The Clouds Part For Team Chopper

Once again, the day started under less than ideal weather conditions. It was wet, cold, and darn near miserable! The entire group was a little bit weary about the trekking and climbing ahead. Once again, however, just as the bus pulled away from the hotel the rain stopped and the clouds cleared, leaving the bluest and clearer sky I have ever seen in China. It was so clear, in fact, that we could see the Beijing skyline some 100km away! The Great Wall - enveloped by the reds, yellows, and oranges of autumn - looked absolutely spectacular.



Today's section was a fan favorite. Called Mutianyu, it crawls along the spine of the ridge some 1000 meters about sea level. We were surrounded by craggy white, limestone-topped mountains on all sides and it seemed that our panoramic views changed with every step. The first portion of our walk was not steps (miraculously) but instead plunging slopes that wound down and up and down and up and down and up. This proved to be the most difficult type of terrain for Nicole with her fused ankle so Chris and I developed a "cruise control" system (photo above) that allowed us to monitor here downhill speed.


At the end of this portion was our biggest challenge of the day - 1000 uninterrupted steps that wind straight up the side of a mountain, raising us to 1200 meters above sea level. They are steep, slippery, and relentless but boy were they were it! The sense of completion, accomplishment, and satisfaction boosts the endorphins and all that lactic acid build up, all that pain in the calves seems to just melt away. Knowing you have done it for a cause as important as Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service makes it all the more meaningful.

Because of the rain the final descent was more washed out than usual so some of us backtracked to our starting point to avoid the particularly dangerous downhill while others carried on past the "no tourists beyond this point" sign. Their path wound even further up, reaching the apex of The Ox's horn before plunging back into the valley on a less than ideal goat track. We rejoined each other at the guesthouse, where the celebrations began.



From 4pm until bedtime we barbecued in the shadows of the Great Wall. we toasted to new friendships, new experiences, and new bottles of beer. We chewed on chicken feet, we choked down more baijiu, and we laughed. Mostly at Rodney. As day turned to night and the cold moved us inside, we found ourselves in a circle talking about what brought us on this adventure.

Everyone had been directly or indirectly affected and just as the organization itself is one of, by, and for the community so too was this group. There were tears, there was trust, and there was resolve to carry on advocating for the Rescue Helicopter once we got back to Australia. By the end of the night we had developed a political action plan to bring the emergency call unit back to Newcastle. Watch out New South Wales government. If this group can climb, fundraise, and drink as well as they do I have no doubt they will be a force to reckon with!!!



This element of camaraderie and team spirit is probably my favorite aspect of our Inspired Adventures. You can take 14 near strangers, chuck them in a foreign land together, and within days they will think like a team, act like a family, and joke like lifelong friends. It is truly life-changing.

For us it is now back to Beijing for more sites, sounds, and tastes of China. Go Team Chopper!!!

These Boots Were Made For Steppin'

As our bus pulled away from the hotel we had only one thought in mind: "RAIN RAIN GO AWAY!" The further we drove, the bigger the drops became. All signs were pointing toward a very wet day until, miraculously, just as we had all rugged up and waterproofed ourselves, the clouds burned off, the drops dried up, and we were all rushing to de-rug and de-waterproof before the intense greenhouse effect set in.

Breakfast left us all a bit wanting (hard boiled eggs, soy sauce rice, anda wide selection of odd accompaniments just didn't quite hit the spot) so we made a quick pit stop for bananas. They are a whopping 25 cents per kilo. Really breaking the bank!


Within minutes we had met our climbing buddies for the day - an army of Chinese women who speak brilliant English, escort and supervise our every step, and turn into mobile shopping malls at the end of the day. In the spirit of our team's tradition of buying everything in sight, we bought everything in sight. This group of 14 may be singlehandedly response for China's 4th quarter growth rate of 9%.

