TOP OF EUROPE, THE CHALLENGE! WE , JAGJEET NORDIC WALK MALAYSIA , ARE ON OUR WAY!

As I write this article, I feel extremely exuberant, excited and exhilarated. I am really and indeed busy! The countdown has begun! It's barely a day to one of my greatest challenges in my entire life .. putting together a  13-day trekking cum wellness and good health Nordic Walking expedition on several foreign grounds single-handedly.  I have always believed everything is possible and I already see great happiness and joy every step they take.

I have even managed to scout for an English-speaking guide. No, this is not my maiden attempt organising trips overseas but it certainly is my first Nordic Walking  tour for a group of 16. 27th Aug 2014 will stand out as a significant day in my adventurous challenging journey of life . I have to pinch myself to wake me up - Mrs J the day has finally arrived! And TOP OF EUROPE, here we JAGJEET NORDIC WALK MALAYSIA trekkers and hikers come with our Nordic poles. The assault!

Top of Europe - the JUNGFRAU region that's where we'll be from 28th Aug -  31st Aug 2014

Scenic train ride from Zurich airport to Interlakin

 

Last year I led the first Nordic Walking expedition from Malaysia to Austria in the summer June/July. This inaugural expedition attracted Nordic Walkers from all over the region - 16 of us hailed from various parts of Malaysia and from abroad as far as Australia and our neighbour in the south across the causeway - Singapore. My task was to look after the Malaysian side and my coach from Melbourne Patrick who organises such tours would handle once I got there in Austria.

 

As the date got nearer, more and more Nordic Walkers began to show interest; but somehow it was not possible to increase the total participation to more than 16 for such Nordic Walking tours for valid logistic reasons. 

 

And, I did sincerely promise the others I would organise one for them the following year. So that was a year ago and no sooner had I returned from the very successful expedition than I realised I had to continue as so much was gained from this first Nordic Walking experience. However, this time there was a growing need to Nordic Walk in the Jungfrau region in Switzerland  and this was a new experience for me.

 

So one year's preparation with hours and hours of reading Trip Adviser reviews, blogs of the experiences of others, watching video clips, youtube videos, and with my own travelling and trekking knowledge I decided to put together  a Nordic Walking expedition that would cover both Top of Europe and Austria.  Reading consistently for hours and  in doses and researching elated me and I realised I was already on holiday the entire year - it's not the destination but the journey .. the ride and that is precisely what I have been experiencing. I have been so happy and on Cloud Nine everytime I sat down to plan the itinerary and look into the details and what this second group should experience.

 

There has been a lot of correspondence and a challenge organising this 13-day expedition but I am confident these 16 Nordic Walkers will come back to Malaysia bringing with them volumes of varied experiences to be shared by other Nordic walkers.

 

I reminisce how I had thought my troubling knees and troubled knee joints ( an ultrasound done by orthopaedic  consultant and surgeon Dr Rajesh Singh clearly showed I had no more ligaments and cartilege on my right knee due to my frequent trekking the Himalayan Range and climbing the steps of Batu Caves  many times ascending and descending 6 times in one hour as practice to scale heights -  and this was the cause of the constant pain and inflammation I was experiencing)   would have put a stop to my calling and yearning for such treks and trails ... but I believe I can fly as in the song below, so here I am leading Malaysia's Nordic Walkers from the Klang Valley all by myself handling it single-handedly for the very first time.

As preparation I have given the team a lot of selected and selective reading material to know what to expect. Each member of the team came for a detailed briefing on a  one-to-one / couple basis and have been practising the Nordic walk in the mornings in Lake Gardens , KL.

 

All in all, it is a wellness kind of vacation to experience amongst the world's most beautiful sights that Nature has generously given us.  So my dear Nordic Walkers grab the poles ... don't forget to bring them along ... and put your left foot forward and your right hand in synchronisation ...the left hand swung behind straight ...  plant the  right pole, push it and thrust yourself forward. The Nordic Walk has begun! See you all at the KLIA airport at 7 pm on Wednesday to begin the walk of our lifetime - the fitness walk - the Nordic Walk!

