It took my adventurous travel buddy Ming two years to convince me to join her caving in Vietnam. She also happens to be my former boss, and someone I’ve always looked up to.
My reasons for not taking her up on her offer were endless: It ranged from me not being very “adventurous” when it comes to food, to being embarrassed that I might not be able to catch up with her. She’s well over 50 and incredibly fit – and here I am, in my mid-30s, unable to climb a flight of stairs without getting out of breath.
I was no stranger to outdoor activities like diving, but I was getting injured a lot in recent years, and so the thought of caving, which is a very physically strenuous activity, worried me. Personal hygiene is also something that I’m very particular about, and the idea of not showering for days was daunting.
But when Ming spoke about the trip again late last year, I said OK. Looking back, my change of heart might have been sparked by the realisation that
