Update 17

Dear Members

We conquered Mount Kinabalu !!! Yeahhhhhhh. I never doubt for a second that some of us in the group would be able to do it but I did have doubts on whether I could do it. BUT I DID IT. The feeling upon reaching the summit was surreal. The climb was tougher than I thought and I've never been scared in my life than when I was on that narrow ledge and hanging on to the rope while descending the 4,095m and glancing down to see the ground down down below. At that moment I just blanked all my thoughts, fears and that feeling of hysteria.

The journey was ardous and I almost gave up several times. I was dead tired. Others have taken a shorter time but it took me 13 hours ascending and 12 hours descending. Part of it involved walking in the rain, slippery and rocky terrain, and in the dark. I just could not believe I was able to reach the peak. At 200m upon reaching the peak I had no more energy, I just could not take another step and nothing more to give. What kept me going ? - well-wishers from all over including the UK chapter, my friend Roznita's mantra of "Go for the peak", and the thought that I would not be able to face the council members who have spontaneously given financial pledge for the charity. Upon reaching the summit I heard shouts from my group who have reached much earlier "Madame President is here" - that gave me another boost of energy to take that last climb up the peak. I made it.

We love the article appeared in the classified of the NST on 24 May i.e. the day we did the climb. It reported about our special charity project and brief background on ISM. Roll call on climbers who reached the peak are Suzie, Jumin, Alice, Bernard, Anas, Victoria, Enny, Siti Khairina, Hadi and myself. Katherine, Jamilah, Wendy, and Hafizah achieved the 3,000+ m. I wished to thank all the members of the group and my big thank you and appreciation to Jumin and Abdul Hadi.

Now my body ached all over and I'm walking like a robot - but it was worth it. The feeling of euphoria of being able to accomplish the challenge is out of the world. And the icing to the cake is the financial pledges to the two organizations.

Take care

Salam
Sr Wan Maimun

Update 16

Dear Members

In 4 days time a group of lady Surveyors will attempt to climb the Mt Kinabalu. The objective is clear - we've set a challenge to ourselves and we have to do it. This may be a case of putting your foot in your mouth or as the old saying says "Terlajak perahu boleh berundur tapi terlajak kata mesti dikota". I had always believe that once you have made up your mind, crazy as it maybe, then "Just do it". To take advantage of this crazy idea we decide it to be a charity event and have identified two organizations in need of financial assistance. The charity drive was only solicited from the council members, corporate partners and friends. But if anyone would like to donate you are most welcome and please contact Katherine.

In March I attended the Sabah Surveyor's congress and I took the opportunity to visit the Kinabalu park and the Timpohan gate to familiarise myself and see what I've gotten myself into. Before this visit I don't know what to expect as such it was a fear of the unknown. Now that I have seen the trail now it is a fear of the known!!

I've just recovered from a month of open wound dressing that is healing well. However ten days ago I again had a little accident when I cut my little finger while opening a tin, that needed 6 stitches which hopefully would healed for the stitches to be taken out today. My exercise regime is not going regularly well for the past 3 months due to work, family commitment, poor weather, and of course that awful little voice that keep giving excuses "not today, definitely tomorrow" - and like the James Bond movie "Tomorrow never come". During those time that I could, I did the treadmill in the gym, went to Bukit Gasing twice, and climb the stairs instead of the lift (unless I'm wearing high-heel). And to top that up I'm not too crazy about height and I've never climb a tree, I can't stand extreme cold weather, I have corns on the sole of my feet, I don't like taking vitamin pills and my right knee make some sound when I do my daily prayer.

So there you go - and your president want to climb the mountain!!! Please pray for us. I take comfort in having two experienced climbers in the group and I especially requested past secretary general Sr Abdul Hadi to tag along. So wish us good luck and say a prayer.

Salam
Sr Wan Maimun

Update 15

Dear Members

We wished to convey our heartiest congratulation to Sr Ong See Lian, Sr Teo Chee Hai, Dato' Sr Abdul Kadir, and Dato' Sr Abdul Rahim. More of this detail in our website and eblast as mentioned in the bulletin of Past President Council.

It's been a month since I post the last message which was while I was in Bahrain enroute to London for the accreditation exercise for the Board of QS. I thoroughly enjoyed the trip - the work, the meetings, the reports and of course the shopping. I wished to convey my gratitude to the professors we met and the Surveyors working in UK for the hospitality accorded to us which was amazing.

While in London I took the opportunity to meet with the pro-tem committee of ISM UK chapter. The formation of ISM UK chapter is aptly timed and the meeting was indeed a historic and memorable day which would go down in ISM history as the inaugaural meeting of the ISM UK chapter. The meeting discussed on issues such as the formation, registration, finance, and their proposed activities and CPD events. We have been informed a week ago that ISM UK Chapter will be having its inaugaural seminar on 4 June 2010. Congratulations!!!!

I was still jet-lagged when I attended the BQSM dinner on 23 April. We were very very lucky as our flight was on the first day Heathrow airport re-opens. On 26 April I attended the launching of the Green Building Index for existing building and in the evening, the cocktail reception for guests of IRERS conference organised by INSPEN with ISM as one of the collaborators. I was again requested to sing at the karaoke sing-a-long which I yet again turned down as I just could not sing in public (I wish I could!!!). Someday I want to make it a point to learn to have the guts to sing in public.

27 April was a busy day for me which started with the IRERS opening ceremony in the morning, the ISM Excellent award meeting mid-morning, ISM management meeting in the afternoon and the FIG cocktail in the evening. On 28 April I meet up with CIMB corporate comms senior officers with regards to our charity activity, and in the afternoon an NST reporter interviewed me and I end the day with meeting in ISM to discuss on our charity event. We had our council meeting on 30 April. That wrapped up my ISM duties for the month of April.

The Young Achievers Award was successfully held on 7 & 8 May 2010. Our appreciation to Sr Fadillah and Sr Shazaly and the committee members. The students enjoyed themselves and we were able to convey to them with regards to the Surveying professions as a career in a fun manner. Other notable events scheduled in May are: courtesy visit to PAM scheduled on 17 May, Penang branch dinner on 21 May, the "Climb Mt Kinabalu with the President" charity event on 24 & 25 May, and Inter Institution Bowling competition on 29 May.

That's all for now. I hope to write more on the Mt Kinabalu climb before I "have enuf guts to do it" as Sr Roznita puts it. Take care