Jz got back from a 4days-3nights trip from Kota Kinabalu. It was actually a rush plan of my mum...hehe...jz booked everything 1 week ago & then we're off =P Our main motive to Kinabalu is actually to climb & conquer the highest mountain in South East Asia===> Mount Kinabalu. And to tell the truth...we actually succeeded...3 of us (me & my parents) YAY!!!
Well...this climbing trip is quite tiring actually...yet our efforts really paid off with the beautiful scenery of the whole mountain...man! I really am reluctant to leave that beautiful place in such short time. If there's a chance once more...i'll surely hope that i can get back there & visit my mountain guide friends. Even though we've known each other for a REALLY short time...yet they really marked something deep in my heart already.
Ok..to start with out trip...After a 2hrs & 15mins flight from KLIA to Kinabalu International Airport (KBA)...we were picked up by the tourism agency there (Popular Express). We were taken to have nyonya food at a restaurant near the town centre. After lunch, we were then driven to the Kinabalu Park Headquarters where we had one night stay there before getting off to climb the mountain next day. Had nice dinner at the Luwagi Restaurant..YUMMY!! =D
Next morning, we woke up at 5.30am...washed up, had breakfast, get ready with our climbing permit & mountain guide...then we're off to the foothill. We started climbing from there at 8.30am. That particular day, there's lots of people who's climbing also...so its kinda packed..but those doesn't matter with our climbing. On our way climbing up, we can see there's lots of beautiful orchids & pitcher plants that seldom can be seen in lowlands such as Perak here. My dad who's crazy over flowers managed to keep flashing his camera around to capture those amazing flowers. We got caught once in a 10mins drizzle on the way up yet we managed to reach the halfway resthouse (Laban Rata resthouse) in 6hrs in climbing this 6km route. We were DAMN tired by then so after having dinner around 6 we plopped down on our beds to have a good sleep before waking up next morning 1.30am for the climb to the summit.
We actually didn't have much sleep since my mum had a fast heartbeat while my dad with high fever due to high altitude sickness. Fortunately both of them healed & thus we continued on with our journey. We woke up at 1.30am, washed up, had breakfast & started our climb at 2.30am. This time's climbing really tried us out as it's the toughest climb ever. We're actually like rock climbing coz we had to walk on a small path up the whole cliff of rocks. There's no more trees around at such high place. One lost of footstep will cause the person to end up over the cliff & down in the valley with broken bones. We had to walk in the dark so that we can catch the 1st glimpse of sunrise from the top of Mount Kinabalu. After 4hrs of "fantastic" rock walking (hehe=P), we finally reached the summit despite our short legs compared to those Euro's long legs. The whole summit was packed with people from diff races & countries. According to our mountain guide, seems that that morning there's bout 160 sth ppl. MAN!! Imagine that!! So it's not surprising that we've to wait for our turn to take photos there. But the sunrise is really gorgeous!!! I cant forget it ever...it was too amazing for words...
We took time photographing before heading back to Laban Rata. There's lots of other peaks besides the one we've jz climbed which is the Low's Peak. There's Tunku Abdul Rahman Peak, St.John's Peak, Donkey's Ears Peak, South Peak & Ugly Sisters Peak. Since its a difficult way getting down, our mountain guide asked one of his fren to take care of me while he helped my mum getting down. Well..speaking of his fren..ok..he's not TAT handsome..but he's kinda cute la...hehe=P (Gosh!! I'm crazy over tanned skin orang asli..oh no!!) We chatted along the way & keep assuring me not to be too scared. He even suggested that i go Sabah for studies next time so he can visit me sometimes (embarrassing ;P ) On the way down..we met another mountain guide who's his fren oso. MAN!!! He's even more cute!! =P Unbelieving...tat guy's waiting STPM results at the moment la...he's so YOUNG!!! Cant believe he can be tat good at climbing mountains....really put me to shame =S
Ok...forgot bout nonsense..hehe=P After reaching the Laban Rata resthouse after 2hrs...i waited for my parents at the restaurant. After that, we rested awhile..packed up..& continued our climb back down to the foothill. We used 4hrs to get back to where we started & it was a real relief. On the way down, i even challenged some KL boys..hehe=P They were really "kiasu" guys la!! Imagine me who's a lazy bum who seldom goes for hiking can manage to beat them flat even though i was walking while admiring the sceneries -.-" LOSERS!!!
Sigh...it was really a tiring trip..yet i really appreciate the chance i have to conquer this mountain at such young age & oso the sceneries really fascinated me...however i really missed the frenly guys there...Really hope that one day i'll be able to go back there to visit them...or even better get a scuba diving license so i can get to Sipadan Island to explore the underwater world =D