Today's theme was most certainly steps. Steps up, steps down, steps over, steps around. There were big steps and small steps, wide steps, and narrow steps. When there weren't steps there were ledges. Big scary ledges whose edges plunged anywhere from 25 to 500 meters into the valley below. In a moment of excitement Nicole decided to head near the edge for photo. Our team Moms, Lorraine and Darryl, were less than amused and in there ever so adorable Yorkshire accent yelled out to her, "Give over! Come back over here you silly little thing before I bop you on the nose."


Crisis averted, we carried on finishing our shorter but more challenging walk in just over four hours. From there it was onward to lunch, where the lovely restaurant owner (the same gentleman who had cooked up a mean goat the night before) had ice cold beers waiting for a beleaguered and hungry bunch of Aussies! Nothing that entertaining happened save for Rod being his usual irritating self. Just kidding Rod!


We made a quick pit stop in a teeny tiny village where every horizontal surface was covered in drying corn. It was a bit of a "first foreigners" situation, with children and adults looking at us with both intrigue and confusion. Rod, Peter, Andy, and Brendon made a valiant effort to entertain the children at the local primary school before being sent to detention by a very well-dressed headmaster. Paul sat pondering life and love with new mate (pictured), which was great because the rest of us were really getting sick of him. Just kidding Paul!


There was one more pit stop to be made before getting to the hotel and my goodness, was it popular. Why, you ask? Because we could shop! Cookies, crackers, crisps, ice creams, candy, soda (yes we are a healthy bunch), dried fruit, razors, underwear, socks, and NINE bottles of Baijiu have now joined our ever-heavying bus. As I said, if it's not attached to the ground it will be bought!

Dinner was surprisingly low key and now we're off to bed with our biggest walk yet coming tomorrow!!! GO TEAM!!!

Choppers put the TEAM in Teamwork!

Day 3 of our challenge and we were off for our second of five big days trekking on the wall. That's right, 16 kilometers, 6 hours, plus a whole lot of steps, perilous drops, bladder malfunctions, and demands for ice cold things (beverages, cream, hearts, etc.). The sun was shining, the sky was blue, and the temperature was getting up there which meant twice the challenge! Still, this group took it in stride.

The magic of autumn was out in full force today. The brilliance of the wall was set against the vibrant yellows, oranges, and reds of the changing leaves underneath a backdrop of radiant blue skies and puffy white clouds. With every step the scenery seemed to change drastically with new angles, viewpoints, and perspectives to be viewed, photographed, and appreciated.



All this beauty helped to keep our minds off the grueling track that lay ahead of us. The other thing that kept us occupied were group songs performed by what we are now calling the International Rescue Chopper Chamber Choir. Led by lead singer Shell Bell and backed up by the spotlight loving Lorraine along with the Chang Chang Chorus Line (Chang Chang is Chinese for Great Wall) our finest work was seemingly prompted by the strangest of circumstances. Brendon mentioned he felt a bit of vertigo while climbing down some enormous steps. Cue U2's "vertigo." Hello hello...Shell Bell pointed out her shoes were made for walking and the group, in unison, chimed in: "that's just what they'll do. One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over the Wall!"

Two hours along an unrestored section of the wall our journey led us down into a fantastic valley of small farms, big trees, and a pathway dotted with numerous wells. We kept Water Closet as far away from them as possible. Upon reaching the bottom it was back upward to the wall, the fall colors surrounding us on all sides. After a pit stop for some cold sodas and pineapple ice lollies (yes, even out in the middle of nowhere you can get fruit-flavored Popsicles) we rejoined the wall at a more restored section called Jinshaling. Two hours further it was back down off the wall and onward to a much deserved dinner. After all, we had been trekking for over six hours!



Earlier in the day Michael our local guide (nicknamed Louie after his Chinese name, which translates as "fly") had arranged for a 45 kilogram Billy goat named Larry to be barbecued in traditional Aussie style for our dining pleasure. Our stomaches had been growling since 3pm so goat we did eat. True to Australian form the women sat around the table gas bagging while the men ended up crowded around the barbecue talking about how they would have cooked up that goat, pretending like they knew what the heck they were talking about.

