Climb every mountain, Mt Kinabalu

Kindy Chai came back from the States for her Xmas break here in Malaysia. Since Monkey won't be around in KL, she was so sweet to hitch the plane and flew over to the Land beneath the Wind....or was it below the wind?

It was such a good arrangement since Kindy Chai has never been to Sabah. It would be an introductory trip for her. And for every newbie, visiting the sacred holly Mount Kinabalu is a must. So on a beautiful morning, before sunrise....we were on our way to Tuaran first, to fill the hungry stomachs of the famous Tuaran Noodle.

and we slowly climbed our way up to the mountain...ok technically the car did all of the climbing up to the first 1000 ft above sea level.


another pit stop along the way for souvenirs. but both of us are more of the postcard kinda people. No souvenirs please. :)) but I have no idea wat were we so fascinated with then.

must be from over-excitement that we gonna do a small token climb up Mount Kinabalu that very morning. I couldn't remember how many token climbs I've done, perhaps it's about time to consider climbing it to the top seriously. Problem is, HEIGHTS!!!!

Kindy Chai my dear friend since we were 5 years old, was so happy that we are finally here to do this small lil token climb. In terms of fitness level, she's definitely way better, stronger and tougher. Kindy Chai hiked almost every possible hills and mountains in the States...including the Sierra Nevada Mountain range??? I think so, I can't remember...she hikes every week. Shame on me.


So before we start the climb, every visitors/climbers/kindergarten hikers must register at the main entrance. This is for safety issues, every "ins" must have "outs" and for human head counts.

Monkey: "Are we really doing this today? We are not prepared!!"
Kindy Chai: "Ishhhh it's just a token climb!!"

Kindy Chai looking so eppy while Monkey was....er.......
I like our outfit!!! though we didn't coordinate but I guess great minds think alike.

in the background is porter who a huge bag at the back, all wrapped up against moisture and rain. He must be fetching food up the mountain. Look at his stumpy like tree bark calves!!!! those must be as strong as elephants!!!


Lemme try!!!!
OMG!!!!! it's so heavy!!!!! I couldn't even get up. Later we found out it's about 40kg consisting of rice, oil, basic necessity goods. These porters climb the mountain daily to fetch things up at the halfway hut and Laban Rata. Gosh and these porters are doing this just to make a living!!!

okie now, enuff of the drama and let's move onto ACTIONS!!!
See, another porter carrying more food stuffs up the mountain on the background. He looked like he's goin to play futsal :P

Good luck to us!!!

as serious as I tried to be, this was wat I've been doin :P oh well Monkey needs to be one with nature and the trees....urkkk arkkkkk

The high altitude made breathing more difficult. Wat was a 2.5km hike felt like 25km jog. Kindy Chai was holding on strong and motivated me to go futher. The trail was about 7-8km hike up. Yeah I know in terms of distance it isn't far, but it's the height, the steepness and difficulty. Ask anyone who have climbed it!!! u'll need to train for this.

the last 2km to the summit...usually takes 2-4 hours depending on fitness level. Wow that's like goin only 0.5km per hour!!! how slow is tat!!!

after the first 2 km, we told ourselves....it's enuff for a token climb!!! hahahahaha. Look at our resting point and there's so far away more to go to the summit!!!!

anyway great job to the 2 lil kindy gals who used to be in lolly dresses, drawing with crayons using their fat cute fingers. I am so glad we are friends for this long. Our friendship is as majestic and as strong as the mountain :)))) hehehehe

Thank you to Mr. JS for all the beautiful pics and for driving us up and down the mountain and to do this token climb with us :)

so if u are not an avid hiker/climber, u may also try to do this token climb to see the beautiful flora and fauna along the way. Oh there's a small waterfall as well :))))

My dear Kindy Chai, till the next trip and if I do visit you in the States, pls take me to the potato chip mountain ok? Promise? :)))) 

Berr scaling Mount Kinabalu

Haiyak aiyak yak yak
:)))))))))))))))))))))
he's so cute and adorable
*hugs Berr*

Conquering the Fear of Heights *by JS*

After the refreshing walk around Kinabalu National Park Hq, we were on our way again and this time to Poring which lies within the Kinabalu National Park and is situated along the eastern face of the big mama at an elevation of 550m AMSL and about 40km away.

Poring is situated in lowland dipterocarp rainforest, contrasting with the montane and submontane rainforest of Kinabalu National Park. Bamboo forest is also in abundance at this elevation. Also at this altitude Rafflesia plants thrive but you won’t see them near to civilization. To see one of these flowers in full bloom in nature one will probably have to walk quite far. There are enterprising village folks staying around Poring who will bring tourist to see these giant flowers in the wild for a small fee.

