As I was about to enter the mountain trail, two bulls appeared in front of me. Yikes! I quickly stepped aside for them to walk through. There were bells hanging from the bulls' necks.
It's a pity I did not take any photos of the bulls as I was just too stunned. The old lady laughed and bid me a safe journey to the fishing village. She reminded me to always take the right turn at any junction that I come across.
The trail up the mountain was narrow but the stones and rocky steps made it easier to walk.
I just hoped I would not come face to face with any bulls coming down the hill!
It's a good thing they have bells hanging from their necks so if I were to hear the sound of bells ringing, I could quickly prepare myself and jump into the bushes on either side of the trail!
Luckily for me, I did not encounter any more bulls for the rest of my climb up the mountain.
The scenery along the journey was breathtaking!
I don't think my photos would be able to do any justice to the beautiful scenery there. You have got to be there to appreciate it. Somehow, I just love the mountains and the forests!
As I continue to climb up the steep rocks, there were some buzzing sound around me. Must be flies! But I could not see any!
I looked at my handphone. It was already close to 4pm. I wondered how long more I had to climb. I pushed myself to climb faster but had to stop several times to catch my breath.
It was 4.15 pm and I was still climbing. There was no end in sight. I was thinking, should I continue? What if I reach the fishing village late and had to walk back through this forest in the late evening? The thought of trekking the forest in the darkness did not appeal to me at all.
The buzzing continued. It was getting irritating.
And then, I reached an open space with rows and rows of tall plants! This was a flat surface with no rocky steps on the ground. The plants were as tall as me, some even taller.
Walking along, I felt myself getting lost in this sea of tall plants. Soon, I came to a clearing with man-made rock formations. I did not take much photos to show here. After passing that clearing, I saw the rocky steps going up the mountain and climbed them.
I thought it was getting darker. But it's only 4.30pm. Maybe it was going to rain? I sure hoped not although I had a raincoat with me!
There was not a single soul here. I wondered why. Surely there must be some locals or even tourists who would walk this mountain trail.
I was seriously deciding whether I should continue. I did not know how long more it would take. Besides, I did not want to come here after dark. I knew that I had to use this route for my return journey after visiting the fishing village.
I made the decision to turn back. I was not going to take the risk! Walking here in the dark of the night would be no fun, believe me!
The image of a Chinese female vampire flying from tree to tree flashed through my mind. What the hell was I thinking? Erase! Erase! Erase!
Perhaps the darkened sky and the loneliness was starting to get to me. OK, I am turning back right now!
I descended the rocky steps and reached the clearing and the open space with the rows of tall plants again. Walking among the tall plants, I could not find the slabs of rocks from where I came up earlier.
After a few attempts, I still could not find my way! I realised then that I was lost! Oh no!
Then I heard someone calling my name. My Mandarin name to be exact. I froze. Did I just imagine that?
Looking around made me dizzy. I felt panicky. Help!
I kept repeating to myself to stay calm. I assured myself that the voice I heard was all in the mind. Erase! Erase! Erase!
I visualised an invisible shield surrounding me. This was a method I learnt from one of those Mind Power seminars I attended a few years ago. The invisible shield would protect me from any harm. I knew I must not underestimate the power of my mind!
I felt calm after that and my mind was clearer. I took a deep breath and reassured myself that I would find my way. Looking at all the pathways before me, I decided to take one that was slightly to my left. I really did not know why I choose that but it was just a gut feeling.
Walking among the tall plants, I soon saw the slabs of rocks again! I found my way! Yes!! You cannot imagine how relieved I felt at that moment!
I am sorry there is no more photos after this because I was just too overcame by relief to remember taking any photos! Haha.
It was unfortunate that I was not able to visit the fishing village. But who knows - maybe I will visit Xingping again a few years down the road? And next time, I will be better prepared!
FIRST COMMENTER
first!!
YES! Such a rare occurrence that I can be the first commenter!! Hahaha... And OMG such a scary experience! Did you really hear people calling your name??
Also, what is the technique that helped to keep you calm? The invisible shield eh? I'm interested to know! Share with us, it might become useful in the future! :)
Oh I'm very surprised why is it that the fishing village is uphill? Isn't that weird? I thought fishing village should be near the sea or river? But from your pictures there didn't seem to be any trace of water in sight!
OK one more comment, since I don't like the number 4. :P Haha I'm really glad you managed to find your way. But the old lady told you to keep taking a right when you see any junction, heading towards the fishing village right? So I guess when you return, it would make sense to keep taking a left? Like what you did? :)
haha...why always take right turn? wow...that's kind of scary and interesting experience for you! well, thank God you didn't get lost and still happily telling us about ur story! keep it up!
If you turn right 4 times, you might get back to your origin point. Haha.
It must be quite a scary adventure, being lost in no man's land. But hey, I'm sure you would have done it again if the chance arises.
Still no idea why you keep hearing your names being called.
And here you never found out who called your name... Maybe it will give a number to buy haha.
A great adventure to you. What an experience walking alone in the forest! We should have done this in a group!
