Moreton Island 2016 - Camping and Hiking

25/12/16

Day 1 of our trip in Moreton Island was something to be remembered for - as total exhaustion.

We had already made it out to the beach, which was hundred times easier to walk compared to the sandy forest hills.

16 km hike was not as long as it feels when you are carrying all the camping gears, uphill, downhill, and sinking into the sand with every step you take.

"It will be the most comfortable if everyone walks by their own pace." Samuel told us as he continued walking effortlessly and tirelessly. It is not only true that everyone has their own pace. Everyone has their own journey too, the journey inwards. Everyone is walking the same path, yet in their head thinking about something different to endure physical discomfort.

As I walked with all the pain in my shoulders, feet and chest, I only maintained my pace by remembering Kierkegaard's words. This simple physical activity somehow turned into a philosophical endeavor, a mental test, a spiritual trial. Suffering is the essence of all life. Staying silent in suffering is the best way to deal with suffering.

An extract from Life Lessons from Kierkegaard by Robert Ferguson.

My memory of today was blurry and painful, and when I feel pain I turn away my attention. So I cannot and do not want to recall the details. When my body is in pain, my mind seeks comfort. When my body is in comfort, my mind seeks pain. This trip although is not what I expect, is something that I long for - life, to endure suffering.

26/12/16

Day 2 was a 'numb' day, literally.

Earlier yesterday, we changed the original plan from (walking 12 km on day 1 & another 10 km on day 2) to (16 km straight on day 1 & rest on day 2). Thank God we did.

So today was very chill. We woke up from our camp at the Blue Lagoon Campground at 4:30 am to catch a glimpse of the sunrise at the beach, went back to sleep until 7 am, then made our way back to the beach to soak in waves, and took a short trip to the Blue Lagoon. We spent a lot of time at the Blue Lagoon, swimming and sun bathing. At 1:30 - 2 pm, we went back to the beach. And finally my day was marked by getting stung by a jelly fish. At first it only felt irritating on my legs skins, and later on my left thigh was numb. Walking almost one legged, Simeon helped me to get to the bathroom, took a cold shower, and make our way back to camp. Fortunately, my left thigh regained its strength on the way back.

A stranded large jelly fish. It was not the one that stung me. If I was stung by jelly fish this big, I might have been airlifted to hospital by helicopter.

27/12/16

Day 3 prepared us for day 4 - another 16 km march.

Today we took the east coast and journeyed to the northernmost point of Moreton Island, Cape Moreton. 8 km each way. There we climbed the hills, reached the lighthouse, and enjoyed a moment of peace and comfort with a scene of the whole Moreton Island.

28/12/16

Day 4 was unexpected.

Waking up from an exhausted body, we started our long march at around 6:30 am. Motivated by the image of home and comfort, even though I highly doubted my strength, I told myself to stop thinking and just walk as far as possible.

As discussed earlier, we could hitchhike back to the resort. The first person got picked up was Alvin, Silas' friend. And he disappeared from our sight 10 minutes later. Seeing this, my motivation and insistence vanished. "How much longer I need to walk if it takes a car 10 minutes to get there". So I and Simeon started to wait for our turn and the kindest people to pick us up. We turned and waited, handed out thumb up (the hitchhike sign you know)… until the third car.

It happened. It was like in the movie. We were accepted by a young Australian couple, Jack and Emma. Although they were not going to the same place as we were, they promised to dropped us off at the junction. We drove and drove, no sign of the entrance. As we kept going, it was too late to realise we missed it. So no biggie, Jack and Emma were just going to take us on another trip together and promised to drive us all the way back to the resort area.

The unexpected beauty happened here: The Big Sand Hill! It already seemed so tall at the first hill, but in fact there was another taller one on top of the first. I would not know that I could made it all the way up until I did! It was so beautiful at the top where the whole island is under your feet. The sand no longer felt like energy-draining traps.

This was on top of the first hill, the even taller one was on the left of this photo. It was so satisfying to make it.

Thank you very much Jack and Emma. Without you guys, I might have been dead on that beach or the forest sandy hills. I wish you two all the best. And goodbye Moreton Island. I learned a lot.

#RealistsJournal #Trips