BATANG KALI: Who would have guessed that a mother of three, who is also half a century old, would regularly conquer the peaks of mountains and volcanos around the world?
Single mother Noraini Ali, 56, does just that. And all for fun.
For her, it is not about breaking records or gaining a reputation as a ‘champion’ – she is driven by a passion for climbing, and a desire to observe the wonders of nature from places few have ever been.
Her extraordinary hobby has made Noraini well known among the hiking community and earned her the nickname “Bonda.”
She often uploads photos of her adventures on her social media pages to be seen by her followers.
According to Noraini, even though she is getting older and is always advised by her children to quit, she always follows her passion to continue hiking.
"I am blessed to see the greatness of Allah SWT, to admire His paintings and the beauty of His creations while I am doing this activity.
“My heart feels at ease when I am in such places, and it makes me want to be closer to the Creator,” she said.
Noraini said hiking mountains is not easy – one needs to have good stamina, always be alert and be in tip-top condition.
She recounted times when she faced deadly situations, having to pass steep edges or obstacles in gruelling temperatures.
In spite of this, Noraini continues her interest and has conquered more than 50 mountain peaks in Malaysia, Indonesia, Nepal and Myanmar.
Translated from Harian Metro