Travel & Fitness 旅行与体能

Starting 2008, I fell in love with travelling. From 2008 and 2012, I have traveled many places in the world already. During this period my traveling methods were walking sightseeing, rental car, etc... activities which did not required a high level of fitness.

Machu Picchu of Peru has been a place I always wanted to visit. And getting there with a train ride is not an option because I would love to hike the Inca Trail to experience how to get to Machu Picchu though the mountains just like the people hundreds years ago. Inca Trail is a 4 day 3 nights journey. Everyday is a 7 to 8 hours strenuous hike consists with mountains and jungles. The highest elevation is 4200 meters. Camping is required and no showers (for me at least) because the temperature at night is very cold. Before Machu Picchu, I had NEVER done camping nor long distance hiking. I was not sure if I even would like it. Also, I was always a couch potato and never did any workout or regular outdoor activities.

January 2012, I had made up my mind to book my ticket to Peru and Ecuador in July for 3 weeks. It was the longest vacation. I had 6 months to prepare for this vacation. I needed to increase my fitness. It was a coincidence that a friend referred us for a gym membership. So I made up my mind joined right away. For the love of travel, for the love of experience the travel in a new way, I worked out at least 4 times a week. I could see my fitness was improving so much and I lost weight in a healthy way without dieting.

When July came, I enjoyed every minute of my trip. I hiked the Inca Trail! It was so tough, I complained but I loved it! When you try your best see get what you wanted (in my case was the beautiful views and experiences), all you feel is achievement. I still remember that day sitting in the above cloud mountain, looking at the beautiful view, I was happy, I felt like I can do anything I want. And this feeling has "embedded" to my brain like I am a microchip. I became more determined and know what I want for myself and not influence much by others. I am grateful I discovered this at my age.

If it was not for the Machu Picchu experience in 2012, I probably not done as much the last two years. Since then, I hiked and camped long trip, I mountain biked at the Atlas mountains in Morocco, I rode camel in Sahara Dessert, I just got scuba diving certified. Looking back, I can never imagine I can do so much. Travelling have change my fitness, and fitness have change my travelling. All I need to do just keep it going. We only have one body, and I need to take good care of mine to experience the world.

Next time anyone travel, I recommend to challenge oneself and do something new. After all, it will only be a gain.

（中文）
从2008年我就爱上旅游。2008到2012年，我已经游历世界很多地方了。此期间我的旅游方式是步行观光，租车，和等等一些不需要高体能的活动。

秘鲁的马丘比丘是我一直想去的地方。别人是可以搭乘火车一天游，但这不是我想要的。我很想体验古人几百年从印加古道翻山越岭地到达马丘比丘。印加古道是4天3夜的旅程。最高海拔为4200米。每天7〜8小时高山和丛林艰苦的徒步旅行。因为夜间气温非常寒冷所以不能洗澡，露营是必需的。登马丘比丘之前，我从来没有露营过，更不要提长途远足了。我也不知道我会不会喜欢露营远足。另外，我那时是一个沙发土豆，从来没有锻炼或经常户外活动。

2012年1月，我已经下定了决心买票游秘鲁和厄瓜多尔月3礼拜。这是我最长的假期。那时我还有6个月做准备：就是要提高我的体能。有个朋友正巧介绍我们加入健身中心， 我立即下定决心加入了。对旅行的热爱，为了体验旅行新方式，我每周至少4次健身。健身减重不节食，我体能也提高了许多。

当七月来了，我享受旅行的每一分钟。我徒步登了印加古道！它是如此艰难，途中我抱怨过，但我喜欢！当你尽你所能见得到你所想要的（在我这情况是美景和体验），那是无尽的成就感。我还记得那天坐在高过云的山峰上，看着美景，我特别高兴。我感觉我可以做任何我想要的事情。而这种感觉就像我是一个微芯片而它就“嵌入”到我的大脑。旅途回来以后我变得更加坚定，知道我想要的而不会被他人影响。我很感激在我那个年龄想开了。

