Esther – Singapore Women's Everest Team (SWET)

red-eyed monster

Esther Tan — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 09:16:31 +0000

i was a red-eyed monster for a while… having had infection in my right eye once every month for the past 6 months. my GP from raffles medical scared me by telling me it could be a cornea ulcer, so i hurried to see Dr Lee Hung Meng who performed the lasik surgery on me 4 years ago. he’s great, squeezing me in his busy schedule and taking care to examine my eye properly. the current diagnosis is that no there isn’t any cornea ulcer in my eye, but there appears to be a layer that’s loose in my eye. he’s given me a gel to apply for a month to improve the situation and keep the red-eyed monster at bay. let’s hope it works!

Esther Tan

With the team, Esther went on to climb and summit mountains in far-flung corners of the world, including Mt Aylmer (2,699m) in New Zealand; Mera Peak (6,476m) in Nepal; Er Feng (5,276m) in China; Mustagh Ata (7,546m) in Central Asia, and Mt Everest (8,850m) in Nepal.

what a year!

Esther Tan — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 09:15:31 +0000

much has happened in 2009, and i have much to give thanks for. i was asked to draw up a list of thanksgiving items the other week, and as i listed them down one by one, i felt a little overwhelmed by how blessed i am. here’s a snapshot of my thanksgiving, in no order of importance:

– being alive
– summiting and surviving everest
– God drawing me close
– guoyong
– still having a job after everest
– the love of my family, my parents, their food
– sunsets
– being reminded that peace can only be found in God
– our new place
– sisters
– marriage
– friends
– more time on my hands, without having to train 6 times a week anymore
– mountain biking
– coming back to a cg after many years
– being able to share the everest experience with others
– getting baptised finally
– God’s presence and His word, which comforted me in distress
– all the little bits of marriage and wedding stuff that pieced together
– my room
– my teammates
– kim boon
– my sherpa, jamling, who saved my life

Esther Tan

my fourth finger

Esther Tan — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 09:14:56 +0000

has a sparkle now =)

i’m not experiencing an explosive kind of joy, or having exclamation marks hanging over my head… it’s more of a deep-seated happiness that comes with a peace and restedness in my heart, one which may not shout, but i believe will speak for a long time to come.

and i feel really blessed with that.

“…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” phillipians 4:8

Esther Tan

running

Esther Tan — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 09:14:17 +0000

i went running last night. it was the first time i hit the roads after everest, and the first time i felt my heart pump hard since i came back to sea level. i forgot to bring my trusty polar watch along so there was no way i could tell how fast or how long i’ve run. it must have been God’s grace because for the first time in a long while, i remember how much i miss running for the sake of running.

Esther Tan

5, 4, 3, 2, 1

Esther Tan — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 09:13:29 +0000

just 5 more days before we head off to everest!

this saturday, we’ll be taking flight no. MI 412 to kathmandu, nepal. some may say this is our first step towards the top of the world, but i think the first step was taken 5 years ago when the team was formed in 2004.

it was 5 years, and now it is 5 days. how does one even fathom the length and breath of this journey amidst the giants of creation!

Esther Tan

stairs and a meme

Esther Tan — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 09:12:44 +0000

You are grocery shopping for 6 items.1. Produce: celery 2. Bakery: mushroom quiche 3. Meat: lean beef4. Frozen: ice-cream 5. Dry goods: seaweed 6. Dairy: cheese You are on weekend getaway with only 3 articles of clothing allowed.1. shorts2. singlet/tank top3. bikini You are being eavesdropped on through the day for 5 key phrases or words you use.1. really? 2. you’re an idiot 3. ohmygod 4. to be honest 5. sorry? What 3 things must you do every day? 1. have my breakfast leisurely 2. surf my usual sites 3. exercise in one form or another You have a whole afternoon all to yourself. What 5 activities might you be doing? 1. reading 2. visiting the museum 3. painting 4. swimming 5. biking You’re on a quick visit to the Zoo and can only catch 3 exhibits.1. flamingos! 2. elephants 3. giraffe You scored tickets to 4 live TV show recordings of your choice.1. eddie izzard 2. will&grace 3. whose line is it anyway4. friendsYou can choose 3 scoops of ice-cream.1. chocolate2. lemon sorbet 3. mango You need to name 5 things in your lost wallet to reclaim it. 1. nric 2. uob lady’s card 3. ocbc plat card 4. stamps 5. my house key You are at a job fair choosing 4 dream jobs.1. artist 2. wrier3. explorer 4. food reviewer You’ve got a chance to tell your old high school self 4 bits of advice. 1. don’t let your education get into the way of your learning 2. there is not right or wrong way 3. don’t compare, it never pans out anyway 4. don’t be afraid to pursue art

Esther Tan

sometimes i wonder

Esther Tan — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 09:11:51 +0000

if i’ll miss stairs after everest. the immediate answer would naturally be NO ARE YOU FREAKIN’ CRAZY. but then i know that somewhere in the future, on a quiet weekday night, i’ll probably wish that i was sitting at the block 22 basketball court, drenched in my perspiration.

Esther Tan

the spaces between the stars are nothing to worry about

Esther Tan — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 09:11:09 +0000

Those of Us Who Think We Know
Stephen Dunn

Those of us who think we know
the same secrets
are silent together most of the time,
for us there is eloquence
in desire, and for a while
when in love and exhausted
it’s enough to nod like shy horses
and come together in a quiet ceremony of tongues.

It’s in disappointment we look for words
to convince us
the spaces between the stars are nothing
to worry about,
it’s when those secrets burst
in that emptiness between our hearts
and the lumps in our throats.
And the words we find
are always insufficient, like love,
though they are often lovely
and all we have.

Esther Tan

a shitake mushroom

Esther Tan — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 09:09:54 +0000

this year, love came in the form of a shitake fleece jacket. i foresee warm days ahead =)

Esther Tan

surprisingly

Esther Tan — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 09:07:00 +0000

it actually feels nice being a ribena =)

Esther Tan