K M Cheng-Travel Journal: My Dreams - "YesterYear Once More" - Palmyra (Syria), Kathmandu (Nepal) & Mt Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia)

" Love is like war, easy to begin but very hard to stop. All war is a symptom of man's failure as a thinking animal "

" Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world "

" Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful "

As a traveller who had visited Palmyra (Syria), Mt Kota Kinabalu (Malaysia) & Kathmandu (Nepal) in recent years, the adverse & disheartening news reported in major media in 2015 in relation to a catastrophe inflicted on each of these 3 countries in 2015 will no doubt continue to linger in my mind for as long as I travel !

1) Palmyra, Syria (Yester Year No More)

In late August 2015, there were wide media reporting on Palmyra, a desert town, 200km from Damascus, Syria famed for its 2,000 year old temple (an UNESCO World Heritage site) was blown to rubble by militants fighting in a civil war running on a rampage in major towns in Syria.

It was in Sept 2008, in my visits to Jordan, Syria, Turkey & Egypt that I took an overland bus crossing from Amman, Jordan to Syria and visited Damascus, Palmyra, Homs & Aleppo. 3 years later and in early Spring 2011, the Arab Spring protest began to spread to Syria … until now the Syrian civil war has not ended !

Oh Syria, my dear Syria - Don't cry for me. Have I say too little or too much ! To all the Syrians, let's look forward to a day when peace shall prevail & bestow to your beloved country - an once upon a time a charming ancient country and mind you, Damascus is a 1,000 year old city !

In my 2008 visit to the Temple of Bel & Baalshamin in Palmyra, I had the opportunity to take from different angles some pictures of this historic site but I believe both temples had by now been destroyed or in total ruins - "gone with the wind ! It's "YesterYear No More" - travelers have no second chance of seeing or re-visiting this magnificent UNESCO World Heritage site again. From now on, I can only rely on those pictures I had taken to admire this 2,000 year old Roman temple ruins and share them with my readers !

2) Mt Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia (YesterYear Once More)

In July 2011, at aged 61 and against all the odds, I had successfully climbed Mt Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia (4,095m), the highest peak in South East Asia. A great test to my mental, physical & spiritual strength and as a beginner and without any training but with courage & determination, I passed the mountain climbing test with flying colors !

But a bad thing happened in 2015 - A 6-magnitude earthquake on June 5 2015 that killed 18 people (mainly Malaysians including 4 heroic mountain guides & Singaporeans), over 180 climbers were rescued from the peak, damaging 300m of the old trail, destroying the iconic Donkey's Ears Peak at Mt Kota Kinabalu - a misery & a temporary set back for travelers who enjoy mountain trekking & climbing in this part of the world !

The Sabah Park is now constructing a new trail with a breathtaking view of Mt Kota Kinabalu and hopefully the summit will be opened by 1st Dec 2015. In a relative short time, travellers could look forward & return to climb Mt Kota Kinabalu again - "YesterYear Once More" !

3) Kathmandu, Nepal (YesterYear Once More)

In March 2013 (2-16th), I flew from Kuala Lumpur to Kathmandu, Nepal and also visited Pokhara, Chitwan National Park & Bhaktapur. This was my first visit to Nepal, a trip filled with anxiety, curiosity and also an eager mind to know more about the Nepalese people, custom & culture, historical sites, nature etc.

But a terrible thing happened in Nepal on 25 April 2015 - a 7.8 earthquake destroyed major buildings & properties in Kathmandu and the surrounding areas. Some 9,000 people perished in this catastrophe including 19 climbers in an avalanche in Mt Everest. Though there were around 20,000 foreign nationals visiting Nepal at the time of the earthquake, foreign deaths were reported low !

The earthquake caused severe damage to major UNESCO World Heritage sites ie Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Changu Narayan Temple, Swayambhunath Stupa etc .

After the earthquake and in the interim, the Nepalese government and International Conservation agencies have quickly commenced working vigorously together to rebuild many of its cultural & historical landmarks. Needless to say, a lot of reconstruction works have to be carried out to rebuild monuments, statues, pillars & temple repairs etc as in some cases, the damage was so extensive & irreversible !

Despite this disaster, I am sure foreign nationals will come in droves again to visit Nepal famed for her mountain scenery, (Nepal Himalaya) & historical sites - perhaps a brand new Visit Nepal Year to welcome you by saying "Namaste" meaning "The Spirit within me salutes the Spirit in you" !

Looking at some of the pictures I had taken on the historical sites of Kathmandu in March 2013, I hope all the century old Durbar Squares (noble courts) which were severely or partially destroyed during the earthquake could be rebuilt and restored soon from a worst case scenario of "YesterYear No More" to the best case scenario of "YesterYear Once More" !

Posted below are photos of probably my once in a life time travel to Palmyra, Mt Kota Kinabalu & Kathmandu. A big bonus for me if I ever set foot in these places one more time !

" Life is short. Time is fast. No replay. No rewind ! So enjoy every moment as it comes "

1) Palmyra, Syria - My travel day (18th Sept 2008)