Poring is known for its hot springs. The hot springs are known for their therapeutic properties and the waters with their sulphuric minerals are reputed to ease aching muscles and one can understand why these baths are favoured by returning climbers of Mount Kinabalu. The presence of hot spring around Mt Kinabalu suggest that there are geological activities although it is not consider volcanic in nature.
Apart from the hotsprings, the other favourite attraction at Poring is the canopy walk where visitors can stroll amidst the canopy of the Menggaris tree - the King of the Forest. The Walkway is 160m long and 41m high which translate to about 13 storey!

This is what we came for…………it’s for some one to conquer one of her biggest fear…..HEIGHTS!!

As we entered into the Poring hot spring area, we cross a river and walk thru low land bamboo forest and finally arrive at the main springs characterized by the sulphuric smell in the air. The water is sufficiently hot to boil an egg!!

Bamboo forest

The bamboo is not as small as you think!

The main springs

The trek to the canopy walk took like forever on a uphill ascend with out ending……..however soon we reach a hut where the walk starts…….
When monkey saw this, I could see the “I give up” look.
However due to sheer face saving kiasu tidak akun kalah attitude, no choice but to go thru with it………and afterall it’s meant to conquer your fears….. so here we go!!
After about 5 steps…..
Monkey :- (shouted) don’t shake!!
JS :- huh, no one shaking leh…….you are alone of the walkway. hehe.
Anyway monkey finished the first link and jumped on a platform built around a Menggaris tree thinking it was safe haven for the moment……

except the tree was swaying a bit due to wind so better quickly jump on the next link lar…….and off she went……a much longer link…..panic man!!

scary eh?

*added & edited by Monkey: "scary? which part the BUTT or the Height??? -_-"

After some struggling, we arrive safely at the descending station……monkey eppy eppy……JS clap clap for monkey ……..well done……well done.

Buttress of a Menggaris tree

a satisfying smile from monkey

Then we headed for the Kipungit water fall….it was kind of nice to cool off after a hot afternoon and this place does give you the feeling of coolness.

now action action....earlier on sweat man :)

Yoga??

Kipungit Waterfall is a 30 minute walk from Poring Hot Springs. Signboards and a well-marked path through the forest will lead you to your destination. The waterfall is smaller than the Laganan Waterfall, which is a 90 minute walk from Poring Hot Springs. With its shady canopy and beautiful rocks, the area is private, peaceful and a great place to relax. Definitely worth the walk :)

With that i suppose we come to the end of our Mt Kinabalu National Park adventure........now we go and look for lunch!! :)

Mt Kinabalu......a trevia *by JS*

Mt Kinabalu is the highest Mountain in South East Asia........true or false??

I'll come back to that later :)

After the spectacular sunrise, we pushed on to Mt Kinabalu National Park The park headquarters is located at about 5200ft AMSL so you can expect nice and cool weather.
The drive there is scenic and winding down your windows is a must do……and the air is filled with this familiar piney smell as we are actually encroaching into temperate climatic zone with the presence of coniferous forest.

guess who came with us?? :)

A bit about the Kinabalu National Park. Kinabalu National Park or Taman Negara Kinabalu, established as one of the first national parks of Malaysia in 1964, is Malaysia's first World Heritage Site designated by UNESCO in December 2000 for its "outstanding universal values" and the role as one of the most important biological sites in the world.
Located on the west coast of Sabah, East Malaysia on the island of Borneo; it covers an area of 754 sq km surrounding Mt Kinabalu, which at 4,095 AMSL, is the highest mountain on the island of Borneo.
The region was designated as a national park in 1964. British colonial administrator and naturalist Hugh Low led an expedition from Tuaran to the region in 1895. He also became the first recorded man to reach the peak of Mount Kinabalu.The highest peak of the mountain was later named after him—Low's Peak.
This botanical site contains a variety of flora and fauna that ranges over 4 climate zones; from rich lowland dipterocarp forest through the montane oak and bamboo forest, rhododendron to the coniferous forests, to the alpine meadow plants, and to the stunted bushes of summit zone. The mountain is also known for its many carnivorous plant and orchid species, most notably, the Nepenthes rajah or "monkey cup" or pitcher plant as we call it.
It is also home to a multitude of endemic animal species, including the Kinabalu Giant Red Leech and Kinabalu Giant Earthworm. The park also plays host to a variety of birds, insects, mammals, amphibians, and reptiles.
Mount Kinabalu is one of the youngest non-volcanic mountains in the world. It was formed within the last 10 to 35 million years as an igneous intrusion or Pluton. The mountain still grows at a rate of 5 millimetres a year. So much for information about Mt Kinabalu National park.


Anyway the main reason we stopped here was because…………because………………because……..our stomach was going klug klug klug……… and there was not a restaurant in sight for miles….. We quickly found the main restaurant and settled down to a nice hearty breakfast.

yes, nasi lemak, porridge, fry eggs......all favourites!!

