- Hike Singapore series - Mount Faber Loops
- Simon Sep 28, 2016
It has been a long while since I last joined a training session doing local hikes. It was not unex… Read More
- Dare to Expect Victory
- Simon Sep 13, 2016
In times of need. In moments of quiet. Failure plants a seed. To become a quiet riot. Where… Read More
- The 7 Mantras of Travel
- Simon Aug 24, 2016
One of the things we review as a group before setting off on a journey together are the 7 mantra… Read More
- Amazing Hikes You Must Do Before You Die: The Great Himalayan Trail (The Holy Grail)
- Simon Aug 22, 2016
The Himalayas are one of the most impressive, magical, and daunting places our planet has to off… Read More
- The Stok Kangri Expedition 2016 – A Pictorial Journey (The Finale)
- Simon Jul 23, 2016
continued from Part 3 Here is the first light piercing through the sky. It illuminates the en… Read More
- The Stok Kangri Expedition 2016 – A Pictorial Journey (Part 3)
- Simon Jul 21, 2016
continued from Part 2 Day 3: Mankorma (4300m) to Base camp (5000m) Today we make our way to B… Read More
- The Stok Kangri Expedition 2016 – A Pictorial Journey (Part 2)
- Simon Jul 19, 2016
continued from Part 1 The lure of the sun comes early here. By 5:30am, I can already see darkne… Read More
- The Stok Kangri Expedition 2016 - A Pictorial Journey (Part 1)
- Simon Jul 19, 2016
August 2015. There was this pact made on the summit of Dafeng, Siguniang between a group of clim… Read More
- 10 Reasons Why You Should Visit Leh, Ladakh, India
- Simon Jul 18, 2016
This small town located in the river valley of an old trading route is full of culture and surro… Read More
- 10 Reasons Why You Should Do the Everest Base Camp Trek
- Simon Jun 27, 2016
The Everest Base Camp trek is hands down a fascinating experience you will go through if you pla… Read More
- Hiking and Exploring In (and Around) Gunung Arong, Mersing - Here's 6 Reasons Why You Should Go!
- Simon Jun 18, 2016
Located in Mersing, the Johor state of Malaysia, the hike up Gunung Arong (275m) is simple by de… Read More
- 6 Reasons Why We Left Our Hearts in Myanmar (After Travelling 100km on Foot)
- Simon Jun 1, 2016
We spent 3 days/2 nights trekking from Kalaw to Inle Lake, which was 65km in total. Then we spen… Read More
- 12 Things We Love About Trekking in Myanmar - Part Two: Hsipaw
- Simon Jun 1, 2016
continued from Part 1: Kalaw to Inle Lake Trek Hsipaw is one of the most popular trekking rou… Read More
- 12 Things We Love About Trekking in Myanmar - Part One: Kalaw to Inle Lake Trek
- Simon Jun 1, 2016
Myanmar. Its beauty has been held back from the world for far too long. This landscapes here re… Read More
- G1 Gunung Tahan via Merapoh 4D3N (28/4-1/5/2016)
- Simon May 13, 2016
Wide View from the Peak of Gunung Tahan Story by Lily Ho, Puchong On a usual night, a hiki… Read More
- Amazing Hikes You Must Do Before You Die: Mount Kailash Pilgrimage Trek in Tibet
- Simon May 3, 2016
Located to the west of Tibet, Mount Kailash is known as one of the world’s holiest mountains. To… Read More
- 6 Things You Must Know if You Are a First Time Trekker In Nepal
- Simon Apr 26, 2016
Nepal. One might consider themselves a trekker and accomplished many great things, but paying… Read More
- 6 Lessons We Learnt from the Annapurna Base Camp Trek
- Simon Apr 26, 2016
One of the most popular treks in the Himalayas is the Annapurna Base Camp (ABC) trek. Very few j… Read More
- The Trek of Hope – Philippines 2016
- Simon Mar 30, 2016
This is the third year I have visited the Philippines representing Trek For Hope, and in many wa… Read More
- Trek For Hope, Philippines 2016 - sharing by the Kwok sisters
- Simon Mar 27, 2016
By Samatha Kwok, 12 To be honest, this climbing mountains trip was pretty fun; I made new fri… Read More
- Ode to the Women You Meet on the Trail
- Simon Mar 8, 2016
Ode to the Women You Meet on the Trail Your backpack was heavy, but you carried it so. The trail… Read More
- Climbing G3 Gunung Yong Belar 2,181 m.a.s.l
- Simon Mar 5, 2016
By Lily Ho Since I started the hiking habit in Malaysia in 2014, I have been taught that ther… Read More
- Psst... Hey You all SG Hikers! Come Join Us at The Adventure Village!
- Simon Mar 1, 2016
As part of the efforts behind Trek For Hope, a private Facebook community called Trek For Hope V… Read More
- The "Golden Grains" at Bukit Tabur - Trekking the Far East and Extreme Trail
- Simon Feb 28, 2016
There is a Malaysian folktale about a young paddy farmer called Kassan. When the paddy was… Read More
- Go When the Morning Shineth - A DIY Guide to Climbing Mount Kinabalu
- Simon Feb 6, 2016
Ah…The mysterious lure of Mount Kinabalu. It's the most famous mountain in Southeast Asia. It is… Read More
Hike Singapore series – Mount Faber Loops
It has been a long while since I last joined a training session doing local hikes. It was not unexpected to see surprised faces and receiving comments like “I bet you have more stamps on your passport than your footprints on local trails, Simon”.
For the record, I do my workout at the MacRitchie Tree Top walk at least once a week, ok?
