D5 & D6 – Mount Kota Kinabalu

When you tell people you went to Sabah, people sure ask you back: “Then got climb Mount KK?”, I know that. So, I prepared a very good answer. Later let you know what’s the answer. HAHA. From D5 of KK trip onwards, no more beautiful ladies appear in my posts, because they went back to KL earlier than me.  You want to look beautiful ladies >>> D1&D2, D3, and D4. About Mount KK, Desmond was busy to find me a cheap and worthy package. I planned my Sabah trip less than 3 months and suppose to book Mount KK package 3 months or 6months before you go there. Actually cannot said so, even you go there last minute also can climb one. You know what package I book? You must be thinking we are crazy already. We book 1 day climb package. Although I’m OK to book the 1 day climb package, but I still thinking can I do it with no training and no experience to climb Mount KK.

Here, no more beautiful ladies appear, BUT got another guy coming up.

Chiang chiang chiang….

[ Raymond Goh] A professional drummer and is a happy go lucky guy who love triathlon game too. He already did 5 marathons.

~ Well, before challenge Mount KK, let’s eat some delicious food 1^st. Homemade Sushi by ourselves ~

When reach there, really feeling awesome to see one of the world heritage. Very very high mountain in front of me, surrounded by a thick layer of cloud. Just hopes don’t rain on our big day. Because my whole Sabah trip always come with rainy days and windy days. I mentally set to climb Mount KK, but my physically not well prepared. HOW????

~ Entrance fee to KK Park, RM3 per person ~

Introduce you budget way to climb Mount KK. If you want to climb Mount KK, make sure you are fit enough. 1day climb included climbing fee, mountain guide transportation and certificate not more than RM200 per person. You can just call to their office to reserve. Then pay everything on the day. They have to depend on weather, if wind too strong and raining, they might not allow you to climb, see your luck lo. If you come with team mates, make sure your team mates also fit enough, Mount KK cannot play play one, really tough. For 1 day climb package, have to reach the peak at 1pm and reach downhill at 5pm.

~ Beautiful of Mount KK ~

Like we are student, of course everything need to control in budget. I thought accommodation at Mount KK very expensive but not. Give you some tips. Outside KK Park got a budget hostel, just cross the road from KK Park. Next to that budget lodge is a restaurant, so very convenient and save. If you not confirm your accommodation, you also can do reservation at Tahubang lodge as well.

Name: Tahubang Lodge Kinabalu Park

Wifi: Free access

Room: Price from RM30 ++ (cheap)

Email: tohubanglodge@yahoo.com

Phone: 088 888 094 (call might be better)

~ Here as your reference ~

~ KK Park ~

Ok, don’t want to give advantage to you all so much. Always tell you all budget trip, you should go find out yourself. Wahaha. Joke joke, is my honor to give you all informative travel tips, right? HAHA. Now is time to talk about my trip that full with obstacles. Mount KK climb just on the next day. Before the day, we went to the office to check our reservation, we fill in our details and submit the form. All done, just left to pay the fee and climb. 3 of us never try 1 day climb Mount KK before, Raymond and I some more were 1^st timer, Desmond climbed before. Although I didn’t know how about the route, but I tried my best to read the map and do estimation. We really hope we can climb up to the peak despite 3 of us also not confident to do it. Heard people say, very very hard, cannot do it within 1 day, must have training and many more comments, I feel scared also, but have to give it a try . This time I climb with 2 guys with sport basic, I have to do well also.

~ I prepared everything for tomorrow ~

We woke up really early and feel very excited. Head to the office wanted to pay the fee. Mountain guides are ready there. BUT….BUT…..BUT…. The officer said, wind too strong, around 60km/h, cannot climb today, nobody can go up to the peak. Even people who stay 2D1N at half route and 3D2N package also cannot reach the peak. Wa…. We even sit down and written down our tactic to complete the 1 day climb leh, what to do now!!! Really, we planned our climb, we set to reach Laban Rata at 10am if we start our climb at 7am. At 1^st, we planned to start our climb at 7am, but the wind ruined our climb. Until 8am, still the same. We went in and out from office many times to ask permission to climb to the peak, they didn’t allow. At last, 8am already, they let us climb from downhill to Layang-layang Hut, that is just 4km climb. Even until Laban Rata they also not allow, ish…. Our 4km climb costs not more than RM70.

  

~ Windy Mount KK ~

~ Our pass to enter Mount KK ~

Ok la, we understand why they not allowed us to climb, for our safety also. Ok, started our climb around 8am, we take this as our challenge, I feel like going for a race. We still tried to climb up with medium and steady pace, hope can go up to Laban Rata. Amazing and fast timing, faster than what I expect. Started from 8am, we reached Layang-layang Hut at 9.45am. 1km we used 25mins, very fast eh. But until Layang-layang there, the rangers not allowed us to climb up to Laban Rata. Well go down again. Conclusion: I didn’t climb to the peak, but I did climb until Layang-layang Hut with timing 1hr 45mins. I felt so great. So, with our good timing, I think 3 of us can climb to the peak within estimation time if no obstacles. Nevermind, climb next time. Remember, I will come and challenge again.