After Breakfast we ventured out into the park surrounding and nature trails and started clicking with our cameras again.

walking happily along one of the trails

Bamboo forest

Giant ferns and they have been around even before the Jurassic age

Some more ferns. This life form even outlasted the dinosaurs!

Take pictures until nothing to take.....so take ants lor!!

There is actually so much to see here at the park hq and nature trails. You can spend like 4 to 5 days and walk all the trails which will cover literally most of the national park(except the big mama) and you still won’t get bored or fed up with the place.

The glaciated landscape of Mt Kinabalu. This happened during the ice age

Off course the highlight of the park has to be the big Mama. For those aspiring to climb, please take note that one needs to be reasonably fit physically to scale this mountain and there is lots of preparation one needs to do such as physical training program, book accommodation, book climb, book transport, etc and it’s also not cheap nowadays.
Monkey and JS will leave that for another day……….

Many of us always thought that Mt Kinabalu is the highest mountain in south east asia……well, actually it’s not, it is the 2nd tallest mountain in the South East Asia and that's depending how you define SEA. On record there are 3 peaks in Irian Jaya(Indonesia PNG) which is higher than Mt Kinabalu so that makes Mt Kinabalu the 5th highest mountain…..but Geographically Irian Jaya is not part of Asia so how can it even be part of South East Asia?? It probably belongs to Australasia. The counter argument….Indonesia is part of SEA so Irian Jaya is part of SEA! This is always and will always be open to argument……...Does it really matter whether its 2nd or 5th highest?? I guess not.......We are just so lucky to have such a beautiful mountain in Malaysia and very accessible unlike her peers.
Anyway the winner in the highest peak category goes to…………………………….Hkakabo Razi at 5881m, Myammar and it has a snow peak!

What's so fascinating ??? *by JS*

Ever wonder.....since the beginning of time, why mankind is so intrigue and fascinated about transitions of one state to another.....example, from one season to the next season......from calm weather to stormy weather........from North East moonsoon to South West moonsoon......water to ice......land and water.....civilization and wilderness ........light and shadow.....and offcourse the most spectacular of them all, transition from day to night and night to day! This we call sunrise and dawn which is the moment just before sunrise.

off topic for a while......transition from male to female.....yes, and we are fascinated with this transition too.....haha.


Monkey was enthusiastic about watching sunrise after watching the spectacular sunset from Sutera Harbour the other day.

Monkey :- tomorrow we go watch sunrise on the way up Mt Kinabalu can??

JS :- ok....need to wake up early to catch the first light at the edge of the world!!
Monkey :- like how early??

JS :- like 4.30am and be on our way by 5am.

Monkey almost pengsan!!

Anyway tomorrow came and we manage to leave on time and we found a vantage point by 6am at about 2000ft AMSL(above mean sea level) to watch one of natures most awesome display and it only last for about 30 minutes twice a day.

Monkey :- what time is sunrise?

JS :- according to the equation of time(elliptical function in mathematics) for today, sunrise is 6.32am and it will rise from about 10 deg south of east and set at 6.28pm 10 deg south of west. The maximum variation of sunrise from summer solstice to winter solstice is almost 45deg !! Bet some of you never knew that the variance was that much in Sabah which is situated like just a couple of degrees north of equator :)

Monkey :- Phew! that was a mouthful....ask the man what time is it and he tells you how to make a clock....Ingeniers!!! What if there is too much clouds on the horizon.....what if it rains......what if the mountain is covered in clouds.......what if....what if.....what if !!!!

JS :- relax monkey.....that's what makes life so much more interesting with so many "what if". On thing i can promise you.....the sun will definitely rise today :)

JS set up his camera and tripod very quickly and was soon clicking away with the Nikon D9o......AHEM, where is my Canon EOS1D mk4?? -_-

Monkey also started clicking(with her ever reliable Leica) .....and and even manage to take pic of JS!

Soon the sunrise was in full bloom as it was nearing 6.32am.

klik

click

klak

klock

klak

Taken from slightly different angle at a later time.

I must say the sunrise and sunset during this time of the year is most consistent. I would have prefered if the sunrise was some 10 to 15 degrees more north which would be smack right behind that huge piece of granite and the sunrise would really have been spectacular. This would happen around mid to end March.

I took this other pictures just a couple of days ago from the Mengkabong river during sunrise. Different view as this was taken from sea level......like it?? :)







Back to the question.......so what's this thing about sunrise that fascinates so many people ?? For most people it's probably a bad sign cos its time to wake up to go to work....haha.

For some people it's a normal phenomenon that occur once a day........no big deal and taken for granted.

BUT for the optimist, it's "a promise".......a promise of a brand new day and they look forward with anticipation to another spectacular sunrise :)