http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=135128&id=529576220&l=433fc0c6ff

爸爸妈妈看完照片的评语是：
“看完你的户外攀岩的照片，我真的感到很吃惊，那么惊险的地方你也敢去冒险，真的很危险，以后这样的危险动作做好少些，你毕竟不是个男孩，论你的体力来说也不适合这样的户外活动。但是你很勇敢，要知道女生太勇敢男生见了也会怕的，说一女生还是温柔点、文静点为好，懂吗？”

Parents always like to record or remember their children's first time, such as "first tooth", "first word", "first step", "first day at school"...until the children grow up and old enough to create, record and remember their own.

It was my first outdoor rock climbing at the Palm Beach, Sydney on Sunday, 5 July 2009. My preparation for the day started on Thursday after work --- quickly popped into the Mountain Equipment shop to get all the necessary gears, including sport climbing shoes, harness, chalk bag and chalk ball.

Climbing shoes are, of course, designed for climbing, not for walking. But it was my first time to learn that the perfectly-fit climbing shoes should be uncomfortable, but not painful, usually one size down. That's probably why the climbers always take their climbing shoes off between climbs. There are two types of harness, adjustable and fixed. As recommended by the staff of the shop, since I will mainly be the only one who uses the harness, there is not much need to get the adjustable one unless I put on extra 20 kilos (which seems quite unlikely at least now). When it comes to chalk bag, it's really just the look. I fell in love with a very cute light blue one with nice pattern, once the chalk ball in the chalk bag, I'm all set and ready to go.

The weather on Sunday was a perfect winter day, sunny and warm. Unfortunately, we were on the side of the rocks where the sun was shining on the other side. Therefore, it was freezing for us throughout the day. My first ever outdoor climb was a warm-up climbs for the guys I went with, so it was an easy one for them, but a scary one for me, as you could imagine.

How should I describe my first up-close contact with the rocks? They were cold and hard. My fingers went frozen not long after I started. What I found surprising was that the rocks were very reliable. Just when I thought I wouldn't be able to push myself up, the rocks gave me the unexpected strength. Because I was so close with the rocks, each move actually relied more on the feel of the rocks, not my vision. It was such a rewarding feeling when I finally made it to the top and sat on the flat top enjoying the water view from up high. The constant encouragement from my team played an important part as well. I had 100% confidence in American Jeff's belaying. Aussie Jeff was cheering me up all the way. Sam grabbed my camera and played photographer to record these moments. Olly was climbing the route next to me and made me feel that I was not alone there and I could really do it and we both did it, even though Olly was doing a more difficult route.

I made an attempt to another two routes with the difficulty level of 19, but I could only made to half way. The guys thought they had thrown me to the deep end to start with as they all had to make a big effort to reach the top. At the end of the day, American Jeff roped an easier route (16) for me. I almost made it until I got scared at the last part where the big rock was leaning out and I couldn't figure out a good foot spot. I was pretty annoyed at myself not being able to reach the top.

Now when I look back at the experience. It's like all my other first time (first time spoke in front of students; first time overseas study; first time living in an outback small town; first time driving on the highway... It's always been a step out of my comfort zone, but I am always rewarded with some new achievement and new perspective of life.

这个周日受三位喜好攀岩的同事之邀，将一起去Palm Beach进行我的第一次户外攀岩。自从最近知道这几位帅哥有此爱好（改变了我对科学家、工程师比较无趣的错误印象），并且每周至少两次在我经常去的室内攀岩馆攀岩，我们彼此如同找到了组织。虽然开始和他们一起攀岩也最近两周而已，但是大家似乎挺喜欢我成为这个纯男性队伍中的新鲜血液。经过大家的怂恿，明天下班就要去采购我的装备。当然，我还有点私心：可以乘机练习拍一些攀岩照片。

爸爸对于此周末安排的评论是：“户外攀岩可千万注意安全哦。你总喜欢冒险，其实与女性的性格有点不像，女性应该文静一些，比如，琴棋书画等。”我的回复是：“我也喜欢琴棋书画的呀！”