The Great Outdoors (Part 1)

I had been blessed with great superiors all throughout my assignment here in Japan. It has been really a good experience working with the coolest bosses around. This year, so far so good… First, there is my rocker boss, who gave me my once-in-a-lifetime experience of performing live at Roppongi! Then, there is my other rocker boss, as in rock-climber boss (aka outdoors boss), who made me believe that there ain’t no mountain high enough 🙂

Outdoors boss had always been asking me to join them rock-climbing at the gym since I had already expressed my interest on the sport way before. I did wall-climbing during my university days (at some fair). Rock climbing, not yet. But since I had always loved to be geographically high, and since I know that I’m physically fit and active (not bragging), I knew I would have liked to climb too. Though my boss had fairly asked me a couple of times before already, I had always declined because it was too expensive for me to climb at the gym.

And then one day, he asked me again to join them, rock-climbing in Tokyo. And he told me it’s free. My wide eyes opened wider and instantly said yes in glee. He said that they’ll lend me the gears. He told me its outdoors and I said it’s OK (all I could think about that moment was buy a really really good sunblock).

It was funny because I was thinking of the same ones in the UP fair, and that wall at the now-destroyed Adidas sports complex at the Fort. But then he showed me the pictures days before out climb. And I was shocked.

There were no “holders” or grips (whatever it is called)… all I could see were real rocks, real high, and real… just real! Like if you fall, you’re dead. Morbid was the word I was thinking that time.

What the boss said about it being free was true. I didn’t spend a single penny the whole day. But the day before the climb, I had to panic shop. Though the gears are provided already, I had to shop for the perfect attire. I couldn’t wear my ordinary pants and other sporty attires I brought from Phils because they’re not supportive enough or just.. too sexy (yeah they are). And it wouldn’t be appropriate for rock climbing. I spent a couple of thousand yens to buy the perfect climbing pants. My fit-jogging pants just wouldn’t do the trick. So I had to buy a new one. Also a long-sleeved sporty top (long-sleeves to avoid scratches as suggested by boss).

I had to buy a few stuff from the great 100 yen store – bandaids, bandana (which I thought I could use just for fashion but turned out to be pretty useful), rain gear, arm cover, cap, etc.

I was thinking of buying a pair of climbing shoes as my friend advised but they’re too expensive and I’m not planning on splurging 9000+ yen for a pair of shoes that I would just probably use one time big time. So I skipped buying that and settled on my rubber shoes instead.

And oh, my boss gave me a big big outdoor bag.. all mine.

I did prepare a little for the climb. I bid my long nails good bye. Because it would be difficult to grip rocks with those long nails. I just left the polish for some protection for the nails. I slept early because I had to wake up at around 3 in the morning to eat breakfast, shower and most of all, catch the first train near my place at 4:30. And besides, I was too exhausted panic shopping the day before so I was able to sleep early.

I was able to catch the first train. And of course, I had to spend some time cam-whoring in the train:
I had to take photos of myself because I was afraid that I might encounter some accident and my face might become different afterwards… *very sad*

Or despite an exaggerated application of sunblock all over my face and exposed body parts, I might get dark again.

So that’s the point of the camwhoring. For comparison*. Before and after 😀