 

 

Some pictures of last year's Nordic Walking Tour

Amongst Nature's beautiful valleys .. a sight to behold

 

 

 

The joy of Nordic Walking together

 

 

 

And every night we had fine dining where we dressed for the occasion and were served the finest of dinners and desserts ... no two nights was there a similar meal

 

 

And our passion .. we danced to make it a memorable night to remember

 

 

And we sang on top of our voices THE HILLS ARE ALIVE

 

 

And the poles took us to uphill and down date..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How is Nordic Walking different from Ordinary Walking

With my Nordic Walking Coach Patrick Burtscher in Australia

 

Two years ago I flew to Australia to learn more about Nordic Walking from Patrick who is originally from Austria. Here I am having personal one-to-one coaching from him.

 

 

 

International Nordic Walking Song ... sing along

My Simple Love Story

In the Austrian meadows in Faschina, Austria , 2013 

The right Nordic Poles

I love the rolling hills and undulating plains , the plateaus, the glacial peaks, the Himalayan Range that I have trekked many a time,  high mountains and mountain ranges, frothy foamy  waterfalls, crystal clear cold water cascading down rocks small and big,  series of almost hidden rapids as they find their own outlets and shapes over Nature's little stones and boulders, the sound of insects that you often can't distinguish one from the other ... but above all, I love Nature's simplest form of exercise. Yes, you got it right. No equipment ; no booking of halls;  no fanfare of getting the right attire ; but just a comfortable pair of shoes, and these days a constant companon for security and safety and Nature besides  natural surroundings - a pair of special Nordic poles . It instantly cheers me up.

Yes, I have always loved walking. Ever since my young days having been an estate "walla" .. a rubber plantation lass,  there was no other sport available and accessible in the remote estate in Johore. So, to escape the humdrum of life without a mother whom I lost at a tender age of 5, ... the rubber trees and a brook nearby became our constant companions. When we , five siblings, quarrelled and argued and fought which we literally did too often , I ran into the jungle . I stood for a while cooled down and strode back smiling. That was the instant effect ... almost magical to be close to the trees and bushes .  I watched the way latex moved sluggishly down to its huge metal  bucket placed on the grassy floor. The magic of Nature! Don't ask me I don't know how and why. But I needed it !

Back home Papa Ji  was looking for me." And where did you think you disappeared?"
" No I was just here a moment ago, Papa. "

So, the daily  humdrum of our routine life of the six siblings in a motherless home in a rubber estate every morning at 6 am was to stand in a  line on the sandy street outside my home to the authoritative words ,"On your marks, get set, go!" And we ran daily as if we were running in the SEA Games to win the gold but gold we didn't but had fun and joy... halfway walking and talking and really bonding not over today's kind of extravagant meals in the finest of hotels but reaching the stream  a mile away to wash our face with the cold clean water as proof we had not cheated on Papa, and then running back to the finishing line .... and the innate passion for all things walking, running, trekking, hiking and eventually Nordic Walking took its origins.

Fortunately for me I made a best friend in a "gentle" man , a real and true gentleman, who loved sports albeit different from mine; his were tennis, cricket, golf and like all Punjabis hockey, mine was the simple walking. Would you like to walk with me today was a humble question I then asked when I wasn't minding kids ; and still ask some mornings when I could do with his company?

When I first initiated Nordic Walking, it was a NO-NO .. you go ahead and I for golf but one day I secretly saw him with my poles trying to walk strangely .. with the elbows bent and certainly walking with the aid of the elbows  and looking rather odd. "Let me teach you!" I said confidently. "It's as easy as ABC if you care to listen"  knowing secretly how much it is a challenge for a woman to teach her man ; but I wanted deep down to ensure he was doing the right thing as I am somewhat obsessed with this right technique; this was what my International coach had  impressed upon me!!  "Jagjeet, "  I still remember his stern voice, my coach originally from Austria,  Patrick B added, "it's all in the technique. You've got to get it right for the right effect! See you are bending your elbows. See you are using your elbows. You think you are doing the right thing. I'm afraid, you're not!"