I would like to go to Laos and Vietnam too as well as Koh Samui. But isn’t it too far away from Siam Riep. Plus AirAsia does not fly to those destinations from Siam Riep.
I thought you said you prefer not to go to Bangkok cause you have been there several times. I want to hear more suggestions from you, Foong.
It is reall unfrotunate you didn't get to see the fishing village though.
Maybe next time :). There is always next time. Make sure you go wwith someone then hehee~
Glad that you find the ways. Sometimes people's mind power is stronger than anything. You can even bend a steel bar by just thinking of it. :)
Aiya what a great disappointment did not get a chance to see the mermaid of Xingping however very glad for you the bulls did not jab an autograph in your butt haha. Ello while looking at the pixs and reading your name being called..somehow the trees and mountains sort of can... 'talk'
ppl believe that there are spirits around the places so best not to panic..
scary man
i like natural place - relax and enjoy
iamthewitch, congrats for being FC here today! I hope you don't mind I use your wedding photo for linky love : )
iamthewitch, yes at that time, I really did hear my name being called. But now, recalling back, I think I imagined it. Haha! Who knows? Maybe my mind played tricks on me when I was suffering from stress and panic.
Oh, the calming the mind technique - not really a calming mind technique actually. You can use this technique to protect yourself from invisible forces or from people who use mind power to attack you. This may sound a bit weird, but you never know who or what is capable of attacking you using psychic power.
You protect yourself by visualizing an invisible shield enveloping you. Any psychic attack on you will then be deflected unless the attacker is unusually strong.
No, the fishing village is not uphill, but it's at the other side of the mountain. So I had to climb up the mountain and down again to the other side. The view of the river is blocked by the mountain and tall forest trees.
Yes, you are right - I should take a left turn on my return journey. But the thing was, I did not come across any junction (not yet I think) but an open space, with lots of pathways. It's just a straight walk, but somehow, all the tall plants seemed to make it confusing.
Always got scary story lah this Foong. :D
So, who called you? A pretty ghost? ;)
Foong better don't go venturing out alone. Last time got hear baby cried in KK. This time got hear someone calling him. Hahaha
Foong, you made the right decision to turn back. I still marvel at you being able to make that trip with the injury to your leg. Glad it turned out okay in the end.
Welcome to Twitter, btw. Will be following you and thanks for following me. Happy tweeting..
well.. that was a scary experience..
too bad you didnt make it.. =)
kenwooi.com
gabriel, it's an instruction from the locals there. I guess if you keep turning right, you will reach the fishing village.
shingo T, haha! That would be scary! Reminds me of Blair Witch Project. Walk and walk but still end up the same place!
I will do it again, but with companions and not alone next time!
Me hearing my name being called? I think it's all just my imagination. Cos I don't dare to think otherwise : )
ladyviral, yeah if only I'm given a number to buy, then I'll be rich after my China trip. Haha!
jam, yeah how I wished you weren't sick! Then we could've gone to the fishing village together! Well, no regrets... : )
Regarding our trip, OK, I will think about it and email you instead of replying here for public consumption! LOL!
i must learn the invisible shield from you
ladyviral, yeah I will definitely not go alone next time! Once bitten twice shy! : )
superman, yeah. Our mind is stronger than we think! : )
cheahs@n, haha! I don't think there's any mermaid in the Li River. And yes, luckily no autograph from the bulls on my butt! : )
wenn, but there are good as well as evil spirits!
willie, you can say that again! : )
CH Voon, hi thanks for dropping by my blog! Yes I love nature and the forests and mountains are nice places to visit! : )
lina, glad it was not a pretty ghost! Habislah, if it was! I think it's just my mind playing tricks on me. You know lah, all alone and lost - you sort of imagine all kind of things!
You reminded me about that baby cries in Kinabalu Park! But there's an explanation for that - it's from handphone ringtone! This one no explanation - best if I say it's my imagination. Don't dare to think of the alternative : )
happysurfer, I think I made the right decision too. Imagine getting lost there in the darkness of the night! I will surely faint! Haha!
Oh yes, climbing the steep stone slabs was quite painful as my shorts kept touching the injured part of my leg! But when I was in panic mode, all the pain was forgotten! Haha!
Thanks for following me on Twitter! : )
kenwooi, yeah too bad, but no regrets : )
bengbeng, haha it's nothing much really. Just visualize an invisible shield covering you to protect you from harm : )
Hello fooongpc,
Thanx for visiting and leave a comment on my blog.
I would like to invite you to become my blog follower.
However,my blog in Malay!.
It should't be a problem to you..
TQ anyway..
The trail in your first photo looked very rocky and you're brave to make your way up alone! I would never do that. What if you got lost and no one finds you? All dark and alone up in the mountains.
Maybe next time engage a local guide to bring you to the fishing village. That will give you a peace of mind when travelling.
