Who Am I?

Who Am I?


There have been occasions in life when I have thought long and hard about this question.

Sometimes it is because life throws you a curveball and forces you to rethink your position. Sometimes it happens when the sheer grandeur of your surroundings forces you to feel small and insignificant.

Whatever the reason for your contemplation, I hope this song lifts you and pushes you onwards in your search, as it has in mine.

You Never Conquer a Mountain

"You never conquer a mountain. Mountains can't be conquered; you conquer yourself."
                                                                                                            James Whittaker


I love the mountains and I love being in the mountains.

In such a magnificent landscape, one learns how small we really are and to me it is a regular and timely reminder of humility and my place in this world.

Therefore whenever I see someone use the word ‘conquer or conquered’ in reference to their successful attempt at summiting a mountain, it rubs me the wrong way.

There are many factors which contribute to success or failure on a mountain. We, the climbers, may have prepared ourselves hard and indeed may have done so very well but we are the only factor we have any form of control or influence over.

The weather and physical conditions on the mountain are factors which are way larger than we are and beyond our control. Any mountaineer who has been caught in a snow storm or gotten bogged down in poor snow conditions would attest to the sheer power and fury of the mountain.

We are all able to stand on the the summit and be rewarded with the beauty of the sunrise not due to our own effort but because in some way, the mountain has graciously accorded us the privilege to do so.

Let us, through this experience, continue to humble ourselves and appreciate the wonder of creation before us.


Adrian Tan
On Mountains 2014

Review - Injinji Performance 2.0 Run Toe Socks

I have been hearing some good things about Injinji toe socks. The reviews I heard were for the socks used as a liner beneath thick expedition weight mountaineering socks. So I headed out and got me a pair of toe socks to use a liners for my upcoming expedition in the Himalayas. I also got attracted to trying a pair as my regular running and training socks.

So here is a quick review of the socks

I got the Performance 2.0 RUN socks, which is the newer line in their product range. I got the socks in mini crew length. The material was 55% COOLMAX polyester, 40% nylon and 5% LYCRA fibre.

I got these in original weight rather than the lightweight ultra-thin ones. I really didn't need to squeeze the socks into fitting shoes like the Vibram five fingers and I thought the ultra-thin ones were more prone to wear and tear.

These were selling online for USD 12 and I got these after a 15% discount at SGD 16, so I didn't pay that much more for the socks.

It takes just a fraction more time to align your toes properly with the toe pockets before pulling the socks up. However, once properly fitted, it was a new sensation feeling material between my toes. However, this was the mechanism by with material will be wicking away moisture and preventing friction between the toes which might cause blisters.

I got mine is size S which was US range 5-7.5. The socks wore true to size so if you are getting a pair, just follow the size recommendations on the label.

Watch out for my upcoming review of the Injinji Performance liner

Expedition Mera-Amphu Laptsa-Island 2014 - The 2nd Hurdle

The 2nd Hurdle - The Amphu Laptsa Pass

The Amphu Laptsa Pass, at the head of the Hunku valley, stands in the way as we head to Island peak. The pass, at 5700m in altitude, is formidable enough to constitute a third peak in this expedition.

The way up the south face of the pass involves some mighty awesome views of the Amphu Laptsa glacier with its huge seracs and crevasses. The altitude, steepness and ice on the pass makes it a formidable and possibly technical challenge.

The south side of the Amphu Laptsa pass source: blog.wuokko.org

The views from the top of the pass are rumoured to be fantastic. And then we descend on the wildly steep north side by abseiling.

Abseiling on the north face Source: blog.wuokko.org

This will indeed be our third 'peak' on this expedition

Expedition Mera-Amphu Laptsa-Island 2014

Mera Peak-  The first hurdle

Mera Peak Summit Mound Source: blog.wuokko.org

Mera Peak at 6,476 metres (21,247 ft) it is classified as a trekking peak. It contains three main summits: Mera North, 6,476 metres (21,247 ft); Mera Central, 6,461 metres (21,198 ft); and Mera South, 6,065 metres (19,898 ft), as well as a smaller "trekking summit", visible as a distinct summit from the south but not marked on most maps of the region.

