Kota Kinabalu - Day 4 and Beyond

After coming down from Mount Kinabalu, we were half dead. Tired and with aching knees, we were walking like ducks. And staying at a backpacker's lounge is not helping because there is no lift. Luckily our room is on the 1st floor. Oh by the way, we stayed at Hamin's Lounge. A nice place to stay for budget travellers. Clean, friendly staff and it's in the center of the city. Plus free internet. It's like staying in Bukit Bintang in KL.

Day 4 we were just hanging around KK Town, limping from shopping centers to market to wherever we can go around town. Initially we plan to go island hopping but looking at our condition, we better take a rest..

Day 5 is our Whitewater Rafting Day. About 8am the van came to pick us up to Tenom Town, the starting point..



Tenom is about 90 minutes from Kota Kinabalu, going through the Crocker Range.



A hand drawn map of Tenom Town. Yes, it's that small.



But according to the guide, Tenom is famous for it's coffee. He says it's a must try. So, we fast fast go to the nearest kedai kopi and ordered the 'Kopi Tenom'!



But then, I think it's not tht good. The taste abit watery and not very aromatic.. Anyway, we are not here for the coffee..

After coffee, we were sent to the mini train station to the river bank. But few months ago, something bad happened :(

The train derailed and plunged into the river, killing 2 people. Read the rest here. So, the train service had been suspended for repair and there is no other way to get to the riverbank besides by the railroad. So, the creative locals came out with their own transport. They called it, 'Taxi Special'.



This guy is trying to show us how it works. The driver or paddler will be paddling while standing and the passengers will be seated. And this is how it will look like..



It takes about 1 hour of paddling to reach the starting point. It's fun, but dangerous. Imagine the train can derailed and fall into the river. And can we trust this plank wun derail? We were asked to wear helmet and life jacket. I know it looks silly, but just in case.. just in case.....

Yes, the railroad is just next to the river. And the river is fierce!





Since it's an hour journey, half way through there is a pit stop where the paddler will need to service the planks by putting some oil to the wheels..



Here is a short video of the journey..




Luckily we reached the riverbank in 1 piece. None of the plank derailed but we had a minor accident where one of the plank can't stop on time and banged on the one in front. No one injured though :)

The Whitewater Rafting was fun! No pictures because it's wet and we kept our cameras in the waterproof bag.

We went through about 7 rapids.. and while enjoying, we missed the train back to reality.

Oh, why here got train to leave but no train to come in? Liddis, the garmen only close that part of the railroad. The rest still operates as normal. Did I mention the people in this part of the world commute only through trains? There is no road or whatsoever. And the train schedule is not like the MRT or LRT! It's 3 hours in between of each train. I think only 1 train servicing the entire population here..

And since we missed the train, we gotta wait for 3 hours for the next train. What we do, hang arond lor..



The train arived about 3 hours later. And the train is so old school one. The interior is something like you see in those Wong Fei Hong movies.



Finally, the train stops at Beaufort station which I think is the main station of the entire rail system.




The next day we went for a short trip to Pulau Manukan just to relax for a while before boarding the plane back to KL in the evening.. And that ends our 6D5N damn-tired-expedition trip.

Special thanks to James and Mike for some of the photos posted here and thanks again for being a good travel buddies! We fight again on the next trip ok?

And on a lighter note, this post will be the final post on this blog. Yeap, closing shop. It's not an easy decision but I hope it's the right one. After almost 3 years hanging around here, guess my time is up. Thanks for reading all my craps all these while. Without you all maybe this crappy blog wun last this long.

Anything just email me at sengkor166@yahoo.com sajalah okeh?

For the last time..

How crappy..

Adios!!

ps: this post will be up for about 2 weeks, then will self destruct like the rest of the entries here..

Kota Kinabalu - Day 3

After reaching Laban Rata, we took a rest in our 'no heater' dorm, with 3 bunker beds. I can't sleep albeit the tiredness but I heard the rest of my friends snoring away. 1:30am, the alarm start beeping, indicating that the journey up the peak is about to start (again).



At about 2am, we gathered around to continue our journey. This uncle wrapped like a bachang shows how cold it is.

From here is no longer nice trails. It's rocks, rope, and more rocks and more ropes. Everyone is rushing up to see the sunrise. The sun waits for no one. If you are late, sorry la..













Nice mou? Sunrise from the beach is normal. How about sunrise from the peak?



Everyone wanted to take a picture with this sign. See this uncle so happy can reach. Ironically, this highest peak is called Low's Peak. Why? Find it out urself ok..

Oh, when I say everyone wanted to take a picture with that sign, I mean everyone..



See the crowd? I was there for a good 20 minutes just to wait for my turn to sneak in and have my moment of achievement..