We finished the day the way we always finish it: by passing the "daily superstar" bracelets on. Each evening 3 people are given bracelets by their fellow teammates for being awesome during the day. The next day, those selected then pass them on to whomever they think deserves them. It's a great way to be reminded of why we are all here and highlight the excellent teamwork of those individuals who particularly shined.


If today can be defined by anything, it's teamwork. Paul, Peter and Rodney were phenomenal all day in assisting Nicole on her journey climbing the Great Wall. Despite her fused ankle and titanium rod that lines her right leg, she took every step with purpose and determination with the three lads there to assist when she needed that extra helping hand.


Meanwhile, the Michelles, Sandy, Lorraine, and Darryl seem to have formed what they are calling the "Fab Five" of tough ladies who help each other up, over, and through the more precarious bits of our journey. More specifically this support usually comes in the form of pushing each other's bums up, over, and through the more precarious bits of the wall. Their initiation process also seems to involve the placement of hands on bums for a preset amount of time, which is perhaps why the others haven't yet joined this very exclusive rag-tag bunch of renegades. Perhaps we'll have the courage tomorrow.



As for the rest of us, we are not pledging any allegiances just yet. The are still several days to go and we have no doubt the rival gangs will only improve their membership offers. Until then, we will all just continue to pretend we are living West Side story. For now, it's off to bed in our hilarious and quite quirky hotel (where Chris and Michelle have decided to act as living statues).

Onward!

Team Chopper Head To The Wall

Today we were up by 7 and steamrolling out of Beijing by 8:30 on our massive bus compete with endless bottled water, a clock exactly 2 hours off, and an inability to maintain a reasonable temperature. It was either an arctic tundra or the Simpson desert on board. By steamrolling I mean crawling ever so slowly along highways, byways, and backroads, over sidewalks, farmers, and small children. I don't think any of us have ever seen this level of roadside chaos. The cacophony of honking horns (which came in all sounds, volumes, and tones) was, at times, deafening.

Eventually skyscrapers became medium size buildings which devolved into single story homes and shops before completely disappearing into an endless abyss of corn fields. All of a sudden we were in a very different China. A China of dirt roads, street markets, and ox-pulled carts.


Our first stop was the ancient Qing Tombs, where we had another of our local guide Michael's brilliant history lessons about the life, times, and drama of the middle kingdom's last dynasty. It was like Home and Away meets the Rudd/Gillard government: "Susie said to Annie, 'no I am the emperor's favorite concubine. He told me last night after he revealed that you are actually his secret mother's adopted step child.' Meanwhile, back at the palace, the evil Empress dowager was plotting to roll the current ruler to replace him with her own adopted son.". So much drama!

Lunch brought more delicious food as well as a return to the art of squatting for Darryl, Lorraine, Sandy, and Michelle, who found themselves in a long row of half-walled stalls passing tissue paper down the line. What troopers!


The afternoon found us taking our very first steps on the great wall. As with every group I have joined on this adventure, the look on people's faces as they take in their first sweeping views of the wall stretching as far as the eye can see in either direction is priceless. Indeed, there is no place on earth quite like it and still no picture I have ever seen that fully captures it's extraordinary nature. Special shout out to Nicole, who did a brilliant job conquering day one of our challenge. You go girl!


Following check-in at our guesthouse the group decided pre-dinner happy hour was in order. That happy hour turned into a happy evening as the group sampled a selection of the nation's finest national spirit, called Baijiu. I would describe its taste as somewhere between moonshine and lighter fluid. We did it the traditional way: standing up and shouting yi, er, san, gambei, which translates as 1, 2, 3, Cheers! It was after a few rounds that people's true colours began to shine through. It is in these truthful moments that Aussies love to hand out nicknames and our group was no different.


