The first 1.5 kilometers lulled us into a false sense of ease, but soon the real challenge kicked in—endless uphill stretches. The humidity had everyone soaked, except for Aanya, who somehow remained completely dry. The trail took us through towering bamboo groves, dense forest, over rocks, and across trickling creeks. Fortunately, the ropes along the rocky sections were more of a safety net than a necessity, thanks to the dry weather over the past two days.
Along the way, we spotted the most beautiful mushrooms in a kaleidoscope of colors. Thankfully, no wildlife appeared, as there are venomous snakes known to roam the area. Near the top, we hit a small snag, getting slightly off track as many reviews had warned. But the detour led to some unexpected bouldering and a stop at the opposite base of the parrot-shaped peak, offering an amazing view that many people miss when they go straight to the summit.
We then navigated back to the main trail and made our final push to the top. Savik was determined to be the first to reach the summit. Once there, we had the peak all to ourselves for a while, enjoying lunch and gazing out at the spectacular island views. Soon after, the fog rolled in, slowly enveloping the islands below us, was quite surreal to watch.
The descent was much faster and less strenuous, and the kids were in great spirits, knowing they had conquered something huge. My watch clocked our ascent at 1,200 meters, thanks to the little extra we added while being briefly lost. The kids kept calling each other "dhost" (friend) and were unusually kind, clearly proud of what they’d accomplished.
We rewarded ourselves with a big bowl of Açai once back in town, which felt like the perfect end to the adventure. Just as we returned to our rooms, the skies opened up in a torrential downpour—our timing couldn’t have been better. We are incredibly proud of the children and all they achieved today.
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