1) I had my first hiking experience here (4 hikes actually!) and enjoyed it thoroughly despite having to fend off bees/flies and balance on rocky paths that threaten to give way any time.
I even crossed the streams twice! I think I did mighty well for someone who’s afraid of water. 😉
2) I belayed JW for the first time in my life! That’s no mean feat cos I’ve never belayed him or anybody for that matter, not even in the indoor rockclimbing gyms in Singapore and Malaysia.
Check out my harness. LOL! Cool or what?
Pls pardon the hideous shoes. Obviously they don’t belong to me. 😛
The second time I belayed JW, I nearly flew off the cliff when he swung outwards like a pendulum while coming down an inclined section of the rock formation. Luckily, there was a huge rock behind me, so I clung onto it for my dear life, not without first screaming my lungs out and making a scene!
Besides getting laughed at by the seasoned climbers around me, I also sustained a humungous bruise on my left leg and some scratches. So embarrassing! 🙁 I’m surprised I agreed to belay him for a grand total of 8 other climbs!
3) It was my first time staying in a rural European town, which is something I’ve always wanted to do although I’m very much a city girl.
There’s just something about the fresh air, the untainted scenery and the lack of amenities that makes it inexplicably attractive and almost magical.
Glad that this is a trip which u are able to discover more abt urself and also to experience a very diff way of life 🙂 Really nice pictures! (The climbing part looks very steep though!) Do take care n say hi to jw for me! Enjoy the rest of ur trip! Huiz
I love these photos, especially the hiking ones! That looks like it was a rough hike but a lot of fun! The scenery actually reminds me of rural parts of California. No wonder lots of Spanish people wanted to settle here when they came to the "New World."
Hi Huiz!
Yup, it's a journey of self-discovery! LOL. Indeed, the trail is very steep. It's amazing how the people here can hike so effortlessly, as though they're walking down a flight of stairs. 😛
Hi Heather,
Yeah! The scenery does remind me of the states. Haha the funny thing is, most of the Spanish here do not speak much English so we have to rely on hand gestures sometimes. 😉
The last picture is mesmerising! 😀
I totally get you when you said "out of character"… But cheers to your adventurous spirit! 🙂