive" with songs and music like theirs..

The Most Beautiful 2000km on Earth..

Can this possibly be the most beautiful 2000km on Earth?

(click on the "4-arrows" icon for a full-size view)

Everytime I view these scenes, I am completely taken by the inspiring beauty that resides inside each brick and stone, every piece of marble and each hunk of steel that has made these western European cities the most beautiful on Planet Earth. Surely, there can't be another 2000km stretch of land as beautiful and historical as this Rome-to-Paris-via-Venice-Florence-and-Lucerne stretch, can there?

As the song says, ".. And I feel just like I am livin' someone else's life..it's like I've stepped outside, when everything is going right.."

Hey, everything is going right, for me!

Perhaps, the coin that Hubby tossed into the Trevi Fountain will bring me back there again, one day..

(thank you Mum and Sis for making this trip with me, and making it even more meaningful for me!)

"One Hundred Ways"..

An evening to recharge the soul, with James Ingram, the ultimate soul-man.

Regarded by top professionals in the music industry as the "Singers' Singer", the man took the stage at the Esplanade like a real pro, and rolled back the years as if 20 years younger than he really is today, complete with actual press-ups on stage.. while singing in his full, rich voice.

"..find One Hundred Ways.."

This song brings me back to the days when I had to find all ways, yes 100 ways, to combat my cancer. What an inspiring evening indeed, just listening to this man belt out his multiple Grammy-winning songs. Just listen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZnaY4AQrlzE&feature=related

Thank you, James Ingram, for enveloping my body with those beautiful (and I am sure, cancer cell-busting!) words..

(see earlier postings on what music means to me, and how it can recharge our bodies:

http://beatcancer10.blogspot.com/2008/08/once-in-lifetime-events.html

http://beatcancer10.blogspot.com/2008/12/dancing-with-childrenwhat-gift.html )

The Neverending Food Trail in Penang..

Food Heaven can come in many forms, but for us, Penang is as close as it gets.

Just look at this neverending food trail we immediately embarked upon when we hit the ground last month in Georgetown at 9.30am, barely unpacking at our hotel..
Day#1
1. Char Koay Teow (Lorong Selamat)

2. Prawn Noodles (same)

3. Popiah (same)

4. Ngor Heong (same)

5. Ice Kacang (same)

6. Tau Sar Piah (same)

7. Nutmeg (same)

8. Durian - Mountain Cat (Macalister Rd)

9. Chendol - Teochew style (Penang Rd)

10. Seasoned Papaya (same)

11. Fried Bee Hoon Fish (Macalister Rd)

12. Wantan Mee (same)

13. Oyster egg (same)

14. Apom balik (same)

Pause to breathe..

Day#2

15. Roti Canai (Penang Rd)

16. Roti Kaya & Kopi (Campbell St)

17. Nasi Lemak (same)

18. Pork Porridge (same)

19. Chee Cheong Fun (same)

20. Lor Mee (same)

21. Chai Tow Koay - black (same)

22. Peanut Cake (same)

23. Jackfruit (same)

24. Indian rojak (Gurney Dr)

25. Penang Assam Laksa (same)

26. Prawn Mee #2 (same)

27. Cuttlefish Kangkong (same)

28. Penang Rojak (same)

29. Corn-on-cob (same)

Pause..

Day#3

30. Koay Teow Tng (Campbell St)

31. Wantan mee#2 (same)

32. Kueh - multiple varieties (same)

33. Cheng Tng (same)

Day#4

-Fever & constipation!

Day#5

-Recovered enough to head to the airport

What a super-gluttonous trip for us! Is it any wonder that Hubby's body just gave up and took 2 full days to recover?

Here's proof that it all happened...in fact, it came and went so fast it almost felt like a dream, if not for these photos. No place on Earth can compare with Penang for food..it's a good place to be alive, to feel alive!!

"The Doctor Needs to See You Today.."

"The Doctor needs to see you at his office today", said the lady's voice over the phone, when hubby and I were just round the Paragon corner, 50m from MtE, on our way to see Dr Ang Peng Tiam for my regular 3-monthly review and iron-booster drips.

With my adrenaline now pumping a little, we walked into the reception to be told by the lady, "We have your case-file here and the Doctor needs to see you."

Hubby and I heard exactly what she said, but with perplexed looks on our faces, we just sat down to patiently wait for our turn, not wanting to ask the receptionist further about this sudden urgency. You know that feeling... you know it can be bad, so you don't want to know about it, not just yet..

80mins later, we were called in to see the Doc. Again, not wanting to look unnecessarily anxious, we let the Doc go through his paces, laid on his couch, checks, weight info, some small talk about his upcoming Bali getaway, and then..

"Everything is good, Nellie. In fact, you look younger than your husband here!"

Broad smiles swept over our faces.

We later realised that the receptionist was new, and in her new role, probably took her instructions to give a gentle reminder to all patients of the day, to attend their appointments, a little bit too enthusiatically. Her choice of words could have been couched in a better context, given my circumstance of being cancer-free since June2006.

A sense of relief, nonetheless. Still, it was a small gift we were happy to receive, given that it was the eve of the eve of Xmas (23Dec).

And feeling a little like Marilyn too (at ResortsWorld), I might add..well, just a little..

"It'll be the Himalayan mountains next.."

The refreshing feeling of being up high in the mountains is one to savour. One gets the sense of accomplishment, of being high up there, and of having 'conquered it".

After a false start back in 2004 when our planned trip to Kota Kinabalu was aborted due to other priorities, we made sure that this time around, we would make it up there..all 13,432 ft of it, if we can.

Well, not quite that high, this time around. At the main base camp area for the assault on Mt Kinabalu, was all we could manage..or more precisely, was permitted to do, without a 6-mth prior application for permission to climb.

Still, it was a nice feeling being up there. Seeing real mountains of that height..it was quite a sight.

Give me Mt Everest next...and why not? Well, at least the Himalayan mountains, be it in Kathmandu or Tibet, I don't really mind. Bring it on..