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One of the greatest challenges


See that beautiful mountain? It is Japan's most famous mountain, and the biggest at 3776 meters. It is an active volcano, but the last time it erupted as 1708. It is one of the three Holy Mountains of Japan, and can be seen in countless art pieces from history. Mount Fuji, of course...

The crazy thing is, I am going to be on the peak of this mountain in five days time. And I am very, very scared. We are going to start climbing around 7:00pm on Saturday night, to arrive on the summit at about 1:00am Sunday morning. Then we wait for the sun to rise. Oh, I just checked the weather and there is going to be a little bit of rain. Goody. I bet that means it will be cloudy and we won't be able to see anything as well.

Why am I scared? Well, I've never been one for exercise. And the outdoors are pretty and all but I don't like tramping around for hours. Especially on an incline! And although I don't like to admit it, I am pretty lazy.

I told Dede yesterday that he should be prepared for tears. Not of joy at the beautiful sight. Tears of pain and anger. I do want to see it. I just think walking for six hours is a bit impossible for someone like me.

Either way, the bus tickets are booked (although I haven't paid for them yet) and we are going. I'm going to do my best to survive, and who knows, maybe on Sunday night when I am happy back in my own bed I will think it was all worth it. We'll have to see.


Oh, and I have to carry Dede's heavy camera and all his lenses. He wants to take three litres of water so he's going to carry that and the food. I was already not looking forward to this without having stuff to carry. This new news just makes me a little mad.

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