Gambate no, opa-sang!

We all believe that there's always something mystical about mountain. Too many stories and legends about the existence of Gods and Spirits of mountain made people treat mountains respectfully and worshipfully.

This Japanese Opa-sang was dancing and singing in front of me when I was walking alone, trying hardly and tiredly, to get myself every inch closer to Laban Rata where we all would finally have a good rest before pushing ourselves towards the summit of Mt Kinabalu.

I overtook her and she greeted me, with a sunny smile, "slowly, no tired", she said to me, then continued with her humming and dancing.

....and out of all a sudden I was amazed -- no she is not any goddess or angels that fell from heaven -- I felt like I caught a sudden grasp but I didn't figure it out.

The second time I met her, I was exhausted and taking my rest at a point a few meters off from where I first met her. I heard she humming her Japanese song. This time, I walked by her and chatted with her. She told me stories about her hometown Kyoto and her passion for mountain climbing. I stared at her grey hair and a feeling of respect wholly smeared into my heart. At that moment, I knew that I've solved THAT mysterious puzzle in my mind...

I tapped her shoulder and said, "slowly, no tired", it was like answering my own question.

She smiled, "slowly, no tired", in her typical Japenese slang.

"Gambate no," I think this Japanese word was used perfectly in such a timing.

"Arigato gozaimatzu," with her sunny and mercy smile.

I left her. I felt no more tired and exhausted. Meeting this Opa-sang had made me reset my pace. I took out my camera and started to look around. I couldn't imagine how many wonderful things I'd missed before this. Why rushing? Slowly, no tired, and there's so much wonderful things just around me.

Just slow down my pace and enjoy everything that surrounded me, all the huffing and puffing, what for?

We all believe that there's always something mystical about mountains. Too many stories and legends about the existence of Gods and Spirits of mountain made people treat mountains respectfully and worshipfully, but sometimes, we respect mountains because we learn from mountains. The meditation that took place in the heart of a mountain, or the journey climbing up a mountain, people learn from mountains, to be able to see things again after being blinded, and to reset our pace after being rushed.