如果不是因为2012年的马丘比丘经验，我可能不会在以后的两年实现那么多。从那时起，我远足和长途野营旅行，我在摩洛哥阿特拉斯山脉骑越野单车，我在撒哈拉沙漠骑上骆驼，我刚考到潜水证。回想起来，我永远无法想象我可以做这么多。旅游改变了我的体能，而体能改变我的旅行。我需要做只是保持下去。我们就只有一个身体，我需要照顾好它让我体验世界。

我建议任何旅行的人去挑战自己，做一些新的东西。不管怎样，只有得，没有失。

Masked booby 橙嘴蓝脸鲣鸟

Masked booby, a seabird looks like he's wearing a mask, like the superheros.

Adult (yellow peak) and chick look totally different. Our tour guide Washington explained that Mothers lay two eggs, several days apart. Two eggs are laid so that if one gets destroyed or eaten, or the first chick dies soon after hatching, the second egg will be the backup. If both eggs hatch, the elder chick pushes its sibling out of the nest area, leaving it to die of thirst or cold. Talk about survival of the fittest. 

There are 3 kinds of boobies in the Galapagos, red-footed boobies, blue-footed boobies and masked boobies.

@Genovesa Island of the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

（中文）

橙嘴蓝脸鲣鸟。导游解释妈妈会生两个蛋，各自相差几天。两个蛋是因为假如大蛋被吃了还有小蛋。如果两个蛋都安全无事长大孵化，年长的会把年少的推到巢外直至死亡。这就是自然界的适者生存。

拍于 厄瓜多尔 加拉帕戈斯岛群 Genovesa岛。

Blue Footed Booby 蓝脚鲣鸟

Blue Footed Booby 蓝脚鲣鸟

There are 3 kinds of boobies in the Galapagos, red-footed boobies, blue-footed boobies and masked boobies.

@Elizabeth Bay of the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

拍于 厄瓜多尔 加拉帕戈斯岛群 Elizabeth Bay。

Red-footed Booby 红脚鲣鸟

Red-footed booby, a seabird with red foot and pastel blue-pink beak. Yes, it is really the cute bubble gum pastel colors.

There are 3 kinds of boobies in the Galapagos, red-footed boobies, blue-footed boobies and masked boobies.

@Genovesa Island of the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador

（中文）

红脚鲣鸟是红色脚粉蓝混粉红嘴的海鸟。好艳的颜色混合！

拍于 厄瓜多尔 加拉帕戈斯岛群 Genovesa岛。

Kindness on the Road 出路遇贵人

It's full of people out there. You encounter people everyday. While independence is great for travelling, it is possible that you need help sometimes. Here are a few examples of my kindness on road experiences:

1. Florida Keys rowing mother-daughter: Because we were rowing, it was difficult to have pictures with us tow together with the boat. The mother-daughter ladies offered to take pictures and email to us.

2. Chinese international student in Germany: I don't speak German, so it is very nice to meet people speak English or Chinese in Germany. On my flight from Karlsschule Germany to Rome, I met this Chinese student and we had dinner in Rome, explored the city together, and share pictures.

3. Mother-Son in Grand Lake, Rocky Mountain Nation Park: The three of us met mother-son at a laundry room in a private campsite. We talked about our 5 day hiking loop and we met the next morning, the mom offer us a ride to the trail head. We saved so much time and a few miles of hike!!

4. Family of 5 in Wild Basin Trailhead Rocky Mountain Nation Park: Because too much of snow (July) , ice and too difficult, we had to end our hike at day 4. By the time we found a way out to any trailhead, we had hiked over 10 hours and no lunch. This trailhead is at least 30 minutes drive from our car. We had to hitchhike. The first person I asked refused. Then I asked a family of husband, wife and 3 kids. Our car was even further than their destination, but the they kindly agreed to help. I am so grateful for that. In the car, the father told me that he was in my situation before so he was willing to help.I also found out that their dream places to visit is Machu Picchu and Galapagos. I have been there, so we exchanged contacts and I sent them my travel itinerary. We both felt that it was destiny that we met because I never know I would be in this trailhead.

