是天上 也是人间 View From The Top

艰辛的道路

朋友知道我登上神山，问：‘辛苦吗？’我答：‘说易不易，说难不难！’

如果说易，为何乃有许多人上不到顶峰，半途弃战？为何有人因体力不支或跌伤，要人抬下山来？也有不幸者丧失了宝贵的性命？向导告诉我，几年前，曾有一位外国少女，下山时遇到大雾，迷路失踪，一星期后才发现她的尸体。

说难，也不尽然，因为有征服神山者从多，老少皆有，不一定是运动健将型，当然，年轻和身体好会占一定的优势。我的团里就有一位平时有运动的68岁前辈，他还比我早到达顶峰！

一般爬神山的人，大多数能上到海拔3300多米的Laban Rata。真正考验毅力和决心却是第二个部分，既次日凌晨从Laban Rata攻顶的这段路。 虽然只有2.7公里长，但一路多峭壁，再加上高海拔，空气稀薄，实在难走！ 我走了5个多小时，才以蜗牛般的速度，十分艰辛的登上最高峰。途中也看到几位登山客，停在路边放弃了。

这段路虽然辛苦，却是全程最精彩，风景最美丽的一段路，也是每位登山者的目标。攀到顶峰，能一览群峰的真面目，站在东南亚最高峰，那是有金钱买不到的满足感，也是对自己的一种肯定。下山后也获颁证书，所有辛苦和疲劳都值得。

登山最大的收获，是从攀山的过程领悟人生，人生的道路不也像登山一样？何尝不是艰辛？你可能遇到无数次的挫折，令你焦头烂额，又或在事业上爱情上跌个遍体鳞伤。 但越是艰辛和崎岖，生活就越精彩。登山的精彩，是平路无法体会的。

当你克服一切障碍，最终抵达目的地时，才能真正体会人生的真谛－不完美的人生，才是人生！

愿与所有网友共勉。

These are the few shots that I took when I reached the peak of Mt. Kinabalu. The weather was fine and the clouds were floating below me. The scenery was just breathtaking. I don’t think my lenses can reflect the beauty of it.

We started the climb from Laban Rata at 2.30 in the morning. It was the toughest journey though the distance was only 2.7 km.

伟哉，神山 Mt. Kinabalu, Sabah Malaysia

                            站在最高点

站在神山最高峰，出乎意外的，我没有感觉到征服神山的自豪和骄傲，也没有成功登山的喜悦。

我谨以谦卑的心，感恩神山让我攀登，同伴的相互鼓励，向导在我途中面对艰难的时刻拉我一把，才让我不放弃，克服生理和心理障碍，攀到4095.2公尺之巅。

在罗氏峰上，遥望山下辽阔的土地和美不胜收的自然美景，白云就在我脚下飞舞，感觉自己在这宇宙，是那么的渺小。

其实，上山只是完成一半长征，下山需要更大的毅力，才能确保安全还回起点！

人生，和登山原理一样，出任高职，忌骄。任何成就，背后肯定有许多同事和朋友的支持和扶持才成事。上位，不能算是成功，当到回起点，交棒后，才能论功过。

Standing on Low’s Peak of Mt. Kinabalu， the highest mountain in South-East-Asia, I didn’t feel the joy and excitement for the successful climb。

Instead, I felt humble and thankful for the Creator who had created this magnificent mountain. I was also grateful to the encouragement and help from my friends especially my guide- Jemin who was very patient and helpful all the way to the Peak.

The panoramic view from the Peak was awesome and breathtaking and it made me feel very small in this universe！

I am fully aware that I have another tough task ahead. The descent is equally challenging！

The climb also carries the same meaning in our real life endeavours. If one is holding high office, one should not feel proud and arrogant. You will not be there purely by your own efforts only as there are others who helped you to make it there.

The final judgement of whether you are successful or not will only be known not when you are still in office but when your tenure of office is over. 

神山地标

【不识‘神山’真面目，只缘身在此山中】。站在罗氏峰上，我不能看到她的全貌，一览无遗的，反而是对面远处的‘South Peak’南峰和‘St.John’s Peak’圣约翰峰，何等壮观，感叹造物主的伟大！

南峰向来是神山的主要地标，一令吉纸币后就印著南峰地标；圣约翰峰貌似妇女，相传她就是盼望丈夫归来的妇女化身，因此也称作寡妇山。这也是中国寡妇山的来由吧。

当局者迷，自己的弱点往往要局外人才看得清楚，能接受别人的批评，才会成功。

On top of Low’s Peak, I cannot see how it looks like, but I can clearly see the South Peak and St. John’s Peak from a distance.  They are just magnificent!

Our one Ringgit note carries the image of South Peak, while St. John’s Peak resembled the face of a human being. Folk tale had it that she was indeed the widow who waited the return of her husband!