The view from the summit is spectacular.  On a clear day, five of the six highest mountains on Earth. Cho Oyu (8201m), Lhotse (8516m), Everest (8848m) and Makalu (8463m) are all very close by, and when it’s clear you may just be able to see Kangchenjunga (8586m) on the Indian border far away to the east. Only K2 (8611m) in distant Pakistan is beyond your vision.

View from the summit Source: Summitpost

From Lukla, it is possible to approach Mera in a number of different ways. The quickest involves leaving the airport and joining the trail that heads east, stopping at Chutang or a neighbouring settlement, before crossing the Zatrwa La (4610m) and descending to Thuli Kharka and on to the Hinku Valley (3 days or less). We elected not to go over the Zatrawa La early on in the trek.

A second, much slower approach, is to trek south from Lukla and spent several days passing through Poyan, Pangkongma, Nashing Dingma, Chalem Kharka and Chunbu Kharka before eventually descending into the Hinku Valley at Tashing Ongma. We decided to do this remote and beautiful route up the Hinku valley to really see the country, passing through rhododendron and bamboo forest, up to grassy moorland and along high mountain trails. This provides a fantastic trek which for many will be as memorable as the climb itself.

Map of the route

This will not only give us a better taste of this part of Nepal, its countryside and its people, but it also provides a better acclimatisation programme. By slowly increasing your sleeping altitude from 2800m to 4200m it gives you an excellent chance to acclimatise and minimise your risk of developing Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) and life threatening conditions such as High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE) and High Altitude Cerebral Edema (HACE).

LOVING LIFE - My personal motto and direction

Dear friends,
I have thought long about my course of action in support of a cause which is close to my heart; in support of the community around me

The theme which I want to share is LOVING LIFE
We believe that all life is precious. That every life is a gift that is unique and has a purpose. That every life is to be lived to the fullest.

LOVING LIFE sets out to ensure that each life is accorded the dignity and opportunity it deserves. That each life be given the basic opportunities, be it in survival, education and even just fun.

As a start, we want to ensure that no young life is lost because the pregnancy is unwanted or the mother is in crisis or no support is available once the child is born. Through the work of Sanctuary House, mothers have an avenue of support during their pregnancies and after delivery. This support can make a difference in their decision to continue with or terminate a pregnancy.

I ask you to join me as I embark on this journey, this journey of LOVING LIFE.

It begins with my fundraiser below where I sincerely ask that you pledge $1 for every metre that I am going to climb in my expedition to Nepal in April 2014. I will be climbing a total of 12,665m in an attempt to summit two mountains, Mera Peak (6,476m) and Island Peak (6,189m), therefore raising $12,655 for my cause above.

There are a few ways to make your contributions

1. The link below leads to the my donation page, where there is a green button at the lower right hand corner of the screen. Donations can be done using your credit card

2. If you wish to donate in other forms. Please contact me for arrangements.

All donations will be update on the site to reflect the fund raising effor tot date.

I thank you in advance for your generous support and if you can make this cause known to others as well.

https://www.give.sg/TeamGIVE/AdrianTanChongBeng/love-life-because-every-life-is-unique-and-precious

These Alone Are Enough For Me

This is a really touching song which I have known for some time. However hearing it over the last couple of weeks really made me think about what it say

Take my heart, O Lord, take my hopes and dreams,
Take my mind with all its plans and schemes.
Give me nothing more than your love and grace.
These alone, O God, are enough for me.
Take my thoughts, O Lord, and my memory.
Take my tears, my joys, my liberty.
Give me nothing more than your love and grace.
These alone, O God, are enough for me.
I surrender, Lord, all I have and hold.
I return to you your gifts untold.
Give me nothing more than your love and grace.
These alone, O God, are enough for me.
When the darkness falls on my final days,
Take the the very breath that sang your praise.
Give me nothing more than your love and grace.
These alone, O God, are enough for me.
Hymn: “These Alone Are Enough,”
by Dan Schutte
These Alone Are Enough For Me

I hope this clears your mind about what it truly means to worship. Let go of all the externals and bring to the table what God truly desires