Not Mountain Goat

There appear to be two main activities on Koh Phi Phi (apart from eating and drinking!); that is scuba diving (learning in the new year) and mountain climbing. So I thought 'd try my hand at mountain climbing on a humid but overcast day with a friend. Turns out that she is more the mountain goat than I as she hotfooted up the mountain like a pro while I quite literally hung around shouting in vain for somebody to please bloody hell bring me a crane!

We got to the base of the rock (quite an achievement in itself) and got taught a rather fancy knot in which to use to attach ourselves securely to the rope. Then on went the rather sexy (!?) belt and leg hoops up round the thighs and then last but not least some rather uncomfortable climbing shoes. Our thai instructors scrambled up secuing the rope - small and lithe they made it look easy although a little daunting as they got smaller and smaller the higher they went!

My first attempt saw me all of about 5 metres up the rock before swinging happily down (rather liked the down bit!). The idea apparently is to use the strength of your legs more so than your arms to get you up, but the angles that you find yourself in require some serious coordination and contortion especially when trying trying to get past some damn piece of overhanging rock. Our second climb was moved to an "easier" patch of rock. So they claim!! I did indeed manage about 15 metres this time but I think more out of blind stubborness than any particular skill! I had thought that it might have been easier to re-try the first rock as it was more familiar, but that was not to be.

As I was sat down watching the others skip up there (not really but it looked like it to me!) I was absolutely shattered. My arms were still shaking from the strain and my legs felt like jelly... I knew the next day or so would involve plenty of aching muscles - not wrong there - cannot dance at the mo for fear of legs buckling underneath!! Okay so maybe not quite that bad but pretty close. I'm glad I gave it a try and I now kow that I am definitively not a mountain goat, or as fit as I used to be. Need to get into training before I try that again!