Post 150: Mount Kota Kinabalu

March 30-31 2013, after much plan and arrangement since 2012 May, decide to re-climb Mount KK again.

I'm always afraid of cold weather. Even sleep with air-con will be a "disaster" for my body. I simply cannot stand cold weather. Knowing my own "capability"', I try to prepare myself as much as possible hoping I will make it to the low peak, 4,095.20 m.

Journey start from KK town at 630am and we reach Kinabalu park at 800am plus. After some paper work and having our tour guide ready for us, we start our journey at 908am. 

I pace myself slow and steady knowing it is going to be a long journey. I expect it will cost me at least 6 hours to reach Laban Rata.

However, after couple hours of climbing, my leg start to feel heavy. Each steps become more arnd more heavier. I need to rest so much that every 10-15 minutes of climb, I must take a break. There is like thousand of staircase for Mount KK, different by type, stone staircase, mud staircase, wood staircase and every staircase is so difficult to get up, especially when I get higher up. 

Probably my surface area is bigger and gravity gets to pull me down stronger... hahaha

There is about 6 pondok for rest. I can always pace myself how far am I and estimate how much more I need to push myself. It make some sense of direction for me. ( meaning how long more i need to suffer la, in another word...) As i get higher, and lucky me, it also rain. i need to cover myself to avoid getting much wet and it will be very cold when things get wet.

So finally, after 7.5 hours, I manage to get it up and reach Laban Rata at 4:30pm. (Just the right time to start dinner!!!) After cleaning myself, immediately I get myself a cup of hot coffee to warm up. Laban Rata is very high up, probably about 3,000 over meter above sea level and the scenery was beautiful, peaceful, undisturbed. It was quiet magnificent view to see the cloud though only at Laban Rata.

Follow night, I need to wake up at 130am to get prepared.
From top, 3 T-shirt, 2 jacket, 3 short pants, 1 long pants, 3 pair of stocks and a pair of shoe, and I looks like this.... XD

Though I pace myself slow and steady, it is still a very difficult climb for me. My breathing just not smooth enough. I consistently need to stop and take in strong breath in order to feel better to move on. Leaving Laban Rata about 230 AM, I manage to reach check-point about 4:30 AM. At this pace, I think it was still ok la. The challenge for me is the uphill climb after the check-point. Breathing is not good, stamina is low, this cause every step so difficult. I still remember where I consistently need to stop and breath after only 5-10 steps, is that bad for me!!! I took me about 1 hours to walk few hundred meter away from checkpoint. By 530, after my guide advice, I will be too late to reach low peak and it could be very difficult to climb down too.

 So I quite!!
At 3,827.30m, I decided to quite and make turn to return Laban Rata. ( dont ask me how they measure how  high i get, the cert. said so...)
After 2 hours plus, I am return to Laban Rata rest house. After waiting my teammate to return from their climb, we made our way down back to Timpohon Gate.

Going down was rather better for me. (I think) the air is better and oxygen is thicker, my breathing was better. I manage to walk more faster and make continuous walk along the way down. After almost 4 hours walk, I finally make it to Timphon Gate and my feet is get lump!!! hahaha... Dam tired!!!

It was a great trip to experience it again for me. Some time I will think how I made it the trip up and down of Mount KK. It is such a difficult climb. I could not dare of thinking doing it again. No more mount climbing for me now!!! XD

Post 141: Bukit Tabur, Kuala Lumpur

As early as 0430am morning on Saturday, me and my brothers decided to climb on Bukit Tabur Hill. It is located near Taman Melawati, Kuala Lumpur.

There was no obvious signboard mentioning entrance for this hill so it was pretty scary in the beginning and doubt whether we were on the right track to the hill.

1st half hour was the most difficult moment for me. I think I did not stretch my and so my leg muscle was very painful. I walk very slow. Climbing with muscle pain and in very limited daylight was no joking. 

As there is no obvious track, we really need to be careful with very steps we take. It was pretty challenging. 

Step by step, though it is slow and tiring, once we reach 3/4 of the hill, the natural scenery really caught my attention. I did not expect such scenery still available in KL area and is really relaxing moment for me.