When need help in the journey, don't be afraid to ask. The chance of NO is only 50/50 and there are still kind people everywhere.

（中文）
世界充满了人。你每天都接触不同的人。旅行得独立虽好但有时候你也需要帮助的。以下是我旅途遇到的好人：

一）佛罗里达划船母女：因为在划船我们俩一起的照片很难拍。所以这母女主动帮我们拍下照片还电邮寄过来。

二）德国的中国留学生：难得在德国遇到中国人。同班机聊天然后那周末一次吃饭游罗马。还帮我拍照。

三）落山基国家公园母子：我们是在私立露营洗衣房认识的，聊到我们三个背包客的5天行程。隔天早上她主动问我们要不要她送我们直接去登山口。我们省了很多时间和力气啊。

四）落山基国家公园五口家庭：由于七月还有很多雪冰，我们在第四天中断了行程。走了十几个小时没有吃任何食物，终于到了一个出口。那地点离我们车还有30分钟车程。没有办法，只能问人搭顺风车。第一个说不行。问第二辆车是夫妇跟三个小孩。我们要去的地方比他们的目的地更远。好心的他们答应了。我真的很感谢。好心爸爸答应是因为他以前背包有次也要中断，也了解我们的心情。途中聊到他们想游Machu Picchu 和 Galapagos，我答应把我的行程寄给他们。谁会知道我们会中断而在这一个出口遇到好心人，这就是巧合的缘分。

但旅行真的需要帮忙时，不要怕问人。会拒绝的机会只有一半，而好人还是有的。

Travel Companions 旅伴

You will meet a lot of people while travelling, but your travel companions are most related to your journey. This month I just got back from Rocky Mountain National Park with two colleagues. The short five days four nights hiking and backcountry camping experience allow us to get to know each other a little more and I have learned quite a lot:

1. Travel companions help each other in many ways from taking photos, someone to talk sometimes, share work and tasks during camping. It is much easier and safer compare to travel-adventure solo.

2. But you can't depend on travel companions. They are not obligate to help all the time. So learning independent is very important. Always prepare for the unexpected.

3. Travel companions will definitely push your boundary. This is a good thing. No one wants to have an unpleasant trip, so you need to control negative emotions. We had to hike more than 50 miles in this hiking climbing trip. It required tremendous amount of physical strength. I learned that I need to improve my body strength for future strenuous hikes.

4. I learned that there is one person in this world would tolerate and accommodate me unconditionally. I am truly grateful. I couldn't wait to go home to him.

（中文）
旅行时会遇到很多人，但和你旅途最密切的是你的旅伴。这个月和两位不太熟的同事去美国丹佛 Rocky Mountain Nation Park 国家公园露营。在这五天四晚的远足登山各自认识。其中我学到了很多：

一）旅伴可以让你的旅途更完美更安全。途中可以互相照应，聊天，拍拍照，分工合作。相对于自己远足更安全。

二）但也不能太依赖旅伴。因为帮你不是他的义务。所以学会独立很重要。尤其是万一时候你可以保护自己。

三）旅伴会挑战你的极限而这是好事，让人成长。每个人都想旅途开心，所有要控制负情绪。我们这次远足了超过八十公里的路，是对体力的大挑战。我很尽力很辛苦，事后明白要继续加油训练我的身体，还有经常挑战和增加体力。

四）我学会了这世界上有一个会无条件迁就和爱我的人。我很幸运，也很感激。

Magnificent Frigatebird 麗色軍艦鳥

This is the Magnificent Frigatebird spotted in Genovesa Island of the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador. Red floated balloon throat pouch one is male. It is acting "handsome and strong" in front of the lady bird in order to breed. I was lucky enough to visit in Summer 2012 and see wildlife up close.

在厄瓜多尔 加拉帕戈斯岛 发现 “麗色軍艦鳥”。红喉囊咕咕象气球的是男的。它装着一副壮丽强壮的样只为红颜。我很幸运在2012年夏天岛游，近距离看到了很多野生动物。