In preparation for next April’s Trek For Hope: The Himalayan Panoramas, me and a few of the participants joined FitnessKakis last weekend at Mount Faber, Singapore’s 2nd tallest hill standing at 105 metres. Don’t laugh! We also have void deck weddings and funerals, so for the foreigners who may be reading this, we aren’t envious of your tall mountains! [Read more…]
Dare to Expect Victory
In times of need.
In moments of quiet.
Failure plants a seed.
To become a quiet riot.
Where we dare not question it.
Yet we can dare to expect victory.
When we change where we look to see.
To what the future may come to be.
Instead of past failures in history.
Breaking bread.
Giving thanks.
Stops a feeling of dread.
Stops all from breaking ranks.
Together we are faster.
Together we strive longer.
Three cords are always stronger.
Writer, teacher, hiker, pastor.
Together we find the greenest pasture.
There will be times of worry.
Moments can be hard.
Especially when we are in a hurry.
Or if we are always on guard.
Yet victory can always be the plan.
When we work as hard as we can.
Anxiety set aside by every man.
Our combined faith is the caravan.
Coming whether we walked or we ran.
Sometimes a moment of silence.
Or perhaps a moment of prayer.
Stops the internal violence.
To bring a victory beyond compare.
It is often ourselves that we fight.
Each and every dark night.
And feel like we’ll never be all right.
Yet when there is even the tiniest light.
We can dare to achieve victory with all of our might.
Every footstep that we take.
Every decision ever made.
Every sunset journey we make
Are moments to never trade.
Victory is found in moments like those.
No matter what our clothes.
Or how a climb to the summit goes.
In the past, victory always arose.
Even when many would choose to oppose.
So even when times seem dark.
When there is no hope to see.
Together we can always make our mark.
Because we’ve dared to achieve victory.
It maybe be a summit or a valley.
A difficult path where we must rally.
The darkest ever life alley.
We can always make a positive tally.
Because victory will always be our finale.
The 7 Mantras of Travel
One of the things we review as a group before setting off on a journey together are the 7 mantras of travel. Some may call these mantras “rules” or “expectations,” but they are offered more as an opportunity for personal reflection. The goal is to have each person enjoy the journey, experience something new and meaningful, while finding out something about themselves along the way.
Yet these 7 mantras aren’t just for the days when we set foot on Earth that is new. Each step we take through our daily routines is also an opportunity to see and experience something new. We travel each day to work, to run errands, or have a family meal together.
If we approach each journey in life, whether to a summit or just down the street, these mantras can help every one of us find the perfect moments of life that are just waiting for us right now. [Read more…]
Amazing Hikes You Must Do Before You Die: The Great Himalayan Trail (The Holy Grail)
The Himalayas are one of the most impressive, magical, and daunting places our planet has to offer. One of the most impressive ways to enjoy the vistas offered by these massive monoliths is the Great Himalaya Trail [GHT]. It offers opportunities for trekkers and hikers who wish to challenge themselves. The high route requires some degree of mountaineering, while the low route allows the opportunity to travel from village to village, enjoying Nepalese culture.
Either way, the adventurer has a unique opportunity to explore the world and themselves on the GHT – whether they spend a few days there or a few months.
There are 9 trails in particular which are a joy to complete. [Read more…]
The Stok Kangri Expedition 2016 – A Pictorial Journey (The Finale)
continued from Part 3
Here is the first light piercing through the sky. It illuminates the entire Stok mountain range. It also helps to provide light for my thoughts as I reflect on the last 9 hours of climbing. [Read more…]
The Stok Kangri Expedition 2016 – A Pictorial Journey (Part 3)
continued from Part 2
Day 3: Mankorma (4300m) to Base camp (5000m) Today we make our way to Base Camp (finally!)
The snow peaks get nearer in sight with each day, signalling that we are closer to summit day with each footstep.
I once read that Jesus spent his formative years in Ladakh before He went into his ministry at the age 30. There seemed to have some historical records proven that a man from the middle east came to live and walk among them during these times. [Read more…]
The Stok Kangri Expedition 2016 – A Pictorial Journey (Part 2)
continued from Part 1
The lure of the sun comes early here. By 5:30am, I can already see darkness ceding to the light. From my experiences in Siguniang ’15, I have chosen not to be deceived on this day. I remain in my sleeping bag until the warmth from the sun’s rays can be felt.
I slept well during the night. There was a bit of a rustle outside, maybe from footsteps of humans or animals. It could have been the wind. “At least it wasn’t a bear,” I think to myself.
Today’s itinerary will see the team pass through the barren grey landscape of Ladakh from Chang Ma (3988m) to Mankorma (4350m). [Read more…]
The Stok Kangri Expedition 2016 – A Pictorial Journey (Part 1)
August 2015. There was this pact made on the summit of Dafeng, Siguniang between a group of climbers. This pact dictated that every year, a few of us would seek to come together and outdo our previous year’s achievement, proving to ourselves that we still have what is takes. Our commitment to each other was a year’s worth of discipline and training.
How do you decide on which mountain to choose to climb? Do you choose according to your budget…or time…or what enthralls your imagination? No matter what it takes to climb it? [Read more…]
10 Reasons Why You Should Visit Leh, Ladakh, India
This small town located in the river valley of an old trading route is full of culture and surrounded by natural beauty. Differing from the bustling and dusty streets of metropolitan India, it’s best seen by foot and most loved by those travelers who are eager to get in touch with the nature of this sprawling country. If you haven’t considered visiting Leh, here are 10 reasons why you should. [Read more…]
10 Reasons Why You Should Do the Everest Base Camp Trek
The Everest Base Camp trek is hands down a fascinating experience you will go through if you plan to go on this trekking route. This is the not just one of the best trek of Nepal but one of the most exciting journey in the world. Let’s look down for some must reasons to do the Everest Base Camp trek. [Read more…]