ACROPHOBIA
Definition: Acrophobia (from Greek ἄκρος, meaning summit) is an extreme or irrational fear of heights. It belongs to a category of specific phobias, called space and motion discomfort that share both similar etiology and options for treatment. Acrophobia can be dangerous, as sufferers can experience a panic attack in a high place and become too agitated to get themselves down safely.
(from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)
Now, if I were to say that I’m an acrophobic, it really made sense that any activities involving heights is something that I would never consider doing, ever. So that is why you have to understand why I would say that I am really proud of myself in being able to do something that I would have never done, even if I was under the influence of ethanolic substances. Well, maybe I would do it if it’s an absolute emergency, but voluntarily putting myself in danger? I think not!
And people, NO, I’m not talking about something illegal here, ok. Come on lah, I’m talking about skiing...
THE VATRA DORNEI TRIP
Skiing? Me? If you had asked me before this, those two words would never have the chance to be in the same sentence of possibilities, i.e. Me skiing is an almost impossible and ridiculous notion. Never in my life would I have imagined my first time on the slopes would be here in Romania. But as far as first times go, I think this would be the most memorable one...
Started out waking up early to prepare but managed to be at the gara just in the nick of time (thank you asem for your early morning sprint! :-D), the lovely train ride with its magnificent snowy mountain views, and the hike up to the villa that we are supposed to be staying for the 2 nights. The air is fresher there, and the ambience was quite lovely. I would say that it’s a charming quaint little town, though it has its share of modernization (there’s a Fidelio outlet there lah people). As lovely as the sightseeing was, I think skiing was on most of their minds. But due to the fact that it was freezing cold out that day, it was decided that we would go skiing the next day.
After a hearty lunch, we headed straight to the ski park. Boy oh boy, I really can’t tell you how big the butterflies were in my stomach when I first saw the slopes. All the way I’ve been saying that “There’s no way I’m gonna be doing this people, no way…”, but when they were all strapping their boots and ski gears, I just thought, “What the heck!” and finally succumbed to put on those chunky robotic looking boots when a pair of those boots in my size were handed to me. Thump, thump, thump…..
“What in the world have I gotten myself into?!” was the first thought when, fully equipped, we all went out from the cabin with our skiing gears. And guess what; then and there one of us had the first fall, poor thing. I was so engrossed in keeping myself balanced and trying not to fall, looking very awkward and foolish, that some sweet guys took pity on me and showed me some tricks to maneuver those things. Thanks guys, but knowing is one thing, trying to make your body doing what you have learned is another thing.
But you know what the funny thing was, I really didn’t give two hoots about how ridiculous I looked or if others were laughing at me. In my mind there were only these things – get up safely without slipping, putting on my skis correctly, skiing down on my two feet and arrive safely at the foot of the slopes without any broken body parts. Well, no guesses as I managed to do it all except for the skiing down on my two feet part. Yup, I fell on my butt and/or my back countless times. Oh, but I did managed to ski down without falling once, at last, but that was after maybe the umpteenth times tumbling down. And then there was this one time that I actually continued to slide downwards on my back after I fall. Ouch! Yeah, embarrassing, I know, but not as embarrassing as being helped by a group of teenagers who can’t stop giggling at my antics. Yeah, it happened...
But then, after introducing ourselves and a brief how are you session, they turned out to be sweet young things and showed me how to ski. It was really nice of them and sweet too, but it really tickled me when they asked how old am I, if I’m there with my parents and which school I go to. Huh? School? Yeah, junior high school. Me. You should have seen the open mouthed astonished looks on their faces when I told them my age, priceless I tell you. I mean, people have been telling me that I look young, but a high school teenager?! Gosh, I haven’t been one in ages! Heheh…. At the end of the day we were sorry to leave the park, but I don’t think I would fancy a night skiing experience just yet. And as we parted our ways, the kids once again demonstrated their warmth and kindness by inviting me to celebrate Christmas (which was the day after the next) with them and their families. Aww, so sweet…but regretfully I had to decline as we had already bought our tickets for tomorrow.
All in all, this trip really was an experience that I would never forget. Not because of the bumps and bruises that thankfully have healed, but for the first time in my life I went skiing and also for the fun that I had on this trip with my buddies.
So, here’s to you guys….
- Asem: Thank you for early morning 100m dash with our bags!
- Dharma: Waaah…you ski like a pro lah, bro!
- Ganaga: Up for another round of the ‘Dinosaur adventure game’ anytime soon? I know I’m not! Gosh, it was really crazy, wasn’t it? But I really had fun lah, thanks for the very-much-needed laughter…
- Pandian: Thank you for persuading us to go when I nearly changed my mind and not go. I owe you one. Terima kasih, Mr. Tour Guide …
- Suzz & Loga: Next time if we go again we’ll make sure we borong the whole town ok! Oh, and I really like your bumble-bee boots!
- Ju: Glad you had fun skiing too. If you guys wanna know, this is one daring girl lah. Really lah ju, if it were me rolling down with my head over heels sumpah I won’t go skiing again. Hmmm, but I guess berbaloi kot main kat tempat tinggi-tinggi sbb “pemandangan” dia sungguh lah menarik nya, betul tak….
Thanks for the lovely time you guys! So, where are we going next? ;-)
And here are the photos :)
