[BL5 FEATURES] A mother, an inspirational caregiver, and her mongolian dream
This is the second article of this 3-part series featuring interviews with three of our BL5 participants. In this article, we are featuring Wei Ling, a loving mother to her autistic son. Do read Jimmy and Roderick’s article feature too if you’ll like to understand the experience of BL5 from the perspective of three remarkably unique individuals.
Before we begin, I’ll be direct; this article is for you only if you are introspective, and enjoy connecting with the experiences of others. This article is also especially enjoyable for the ones who appreciate personal transformation that happens from within.
So if you resonate with these qualities, you’re in for a good read.
In July 2023, the remarkable Beyond Limits 5 (BL5) unfolded over a thrilling 11-day adventure, with a 6-day trek across the Gobi Desert. What sets BL expeditions apart from Beyond Expeditions’ other trips is its noble purpose. These charity expeditions are meticulously crafted to not only push the boundaries of participants but also to raise awareness and funds for a meaningful cause.
In this fifth edition of Beyond Limits, brave individuals are tasked with traversing the challenging terrain of the Gobi Desert while facing an additional challenge: each person must carry a 6.5 kg tyre throughout the journey. It is a journey that will test both physical endurance and mental fortitude, empowering participants to surpass their limits for a cause greater than themselves.
Here’s the team who took on the challenge of Beyond Limits 5!
From L to R: Jaslyn, Wei Ling, Vivien, Rodrick, Jimmy, Man Zhi, Scott
I reached out to three participants (Wei Ling, Jimmy and Roderick) about a week after their return, and we sat down for an interview. We delved deep into their experiences during the expedition, uncovering the hurdles they encountered, the unforgettable moments that left a mark, the unexpected challenges that caught them off guard, and the profound transformations they underwent on this journey. They also shed light on the aspects of the expedition that only those who have lived it can truly comprehend. We explored the unique ways their personal backgrounds influenced the lens through which they viewed and experienced the trip, adding a layer of richness to their narratives.
It was a captivating exploration of their inner worlds, and how this extraordinary adventure left an indelible impact on their lives.
In this article, you’ll get to experience BL5 through the hearts and minds of these three special individuals, each with a very unique background and personality. To truly absorb the essence of their experiences, find a space where you can devote the next 10 minutes to undisturbed reading. Open your heart and mind to fully immerse yourself in their stories, for in doing so, you may uncover profound insights about yourself as well.
Could you briefly introduce yourself, and why you decided to join BL5?
Meet Wei Ling, a loving mother to her autistic son, who has now reached the age of 18 and gained a newfound sense of independence. With her son becoming more self-reliant, Wei Ling felt that the time has come to fulfill her long-held travel dreams. Among her top choices is the mesmerizing destination of Mongolia, a place close to her heart.
“Mongolia, especially rural Mongolia, is one of the countries in my bucket list. I want to see for myself what it feels like to be there out in the open vast grassland (you will never get to experience this in Singapore!) Beyond Expeditions came out in my online search to travel to Mongolia and I guess it is fated that I joined BL5 because the month of July was the time that I was available, and the summer would be my preferred choice of season.”
As it turns out, Wei Ling has a strong preference for warmer climates, favoring the heat over cold temperatures. This made BL5 an even more enticing prospect for Wei Ling, as the expedition promises an adventure amidst the arid landscapes of Mongolia.
Beyond the appeal of the weather, what truly touched Wei Ling's heart is the meaningful cause that lies at the core of BL5. She resonates deeply with BL5’'s mission to raise awareness and support for SPD, a local charity dedicated to helping people with various disabilities. Having been intimately involved in supporting her own son with autism, Wei Ling feels a profound connection to this cause and finds purpose in contributing to its advancement. After all, autism is a disability that is invisible to most people because their condition is not so apparent and sometimes often misunderstood.
“Individuals with autism; they can look very ‘normal’ to us. Sometimes, it’s very easy to assume they don’t have a disability, especially those who are high-functioning.”
This photo was taken last year on Mothers’ Day, with a portrait her son drew of her!
Wei Ling shared that her son does act “a bit weird” because he has an obsession with cleaning. It brings judgemental from the public because, “(s)ometimes, when I bring him out to the food court, for example, he likes to clean every corner of the table. In fact, if he sees other people drop bits of rice on the table while they’re eating, he will go over and clean it up for them immediately.”
