Mountain Pose....

I was making some changes to the layout of this blog by moving the links of our wwoof hosts into a separate section when I had the chance of going to their websites once again. I remembered all of them with fondness, Phantassie in Scotland, Old Chapel in Wales... But the memory that grabbed me the longest and with the most profoundness was our time in Canary Islands - Fuerteventura, Spain. Those brown sandy mountains, so enormous, so commanding, so everlasting. I remember my eyes stuck out the window whenever we were in a car for those 2 weeks we stayed with Silverio and family. I just could not take my eyes off these magnificant things of nature. Mountains.

I understand now why in ancient times, people worshipped mountains. LikeMount Fuj, like Mount Agung in Bali. Uluru in Australia. Not only do they give life (water and irrigation) but physically, they are the oldest permanent features in the world as we know it. Oceans are constantly moving, our land is mostly covered by earth and vegetation that change and grow and layer upon each other.

But mountains, especially the old ones, are physically frozen history of the world. Imagine, some of these mountains were formed like 500 million years ago. That means, 500 million years ago there was a big techtonic shift in the earths crust and a mountain range is created. So mountains are like the earth's crust being shoved up from beneath into the sky. It must have been spectacular. But also, these mountains are living things as well. They absorb energy from millions of years of being exposed to energy. Thus we have crystals right? So if you think what a little crystal filled with energy can do, imagine living next to these gigantic gigantors of mountains? Mountains are filled with energy of the earth & all the people who lived on it for millions of years.

It makes so much sense now if you think of it. Why do people like to climb mountains? Mountain climbing enthusiasts try their best to come up with a sound reason why. Things like, it gives u a wonderful sense of well-being. Or getting to the top releases endorphins. The views are spectacular... These are all true. But seldom people explain further or say what causes the wonderful sense of well-being? Why does getting to the top release endorphins? What so great about a real view when I can see the same on tele? Climbers tell you its not the same. Just like how diving-enthusiasts will tell you watching the underwater ocean on tv is nothing like the real thing.

Its the energy of these mountains. Its the wisdom. Its being surrounded by mother nature's oldest wise men. (I came up with that myself!) I can feel the age of these mountains. Like the mountains of Bali, I could feel its wild youth. Its crazy lushness of thick bright, almost luminous green foliage. Its fertile rich land, like a teenage mother, nursing her baby. While in Scotland, the mountains are so bare. So worn, so old and tired. Reminding us of Scotlands tragic pasts. So much war, pilaging, death on those hills. From the viking days up to the victorian age. But its rivers (or as they call it, Lochs) glisten in a silvery sheen, like the silver lining. I remember trying to channel my inner William Wallace whenever we were walking in those hills in Strontian. Takes my breath away just thinking about it.

And then, the Fuerteventura mountains. Hauntingly bare. Its cocao colour whispers tales of the past to me. Although I dont know the stories exactly, I am feeling its energy so strongly just from my memory.

So this post is dedicated to mountains. Bjorn and I are so so glad we discovered this wonderful activity. It has impacted us in deep deep ways we probably havent realised. Its been about 6 months now since we left our european wwoofing/climbing trip. And reminiscing now, is making me realise how much it has changed me, particularly my understanding of this confusing world around me. Crazy huh?

Atalaya De La Rosa - a view from the top of the mountain we climbed of our hosts' house. Look at that mountain range in the background. It was just magnificant being there.

During our first climb up a Scottish Mountain, we took a wrong early turn and ended up taking 8 hrs to reach the road instead of 5hrs. Was scary like hell but we made it. This was a shot we took just before we took that wrong turn. I was amazed at the view of this valley as the mist lifted. Endorphins were being released at a high rate here.

Shot of Bjorn at the top of Ben Resipol, after which we got lost.

Walking somewhere in the Cairngorms, Scotland. Descending and 'buay tahan' the view here man. Stunning.

Think this was Spain, north, close to the Pyranees. It was a successful self climb for Bjorn and I. We got a map and everything and had to make a few hard decisions in terms of direction when the markings or map was not clear. All the decisions were right (well almost) and we made it back to the village to catch our train back on time. 16km worth it.