Trust in the Shoe.

cliff jumping into the ocean.
see all photos »

... where to begin with this one.  Well, from the beginning, I guess.  After being completely screwed on a paeng ma longboat ride to Railay,  Expensive, we made it to the rock climbing mecca and we were feeling exhausted.  We threw on our backpacks and realized that we needed to be on the complete opposite side of the island.  The hike took place.  The monsoon began.  Every guesthouse was booked.  After one let down after another we climbed up three flights of stairs to the last semi-affordable room on the eastern side of the island.  This was not looking like it would be a pleasent experience.  Until...

the top half of the climb up to the cave. reenie is almost up to the cave... she's the one in the blue shorts.
see all photos »

Waking up refreshed the next day we set out for a better ("cheaper") room.  We found what we were looking for.  Wasted much of a beautiful day, but we weren't going to let this stop us.  The monsoon came in and left Railay soaked.  It was about 4:30 and the sun would be setting in an hour... we decide this was the perfect time to hike to the lagoon.  We put on our crappiest clothes knowing that they should get dirty bc the hike up and down into the lagoon is a muddy one.  Little did we know that it would be a rope climb over areas that one could never just walk/hike on.  Laureen just decided to roll down a few of the hills.  Okay, so she didn't choose to do this... it was chosen for her.

we have made it down the rope climb to the lagoon.
see all photos »

As it grew darker we questioned our decision, but decided that we might as well continue this journey.  Ahead of us were four series of cliffs down into the lagoon.  These you could not roll down... if you rolled well, let's just say you couldn't.  The rope climb began.  Upon reaching the bottom of the lagoon we all agreed that we would definitely be rock climbing the next day bc this was way too much fun.  The view from the lagoon was spectacular.  I understood why there was only one way in and out of this bc it was completely surrounded by cliffs that soared up to the sky.  It was a water mecca in the middle of sheer rock.  It felt somewhat like being inside the heart of a volcano, only you're standing in water instead of molten lava.  We made it out of the lagoon as it gerw darker, don't worry I was fully prepared with my trusty headlamp.  As we walked back towards our guesthouse, many of the locals would just point at us, smile and say, "lagoon?"

rock climbing guide, M. aka "the man." the cliff set right above the ocean.
see all photos »

I guess the mud covered bodies and clothes must have given us away.  I wonder why the tourists that visit the island don't choose to check out the lagoon?

Rock climbing.  It's official, I have the Parkhurst fear of heights.  I've been fighting it all of my life, but it became quite evident this day that, yes, my fear of heights is real.

Climbing with two guides that don't speak english is a bit disconcerting.   Luckily M entered the scene after a few minutes of communication struggle.  M is the man... his english and belaying skills are something to be admired. In four hours we each managed to get five quality climbs in.  The first two proved to be quite simple, but difficult in that I had to quickly come to grips with the whole height factor (maybe 30 ft.).  The third climb was the same height, but quite demanding on the body... what a rush of confidence sets in when you complete the climb and look out on the ocean.  When I saw M laying the top ropes for the last two climbs... I wet my pants a bit.  I was a bit confused as to how we could go from thirty foot climbs to one hundred plus foot climbs that lead up to a cave.  I froze... shhh, don't tell anyone.  I began the fourth climb... made it about 2/3 of the way up... a complete test of one's strength and ability to "trust in the shoe".  Out of our group of five, Chrissy was the only successful climber.  Let me give you a bit of the play by play that took place during the climb.

railay west beach (view from our jump). apes, thought you'd dig the limestone.
see all photos »

"Crime on," says M.

"Crimbing," replies my smart ass brother.

After passing the crazy angles, Chris has reached the top third of the climb.  The portion with no real foot holds.  M looks straight up and yells, "Mistuh Kiss... now is where you must trust in dah shoe.  You must trust in dah shoe!"

"Trusting in the shoe, M," replies Chris as he completes his climb.

railay west. krabi.
see all photos »

Grant attempts the climb and it ends with M asking, "Mistuh Grant... what you eat for breakfast?!"

I shift my eyes to the right.  Laureen has begun her ascent up the 100 foot climb to the cave.  Holy crap... I can barely see her she is so high.  M is now yelling to Laureen.  "Roreen... there is a knob for your right foot.  You cannot see it, but it is there.  Above your right knee... there is a knob.  Good Roreen, you have found the knob."

Pause.  I can't even begin to capture the amazing tone and speed with which M speaks.  I'm trying here... forgive my lack of ability to write as descriptively as a writer would.  Just read these quotes speaking very slowly... soooooooper long vowells... and raise your voice, so that we can hear you up on the rock.  Crime on.

long boat ride to railay. check out how our driver is steering the boat.
see all photos »

I begin my final climb.  Up to the top.  The first two thirds went swimmingly.  I didn't have time to think about a thing.  No need to look down.  Moving forward.  Ah... how nice, a moment to pause and breathe bc there is a small ledge by a pertruding tree.  Catching my breath.  Shaking out my arms.  Oh crap, I just looked down.  Life quickly becomes quite dizzy.  I'm having a great deal of trouble catching my breath.  It's as though the rock in front and above me won't stop moving back and forth.  I have this internal fight with myself.  I am talking out loud to myself.  "Jill... it's just you and the rock.  If you just let go... go back down... you will still have accomplished something.  You've climbed a lot today.  You can't do this."  Out pops the Richard Simmons  in me.  "Come on... you can do this!  Do you want to be the one that doesn't see what it looks like in the cave..."  As I spoke to myself I realized that the hand/foot holds were so far apart that there's no way I would be able to reach any of them at my height.  Blasted... they were all right... Reenie and I are too short for this course.  I could hear M yelling to me.  I could hear Chris cheering me on.

spirit house for the cave and it's princess. yes, trust your eyes, you see many falic symbols... these are an offering to the princess and her fertility.
see all photos »

"Jirry-in... just staaaaand up.  With your right foot... just staaand up," M confidently calls.

Shut up, M... I can't stand up completely when I have no hand hold on the right and this crappy little thing that your calling a right foot hold is nothing more than sheer rock.  I say out loud... "trust in your shoe, Jill."

I stand up with the right foot and blindly grab for a right hold (always a good idea while rock climbing, right?).  Luckily, I found it.  The rest of the climb was like this.  I reached the cave and sat for a moment.  I looked out and realized just how high I was and just how far I could see.  Miles of ocean.  Okay, time to get down.  "I trust in you M!  Coming down!"

terrible, i know.
see all photos »

I touched the ground and as Noot rushed over to unclip me... I immediately began to shake and the tears just fell from my eyes.  I don't think I've ever been so happy to stand on the solid ground.  Two seconds later I couldn't help but think, I can't wait to do this again.

Day three... cliff jumping into the ocean.  If I had issues with climbing, one can definitely assume that this was pretty much filled with vertigo, as well.  The jumps did not get any easier, but man it was fun.  Hurt a bit when hitting the water, but a small sacrifice one must make when you step back and remember that you are in Thailand.

marlin, it's what's for dinner.
see all photos »

Ha... this is also where I was handed someone's baby, while swimming in a pool.  Swimming with Reen and this guy that we had seen several times walks up, smiles, and hands us his one and a half year-old baby.  He then walks away.  It took me a few seconds to eralize what just took place.  Someone just handed me there baby and left.  Huh?  Turned out alright... Max came back and spent the next hour talking with us while we swam with his son, Isallah ("Fredom").  Would that ever happen in the states and end up well?

Left Krabi feeling strong.