Instances like this fuel the reason why Wei Ling resonates with the meaning of BL5. Hopefully, the awareness raised by BL5 for individuals with disabilities will help members of the public be more empathetic and understanding of ‘weird behaviors’ they witness from people with invisible disabilities.
Sometimes, we can be too quick to make judgements and label others as “weird”. The world can be a kinder, loving place when we remember that some behaviors might be due to unseen disabilities.
2. If you could describe this trip in three words, what would it be?
Memorable – Wei Ling really enjoyed the sceneries of Mongolia, and loved seeing the goats, cows and horses grazing freely in the grassland. “One of my favorite moments was this one night, when some of us were out in the cold, gazing at the stars and the rest of the night sky. I was in awe at the allure of the ‘milky way’ sky that we could see just by stepping outside the ger we were sleeping in. This was the most memorable moment of the trip for me. I felt peaceful and contented in that moment in time, as we gazed up at the stars together, in silence.”
Challenging - “(I’ve) never pulled a tyre, much less trekked with it before in my life. And in this trip, we had to do it for 10-20 km or more each day. It felt like ‘military training’ to me, haha … It was really challenging for my body, especially my left knee.” Wei Ling thus wore a knee guard daily, which helped a lot. She shared that she still felt tired after every trek, and the one thing that kept her going was seeing other BL5 members never give up. “Their spirit was contagious.”
A shot of the team trekking across the Gobi desert.
Resilience – Wei Ling’s resilience definitely increased during this expedition trip. “… we had six consecutive days of pulling a tyre! My physical stamina is much poorer than the other members, and resilience was what got me to keep going. I didn’t complain much, and didn’t give up despite several scary moments I experienced. There was a moment during the trek where I felt a pain in my heart, and found myself suddenly gasping for air. There was also one day I couldn’t trek because I had puffy eyes and really huge, swollen lower lips because of a food allergy…” With Scott’s advice and a thorough discussion with Jimmy (an AnE doctor working in Changi General Hospital, whose story will be featured in the next article of this 3-part series!), Wei Ling decided not to proceed with trekking that day.
She shared about how Jimmy ended up having to give her an intravenous injection, which helped treat the symptoms.
“That day, I was stuck in the van while the rest of the team continued with the trek. I felt down.
And I have a skin eczema condition, so not being able to bathe for these six days made me really itchy, and I constantly wanted to scratch my skin. So I guess these situations are where mental resilience came up; I had to constantly battle the desire to scratch my skin, and also self-conversations around being driven around in the van while everyone else was out trekking with their tyres.”
3. What was the highlight of your trip?
Wei Ling shared that “... it’ll be the rapport and bond that was formed within the team during expedition. Every one of us is different when it comes to personality and background. Living, eating, and trekking together with a group of people for 11 days is something I have not experienced before. I enjoyed the meals and conversations and laughter we shared as a BL5 team. These moments will stay with me for a long time.”
One of many moments during the expedition when the members created precious memories together.
4. What did you find most challenging during this expedition?
“The sanitation condition is definitely a challenge for me,” Wei Ling admits. “Can you imagine that whenever you want to pee or ‘pass motion’, you have to do it out in the open?” Wei Ling revealed that the toilets aren’t clean even in towns, commenting that she had been to Nepal and India, but Mongolia is much more rural!”
But looks like she eventually found a way to deal with this!
“After 2-3 days, I found myself going, ‘Let’s just pee out in the open!’”
Wei Ling then shared about a funny incident, and it has everything to do with her relatively higher frequency of ‘passing motion’.
“In our first two days, our Mongolian crew dug out a hole for us to do our ‘business’ in. So every time we ‘pass motion’, we have to use the shovel to pile soil over our feces. At the end of the first two days, my teammates looked at the pile of soil and went, ‘Wah, so high?!’”
Wei Ling chuckled. “I contributed to most of the pile.”
5. What surprised you most during this trip?
“The sanitation condition, for sure.” Wei Ling firmly stated. “It is a surprise to me! I couldn’t believe that even in small-town areas, it can be really hard to find a basic toilet facility. There is barely any infrastructure and Mongolia just feels so rural.”
After interviewing several different participants of Beyond Expeditions’ trips, I can safely say that If you happen to be someone with discerning tastes when it comes to toilets… then Beyond Expeditions has some great solutions for you that comes in the form of unconventional travels! Via their trips, you'll certainly encounter numerous opportunities to step out of your comfort zone and experience personal growth… Specifically related to toilets.
