This Precious Life

Recently, I had the chance to meet Johan Ernst Nilson. I’m still kicking myself for not taking a photo with him.

I know many “adventure kakis” in Malaysia, people who love swimming across crocodile-infested rivers and trekking through jungles that are the home of tigers, but I have never ever met anyone who works as an Explorer. How would you like that on your business card? “Hillary Chan, Explorer”.

Some time back, while the rest of us were going to the office, Yohan Ernst Nilson was kayaking from Sweden to Africa.

He had a minor hiccup along the way as he came upon Germany – there are no waterways in Germany. But Johan was undaunted.

He decided to plunge his kayak underground and paddle across Germany in the dark and smelly sewers. He successfully emerged on the other side of the country and from there on, continued kayaking until he reached Africa.

He did have close encounters with gigantic ships along the way, but surely those small things do not faze an adventurer.

After that, Johan Nilson decided to go to Africa again but this time, he wanted a more convenient way so, he “built” an “aircraft” out of a blow-up raft. The raft did fly, and Johan arrived in Africa from Stockholm, surviving close encounters with fighter jets along the way.

Having been to Africa two many times, Johan decided to go to the top of Mount Everest. He trekked up with a big group of people and survived, but many people in the group did not.

He himself had to turn back when he was only 15 metres away from the top because his climbing partner got frostbitten. *sigh*

After that, Johan decided to climb another mountain in Papua New Guinea but getting to the mountain alone was a challenge. He encountered some very diverse people along the way,

People whom, he’s not sure, may feel like having caucasian flesh for breakfast. Who knows?

I really really should have taken a photo with Johan. ARGH!