Once we captured the beauty of the sunrise, it's time to go down.. all the way down to the starting point.



Going up is tough, going down is tougher. Just see this uncle. I can see his legs wobbling although he shows us a thumb up!

Some views from the top..







Not many pictures on the way down as it rains most of the time. And my knees hurt like hell.

We reached the finishing point about 5pm..

Wow.. looking back, I've walked 26 hours in total for the past 33 hours! It's about 79% of the total trip spent on walking!

Kota Kinabalu - Day 2

The nite before we started the climb, there was a nice view of rainbow over the mountain...



We thought to ourselves, what a lovely sight before the climb. This is a sign of a good day tomorrow. We will get over this challenge successfully..

But ironically, when we jumped into the car excitedly the next morning to our starting point, we were greeted by the calender of the day.



Friday the 13th. What a bummer.

True enough, we nearly can't make it to the starting point because there was a lorry stucked blocking the way!



Luckily the people there all manage to help the driver to remove the lorry. We waited about like 30 minutes there...

At last, the starting point..



The start is tough because all no warm up and stuffed ourselves with heavy breakfast just now.. :P

Started with nice terrain...



Then it's uphill...



..all the way!



At the 500 meters mark, I am already sweating like waterfall. There's 7km plus to go before we reach Laban Rata, the rest area.

Some might ask, if need to go toilet how? Don't worry, there are toilets in the jungle also..



These are the nice views we enjoyed throughout our way up up up...









I like this picture. It shows the mysteries of the deep jungle.. Imagine you got lost in this place.. and the sky is getting dark..

After hiking up for about 8 hours, we manage to reach Laban Rata before the sunset!



It's tiring, but worth every effort! Here, we take our dinner, freshen up and rest. We need to continue again at 215am later..

Kota Kinabalu - Day 1

15 years ago, while decending the majestic Mount Kinabalu, I told myself that I will never climb that mountain again. So torturous and tiring!

15 years later, here I am again. Pay to be tortured. Sadist.



While on the plane, James says we can see Tioman Islands from the plane. I think he failed his Geography with flying colors. Where got people fly the plane that side to reach Sabah?

Upon arrival at the KKIA, we were driven straight to Kinabalu Park, the starting point of the climb. Nolah, we are not going to start right away. Just spend the night there before putting my legs to the test.

On the way, we saw Shangri-La hotel...



I dunno why or how, KK's petrol is cheaper than the KL. Petrol price not standard at RM2.70 per liter now meh? How come geh...?



We stopped for toilet break at one of the markets. This market is very scenic, but smelly. Like market.



Then again, takkan market smells like perfume shop what..



Ikan Bom cannot be traded! I think got those lazy fishermen still throw in grenades into the river to blast the fishes.. Not to be confused with Roti Bom.

Once we reached Kinabalu park, we checked into the room and rest.. Tomor is a BIG day...

India Part 1 of X

New Delhi is one busy place. Upon arrival at the Indira Gandhi International Airport at about 930pm local time (Malaysia time is about midnite), there's already a long queue at the immigration checking into the country. Got indian got angmor got sami got nihonjin got chinese majiam majiam ada..

After queuing for about 30 minutes to get our passports stamped, we proceed to the waiting limo outside the airport to go back to the hotel.

We stay at...



Crowne Plaza, Gurgaon.

Let's take a tour around the room.









This room cost us about INR16,000 per night (abt USD300+). Not everytime can have such luxury. Too bad it's a business trip.. and need to share the room with my boss :(

With luxuries like this, all I can say is live like a king, work like a slave.

How crappy..

Adios.

Bye India!

Hillo everyone..

I am back in one piece. No diarrhea. No tummy upset. Just down with a running nose. Now my nose is like a dripping old tap. While typing this, I am wrapping wantons..

Ok, my India trip started on Monday, 6pm flight. In the morning still need to go to office (potong stim). So about 3pm, we took a cab to KLIA and by 5+ we were already in the plane waiting to fly.

As usual, I grabbed my copy of newspaper while boarding the plane and after seated comfortable (actually not that comfortable, not a huge plane) I started to read the newspaper.

The front page.. 'Thai rescuers retrieve bodies from plane wreck'

How ironic can it be to read about a plane crash while waiting the plane to take off?

India stories will continue but it will not be an interesting one because it's a business trip. A boring one.. Sheeeessshhh...

How crappy.

Adios..

Hi India!

The day is finally here.. I will be boarding the plane tomorow to the Land of Papadam..


Just a short trip, four days, max is five if cannot finish.

If there is no traces of me around here 1 week later, please pray for my speedy recovery :)

How crappy..

Adios!