As we move on, there is just more tree and more hills for us but I really enjoy every minutes of it. 

Our organiser, Thiam Swee, Han Wen, Eugene, Me and CK.( not in below photo)

Post 130: Rawang

Lately been doing alot of travelling due to work. Rawang and Batu Arang is like my 2nd home...Day in, day out...

I am here at least 3-4 times a week.

Post 68: Sign Board

24th Feb, 2010; Damansara; Post 68:

Saw this big sign board on road side, advertising Pepsi and I have no idea what does "Sokmo" mean.

SOKMO is a common word use in Kelantan that means "Always"... that goes for a word a day ar... :P

Post 39: Atlantis

December 4, 2009; PJ Old Town; Post 39:

Did I mention eating delicious food is my hobby? Love to eat, too much, eventually make me what I am now… :(

While visiting Dubai last week, I made a trip to one of the famous land mark in Dubai, Atlantis@ The Palm Jumeirah. It is located at the end of the palm and in front of the hotel will be all wide sea and nothing else.

Due to it's exclusivity status and image, there is alot of places within the hotel is not allow for enter. It is only for in-house guess. Still, I find it is still a very huge hotel with various attraction. 1 particular is the under water world, build with Atlantis building as theme, sunk under the sea.

Make our way to the hotel, we dine at one of its famous restaurant, Saffron@ seafood buffet.

For the price we paid, AED 195++ per person, I think we can get better food and variety in Malaysia, like Tienji or Jogoya. Probably the main attraction of this restaurant is the location and is about the country landmark.

I was there for couple of hours and did a short exploration at the hotel. Yes!! it is a great hotel to stay if can afford.

Post 38: Burj Al Arab

December 2, 2009; PJ Old Town; Post 38:

I think visitng Dubai will not be complete if this iconic building is not visit.

I have been watching Discovery Channel reporting the construction of this building and how magnificent interior of this building. I think this structure put Dubai on the world map...seriously...

Too bad the front guard does not allow visitor to go in for visit so I can only take a photo infront of the building. But....!!! there is a way to get inside too if anyone interested. The restaurant inside the hotel serving buffet. Cost estimate at Dirham 399/person then you are allow to go in and visit this hotel.

Information
Location: Dubai, U.A.E.
Status: Complete
Constructed: 1994-2000
Use: Hotel, Restaurant
Height: Antenna/Spire 322 m (1,060 ft)
Roof: 210 m (690 ft)
Top floor: 200 m (660 ft)

Technical details
Floor count: 60
Floor area: 111,500 m2 (1,200,000 sq ft)
Elevator count: 18

Post 37: Real or Fake???

November 27, 2009; Dubai; Post 37:

Took alot picture of the tower and when back apartment see it again...

The picture feels like photo of the tower is being paste to the back of this photo by Photoshop...do you think so??!!!

Post 36: Sultanate of Oman

November 26, 2009; Dubai; Post 36;

Sultanate of Oman. Never hear much of this country before. The feeling is it has a low profile “attitude” and very rich in black gold. Overall people here are more relax and slow pace in live.

Thanks to Nikhil, Chong’s close friend in Oman, we manage to visit couple of places while we make our visit there.

Our ride, 4.5cc Jaguar; Strong and powerful. Very stable and it’s acceleration is excellence. Sad it is manufactured with less 2 wings or else, this car will fly!!!

Everything looks brown here. The land is brown, the mountain is brown, even the building looks more brown on it...:D…they are differentiate by dark brown, middle brown or light brown…BROWN….EVERYWHERE BROWN.

One of the most expensive hotels in Oman, Shangri-La Hotel, located behind the mountain, away from the city. It is always my preference visiting sea side. Feels calming myself and feel peaceful.

Foods are rather expensive in Oman. We had butter chicken and mutton + rice+ couple of bear. This will cost us about RM 200 already…for 1 meal!!

For lunch, we have vegetarian Indian food. Not sure what is the name, but the curry and tomato source taste good!! This also cost about RM 50… roti, curry and kacang only woh…

Something new for me here too…after the meal, due to heavy smell from Indian spices, the restaurant waiter offer us some “sweet” to bring away smell in our mouth.