Monday, February 21, 2011

Trip up Mt. Kinabalu

Last year, after my A-levels exam, me and a few friends decided to conquer Mt.K before leaving for our studies. I did most of the planning and bookings, not a lot of work but a little bit of a hassle really. It was actually quite lucky we got spots, the climb is usually fully booked about 2 months ahead. Only got 6 spots though, so ditched a few of the girls wanting to join us, felt bad about that.

So on the 20th of July, 2010, the group of 4 people set out from Kota Kinabalu and another 2, brothers, set out from Sandakan. I was the one driving the 4 people all the way up to Kundasang/Ranau, the base of the mountain we're gonna climb. The group of 4 arrived first, checked-in to our lodgings, settled in and played cards waiting for the brothers. We went around the place, it was raining so can't really see much.

View from the dining area

At about 6PM the brothers arrived, we had dinner, talked a bit in the room and finally retired for the night, wanting to make sure we're not sleepy for the climb.

The next morning, we woke up at about 8AM if I remember correctly, had a big breakfast, packed our bags and head for the Kinabalu National Park, where the gate to the mountain climbing trail is.

We went ahead and got a guide, it was mandatory, hop on a bus to the starting point, just before starting the climb, we noticed we forgot to take the FOOD that they provided, it was supposed to be our lunch. That sucked, ate some chocolate while everyone else filled their stomach later on in the climb. sigh... moving on...

Finally we started our ascend to the peak, it was quite easy, there were stairs and the temperature was mild. That was the first 500 meters of the climb that is... the peak was about 8.5 KM away.


Views from the first KM

...andd that'll conclude part 1. =) I'll continue this...someday.

45 comments:

  1. and you say that you're a bored person! lol. sounded like you had a great time up there. :D

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  2. That's beautiful, maybe you weren't too bored, right?

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  3. great post, i'm sure you wasnt that bored going up there hah

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  4. I used to enjoy hiking myself. Don't get to so much now...

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  5. Woaah, a nice view there! I better visit too!

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  6. Yea, we'rent too bored then, had friends still with me, now everyone is off overseas to study. :(

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  7. I live near the country, it is not as epic as this, but its better than the concrete jungles we know as cities.

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  8. Wow, great photos! Love the 2nd, bluish one. Did you take them yourself?

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  9. Great view man and beautiful pictures

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  10. Breathtaking! truly amazing shots

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  11. I did take those. All with the cell phone lol.

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  12. Thanks for this post. Loved your thoughts and the pictures! Keep these awesome posts coming!

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  13. I love this story, can't wait to see more

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  14. that's a gorgeous view from that first km!

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  15. That's an awesome view! Great story
    Follow: My blog

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  16. Those are some beautiful views! How could you be bored with that!? :P

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  17. it's almost like i can smell the nature by just looking at those pictures!

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  18. which i could go there, looks beautiful

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  19. I'm going to Borneo next winter for my honeymoon and we want to conquer MK. Hope we get there :)

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  20. wow I like the mountain/vulcano

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  21. Very nice... kinda makes you realize how much time you spend in front of a computer, detached from nature
    How to Hack Life.

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  22. awesome scenery... i want to go there now!

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  23. @PekkaK, the accommodation halfway up the climb is reaaallly overpriced and you have no choice but to stay there. The climb itself isn't THAT hard but you do need to train a bit.

    @Feirny, they provide BBQ pits in most lodgings outside the park. no idea about the ones inside.

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  24. SO SO BEAUTIFUL :3

    I'll add this place has a "must go before dying place" on my diary! Thank you so much for sharing. Do you have more photos? :D

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  25. very nice pictures!

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  26. wow and you call your blog "life of a bored person" 0.0

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  27. I am so jealous! That view is so beautiful.

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  28. Love the photos dude.

    Maybe I should upload of South Africa

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  29. so much for your blog being about boredom - very cool!

    Didn't know Malaysians did A levels - same things the British A levels?

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  30. Yes its the same.I think. CIE thing. there are other A-levels I think. Heard the singrapore ones are especially hard.

    @Layman, please do!

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