(from journal written on Saturday August 29th)
I just had the most amazing past two days.
Yesterday was a “fun Friday” so we went rock climbing and caving with Chiang Mai Climbing Adventures at Crazy Horse Mountain. The climbing was so much fun because it was on real rock faces. I didn’t think I’d be able to do much, but I did three routes. The last one was the one of the toughest routes there. It was a chimney so you had to climb up with the use of two walls. There were many times on the climb that I thought I wouldn't make it, but I did! I might have been the most physically exhausting thing I have ever done. When I got down I was soaked in sweat--it looked like I’d just gotten out of the shower. I felt so good and accomplished. People were cheering me on and giving me help from below.
Apparently CMCA has a climbing gym in the city that we can go to for discounted visits (and free ladies nights). Plus we can get free transportation there from ISDSI. I’m so there! I’m so excited to climb more…in Thailand! It was Amazing! The rocks we climbed were limestone.
Then we took a break for lunch. I was so exhausted from my three climbs. I thought I’d keel over. We ate rice (of course), veggies and meats while sitting on elevated huts. In the afternoon we zip-lined and rappelled. Our practice rappel was only 5 meters, but was in a beautiful location under the head of the crazy horse rock. The view of the valley was incredible.
Then we climbed up into the opening of a enormous cave. It began to rain, but we were kept totally dry—the other group of climbers, however, came into the cave to climb below. We then ‘zip-lined’ across the cave and changed (by only standing in stirrups) lines and rappelled to the bottom of the cave 35 meters. The cave was even bigger than 35 meters, but we started at a mid-height. It was still really scary. I was petrified, but once I got in the haraness I felt safe and secure. I pushed off and flew have way across and stopped in the middle of this enormous cave. I could looke through the side opening and see the rain. Then I had to use my arms and abs to pull myself the rest of the way across. I felt incredibly small, hanging mid-air in a giant limestone cave. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. So much natural beauty! I felt like I was one of the people in the Planet Earth caves episode while I was rappelling further down into the cave.
Then we went caving. We learned about stalactites and stalagmites. We saw some old ones and some new ones just beginning to form. It was so cool. Ryder would have loved it. Apparently you can kill a stalactite just by touching it. Then we slid down into a little chamber and crawled into a larger chamber. It was sooooo cool. There was some light from a little opening above and the whole place was so peaceful. Apparently monks used to climb to the top of the hill andinto the caves to meditate …I can tell why.
The whole day was physically tiring but so amazing. I’d never done such cool stuff in my life!!! It was so much fun and I got super dirty! My host mother laughed when she saw how filthy I was, then she quickly ushered me into the shower.
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