Imagine foong got lost and Jam had to form a search party to look for him. That'll be news. And Foong can become popular as everybody read abt him in the paper! LOL
I wanna spam foong with comments just so I can be in top 10 commenters LOL!
foong,
maybe the spirits didn't want you to go to the fishing village and prevented you by making you go round and round. Can happen, you know. Heeee....
it's really scary being lost in the woods.. everywhere you see is the same, and it's tough to find the way out..
well, i think it gets darker earlier and faster in the woods, that is why you mentioned that the sky starting to get dark at 4pm..
hmmm, you still thinking of another time?? then i will advise you to get a local guide to bring you along..
i suddenly remember watching a documentary on the "Suicidal Forest" in Japan, just below the Mt Fuji.. people get lost in the wood, get depressed and then they killed themselves in there..
but i must say you are lucky, and must be very thankful for being lucky to be able to find the way out.. should go and pray and thank god already.. :)
i don't have the courage to go to a secluded walking trail alone. it gives me the creeps.
thank goodness you managed to find your way out. if i were u, i'd be stranded in misery not knowing what to do.
oo, ok...haha...i thought some special tradition or superstitious practise...
i wonder krabi got this kind of scenery a not...very nice ler...u like nature a lot...
AHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA i can just imagine how panicky you were...tat's why not too many pics lar ehhhh btw the calling your name thing har...may not be ur imagination leh...you were lucky to find ur way out.....you know lar got chinese saying "better to believe things exist" especially in those thick bushes.....ahahaahah.....scary leh
What a experience! Too bad you didn't make it to the fishing village! Next time, please bring along a GPS device, and you will not Lost again. haha! Don't leave home without it!
Thanks.
So I was right lar! There were bulls, although I said there were cows. :D
Hahaha :D I think it is funny huh! Since the old lady also laughed at you. Maybe she should have snapped you while you were reacting to the the bulls.
Gosh! That's the trail? It looked so dangerous ler. War...if it rained...then you will have a hard time climbing up this steep path huh! :(
I don't think the bulls will risk themselves to walk this path huh. it is really dangerous. :p
The scenes are really amazing. yeah! Your photography really sucks. haha :D Kidding lar.
War...how come it looks like the fishing village is so damn far? :p
yeah. It is correct decision that you decided to turn back. After all it is not worth risking your life right? :(
Chinese female vampires? I think you are thinking too much. LOL :D
War...you are hearing voices? Is it because you are hallucinating? :p
Glad that you managed to find your way out again! That's they say it is important to always stay calm right? :p
I saw in National Geographic it might be a good idea to carry flares when in the jungle. It even scare off the tiger. Besides, it can be used as distress signal
wow, what a scary experience, to be lost in the jungle in the evening, in another country!!!
that must have been great relief onceknowing that you're out from the woods!
whats this invisible shield issue? hhehee... i should learn from you.
faethal, following you now : )
mei teng, don't think there's any local guide there that speaks English! Haha!
lina, yeah then I will be famous! Haha! You are welcome to spam me! LOL!
I know there are spirits that can make you go lost! But I don't think that was what happened to me lah, though you just never know! : )
SK, if I ever go there a second time, I will not go alone. Interesting this "suicidal forest" in Japan - I want to go there! Haha!
life ramblings, I'm sure you will try to find your way out instead of getting stranded inside the forest : )
gabriel, haha : )
vialentino, yes I love nature! Not sure about Krabi cos never been there! : )
manglish, it may not be my imagination - I just don't want to think too much about it cos it gives me the creeps! : )
robo, I think a compass will do. No need GPS. Haha!
tekkaus, yeah you are right! Maybe you deserve a prize or something! Haha.
If it rains, still can climb. Although it's steep, but it's not slippery. No problem for the bulls - I'm sure they've walked the trail lots of times whether rain or shine! LOL!
Yes, I think I imagine the voice calling my name. Maybe I'm under stress and panic. Lucky I managed to calm myself down : )
borneo falcon, never thought about flares. Didn't even think about bringing a compass! Haha!
J2Kfm, yes it's a great relief to find my way out of the forest!
The invisible shield is just a mind power technique to protect ourselves from psychic attacks : )
trust your guts and be firm with your decisions! it's good you calmed yourself or else nothign good will come out of it. You know what reminds me of this scenery? If you remember my palawan post, that island has a long stretch of forest just like that. And I do sense a lot of "unseen inhabitants" as we passed by the roads. They were all looking and checking at us. Good things we're in the van. clap clap! good work foong! is there another part for this?
omg that sounds freaky scary Foong!
and im reading yr blog at 5:35Am ok! :-D
Woah what an experience. Luckily you decide to turn back. But funny ya you didn't met anyone(tourist) in the forest. Maybe there's another path to the fishing village?
ayie, really? Gosh! You are freaking me out! Those "unseen inhabitants" are checking you all out? So scary! You can see them? Do your family members know about this?
monica, wow! 5.35 am? You just woke up or you didn't sleep at all? Must salute you whichever it is! : )
che-cheh, I don't think so there's another path otherwise the hostel staff would have told me about it.
Maybe most tourists go to the fishing village in the morning that's why don't see them around in the forest! : )
my mom and bro can also see like me =P
ayie, sorry late reply. Too busy!! So your whole family have this gift of seeing ghosts? Wow!
I guess so but my sis can't really see but she senses or sehe does? wait i don't remember it right if she gets to see like silhouettes...