I went up two mountains today! One via a (purple) cable car (no, I didn’t chose the specific car, although I was of course, hoping for one. It was destiny!) in Ocean Park and the other one via an old-fashioned tram going to Victoria’s Peak.
The cable car ride was tolerably scary, but simply breathtaking. I can hear the screeching of the cables as we ascend, cross and descend the mountain. And during the ride, my friend (who had tried this same cable car ride before) told me that there was a time that the ride experienced technical problems and they were suspended at the side of the mountain for at least 20 minutes. She could have told me that AFTER the ride!!! But I guess, it made the ride more exciting. Gladly, we reached the other end of the station without any glitches. Whew! During the entire ride, I just concentrated on appreciating the picturesque view of the ocean and the mountain. Wait, did we properly close the door of the car? There are no seat belts in here!
The cable car ride was tolerably scary, but simply breathtaking. I can hear the screeching of the cables as we ascend, cross and descend the mountain. And during the ride, my friend (who had tried this same cable car ride before) told me that there was a time that the ride experienced technical problems and they were suspended at the side of the mountain for at least 20 minutes. She could have told me that AFTER the ride!!! But I guess, it made the ride more exciting. Gladly, we reached the other end of the station without any glitches. Whew! During the entire ride, I just concentrated on appreciating the picturesque view of the ocean and the mountain. Wait, did we properly close the door of the car? There are no seat belts in here!
I did climb a mountain on foot before (Mt. Makulot in Batangas). It was also breathtaking – halfway during the climb, I can’t breathe anymore. Mountaineering moron that I am, I brought two liters of water in my backpack. I want to go back already and just wait for my group at the bottom. Gladly, I did not. No matter how physically hard it is, I finished the climb. The view at the top was worth all the pain and fear.
The tram ride, on the other hand was just ok. It was just like the slow ascent during a Log Jam/Raging River ride without the sudden drop to the water at the end. Riding a bus in EDSA is more bloodcurdling.
I guess that is always how it is for any fearful and difficult experience. During that critical moment, you are ready to give up and will give anything to just go back to your safety mode. But once you have conquered the fear and extended your threshold for pain, you come out satisfied that you completed the task and extra proud that you did it.
Well, I am talking about mountain rides/climb here. As for those other monstrous ride (e.g. Abyss Turbo Drop, Space Shuttle) in Ocean Park, well, you can’t make me place my butt there even if you offer to pay me a million bucks. Ok fine, you can call me chicken!
The tram ride, on the other hand was just ok. It was just like the slow ascent during a Log Jam/Raging River ride without the sudden drop to the water at the end. Riding a bus in EDSA is more bloodcurdling.
I guess that is always how it is for any fearful and difficult experience. During that critical moment, you are ready to give up and will give anything to just go back to your safety mode. But once you have conquered the fear and extended your threshold for pain, you come out satisfied that you completed the task and extra proud that you did it.
Well, I am talking about mountain rides/climb here. As for those other monstrous ride (e.g. Abyss Turbo Drop, Space Shuttle) in Ocean Park, well, you can’t make me place my butt there even if you offer to pay me a million bucks. Ok fine, you can call me chicken!
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