Climbing Unto the Heights

Ever since I was a child I was fascinated with heights. One reason maybe, I became an avid fan of my three older brothers whose passion was to climb trees, hills and precipices. I was thrilled to see their monkey-like agility that unknowingly I learned the skill. Now in my senior years I have climbed hundreds of steps not because I want to prove I still have the energy but the thrill of reaching the top is still aflame in me.

 

After I retired from government service, I explored the tallest stairs or hills in some tourist destinations.  I started with the view deck of Chocolate Hills in Bohol, Philippines which has 214 steps. I climbed the steps with my friends so leisurely, posing in between steps for pictures and as we went higher we enjoyed the cool summer breeze that blew on our faces.  I reached the top with more reserved air.

My Borobudur climb in Indonesia was a family-oriented experience. I was with my husband and youngest son but since my husband couldn’t survive the climb he went back to our hotel room. My son and I shared the same passion of exploring heights that as I looked at this man that moment I could recall memories when I was eight months pregnant with him, I climbed the steep hill with my 75 year old father on our short cut road to the base of Mt. Apo where he would be enlisted as a Mt. Apo climber.  

I dismissed those thoughts as I started the climb of 34.5 meter high and 123 meter square of this   Buddhist temple which was already 1200 years old. I didn’t  get tired  as I went higher  because  on each level I enjoyed learning the symbols of the bas relief sculpture as explained by our tour guide  that   upon reaching the top  I was deeply enlightened  with  the true purpose of one’s life.  

Not content of the first day climb, we returned the following day at 4 o’clock in the morning to view the   coming out of the sun. With only a penlight to guide our steps upward, we reached the level where we had a good view of the sunrise. The slow breaking of dawn was so dramatic that one would never   regret climbing such heights.

The Bato Caves, limestone hill in Malaysia is a Hindu temple and shrine with a “steep 272 step climb”. The climb was quite taxing for my age, but as usual I learned to enjoy as I went along. As we rested between steps, I observed one young Hindu mother climbing on barefoot carrying with her a one month old baby to offer to their gods. I admire her energy and sacrifice as a devotion to her god that I followed her    until I realized I was already   inside the shrine.

 

The Cape Bojeador Lighthouse in Tagudin, Ilocos Sur built in 1892 has a 66 foot tall stone tower. Before one reaches the tower, he has to climb steps that were abandoned and eroded due to old age. Since the steps were far apart, I physically crawled to the next step and such challenge was enjoyable. I did this under the” heat of a noonday sun” just to be in a lighthouse for the first time. At the top I felt the cooling effect of the wide blue sea and imagined the urban legend of the US navy battleship which was in a collision of the approaching ship as signaled by the light ahead. The captain commanded the approaching light to change course, “I am the captain of the U.S. navy ship!” he boasted. The answer returned, “You have to change course, I am the lighthouse!”

The ride on a roller coaster in Singapore was an experience I wouldn’t repeat. As the ride went up higher and later faster and faster, I was so scared I couldn’t return to my previous position which was sitting erect. I kept on bending. I closed my eyes and wished the ride would stop. The coaster stopped rolling and I didn’t see the view up there. How would I tell you the enjoyment?

Summing up, I can say that happiness is not found at the top of any heights but in every step that one takes in each climb.  Oftentimes we wanted to reach the end, our goals and targets but we would never be happy if we are burned out, stressed out because we don’t enjoy the challenge of the details in reaching there.

Surely I have put into practice the quote which says, ”Happiness is not found at the end of the road but along the way!”