The photo was taken in June 2010. We attempted to conquer the Mount Kinabalu but due to raining season, we were not allowed to climb up! However, we did not give up. We planned to do it again.
Now, it is my second trip to Mountain Kinabalu after the first in June.
We failed to reach the peak of the Mountain Kinabalu in June. The failure triggered and pushed me and Ching Cher to do another attempt.
Decision made and the second trip is in September 2010, which was just 3 months from the first experience.
In these months, we did not really do any exercise to improve our strength and stamina. We were simply busy with our own business until the moment Ching Cher and I departed to Kota Kinabalu.
We thought we were excited for the second attempt on Mountain Kinabalu, however, it was not! No spirit for the conquest! Aiks. We were in the plane already, reaching Kinabalu Airport soon! We can't cancel anything.
Upon arrival at airport, we looked for transport to Kinabalu Park. It was raining lightly. We took lunch first then hired a van. After some hours, we finally depart for Kinabalu Park with other tourists. We were a little desperate to see the raining. It was not pouring heavily but it killed our hope when we reflected back. We were not allowed to climb to the peak even though it was not raining heavily.
Nevertheless, we still continued the trip and it was dark already when we arrived at Kinabalu Park. We proceed with registration. We then were transfered to Mersilau Resort. Around 1 hour, we arrived there and then registered for the lodging. Then we realised that the chalet where we were going to stay over was too FAR for us to run through the rain. Hence, we asked the van driver to drop us off the chalet and then took us to the restaurant for dinner. We were so hungry.
To our surprise, we were the only couple in the restaurant for the dinner. We were excited and started to imagine how it was romantic if we were really a couple that time. Unfortunately, it has ruined Ching Cher mood while I enjoyed it to myself. I imagined Ching Cher was my real couple :-) and that is how I enjoyed the dinner despite the steamboat dinner was SUCK! the food was not fresh loh..
Time to go back to the chalet. We walked towards the chalet. While we were walking, I tried to frighten her with some weird ghost stories. She stopped me! It was getting worst when we were alone in the chalet with 4 rooms and 4 toilets in the bedrooms. We could not hear anything, but our imagination went so wild. what if there is something behind the door in another room. What if there is something wrong in the toilet. We ended up checking every corner in the chalet. Phew! However, we did not feel any security. We saw light in one chalet but we could not see any shadow there!
After shower, I was too exhausted to keep awaking all night to ensure our safety. Therefore, I went to la la land first before Ching Cher, leaving her alone in the reality world. I slept very soundly despite the window in our room was broken. We had no idea what is behind the window and it was too dark to see anything.
Next morning, I woke up and saw Ching Cher staring at me! whoa!! she was too awful to me! haha! Just kidding. She was frustrated with me and she said she could not sleep well!! Bo bian for her!
We packed everything in one big bag and one small bag separately. We sent our big bags to the counter so that these would be brought back to Kinabalu Park and we can collect the bag once we arrive at Kinabalu Park from the conquest in the following day. Then we met our guide. Ohh he is shorter than me :-) Wakka..
Again, it was only us in the restaurant for breakfast. Nevermind. We enjoyed solitude as much as we can before the arrival of other guests. To our surprise, the waitress asked us by fingerspelling ! that was amazing to see someone there can communicate with us at least using sign language. Once we were done with breakfast.. ahhh it is time to try my best to take a dump! haha.
We waited and waited for lunch pack. Aiyoh. The waitress FORGOT our lunch pack !!! I asked her for the lunch pack. She said they were not providing us the lunch pack. I shot her "how come errr... we need makan lor". Her boss said there were lunch packs waiting to be collected.. Opss opss. We got the lunch packs finally, otherwise, I might scold everyone in the restaurant..
We then kicked off the hiking from Mersilau entrance. It has more kilometers than the trail we took in June. We were surrounding the trees, grass, leaves everything green and of course dead leaves as well.
It was a long journey for us to reach the peak. We walked up, down, up, and down. What the hell we were doing? It was really horrible to think that we were alone again in the forest. We quickly walked and tried our best to walk up to maximine our capability. We finally passed a big group of hikers who were leaving around 1-2 hour earlier than us! We stopped for makan-makan session.
Waste no time, we continued our journey until we passed a small group of three. We stopped for drink at one of huts, a guy said HI and asked us where we are coming from. Another person know sign language. Ohhh dear... why we did not see similar situation back when we were in June. Short talk.
We disappeared quickly. Walked up down up down. What the hell the mountain is! We reached a few peaks already yet these are not the ultimate top! Disappointed to see these thing. I started to imagine alot to survive the hiking! Make myself smile to myself :) Dunno where Ching Cher was. Leave her behind or i was left behind.. haha...
No more energy! No more petrol! We barely continue the hiking. We were too calculative on kilometres. It was our main question in the terrible hiking. We finally came back to the trail we used in June. Feeling familiar but it did not boost up our energy and spirit.
Our spirits were suffering. Passed a few huts and we finally reached the last hut, Waras Hut. Thank God. We were still in good condition and sane (waras)! Our legs seemed to be refusing to walk further to reach Laban Rata Resthouse. We felt drop of rain on our shoulder, head and hand. It automatically boosted our energy up and we were surprised to see we were able to walk quickly!!
Once we entered the hall of the resthouse, sigh sigh no one greeted us warmly! We looked for seats and immediately sat down. We were so happily we finally can sit down! Ahh.. The thought of going further up to our lodging, Panar Laban ruined our mood. I immediately stomped towards the counter asking for towels. The thought of possibility of staying over at the Resthouse suddenly came to our mind.
At the counter, I asked for a pen and paper to initiate communication. I wrote on the paper asking the counter lady for the lodging availability at the Resthouse. My writing was bad and almost can't be legible. The lady said politely YES. Hurray!!!
I asked for the change of our lodging from Panar Laban to Resthouse. We did not mind sharing the room with other hikers. We ran to the room hoping we would be able to get our bed at the bottom.
Unfortunately, they were booked already. Arr. We had to climb up to our bed! Nevermind, it was much better than going and return from Panar Laban.
After dinner served, we had a big makan-makan, then we took a quick shower. It was very icy! Looking outside the hall, it was still raining and this time, it was heavy. Gosh Gosh! Prayed hard that we would be able to reach the summit in no matter what it would be.
We slept straight after the icy shower. Ching Cher woke me up for supper. We got ourselves ready for the conquest. The guide waited for us at the door and told us to take time! We pushed him to start the hiking. We want to be there earlier as soon as possible as we can!
The way to the summit was very dark and dangerous. We can see how it is dangerous only when the light of the beautiful sun came in on way back to the Resthouse for breakfast after the conquest. Okay back to the story of the dark trail, it was easy for us to walk on the trail with the headlight. We took a few stops for some rest until we registered ourselves at the last hut for the summit.
We were got mixed feeling when we were almost reach the summit. Our desire was fulfilled finally when we were standing at the summit, seeing so many mountains all over. Big smile were painted on our face. A real happiness. Hurray. We spent about half an hour sitting there, seeing hikers celebrating their victory, taking photos. Then we gotta went down for lunch and then packed things and started hiking back to Kinabalu Park..... Super tired !
The end. The rest of the story, you can imagine yourself.
p/s: The story is a little twisted. Hope you don't mind reading this lousy story haha.. especially the grammar and vocabulary choice.
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