  

~ 3 of us reach Layang-layang Hut ~

~ After 4km, tired also ~

~ Challenging route ~

~ Saw this when went back, is it success for me? Nope!!! ~

Mount KK really not easy to climb, you need to do training before you go, make sure your stamina is good. One more problem is about high altitude, maybe you will feel faint and hard to breathe. Recommend you to consume panadol or medicine from doctor la. Weather there also very cold, remember to bring wind breaker, gloves, thick shirt and many layers of shirts.

~ Every 0.5km, I took a picture. But just left this, others lost dy ~

  

~ Beautiful waterfall ~

~ I reached 4km leh, 2745km high ~

Quite disappointed cannot climb up to the peak, but is ok la, next time still got chance what. We back to KK town again. No Mount KK, but still got many things to enjoy in KK what. I tried a new thing, DRUMMING. I told you Raymond is a professional drummer right, of course must learn something from him la. HAHA.

~ Drumming, waseh  ~

I found that KK got many burger shops. But I’m not a burger lover, so just normal for me, hehe. Anyway, eat burger also kind of enjoyment. Pork Burger shop called “ Tom & Don”.

~ Pork burger, RM6 ~

A little bit disappointment in my Sabah trip, but with this reason, I just can go to Sabah again in future what. HAHA. Anyway, quite happy can climb Mount KK.

Mount KK awesome

 More photos >>> FBAlbum

Written On 25 August 2013

D4 – Gong Factory, Tip of Borneo, Kudat

~ Tip of Borneo ~

Come to Day 4 in Sabah, we went to a place far away from Kota Kinabalu. We went to “left ear” of East Malaysia, very very end of Malaysia. Tip of Borneo is about 5 hrs to reach from Kota Kinabalu, is about 215km from KK. Although the journey quite far, but when you reach there, you will feel everything is worth it, even blown away by Borneo’s strong wind also worth back. A day nearly blown away by super duper strong wind and whole day being “slapped” by sand, Ouch… Later show you the photos. HEHE. Before reaching Tip of Borneo, we stopped by half way, visit to Rungus Longhouse Lodge as our “appetizer” for that day.

~ Appearance of Rungus Longhouse Lodge ~

Rungus Longhouse Lodge a.k.a Maranjak Longhouse Lodge located at halfway to Tip of Borneo. Rungus are an ethic group of Borneo, mostly in Kudat area. If you wanna try their life, you may book a lodge there to overnight. I found out that place quite interesting. Many activities can do there, such as cycling, hiking, camping, jungle trekking and more. A place surrounded by forests, strong wind and peaceful area. Also got people hand making souvenirs and sell there.

~ Group photo ~

  

~ That aunty makes every souvenir with heart. One scarf maybe need 2-3days to complete it, some more the price very cheap ~

~ Great experience to be at here ~

~ At the longhouse ~

~ Their room ~

Name: Maranjak Longhouse Lodge

Fee: RM3 (student)

Website: Click Here

After that, we were heading straight to Tip of Borneo baaaa, “main plate” of the day... Another name known as Simpang Mengayau, means “lingering junction” as here South China Sea lingers and meets the Sulu Seas flowing to the east. Actually I got more photos, but now I can’t find it in my camera. WHY?????!!!!! Some more photos in my camera from Monsopiad Cultural Village onwards are blurring. OMG.

~ Awesome view ~

~ Sandy beach plus blue wish sea ~

~ Enjoy ~

~ When walking down the stairs, also can’t stand still ~

~ We reached the end point of East Malaysia ~

~ best photo ~

~ You should believe me, see how strong the wind, trees also senget ~

~ As an evidence that we came here ~

~ I like this photo ~

~ Actually I’m walking towards in front, but how come my hairs all terbalik already ~

After the “main plate” of Tip of Borneo, let’s go to “dessert” of the day --- Gong Factory. Here got one of the largest gong in the world. Here you can see the whole process of making gong, all are hand making. There got many gongs, from very very mini size to very very giant size. Gong factory is like a village too, many families staying there.

~  Giant Gong which is 20 feet tall and weigh 980kg ~

   

~ Gong Handicraft ~

~ A place represent Sabah ~

~ Gong making pocess ~

Name: Kampung Sumangkap Gong Factory

Fee: RM3 (student)

Details: Click Here

On the way back to KK, we stopped by Tuaran to eat Tuaran mee.

~ This shop at Tuaran ~

~ Tried Tuaran Bak Kut Teh & Tuaran Mee ~

After our Kudat long journey trip, all of us tired already. But since that was the last night for “KL gang”, they decided not to go home so early. So, we went to Perdana Park for music fountain. Music fountain at Perdana Park quite special, is a good place for couple actually. HAHA. 

~ Very nice that’s why I said ~

~ Night lighting view at Perdana Park ~

With this, we ended that day. Our last group photo:

Yea, after Kudat, where I went to on the next day? Guess…

More photos >>> FB Album

Story about D1&D2 >>> Click Here

Story about D3 >>> ClickHere

 I like Tip of Borneo

Written on 11 August 2013