So, here we go:

Nicki Lee - Dicky Lee, for her brilliant effort

Sandy - H.E., as she arrived from Bangkok (you work it out)

Agnes - Freddo, as she is our Franco-Aussie

Darryl - Precious, for obvious reasons, she says

Rodney - Chili, In honor of his love of spicy food (which is so intense, it brings tears to his eyes)

Peter - Squirrel, for equally obvious reasons

Chris - Tiger, for his ravenous spirit and uber-manliness

Michelle - Pom, because she secretly is one

Paul - Pauly, after famed comedian Pauly Shore

Ben - Bobby Bouchet, in honor of his Waterboy status having brought 8 liters with him

Brendon - Tubby, because he is, well, Tubby

Michelle - Water closet, because after she decided to skip out on a less than ideal toilet she stepped into what she thought was a bush and it turned out to be a 2 meter deep hole. We almost lost her to China!

Lorraine - NaiNai, which is Chinese for grandma because she takes such good care of us (like when she advised Michelle to step into a giant hole)

Andy - Undy, thanks to a little incident at the massage parlor that involved a slight misunderstanding, leaving Andy digging through his bag for an extra pair of pants while his masseuse darted down the hall screaming due to emotional distress and trauma.

Kyle - Captain Awesome again, for obvious reasons

To bed now as we have a very bit walk ahead of us tomorrow. Until then, GO TEAM!

WRHS Team Chopper Has Landed - With Pics

After 15 hours, three airports, and one very frantic plane change in Hong Kong that involved matching stickers and secret doorways, the WRHS Team Chopper landed safe and sound in Beijing. We dropped bags at the hotel and, within 15 minutes, hit the mean streets of Beijing's hutongs for some delicious street food and traditional Chinese beer (it's just beer). It was over a plate of sweet and sour pork that I learned Ben had brought 8 litres of water with him from Australia. Yes, EIGHT LITRES. Why, might you ask? Because there was room in his bag so why not? Plus, whats better than a thirst-quenching bottle of Mount Franklin water when you are way out in remote China? Nothing, thats what! I knew with this level of energy so early in the piece, it was GAME ON.

The next morning we we're on the bus by 8:15 and battling the onslaught of hawkers at the Temple of Heaven by half past. While some teams are defined by their love of strange foods or desire to photograph everything 900 times, this group was clearly making a name for themselves in the shopping department. It if it not screwed to the ground and can be bought, it will be bought! Postcards, coin purses, books, bags, watches, and more will all now call Australia home and it has only been one day.



Touring the Temple of Heaven was brilliant. The fog and light breeze left the weather just right for exploring the spectacular buildings and leafy parklands. One of the early purchase highlights was a Chinese hackysack. It has a heavy metal base and multi-colored feathers. You are meant to kick it on the inside of your foot and pass it across a circle while Chinese people watch and laugh at how terrible you are at it. I posed the "10 in a row" challenge and the whole group accepted. To my chagrin, this lot were brilliant! So brilliant in fact that Chinese people actually wanted to play with us! 40 minutes later we were the life of the party which was sadly cut short by a need for the bathroom and a noodle lunch.

Perhaps one of the most exciting adventures of the Great Wall of China challenge is that first time one uses a squatter toilet. While Darryl and Michelle were fine, poor Lorraine was unsure of both her footing position and which direction to face. In the end she went with bum out so as to not be recognized should someone swing the door open. Good call Lorraine!



After lunch we headed to the Forbidden City where, outside, Nicole was approached by a young boy who clearly had an affection toward the mother of two. She swooped him up into her arms and posed for roughly 7,000 photos as locals and tourists alike snapped away. She and I contemplated stealing him and taking him back to Australia (due to his adorableness) but decided against it for reasons that now seem rather obvious. At one point we literally said to each other, "we will probably get into a lot of trouble, right?" Probably? Really?



Our afternoon at the Forbidden City was fantastic and once again the group were back on the prowl to buy as much Chinese paraphernalia as humanly possible. So far so good. Following our visit we had a short beak to rest our feet and shower before diving into a brilliant dinner of genuine roasted Peking duck. Poor Rodney is highly affected by spicy foods in that they make him cry nonstop and eliminate his ability to form thoughts and sentences. As such, we make sure to lie and tell him green chilis are green beans so we can watch his face turn bright red. Friendly lot, aren't we?

