Climbing mountains has always been a metaphor for reaching new heights - achieving worthwhile objectives at great cost or effort. With characteristic humility, Sir Edmund Hillary climbed Mount Everest simply “because it was there”.
Ma On Shan, the mountain that fills my view as I walk out my front door every morning, may not be as high as Mount Everest. Nonetheless, at a formidable 702 metres (2303 feet), it is Hong Kong’s third highest peak. I am no Sir Edmund Hillary, but it was with something of Hillary’s purpose that I climbed Ma On Shan last Tuesday with two of my sons, Tim and Andrew. It is not an easy climb - although I suspect Tim and Andy found the ascent easier than I did! Tim was visiting us from Australia during his university break, and he said he wanted “some action”. Hong Kong is not known for its white water rafting or bungy jumping, so climbing a mountain was the best option I could devise. And it was a steep climb, with the final ascent requiring a scramble up the steep slope “on all fours”. To my shame, this was only the second time I have ascended Ma On Shan during my (almost) three years living in Hong Kong, in spite of its close proximity to the College where I live.
Having made it to the summit, the view was wonderful. Although the air was not as clear as the time of my previous climb, nor indeed the previous day, we could see clearly in all directions across Sha Tin, down to Sai Kung, and across Tolo Harbour to the hills of Shenzhen in China. The view of our own home at Li Po Chun United World College (shown in the photo above, lining the shores of Starfish Bay), was also thrilling to behold for those of us who were familiar with the scene on a daily basis, albeit from a very different perspective.
It has been great for Di and I to catch up with all four of our children during the recent three week mid-year break. Classes begin again tomorrow morning (Monday), running through to the end of the IB (International Baccalaureate) Diploma examinations in late May. For many of our students, this will mean the resumption of their own academic mountain climbs that will hopefully conclude with a great dash to the summit! Our students are returning now from their visits home to countries all around the world, or their travels through various parts of Asia, and I am looking forward to catching up with all their stories over the next few days and weeks.
