D1 arrive @ 12am
D2 Snorkel at pulau manukan and sapi with dunno-which-company
D3 MT k base and up to laban rata @ 430pm
D4 Mt k summit @ 530am. Descend for 3 hr down to HQ
D5 shopping around the shopping centre
About the snorkelling
It's worth the RM130 with 2 island plus bbq though i dun eat most of the food. The reefs were near to the shore and there were soooooo many fishes:) and we were feeding the fishes with our breakfast! kaya bread toast! lol! The beach was nice too:) We snorkeled till we had headaches man! I so wanted to eat cheaply and go road side... lek wanted to be safe than sorry and eat in restn. more money spent and not worth that price:( well, he has the reason.
About the climb
The way up was tough but not a very tedious climb with relatively steep slopes. The rhodendenron was beautiful with some humming bird chipping in the background. nice:) We were unlucky to encounter rain and it was a storm when we were jus 1.5 hour away! I was lucky enough to see a GIANT earth worm, as long as my lower legs! Thanks to the rain, ironically. sadly, my rain jacket wasn't that water proof and i was soaked!!! should have brought my rain coat instead and keep my jacket dry. The main laban rata hut has got a heater and a fantastic buffet canteen! all trekker there enjoy heater in their room:( i kinda wished lek, esther and i had a room with heater and warm water especially since my clothes were wet! Haiz... too bad i was trying too hard to save like RM50 and decided to stay at Gunting Hut instead.
The next morning we started climbing only at 3 am. It was raining the whole night! And was so worried that we cant go to the summit. Luckily it cleared out just before we left! The route was wet and slipperly with mini waterfall formed on the rock face. We had to maneuver through the rockface in the dark! omg, it was scary! After the rock face, we came to a plateau which leads to the summit. It's actually deciving to call it a plateau when it's a up slope ALL the way to the summit. Well, i just remembered walking and walking as the cold wind blew and blew. The way to the summit was a long Q of people walking behind one and other, like escalator. it was actually quite funny, coming to think of it now. haha! The wind was no joke, to quote lek, it was about 50km/h. Only a few stars:( But managed to see the KK town lights from near the top. i was early and reached around 530am with dan. YAY! many were taking photos and happily posing:) AND my camera went flat, that really suck. I was so fortunate to have met a someone from seremban to take a summit shot for me! luckily! But Too early i think. then We were SHIVERING and shivering on the summit just to wait for the sunrise.
The route down was fantastic!! love it! With lights, u can see the view we missed in the night ascend, we were literately walking above the cloud:) shiok! so stunning! :D
Next time i go back i'm gonna do the via ferrata, Which is the route down, entirely from the rock face from the summit. so cool lah. And i'm gonna try gg through agents in malaysia and not singapore. Becos it is so freaking expensive (up to $1000 plus!). I think can go throu borneo x-plore adventure (tel: 0173720802, fb: hakeemkyeel), a freelance. Dunno how much though. I wanted to do it on the spot at laban rata, but i felt the price was too steep, 150-200 sin more! Back then, i was still a student and money was really an issue. Anyway, ppl can get to stay at pendant hut if they're doing the via ferrata. other companies: ABC tour, api tour, travelmate holiday SSB.
I may try out their local homestay the next time too with Jinu Gupm, a guide we met. mx_hanry@yahoo.com
Total cost: $600 (air ticket was $195)
Book accommodation on the mountains with Sutera sanctuary lodges by calling their kota kinabalu HQ number. All inclusive with room, 2 lunch, 1 dinner and 1 breakfast was RM320. Other climbing feesss is RM 156. Snorkel RM130. Red palm hostel $27. transport was RM52. Food and shopping included:)
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