Rinjani and back cont...

Day 2..we woke at 2am for a 3am climb. My female friend and I never made it tot he summit due to time contraints. But we did get 3/4 way and it was a crazy tiring climb. Of course on hindsight, I di regret not reaching the top. But I'm reminded that had I used up all my energy on that first climb, maybe I wouldnt have been able to do the rest of it. Because the day consited of another long and arduous descend to the lake...
To this day, Im still in awe of the locals who lug around heavy equipment and luggage everywhere that we went on their shoulders. And in flip flops might I add.

Anyway, the descend from the summit was slightly scarier than the ascend for me. the ability to see whats below you and imagining yourself slide down the edge of those slopes...
It took a long while to get back to our camp site. And despite it being only a 1-2hrs rest time, I decided that I had to take a nap. My toes and toe nails were crying, my leg and arm muscles were screaming bloody murder...

After lunch, we made our way down the inner side of hte slope, into the caldera, down to the lake. Another 3 hours track (provided that we were going at a certain speed)... I admit that I was close to tears at one point. all that landing on my knee caps and jamming my toes into the tip of the boot every time I stepped down, was breaking me down slowly. Thankfully my mates were patient with me. Its sad to be the weakest link..

The guide and porters were as usual, very supportive and provided us with the best sustenance that one could ever get at such a wilderness.

We made it to the lake at late afternoon. Then after abit of a rest, we went to the hot springs. A welcomed muscle pain soother. the only sucky bit from that was the first moments when you get out of the pool and into the cold surroundings. ICE COLD

I rested as much as I could on that night...pity because the stars were out and full moon lite up the highlands...

To be Continued...