                                   方向

半山攻顶，走到距离罗氏峰约2公里的路程，可看到石壁上都钉著白色粗绳。上峭壁时，登山客可拉著绳子帮助安全攀登。绳子也是引导往最高峰的正确和安全方向，攻顶前，向导一再吩咐我们必须跟著绳子的方向走。高峰气候变化大，当云雾来袭时，可见度受影响下，易使人迷路。

多年前，有一位年轻的外国少女，不听向导忠告，擅自离开绳子的方向走去，不幸换来付出生命的代价！

在人生的旅途中，方向一样重要。有目标，有决心，但如失去或迷失方向，一样徒劳无功！

About 2 km before reaching Low’s Peak，a thick white rope is available to help us to make this difficult and dangerous ascend. This rope is also meant to guide us to the correct and safe direction to the Peak.

The weather up there is unpredictable，thick mist may affect one’s visibility, without the white rope as guide one may get loss.

In real life too, we need a clear direction. You may have goals, but without a clear direction, you may not be able to get there.

山路崎岖

神山上山和下山路途全长19.4公里，原始山路崎岖不平。各种路况都有，泥路，石壁路，和世界名山如中国黄山有人工打造的梯级相比，难度何止百倍。神山之路确是人走出来的，诚如大文豪鲁迅所说：“世上本没有路，走的人多了，也就成了路”。

我们需要有‘踏出路来’的精神，许多成功人士，白手兴家，一步一脚印，踏出一条康庄大道。

We climbed from Timpohan gate to the summit and came down via Mesilau trail, a total journey of 19.4 km. As compared to other famous mountains like Huang Shan in China, there were very few man-made steps for better access.

Eminent Chinese writer Lu Xun once wrote: ‘there were no road in this world, if the trail had been used by more and more people, the trail became road’.

The trail to the summit was difficult and tough; the trail became road as it was walked over and over again by climbers.

We must have courage and determination to map out a road for life. Many successful men started off with nothing, but with perseverance and determination, they made out a road to success.

尽职的挑夫

攀登神山，通常会在6公里山腰上的Laban Rata住宿休息，隔天凌晨攻顶后才下山来。登山者必须携带简单的行装和登山用品上山，为了纾解背包压力和省力攻顶，大多数人都愿付一公斤9令吉（来回程）的挑夫费，让挑夫把背包背上山。

神山的职业挑夫个个年轻力壮，经验丰富，他们都是本地原住民杜顺族，男女皆有。 我的向导－Jemin－也兼作挑夫，不要看他个子矮小，小腿肌肉十分发达，虽背著数十公斤重的背包，登山时如履平地，令人佩服，也为他如此辛苦，出卖劳力为生感叹。Jemin做这份工已有3年，膝盖已开始疼痛，再过一两年，他得转行做其他少用脚力的工作！

挑夫非常专业，无论风吹雨打，都会确保把客人的行装安全送到目的地。

Just pay 9 ringgit for the weight of 1 kg, you can get a porter to carry your luggage up to Laban Rata and than back to the Park HQ.

Porters are local Dusun who stay at the foot of the Mountain. Some of them may have small built, but they have strong legs and can carry up to 40-50 kg of load up to the mountain with ease. They earn their living in a hard way, but always dutifully deliver your luggage without fail.

My guide Jemin also serves as porter for 3 years now. He told me that his knees ache occasionally and he is thinking of looking for other jobs when he gets older!

动物和植物群的天堂

神山国家公园有著极丰富的地区性植物和动物群。海拔3000公尺以上可看到如盆栽似的小矮树，偶尔也可看到一些小花。我好久没见过的猪龙草，却在上山路旁相会，还相当大朵，让我拍个痛快。

在空气细薄的顶峰上，植物已大量减少，在石堆缝中偶尔长出小草，坚韧的生命力令人佩服。

此行志在登山，但对动植物有兴趣者，这里还是天堂。

The Kinabalu National Park is also a botanical paradise. Over 1000 species of orchids and many species of pitcher plants are found endemic in this area. I was told the world’s largest pitcher plants are also found here. The park has a rich diversity of flora and fauna.

 

漫漫长路 Long Journey

憩
Rest Area

傍晚时分，农夫赶集回来，马车载著一罗小猪要拿回家放养。经过整天跋涉，人和马都倦了，就在山上停在路旁休息，马儿在镜头外处吃草，赶马人席地而坐。休息，是为了要走更远的路。蓝蓝的天空飘来几朵白云，四周显得特别宁静。人，马，云虽有点寂寞的感觉，但出奇的和谐。

He has travelled a long distance on a horse-cart with a basket full of piglets. Home is still far away. He stopped and sat at the roadside for a rest, while the horse was grazing out of my viewfinder. The blue sky，the clouds and the wilderness created a sense of loneliness and tranquility.