6. Was there anything you experienced during this trip that particularly stood out to you?
The team resorted to wearing raincoats, and the colour really perked them up amidst the gloomy weather!
From L to R: Man Zhi, Vivien, Jaslyn, Wei Ling
"We were prepared for scorching heat ranging from 30-50°C, but instead, we were met with unexpected rain, cold, and relentless winds. Our gear wasn't fully equipped for these conditions," Wei Ling shared, still taken aback by the turn of events.
"However, despite the challenging weather, we persevered and completed the trek. The BL5 members displayed incredible adaptability, and their determination kept me motivated throughout the entire 11-day journey.
The BL5 team carried on trekking whenever the weather allows.
7. What are two things about this trip that you feel will be hard for people to understand about this trip unless they’re there themselves?
A shot of the team trekking on, despite the bleak skies.
Here are the two points Wei Ling shared:
Be mentally prepared for the unexpected. Ensure the clothing that you bring also caters to unexpected weather conditions eg. rain and cold winds – I assumed it was going to be very hot, but what we got were days of rain, cold winds and a mix of different weather conditions within a day. The funny thing is that I brought a lot of wet tissues and body wipes, assuming I had to use a lot since the weather is going to be very warm… but turns out, some of my clothing were not suitable for keeping me warm against the windy, cold and raining conditions we faced).
Scott did brief us on how its very possible for the weather to ‘go south’, and he also showed us the kind of weather conditions BL1 participants encountered in the Gobi desert back in 2018 (it was a massive flood!). But some of our team took it too lightly…
Not being able to shower and wash your hair for 6 consecutive days is not easy to imagine unless you go through it. Prior to this trip, I had to mentally prepare myself for that. Having gone through it myself now, it is not so bad after all. I guess one of the reasons is that I didn’t do it alone, other BL5 members also experienced the same situation as me.
8. What is one thing about this trip you wish people around you would be able to experience at least once in their lives too?
Being with her team through the discomforts of BL5 allowed Wei Ling to see a new side to herself.
Chuckling, Wei Ling shared in an amused tone. “I shared about this trip with my girlfriends before I left (for the trek), and their reactions were funny. They were saying I’m crazy for putting myself through this ‘suffering’.” She continued to share, “It’ll be nice if people can experience a non-commercial trip, because these trips will take you out of your comfort zone. You don’t think about yourself only; you’ll think about the team, the objective of the cause.”
Her answer reminds me that stepping into the unknown brings out new sides of us, and has this magical ability to reveal hidden strengths we never knew we had.
9. Do share about all the ways being a caregiver for your son has influenced the way you experienced this trip?
“I always tell my son that whenever he does something, he should always do his best and not give up easily.” Wei Ling shared that this was the same mentality she adopted on this BL5 trip. “During the trek, there are many times I felt physically tired. But I kept reminding myself that I can just go at my pace, there’s no need to rush to trek at the same pace as others.” Being tired was not a reason for her to give up, and Wei Ling would push herself to trek as much distance she can.
Wei Ling always found herself trekking at the back, “because my pace is slower than the others. But I always remind myself the same way I remind my son, that I’m already doing my best.
And that’s enough.”
A shot of Wei Ling, her son, and a card he made specially for her!
As we wrap up this article, now I’m curious; what stood out for you most? And what does it tell you about what you care most about when selecting a trip to go on?
Would it be about how breathtaking the views are?
How delicious the food will be?
Or the greater cause that the trip champions?
Your answer to the above question may just direct you to your next big adventure.
And if you find yourself interested in joining our next Beyond Limits expedition, you’re in luck! Because we have another one coming right for you at the end of 2023; this time, you’re in for a frozen edition.
Read (and sign up for) BL6 here!
Ah, and also; if you're keen to get a more visual glimpse into BL6, I've also prepared an article that captures the vivid journey this team undertook. Check it out here.
Article written by: Valerie
Valerie, a freelance writer with a quirky infatuation with steamed buns and slightly bizarre food combinations.
(“Try soft-boiled eggs and hot milo!”)
She wishes to keep writing stories that bypass typical food reviews and appreciation of scenery, stories that inspire readers to pursue curious conversations about the unique cultures and lifestyles of every country.
