There are more than 3700 steps to the peak and each step is of flat rock, of various sizes, arranged securely to ease the climb. Hence the level of each step is different and inconsistent. They are not like the normal steps we build in the house or of stone slabs put together. Each step is inconsistent in height and width and one has to be really careful of one’s step. This proved to be challenging for Ram and we were going up hand in hand almost all the way.There were several rest stations along the way with toilet facilities (the ancient type ha ha!). No flushing system and no water. The walls and roof are made of palm tree fronds put together tightly, and is big enough for one person to crouch in!! No standing space either. From a distance you know that you are approaching a toilet!! You will get that unmistakable whiff!! So if one really needs to do one’s job in the toilet it is only for the small job. The big job? Wow… I cannot imagine what the whiff would be like. I guess if one really needs to do the big job one needs to make a hole and bury, but then its all rocks??
You can get light refreshments at these rest stations but at a price four or five times normal price!
Ram and I took our time climbing up the steps and we let others who were faster pass us by. We had to stop and rested our legs many times and even those who were faster than us were not much faster as they too had to rest and we kept catching up with them. Two other couples, one about ten years older than us and the other slightly younger, kept pace with us.
We reached the last rest station and were told that the remaining flight of steps will take us to the peak. There were more than 250 more steps to go to the peak. Ram could not wait and insisted that we continued. It was then 10.30 am. The sun was up but it was cool. As we approached the top we could hear voices and when we finally arrived it was a relieve to see many others in our group there. The feeling was ecstatic and emotional at the same time. We were overjoyed and thrilled. We were on cloud nine although there was no cloud that morning!! Our Guru was there to receive us. It was a very nice feeling to be on top of everything around us for as far as the eye can see.
We took a picture with our Guru. He showed us where Prophet Musa sat in private devotion to The Almighty Allah for forty days and nights. It is a hole or cave of about one by one and a half meter and one meter deep. Next to it or above it is a small mosque that can accommodate about fifteen people. On the other side is a small church which was locked closed and next, attached to it, looked like a smaller prayer room, maybe used by the Jews (I am only guessing here as there were no signs on it).Our Guru told us to take our ablutions and do our prayers. We had brought along two bottles of water in a back pack. One had already been partly used for drinking (small sips rather, to avoid having to go to the toilet heh heh!) and we used the rest of the bottle for our ablution. We then went into the cave and prayed, together initially and individually after that.
It was an emotional moment for both of us. I noticed that Ram was crying softly, which she later told me was due to the overwhelming feeling of achievement at reaching the place, of how thankful she was to the Almighty for answering her prayers and for the strength He gave her to achieve the climb and arrive at the peak. I myself tried to imagine how Musa spent the 40 days here at that time, a place devoid of any reasonable human facilities. I felt how inadequate I was in comparison. I thank Him for allowing me to reach this place.We also went into the small mosque and performed prayers there after which we rested for a while before starting our descent.
On hind sight it was a blessing that we did not join the crowd climbing the mountain in the night as it would have been more difficult doing it in the dark, having the crowd to contend with and torchlight notwithstanding. Also we had the whole space at the peak to ourselves.
To be continued………
MKI Ramblings Unlimited
Petaling Jaya
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