3,563ft above

The weather has been exceptionally nice almost every day this week. It seems like a wave of demotivation from school is hitting all of us IES students. All we can think and talk about is exploring, exploring and more exploring. Personally, my school work has eased out a little bit compared to the past few weeks. I have two weeks free of no major assignment or homework due. Thus, while spreading things out and getting work done little by little, I managed to squeeze in time for adventures.

Love this little guy, so cute
just need a little more tan

After class on Tuesday, Monica and I caught the bus to downtown and made a trip to the piercing place on Long Street. We walked out with me incredibly happy about my belly button pierce and Monica was satisfied with the new ring for her trigus. We checked out various boutiques on Long Street, including a bead store and several antiques. There was this antique shops with various jewelry that I thought would make perfect gift for my mom, thus the mental note to come back here before I leave. Since both of us were in good mood, we stopped at Mexican Kitchen for dinner. Margaritas and nachos at 4pm was the perfect ending for our relaxing afternoon. I caught the bus back just in time for my trip to the SHAWCO mobile clinic. Susan and I actually were given the job to screen all the patients by ourselves this time. Although it was nothing close to diagnosis or giving treatment, it was one of a life time hand-on experience. We spent a good 6 hours at the clinic and did not get home until midnight. I was in good mood regardless. 

When Wes told me, three day prior, that it would hit 90 degree on Thursday, I had already made up my mind then that school was not going to happen. The original plan was to hit the beach with him, but I ended up deserted that plan for a hike up to Table Mountain with Susan and Monica. Even earlier than we would wake up for class, we all met at my place to prepare peanut butter and jelly sandwich for the trip before setting out. We started at Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden, and took a route called "Skeleton Gorge". According to the sign, it was supposed to be a "moderate" hike that took about 4 hours. The trail turned out to be quite steep, with lots of stairs and highly elevated steps that clearly weren't taking into consideration short people with not-so-long legs like me. Since the path went through a forest area, we were in the shade the entire time, which was not bad at all. Considering how hot it was outside, we definitely needed the cooler temperature while working out our legs. After many hills, uncountable number of steps, several ladders, numerous rock-climbing episodes, and multiple moments of false excitement, we finally came out of the forest to a beautiful view of downtown Cape Town. Only then that we had a fairly idea of where we were on the mountain. 

And it kept going up and up and up

The fact that we could see the top now did not mean that we were anywhere close to reach it. We now followed a stone path lined with various types of flowers. The path was generally less steep than before, but it still kept going up, up and up. By this time, we stopped convincing ourselves that we were "almost there" and told each other that "we have a long way to go" instead. After an hour and a half along the winding path, with occasional stops for snacks and picture-taking, we noticed the sign of "Skeleton Gorge" and found ourselves at our originally planned destination. However, considering that we were already up this high, we decided to keep going to the top of the mountain, thinking it "couldn't get anymore top than this". False. The path got even rockier and there were points that we had to climb between rocks to get over rocks =.= Despite the hot sun on our backs, the nice breeze and gorgeous view surrounding us were a good motivation for us to keep going. After an hour or so following various arrows drawn on the rock and managed to keep ourselves on the route called "Maclear's Beacon", we could finally say that we made it. When I saw the map and the compass to confirm that this was, indeed, the right "top of the mountain", I was jumping up and down for joy, as much as my legs were protesting against such hyperactivity at that moment. Surrounding us was a magnificent and breath-taking view of the entire Cape Town, from the side of Camps Bay all the way to Waterfront and Robben Island. The sky was so blue, it seemed like it merged into one with the glittering ocean. The view was infinite, as if there was no definition of the end of space. I kept having this desire of jumping into the sky and let myself fall into the ocean. If only I would be able to survive such a fall, I would totally have done it. Now looking back at the pictures I took, I fell like the camera failed to do justice. What I got to see with my own eyes was beyond the capability of the camera to capture. I could not be happier to trade all that pains in my muscles for such an opportunity. It was worth every single bit of the pain.

View of Cape Town from above

After a short lunch break and lots of pictures, we followed the path around the top of the mountain to get to the cable car area. No wonder why this place is called Table Mountain, even though we were 3573 ft above, the surface is so flat I kept thinking I was in the middle of a prairie, not at the summit of a mountain. It actually took us around 45 minutes along the wooden path to get to the other side of the Table. Oh quick fact, during cloudy days, this part of the Table is usually shrouded by layers of cloud, so-called the "table cloth". I wish I could hike on a cloudy day just to have the feeling of touching the clouds. That'd be like a scene in "Up"!

These two seemed to be doing much better
than me at going down

Instead of taking the cable car down, we decided that we should hike down instead. Bad decision. The hike down was incredibly steep and the rocks were quite slipper. Considering that the day before, I managed to give myself a swollen ankle and several cuts while walking 30 steps on a flat surface to the Alma house from Dunveygan, I was waiting for the moment that I would slip and stumble my way down the mountain. Luckily, I survived and made through the 3 hour hike down without killing myself. I actually thought that the way down was so much harder than the way up, or maybe it was only because I have no inhibition system whatsoever. We finally made it down to the bottom precisely at 6pm, ending our 9 hour long hike with much fatigue but an incredible feeling of accomplishment. We were the first to conquer the 3573ft mountain - up, about and down, back to front. I did not realize that the adrenaline and other excitatory hormones were doing their job the entire day, since the moment I got back to my room and into the shower, my entire body broke down and went on strike. Two days have passed and my legs are still sore and my swollen ankle is still very upset with me. 

I am actually incredibly surprised of how in shape I am, considering all the food and dessert I have been consumed. Generally, I thought it was a long but fairly easy hike and was definitely a great work out.  I have the urge to check out Devil's Peak, known as the most intense and the hardest route of all. Although, I am not sure how lucky I will be to avoid tripping, falling, and stumbling …

Every time I look at the grand Table Mountain, I have this satisfying feeling of knowing that I have been there - on top of the world. It was a priceless moment. I am considered myself to be extremely lucky to get to be living under this blue sky and enjoying a one-of-a-lifetime experience.

Mission accomplished ~~~

It is October already. I still can't believe in my eyes every time I look at the calendar. Time is running out. I got into quite an emo mood this weekend. I am addicted to the feeling of being abroad, of meeting new people,  of learning about other cultures and of experiencing exciting things. However, any party has to come to an end. I have gone through enough to anticipate the moment  I have to part from the friends I have made and the places I have fallen in love with.  Especially when I am fully aware that the chances of me meeting them again is close to nothing.  I can't help but wonder - Why must I always do this to myself?

"Seems like it has only just begun, when we realize that our time has done … Who would ever thought that it would come to this I'll miss you when you're gone so I'll leave you with a kiss. The memories we make will last. And it'll hurt to leave so just do it fast. A part of me will always be with you, but leaving is just something we'll have to do." - lyrics from our song

[I would never forget that day when I cried, in public, for hours, in soothing arms and  on reliable shoulders of those guys. Even though we still look back on those good memories, we move on with our lives. I thought I would be used to that feeling by now … ]

[az]