The night came to a close following a spectacular acrobatics show, a 90 minute massage, and a leisurely stroll through the backstreets of our neighborhood. Tomorrow it's onward to the Great Wall with the above lot of socially deviant shopaholics along wit Sandy, Agnes (our fiery Franco-Aussie), Brendon, the other Michelle, Chris, Peter, Paul, and Andrew.

Let's get climbing!

-Kyle

China [Travel] Moment

Yesterday I was nearly foiled by China in my attempt to get from Shanghai to Beijing.  Yes, in a matter of just 30 minutes I had an extended "China moment" that involved subway trains, buses, automobiles, planes, and one fiery old lady.

It started at 8:45am when I left for the airport.  A 5-minute walk brought me to the subway station which is on the same line as the airport.  "How easy is that," I asked myself rhetorically.  Not so easy, actually.  The next train was in 18 minutes.  Fair enough on a holiday week.  I waited with big backpack, daypack, and computer bag in tow thinking about how funny my legs look in floppy linen shorts and massive trekking boots.  The train arrived and I stepped on to find that this particular car was traveling to a different end station and not going via the airport.

I quickly darted off to discover that the next train, which was going to the airport, wasn't coming for another 18 minutes!  That wasn't good because I had to check in at least 45 minutes before my flight; the deadline for which was in 32 minutes.  Quick math ("18 minutes until the train then 25 on the train then 7 walking...") confirmed my worst nightmare (missing a flight, which I have never done thanks to my usually arriving 2-3 DAYS before departure).  If I stayed here I was a goner.

Hoisting my massive backpack on my back, daypack on my front, and computer bag over my shoulder I waddled back up the escalator, through the exit, and out to the street where, miraculously, there was a bus stopped that read "Hongquiao Airport" on the front!  I hopped right on, the driver confirmed my good fortune, and we took off!  "All is well," I thought.

Two blocks later all was not well.  Either the bus had run out of gas or it was attempting to charge up to reach light speed because we were stoppin' then zoomin' like nobody's business.  The driver pulled the now dying vehicle over, opened the door, got off, and just started walking down the street shaking his pristine white gloves in the air.  We all looked at each other in dismay  It only took 30 seconds to realize what was coming next: a battle royale to get the first taxi to the airport.

I once again sherpa-ed up, bags hanging on every limb.  A pint-size elderly Chinese woman shoved me to one side to make a run for it.  In my current top-heavy state I was an easy target and tipped right over.  As I lay there in a pile of overpriced lifetime warranty nylon and canvas bags, zippers flying every which way, I had a realization: this isn't Kansas anymore.  This is China.  GAME. ON.

The adrenaline began to pump through my veins.  I used this newfound superhuman strength to pull myself up, swat a few small children to the side, and find that women to claim my revenge.  As I exited the bus I could see her in the distance.  Her greying bouffant was a near perfect circle and didn't move even a smidgen as she waved her hands in the air while simultaneously checking over her shoulder for cab-hailing competition.  My waddle became a gallop as our eyes locked and I began to wave my arms in the air at an equally frantic rate.

As an aqua cab rounded the bend, it's "available" light shining brightly, I knew this was my moment. I could give it up to her in the spirit of American kindness and perhaps miss my flight or I could crush her, claim victory, and get to the airport on time.  As they say, when in Rome...

My gallop became an all-out run-waddle-hop-skip-jump and I waved my arms madly.  Bouffant made a hard left and quickly turned her power strides into a "poor old lady shuffle."  She was clearly playing the sympathy card to the driver.  I wasn't fooled and the driver clearly didn't care.  As I swung the back door open and launched my bags inside she headed for the front window, a "poor me" look slapped on her face in an attempt to steal my cab.  Mind you, this is the woman who, 2 minutes earlier, had knocked over a grown man carrying no less than 100 pounds of luggage.

