A challenger working under the sun across the mountains! Interview with Mr Amos!

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(Interview: July 2019)

I interviewed Mr Amos, the president of a trekking company in Malaysia!
How does it feel to have a job right under the sun?

Amos Ho. His Chinese name is "何敬耀(Ho Kin Yo)"
President of Open Sky Unlimited hiking and trekking company. 

Mr Amos: I was born and raised in the southeast region of Kuala Lumpur, and since the age of five or six I have explored the jungle and the mountains behind my home. When I was in high school or college, I went trekking many times. I've been lost in the mountains a lot. 
In places where there are no paths, we often cut through the bushes with a knife and open a new path.
 I've been on an 18-day trekking camp in the Himalayas as a college student.

trekking camp in the Himalayas

Mr Amos: Trekking is different from climbing a mountain, it's a climb that does not force you to go high. You don't need any special equipment like mountain climbing, however, it tests your stamina as you'll need to walk for a very long time. When it comes to trekking in Japan, it may have a strong impression that you walk on a paved road, but in Malaysia, most of the trekking courses are unpaved jungle paths.

Scenes from trekking with Mr Amos.
In some places, you need to get down on all fours.

Current work

Mr Amos: In 2003, I enrolled in Monash University in Malaysia and studied finance. After graduating in 2007, I first joined a bank. After working at the bank, I thought that the job sitting in an office does not suit me, so I worked hard and saved up, quit the company four years after joining, and opened my own trekking company ( Open Sky Unlimited). I guide the customer through the trekking course. At first, I only wanted to try and make a living through my favourite work, which is to hike.

a scene from Mr Amos's trekking tour

Mr Amos: At first, I invited friends and acquaintances to trekking services, and then word of mouth attracted more tourists and more customers. I lived with my savings for about two years, and finally, when the business was nearly on track, my savings almost ran out and I thought about returning to the bank again and giving up my current business, but I did not give up, I wanted to do this as a full-time job.

Currently, Open Sky Unlimited is in its 6th year since its establishment, and during peak seasons, I sometimes have to do trekking tours every day.
The peak season is July-August and November-December, and daily tours are tiring. But I like trekking so I will continue. (lol)

I also went to a first aid training course in the jungle before starting my business. It's a two-week training in anticipation of various situations in the Indian jungle and anticipation of injuries and disasters. For example, if you get hurt in the jungle, you expect hours or days for rescue to reach you. This course trains you to survive during that time. We learned first aid, how to secure a tent, and how to procure food. I don't know what will happen on a regular tour, so I prepare for what I can't anticipate.

Mr Amos: I think what made me so successful was my knowledge of finance helped me to run the company, and health and exercising became popular in Malaysia just when the business got on track. 

I also think that the trekking course that I chose was good (lol). It was not too hard, but in the end, you get a return for your hard work. For example, the 1100-meter mountain course in very tough, but you have a wonderful view at the top, so you're satisfied in the end.

Learning

Mr Amos: The hardest thing was when the number of customers was small at the beginning after opening the business, marketing and advertising were very difficult.

Also, you don't know what may happen during the trek, so you and your customers have to be careful not to get hurt. It is very hard to be prepared for things you do not know what will happen. It is important to remember the training you have done and bring extra equipment. I bring food, water and tents on all tours in case the weather gets worse or the customer or myself get hurt during the trek and you can't go back or forth.

Motto

Mr Amos: My motto is, "I want a good thing to happen every day, but be prepared for the worst." You can always bring extra gear for trekking or be ready for whatever happens. If a rock falls during a trek and you are injured and bleeding from your head, you must give yourself first aid. (This happened)

You cannot control the weather or your luck. In such a case, think about how you can be calm based on your situation. It's much more efficient to do what you can than to get frustrated with things you can't control. If you start a business, learning finance can help.

Open Sky Unlimited

You can experience various outdoor activities around KL!
We provide services such as trekking, camping and outdoor climbing.
Click here for Open Sky Unlimited website
See TripAdvisor page
If you are in Malaysia and are interested in trekking, please contact Mr Amos!