路遥知马力

Tough Journey

归途

  Lonely Journey

回家 Going Home

接近傍晚七时，太阳快下完山，云层盖著夕阳余辉，田野里一片宁静。马老师示意我们收拾好相机和脚架返回旅社。我和Steve, Jonanthan 却意犹未尽，踌躇间，骤然看到天空‘开了个洞’，黄金色的夕阳直射进田里。我们对此奇景还没回意过来，前面迎来赶马车回家去的小伙子，连忙按下快门，拍下这张照片。

It was 7 o’clock in the evening, the sun starting to set. It was quiet in Red Soil Earth in Dong Chuan, which is about 150 KM from Kun Ming, China. Most of us decided to go back to the hotel, but Steve, Jonathan and I prefer to stay a bit longer. All of the sudden, sunlight broke through the clouds and torched the farmland with golden color. While we were amused by this spectacular scene, a man with a horse cart emerged, walking hurriedly toward us, without hesitation, I took this photograph.

天然彩色盘－东川红土地 Red Soil Earth

红土地离开昆明市约160公里。我们一行人从昆明机场往东北面出发，出城后沿著高速行走，再进入弯曲山路，番山越岭，开了5个多小时车后，终在夜幕时分抵达2400米海拔高的目的地。

东川地势有著辽阔起伏的红土地，面积不下万亩，勤奋的少数民族在地上有序的耕种小麦，土豆，玉米和青棵等，纵横交错成为色彩缤纷的图案。一幅幅红的，绿的，黄的，白的田地，不须修饰，天然的色彩构成绚丽迷人的彩色盘！

红土地近年来已成为内地著名摄影天堂，每年吸引无数摄影发烧友前往，视斑斓色彩的红土地为摄影天堂。相比下，游客较少，为应付剧增的外来客住宿需求，县城已大兴土木建旅馆饭店。由于资源相当缺乏，吃的都是当地自种的蔬果和腊肉，别有一番风味。

红土地在人口稠密的中国来说，算是人口稀少的地方。民风朴素，如果你喜欢宁静和朴实的乡区生活，又想找到创作灵感，红土地不会令你失望。

These scenic views were taken during my recent visit to Hong Tu Di or Red Soil Earth，which is situated some 160 km from Kunming in the province of Yunnan.

The journey from Kunming airport to Hong Tu Di took us more than 5 hours, traveling through a winding road，reaching a peak of about 2,400 meter above sea level.

Hong Tu Di is famous for its red and amber colored soil. The hard working farmers painstakingly paint the earth with the color of wheat, potatoes and other vegetation, resembling a huge colorful painting created by nature and human that can rarely be found in any part of the world, except Rio de Janerio as i was told.

Due to its scenic and undisturbed nature, Hong Tu Di has been a popular destination for tourists especially the photographers. More hotels and restaurants are being built to cater the needs of the increased number of visitors.

The tranquility and peace with the slow pace of its lifestyle is obviously an ideal place for one to take a break，away from the hustle and bustle of life.

I will be looking forward for another trip in the near future.

Happy Wesak Day

Wishing all my dear friends a very

 Happy Wesak Day

恭祝各界卫塞节快乐

 

Gypsies' Children 海上人家的孩子

They don’t have access to all the facilities enjoyed by urban children, yet the smile on their faces show much contentment when they received even a small gift such as a kite or a balloon from us.

I went to the small islands around Semporna again and watching the livelihood of these sea gypsies. They certainly deserved much better quality of life, which may only be improvised with a better education plan for their children.

海上人家的生活是清苦的，他们沒有城市孩子享有的各种便利和设备。在有限的环境下，他们要求不多，即使只给他们一個风筝或汽球，已令他們很快樂和满足。我想他们应该享有更好的生活条件和受教育的机会。

Thank You....

The overwhelming response from the number of hits on my blog has been very encouraging as a result from an article on my passion for photography published in The Star dated 20th April 2009

I would like to thank the Star for providing me the opportunity and avenue in expressing my hobby and sharing my passion. To Ms Pek Yee and Boon Tatt- thank you for your patience and time to interview me and to the feature that was done.

To All those who have surfed my blog, terima kasih and your comments have given me such encouragement and motivation that I will continue to pursue this new found interest with greater  enthusiasm.

In the past while holding public office and engaging myself actively in politics, I do not know how to appreciate nature, and more so looking at the landscaping of what God has created. The many holiday trips were planned more for getting away from the hustle and bustle of life as a public figure.

With the time on my side, I can now doing things that I love to do. Reading and catching up with old acquaintances, and indulging myself with photography have truly enriched my life. Appreciating nature is such a beautiful experience and with the new network of friends of the same interest has given me a new dimension in my lifestyle.

With this blog of mine, I hope to share the images that I have taken on my shooting trips. A picture speaks a thousand words and the angle taken is also an expression through the lenses.

As an amateur in photography, your comments are valuable to me as it will take me to a higher level as I walk through this journey of my new love.