mountain, sea, and sky!!!
Yeah..finally im back!!!
Just came back from my 1 week Sabah "expedition" trip..The trip was really a tiring but happening and exciting one….
We arrived at Kota Kinabalu (KK) on the 2nd of March. After checking in at the 1 star Ruby hotel and celebrated Chee Liang’s birthday, we went to had our very 1st meal at Sabah.After dinner we went to night market where we saw nothing but food! Lots of BBQ food wspecially chicken wings and giant squids. We went back hotel quite early as we had to prepare ourselves for the following days….
On 3rd March, we went Padas for white water rafting.We took a bus ride to Beaufort and took train from there. This was the 1st time ever i saw such as ancient train. According to my Sabah friend, it was the 1st train used in Sabah. The train ws just like one that we normally saw on tv drama showing 60 century. The train was so old that we felt like it can bring us back to the past like those doraemon prop! We arrived at our destination at noon. After eating some refreshments in a hut we went for our rafting session. The white water rafting was actually held in a yellowish river therefore until now im still wondering why it is not call yellow water rafting. It was really adrenaline rush sport. We encountered many rapids which every each of them had different degree of difficulties to be overcome. To let us enjoy the activity to the fullest, our guide made every 1 of us fell from the raft and swim in the turbulent river. The only regret was that our raft didnt capsized (terbalik) like some of my friends’, probably we just too good at this sport 
On 4th March,we left kk city for our elective— climbing Mount Kinabalu, the highest peak at SEA.We started our journey at noon to kinabalu park. We spent a night there before we started our climb. The weather there was refreshing and cool, about 18 degree celsius.Kinabalu park is a national park and was highly protected." Take nothing but photographs ; leave nothing but footprints "this sign is placed at the entrance of the park to remind all visitors.As obedient students, we followed what we were told and took tonnes of photographs before we checked in the Grace hostel. We had a quick 99 and half game at the lounge of the hostel. After hearing a briefing about the next day climb and had our dinner, we went to bed quite early.As there were 6 gals in our group of 19 ppls, all the gals stayed in 1 room. That night cant really sleep coz at the midnight the weather was just too cold!
Finally the day that we all had been waiting for so long had come. We started our climb on 8.30am after we celebrated Teck Seng’s birthday.We took a bus to the starting point and were given another briefing by our guides. We were were supposed to climb to Laban Rata which was midway to the summit. The whole climb to Laban Rata is around 6 km with almost every 1 km a resting place. We arrived at the 1st pondok smoothly but the climb was getting tougher and tougher. The route had become more n more steep wit big rocks here and there.It was really tiring especially we had to climb rock staircases with our bags.We saw a lot of potters whose job were to carry things to Laban Rata.Some of them are just skinny old lady but they can carry things like gas tank!!Really salute them because it really need a lot of energy and stamina to do so. After 6 hrs of climbing,finally we reached Laban Rata safe and sound.With that achievement, all of us deserved a black and white certificate. In order to get a coloured cert we need to reached the summit.the weather at Laban Rata was so cold, around 8–10 Celsius. Imagine in this kind of weather we had to take cold shower. So amazed that i didnt get a flu from that! We slept at 6.30pm in Panar Laban coz we needed to start our climb to the summit at 2.30am to see the sunrise.
On the 6th March, we woke up at 12.45am. As we were too lazy to crawl back to Laban Rata from Panar Laban for breakfast, we cooked maggie ourselves.It was a new experience to cook food so early at such a high altitude.Then we prepared ourselves with all the stuffs we needed for the climb and wait for the other members to join us. It was freezing cold that morning. I had to wear 4 layers on top and 2 layers below to endure the weather.It was a starry night with strong wind blowing every now and then. We started our climb around 3 am, alittle bit later than we expected. The climb was even tougher than what we had earlier. In this phase of climb,we can only rely on the rope hang there to keep us from falling and to guide us in the complete darkness.We had to keep moving forward in the dark and stop whenever the wind blows.Really felt like giving up at the beginning but after thinking that i had suffered so much to come this far,die die oso i must reach the summit. Fortunately all my energy was paid off. I managed to climb to the summit on time to see the sunrise. When i reached the summit (4095.2KM), I felt that every bit of tiredness was nothing compared to the majestic view up there. I will never regret that i choose to do such an activity although on the way up here i kept complaining why i choose to give myself such a hard time.The sense of satisfaction and the joy of accomplishment was far more than what i thought.
