Guiding A Group of Deaf Adults to G. Nuang
(11 Sept 2010)

How fortunate you guys is. Just imagine your world is silent, you don't heard any sound, you don't know what is coming at you. Yes, I'm referring to the deaf people. Worse still if you were born normal but because of sickness/accident you are deaf. Your whole life change.

Yesterday (11 Sept 2010), 13 people joined the Nuang hike and 4 of them are deaf. One of them can read your lips and speak, there rest just use sign language, They were accompany by a friend who knows sign language.

briefing before the hike 		Is really a good experience guiding them up to Camp Pacat. Thanks to our good friend too, Salina who lead the trek. Off course is easily to pass the message when the person who know the sign language is around. During the trek, the distance between everyone extended and this is the time where passing the message seems a bit difficult.

I was at the back with 2 of them. One of them move really really slow, every few steps, he stops and breathing heavily. I was afraid he will dose off. The way he walk was wrong. He walk fast then stop then walk fast again and stop again.
I don't have a pen or paper at that time, how can I pass the message to him to ask him walk slowly but continuosly. I trek up to catch the person infront of me, Melina who can read lips and speak. I told her to pass the message to the guy and ask whether he is OK to continue. Soon they communicate with each others and Melina told me that he will continue. Slowly but moving he make it to Camp Pacat.

When is time to decend down, this girl by the name of Janice moving very slow. Every step, like she have to think. I make a walking stick for her, so she have more balancing and easier to walk.
at Lolo camp

finally reach camp Pacat 		While everyone are gone, she still struggling down. She did slip few times. By the time reaches Lolo Camp, she look so exhausted and the final river crossing her foot got blisters. This time I'm using my hand-phone to type in the message for her to read. I ask her to wear slipper.

For Lolo back to car park, she was complaining why haven't reach yet. I told her "don't worry, you will reach soon" and keep on messaging her to give some motivation. Finally almost at the car park, I text her "congratulation", she was so happy. We all have our dinner together at one of the stall at Batu 14, that's where we got to know them more.
I was happy they make it and they plan to climb Mt. Kinabalu again next year. They have been to Mt. Kinabalu previously.They have the determination and ambition to do it again. Glad to know such friends.
Photos courtesy by KM Lim and Michelle Chung | Writeup by Wai Kong