I invited my hubby into the study for the philosophy and know-how of Nordic Walking ... together we sat and I learnt more as I shared my knowledge of Nordic Walking with him. It was very important not to scare him off and to undermine his confidence for then he would never want to walk again. 

Today, together with this fitness walk we have scaled many hillocks, hills of different terrains and mountainous regions of the world including the mesmerising Austrian Alps slopes and flowering valleys. Our love and romance for each other grew as our love for Nordic Walking as we were always close to Mother Nature's creations - the beach, the grass, the valley , the jungle, and the sand.

I have found my niche and from  a simple school teacher, an ex-newspaper  columnist , an English Language specialist and Malaysia's  first  international debate and public speaking coach and adjudicator,  I have happily moved on to a more serene and peaceful vocation sharing and imparting my love and postive Nordic Walking  addiction to many others especially in my neighbourhood and all those I meet in my daily life. So if you suddenly see a couple in their twilight years walking not hand-in-hand guiding each other through the winter of  their life, you will know it's a healthy happy pair Nordic Walking . The invaluable Nordic Poles are guiding the golden couple ... and every move I make and every step I take ... I'm guiding you ...I shall never walk without the poles again.

I love you, my poles! I love you for the weight you hold, for the strength you give me and for guiding me .. and keeping me smiling. The hundreds of close

 friends I have made via Nordic Walking completes my simple love story!

OUR FABULOUS NORDIC WALK INSTRUCTOR

I reminisce one morning receiving a fb message from this 5'6"tall and slim Malaysia's certified Nordic Walking coach that she was returning from the Euro Alps  in a week's time last June and that she would be delighted to use her international travel experience and training to be our coach  to prepare us to scale the Swiss Alps , if we so desired to fulfil one of our immediate dreams.

Today, it's close to a year since we nordic walked in the Swiss Alps in the Bernese Oberland, Switzerland. We have Mrs Jagjeet to thank for getting us started and with her invaluable coaching of the right nordic walking techniques, my buddies and I had a fantastic and awesome time in the spectacular Swiss mountains in early autumn, Sept 2013. What an exciting and memorable nordicwalking holiday we have had! Words cannot describe our exhilirating experience.
I am glad when all this fun & adventure was behind us, I could reminisce about it and maybe revel in all the good times I had had with my buddies, an out-of-the-world experience nordic walking amidst glacial fields.

           

                       
                                                                    Around Lake Bachalpsee

                                These nordic poles took me to far-flung exotic places..

                                                          Moderate trails to Lake Bachalpsee
 

                                           
                                                         Trail from Grutschalp to Winteregg, very scenic.
                                                          Don't miss it. It takes you up into the hills with
                                                          breathtaking views.
           

                                 We could be the first four of Mrs J's nordic walking
                                 group to walk in this spectacularly beautiful region
                            of Switzerland.  Mrs J, thank you for not only coaching us but  inspiring us too!

                                          

                                                        Walking trails in Lauterbrunnen is of varied terrains
         

                                                           Walked along side of river to Grun

At Gletscherschlucht to visit the glacial gorge

                                             
 

                                                    At the summit of Piz Gloria, Schilthorn, Switzerland.

   

                                                     Had an early morning walk with the swans around not a slight fear                                                                          
                                                     of our poles.

                                                     Walked the 'golden fields' at Kensington Gardens London.

Having walked with Mrs J for almost a year, I would say she's indeed a fabulous coach who is full of encouragement and enthusiasm, watches us all very gingerly and silently from afar and as she is striding with you side by side and swoops down like a hawk, gently and very often quietly to give you some pointers to perfect your walking every time she has an oportunity.  You can tell she really finds joy and happiness as she coaches you to nordic walk for a more rewarding lifestyle.  She's highly recommended and definitely a gem in the nordic walking community in Malaysia.

           ~ LET'S NORDIC WALK FOR THE  HEART, TOTAL HEALTH &  REAL  HAPPINESS ~

                       
                                 

                                                       

Benefits of Nordic Walking

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4_DZoC7XqE