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Dr. Andrea Schroepel, PH.D. is a Neurobiologist and Naturopath. She has been practicing NAET for almost 10 years. She brought NAET to Germany and has been one of the few teachers of the NAET basic and advanced seminars first in Germany and now also in South Africa, Bali, Hong Kong and Singapore. She runs two successful private practices in Germany using mostly the NAET technique. It is her passion to carry NAET into the world and educate others about this life changing system.
On September 22nd, Earthwalker Paul Coleman and his wife Konomi Kikuchi have set out on their journey to Beijing. Find out more about their experience of leaving Hong Kong behind their bag-laden backs.
A little after 1pm on September 22nd, the walk to Beijing began at Kadoori Farm, a Botanical Garden and Environmental Resource Center nestled in the hills of the New Territories. The event was covered by the South China Morning Post and featured an appearance by the Hong Kong Police as they sought to make sure that we would not wander into any forbidden border zones between Hong Kong and mainland China. Seeing us off was friend and tree planter Paul Dodds, who journeyed with us from Lantau Island. Joining us for the first days hike was Yoshi Shibamura, the General Manager of Kokuyo Trading Company (Shenzhen Office) who's been living here for the past two years, and long time resident Chris Bailey, who came with several members of her walking group.
Our route was chosen to keep us away from Hong Kongs sprawling masses; immediately we began to climb up and up and up to a knife edge ridge with spectacular views. Never again, will I start a great journey with such an arduous route - even the walk last year that began at the Great Wall and involved climbing its mighty steps, paled into comparison with this beginning. The day was very hot and in moments we were sweating streams. Up and up we went, first through forest and then over open grasslands where the sun beat down, ever climbing series after series of steep steps carved out of the earth. Hike a bit, stop a bit, rest, sip water, hike a bit, stop, rest, sip, hile, stop, puff, puff, on and on it went. For the day hikers it was not so bad, they carried only water bottles and a snack, but for ourselves, with our loaded packs it was an experience of a rather severe nature.
Soon all of Chris's walking group had disappeared ahead in a trail of dust, except for Luchia, a lovely Cantonese lady, who hung around to ensure that we would find our way over the mountains, and our Japanese friends Yoshi san and Ikegaya san, who is a teacher of the Chinese Tea Traditions.
The views from the ridge were awesome, but somewhat clouded by the tremendous pollution created by Hong Kongs mainland neighbouring city of Szenzhen, which tinted yellow and red the murky sky. But high on the ridge, well over 500 meters in altitude a cooling breeze blew and we were thankful regardless of pain for the choice in route. Splendid Butterflies danced about the flowers and bushes revealed tiny berries, that Lucia told us we could eat once they had matured.
Ah, but as lovely as the route was, it did not get much easier and soon, our friend Yoshi, who's been working hard at his frantic office in Szenzhen, but not hiking much, began to suffer from the physical stress of eighteen thousand, mostly up and down steps (recorded by Ikagaya san on his little pedometer) and the extreme heat which eventually led to dehydration and heat stroke.
The downward section was even more trying than the up, with countless steps that tore at the back of the legs and turned them into a mass of quivering shaky jelly. These steps practically did Yoshi in, and barely fifteen minutes from our destination of Fan Ling, he came to an abrupt stop, to be found with head in hands and feeling very dizzy.
Lucia, who was a constant companion and aid to our little group drenched Yoshi's head with water found at the alter of a trail side Buddhist Temple, and cooled him off a bit, but the most healing assistance came from Daniel, a Hong Kong Chinese trail walker who raced on to Fan Ling, where he brought Ice Cold Water and vitamin replenishing drinks and sandwiches, not only for Yoshi, but for all of us - when offered money for the goodies, he politely refused. I always speak about the kindness one experiences when on the road and am so greatful that this kindness appeared so early into our journey.
In fifteen minutes Yoshi was healed enough to walk to Fan Ling, where we bade goodbye to Ikegaya san and dined with Lucia on such tasteful goodies and Chinese Dumpling and the ever delicious Chinese wood mushrooms.
Yoshi, who recovered admirably, and regained his ability to laugh, kindly escorted us across the border into Szenzhen to make sure that we found our hotel with the least amount of trouble. Over a relaxing drink at a local restaurante, Yoshi bravely announced that he really enjoyed the journey!
It was a long, long day, that I am sure we were all glad to get over with. Phew! First day and hurting. Only three hundred more to go.
Dr. Andrea Schroepel, PH.D. is a Neurobiologist and Naturopath. She has been practicing NAET for almost 10 years. She brought NAET to Germany and has been one of the few teachers of the NAET basic and advanced seminars first in Germany and now also in South Africa, Bali, Hong Kong and Singapore. She runs two successful private practices in Germany using mostly the NAET technique. It is her passion to carry NAET into the world and educate others about this life changing system.
On September 22nd, Earthwalker Paul Coleman and his wife Konomi Kikuchi have set out on their journey to Beijing. Find out more about their experience of leaving Hong Kong behind their bag-laden backs.
Our route was chosen to keep us away from Hong Kongs sprawling masses; immediately we began to climb up and up and up to a knife edge ridge with spectacular views. Never again, will I start a great journey with such an arduous route - even the walk last year that began at the Great Wall and involved climbing its mighty steps, paled into comparison with this beginning. The day was very hot and in moments we were sweating streams. Up and up we went, first through forest and then over open grasslands where the sun beat down, ever climbing series after series of steep steps carved out of the earth. Hike a bit, stop a bit, rest, sip water, hike a bit, stop, rest, sip, hile, stop, puff, puff, on and on it went. For the day hikers it was not so bad, they carried only water bottles and a snack, but for ourselves, with our loaded packs it was an experience of a rather severe nature.
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