One leg hanging out the door I yelled at the driver to go and we zoomed away, leaving evil granny in the dust.  I turned back to find that her face had turned into a smile and she was giving me a thumbs up.  No matter how heated, Chinese people still have the innate ability to reward an all-out adoption of their ways.  I could tell she was quite proud.

Sadly, karma is a pain and five minutes later we were in bumper to bumper traffic behind another bus that had broken down.  Rather than pull to the side of the road the driver instead decided to park across all four lanes of traffic in an apparent attempt to ruin everyone's day.  The clock was ticking and I was getting restless, begging the driver to do something - ANYTHING.  Naturally, as we're in China, he did.  The man pulled right up on the sidewalk, passed the bus, plopped us back down on the road, and we sped away, both wearing a very satisfied grin.

I got to the check-in desk exactly 47 minutes prior to departure, cut the line all the way to the front (as you do in China), shoved my passport across the desk, whipped my bag onto the belt, and nabbed the last window seat.  Kyle - 1, China - 0.  On board I was greeted by an adorable 8-year-old who was so intrigued with my iPad he decided he'd rather sit on my lap and play angry birds than enjoy his very own seat.  As we landed in Beijing and his dad told him to give it back to me, he looked at me with the saddest face I have ever seen and spent the next several minutes attempting to sucker me into giving it to him.  I tell you what, it almost worked.  If you could have seen that face!

Now I'm safe and sound in Beijing and very proud to have one what can only be described as one of the greatest battles to claim victory over a China moment in recorded history.  As for that old lady, I ran into her in the terminal 20 minutes later.  She waved kindly and gave me another thumbs up.  It clearly hadn't occurred to either of us to just share the cab.  What's the fun in that?

--

Kyle Taylor

Time To Donate: Everest Bast Camp & London Marathon For Cancer Research

As of three days ago I am officially trekking to Everest Base Camp and running the London Marathon for Cure Cancer, an amazing research charity.  One in two families are touched by cancer in their lifetime and Cure Cancer is determined to improve prevention, detection and treatment outcomes to reduce the suffering caused by cancer.

For over a year I have watched as people from around the world raised thousands and thousands of dollars through my work at Inspired Adventures.  Now, it's time for me to put myself in their shoes and raise some money!  I'll be trekking through Nepal to Everest Base Camp in February and running the London marathon April 22nd.  You know me - either go big or go home!

Online donation site: http://www.tinyurl.com/kylecure2012

I've chosen cancer research because it's personal.  I've lost dear relatives, close friends have lost partners, and friends themselves are currently battling this horrible disease.  Nothing I take on can compare to their challenge but I want to do something to help.  I am a fan of Cure Cancer  because they fund young and innovative researchers who are approaching cancer research from new and interesting perspectives.

By helping me reach my goal of $10,000 you will assist my team of runners in FUNDING A CANCER RESEARCHER FOR A YEAR.  That’s right, just the ten of us runners together will - through your support - fund a cancer researcher for an entire year! It is my hope that we can all help them find a key to a cure.

This challenge isn't about me and what I want to do is make it about those people who you are donating in support, memoriam, or honor of.  With their fight, challenge, victory, and tragic loss in mind, I will take them with me to Everest and to London:

$65 Donation - I'll put their name and your name on my banner that I'll fly at Everest Base Camp.  It will read: "I'm trekking for: ______"

$110 Donation - I'll put their name on my marathon jersey that will read: "I'm running for:______"

$500 Donation - Let's talk!  I'll do whatever you want.

Join me on this epic journey by donating $65, $110, or anything you can to help unlock a key to a cure and hopefully save lives.  We can do it!  You can donate online right here:

Online donation site: http://www.tinyurl.com/kylecure2012

As always, I’ll be blogging about my progress for both challenges as well as about the current adventures I am leading in Asia.

It's go time!

--

Kyle Taylor