Self Belief is Everything

All words and pictures copyright Alastair Rose 2011

Saturday, December 22, 2012

Yangshou Post 3 (Climbing etc)

 And finally the climbing...
 Giles going for it on "Eggstatic"(6b+/5.11a) at "the Egg" on the second day.
 Giles trying to stay on the same route
 Hannah entering the crux of "Eggstreme Exposure" (6a/5.10b)
 Hannah above the rice fields on the same route
 Miles "I'm in Hufflepuff" Mconville
 Hannah, Miles and Giles on top of Jeremys Jiji (they are on there if you look closely!)
 Eben making things hard for himself on "Les Echo des Montagnes" (5/5.8) Low mountain
 A crowded abseil station on Low mountain.  L-R Eben, Miles and Hannah sporting some colourful tights
 Miles abseiling from low mountain.
Not climbing but I thought I should include one shot of the food which was amazing the whole time.  Miles sampling a local delicacy of pork stuffed snails.  You can just make out the dish to the left (Szechuan beef).  This was probably my favourite meal the whole trip!

Yanshou - Post 2 (Landscape etc)

I have been to Yangshuo a few times and it never fails to impress with amazing scenery.  Below are some of the better shots I got over the week.
 Celebrating the end of the world on one of our first evenings.  I have never seen so many fireworks released at once.
 It wouldn't be a trip to China without at least one picture of bamboo!
 The Li River with the Karst Landscape of Yangshuo - Taken from the top of Low Mountain
 Black and white reflections taken near "the egg"
 Another view from low mountain
 Down by the river with some traditional rafts
Me, Hannah, Miles and Giles on top of "Jeremys Jiji" on Giles last day.

Yangshuo - Post 1 (transport)

After a stressful couple of days I now have my bag back from Amsterdam airport with all my camera gear and laptop complete.  Not entirely sure what would have happened if it hadn't turned up other than my next couple of months being considerable bankrupt!  I took a lot of pictures over the last week or so hanging out with Hannah, Eben, Miles and Giles up in Yangshuo in China.  Here is the first of three posts....
Hannah and Miles cracking up on day one and out first mode of transport - Pink bikes
Crag access Yangshuo style - on our way to Twin Gate Crag
Day 2 - Tandems - I think this tested Giles and Miles's relationship more than Hannah and I's.   Could be because Hannah insisted they wear tights as well (Giles didnt need much convincing)
The "Iles's" ready for action on their tandem
Day Three - Electric Scooter Day.  Definitely my favourite.  With a top speed of about 15km an hour these things are hilariously brilliant for zipping around on.  Even funnier to see Miles with Eben on the back at the end of the days climbing.
Hannah settled in for the night on the sleeper bus back to Hong Kong.

Next up some Landscape and people shots I think.

Friday, December 7, 2012

Adventure Time

I thought I try and fit one last post in from Hong Kong before its time for fun and adventures once more.  Yesterday was my last day of work for a while after another busy season with Asia Pacific Adventure.  The last month has been pretty busy with work and bad weather which has meant no climbing and not really anything much except work actually.  November and the horrific Mo came to and end finally and I am back to not having an itchy upper lip.  I did have a slightly more relaxed week at work last week and managed to take some photos on program.
 Chisum, Ken and I (the dream team?) at the end of another program in the Beer Garden and the last day with the handlebar style moustache! - Yes Ken is drinking half pints!
 Not taking a nap - Miles tried to hide in the rubber tubes so we pushed him over.
 Kyle bringing the dragon boat home at Wong Yi Chau last week.  It was overcast and rainy most of the week but still a lot of fun (especially seeing as we were staying in dorms!)
 An old abandoned house at Wong Yi Chau village in Sai Kung.  There are loads of these old villages in the new territories but less and less people living in them.  Its amazing to walk along and come across these buildings that probably had people living in them not long ago.
 The Swimming pool in Luk Wu gorge.  No swimming this week but it was beautiful hiking weather.
 Black and White HDR shot of Wong Yi Chau pier.
 The 2012 staff team.
Another shot from the end of SPCC.  5 photo stitch.  L-R - James, Ant, Curtis, Al, Adam, Gabby, Gnani. Eben, Choy, Kyle.

Today I have a new climbing rope uncoiled, a pile of quickdraws and am trying to pack my bags.  Hannah flies in in a couple of hours and then its off on adventures for the next while - first stop a sport climbing trip to Yangshou.....