I reached the peak at 5.55 am and witnessed the sunrise at 6.05 am. We spent another 15 minutes to enjoy the scenery and of course took pictures to prove that we had conquered the highest peak of SEA. Thinking that the hard time had past, we headed down to Laban Rata but none of us know that the worst had yet to come. The journey downward was even a nightmare compare to the climb upward.The rocks were just too steep for me to walk normally. I was forced to sit and move bit by bit using my poor butt!! The sun shines so bright now and the view was clear but this make the journey worst. Now that we can see clearly what we were doing and realised how dangerous it was. I still wondering how exactly did i make up to the summit. Luckily the climb just now was done before daybreak which i cant see clearly the surrounding condition or else i am sure i wont make it to the top.Thank god there was a guide who was kind enough t help me on my way down if not i really will take ages to get down to Laban Rata.
We rested at Laban Rata about 1 hour. Around 11 am we started again our journey back to kinabalu park.This journey was the toughest of all.It seem like no ending. The route just keep on and on, it took us more than 6 hours to get down to Timpohon gate which is the starting point of our climb.The condition become worse when it started to rain. The mist was so thick until it blocked our view and the rain make the route slippery.Every step we took must be extra careful to avoid any accident. I was drenched wet and so tired when i reached Timpohon gate.Both my legs become woobly and weak as if they were never part of my body.We checked in at Nepenthus lodge as soon as every one arrived at Timpohon gate.It was still cold as the rain still going on but so sad to say our place have neither heater nor hot shower. Again we needed to take cold bath..This is the 3rd day continuously i was forced to take cold bath….how i miss home!!
The next morning we left kinabalu park at 7.15am and went to Poring hotspring. We stopped by Ranau to had our breakfast+lunch. We went for another jungle trekking at Poring.All of us were walking like senior citizens or even worse.Our legs were just too tired to lift up!Here again i did another crazy thing that i would never think i will do it again.I actually went trekking 700m up to bat cave by slipper and my jelly legs.We saw waterfall and rainforest on the way up to bat cave. Then we went to hot spring. It was so comfortable when i soaked myself into the hot water. After that we went straight back to kk city..There we had a fabulous seafood dinner as a treat to ourselves!
On the 8th, we spent the day at Manukan island. An small island near kk city. We left around 8am and took a ferry to the island. It was a beautiful island with crystal clear water and white sandy beaches.The water was so clear till we can saw fishes swimming just by standing by the jetty.We did snorkelling there. Tried to find sea cucumber but failed.Then we played "water polo" there. Oh ya,at there i did something new again. As i had climb mountain and snorkelled in the sea, i decided to try something in the sky—-parasailing.It was so fun. Just soared like a bird in the sky and enjoy the picturesque scenery was really a wonderful experience.We stayed at the island until 2.30 pm, then we headed back to kk city.After lunch at Wisma Merdeka,we went to Philippine market to buy souvenirs.At 6pm, we went to our last stop at kk, a 5 star hotel—Sutera Harbour Resort.I met Keng Keng ang Jinq Lih at night.Thanks to them i got to go to Tanjung Aru beach again. Really happy to meet old friends at Sabah.After meeting with them, we celebrated Jaslyn’s birthday. This was the 3rd birthday celebration we had during this trip.Around 12am, we went out for a stroll around the resort. We really used our 24 hours to the fullest!!
The 9th was the last day of our trip.We went to shop again at Philippine market as we still had things to buy. We took a 12pm shuttle bus to kk city and shopped till 3pm.We went back to Sutera Harbour after our lunch around 4pm. Straight away we went to airport after that. We took a 5.20pm flight and say bye bye to Sabah.Reached KL around 7.30 pm.After eating dinner at Subang, i was back again at my apartment at 10pm.
This 7 days trip was a fruitful and memorable one. I not only had a great time during this trip but also tried a lot of things that i will never thought i will do it.This was a lifetime experience which i will never regret of doing it.Really count ourselves lucky to had such a good weather that allowed us to do the climb.And lastly a big congratulations to all in the group and big thanks to our ever responsible group leader.
