Conquering Mt. Kinabalu (Part 1)

The rituals/prayer of Muslim woke me up at 3 in the morning of July 20. I tried to sleep again but I was not able to. I just stared at the ceiling waiting for the time to pass by so I could head to Kinabalu Park HQ. I am so excited thinking of the mountain but apprehensive of what might happen to me up there. I don't know if I can reach the summit with what I feel at the moment..For the past weeks sleep again evaded me..my back is so painful..and not really in good condition to climb. But there is no turning back for me..everything was set and I already paid in full. (Hai naku! Ang laki kaya ng binayad ko! Hehe). This is what I wanted to do so I will do it!

The two aussie girls whom I shared with in the dorm room woke up at 5am. I lie still in the bed watching them preparing for their early flight to Sepilok to see the Orangutans'. When they left.. I went out of bed and prepare for our 7:30 trip to the park. I still need to walk to my partners' lodge for 10 min since we had agreed to meet there for the arranged taxi to get us to the park. We left around 8am.

The 1 hr 30 min ride to the Park was not that eventful. I am very tired so I closed my eyes and relaxed. My partner asked me to take some photos of Mt. Kinabalu along the highway but the electrical wires and cables made the photos look bad. So I just sleep again..The driver stopped and told us we're already at the park. Wow! So fast! I read the signboard and yes we are in the right place and then walked a few meters up to the gate where we paid the entrance fee. The air at the park HQ was very cold already (just like at my working place) and I thought how much more up there at the summit? I saw a bunch of tourists...lots n lots of them actually! Some we're already heading to Timpohon gate to start the climb. They're much much early! How I wish we are..:)

I went directly to the reception area to register and confirm our reservation at the mountain hut. Then paid for the mountain guide. I asked the person in-charge if we can share the guide fee of RM85.00 with other climbers but he said we should pay separately..Wow! That hurts in the pocket! I read in travel forums that it can be shared with other climbers.. so what happened now? Anyway, we can do nothing as it is their rule but I observed their rule is changing...taking advantage of the foreigners! Bad people huh! Then we also paid for the bus to Timpohon gate for RM33.00 each. The climb was very expensive..They're getting on my nerves already! Hehe.

After about 30 min of waiting we were able to meet the guide and he's quite double S..haha. (short and small). Before heading to Timpohon, we still went to Balsam Restaurant to get our packed lunched..hmmm..heavy! But its worth it. Sandwiches, boiled egg, green apple , 1 pc of fried chicken and a carbo drink in one container. Enough to give us energy for the first phase of the climb. Then we are off to Timpohon gate where the climb would start. Passing the gate I could see we are 6 people in 1 guide. Hmmm..the fee isn't supposed to be shared by 6 people also? We just shrug our shoulders off. Hehe. We started walking and it was really a wonderful day (so i thought! haha)..warm and sunny! The trail is just a series of very steep stairs and rocks to step over. And I thought again..easy! The scenery is beautiful but not that new to me as I am also living close to the mountain...with all the trees! But what made it unique is its rich biodiversity. I saw different species of birds along the trail but I can't recognize them. Then lots squirrels jumping near the shelter. Its my first encounter with those animals and they're cute! Haha.


Anyway, I did good in the 1st km but after that it was unbearable. My backpack becomes heavy every time I made to the next "Pondok" or sheltered hut (every 0.5 km). Then at 3km the weather changed.. dark clouds forming so I know it will rain anytime. Oh my..I don't have a rain coat! I am supposed to buy a disposable at the park but my partner said there's no need as he has a spare..Well, I trust him though! He did lent me his extra (thanks bro!)..I'm getting slow so I let my partner go first after we reached the 4km pondok. I don't want to burden him. So in the end it was just me walking alone. And where's our guide? He's supposed to be with me as I am the last one in the group! oh, never mind! I can do it..hehe. But no as I get higher I feel really terrible. I can barely walk..I feel drained of energy..I can hardly breath..I feel dizzy and I couldn't swallow the food..I was hit by altitude sickness..oh myyyy...i am not prepared for it! I decided to leave the food at 4km hut since I can't eat anymore (hindi na talaga pumapasok sa sikmura ko at parang nasusuka na ako!) So nagdecide na lang me na iwanan yun as it gets heavy on my back pack. I continued walking..slowly with frequent stops.. In the middle of 4-5 km I feel hungry but no more energy food for me now..just water. I thought the 1 slice of sandwich and a boiled egg I had eaten were enough to get me to Laban Rata but I was wrong! There am I shivering and shaking due to cold and hunger..my borrowed rain jacket did not keep me dry long..water keeps coming inside my shirt plus my shoes are wet also. I should have worn a goretex shoes!

Even then I still enjoyed walking kahit masakit na ang paa ko! May matching pahumming-humming pa! Dinadaan na lang sa kanta ang takot at kaba! Hehe Randam ko talaga ang sobrang lamig sa paa ko na umaakyat sa tuhod..kaya masakit ang bawat hakbang! Then one funny thing that happened was..I still got one small chocolate candy (my calcium supplement) in my pocket but when I opened it just falls to the ground..waaaaaaaaaaaa. Terrible! it was supposed to give me energy but my hands were shaking so it falls off my hand.. I'd really like to take it from the ground but I am too ashamed to do it as there are some Malaysians at my back..haha. No choice but to carry on.. I talk to one Malay girl and she was from KL. She's a first timer like me and so we both feel the same as we climb higher and we had a good laugh about it. I went ahead of her though as I am determined to get to the hut as soon as possible..my hands and feet were very cold..

To be continued..

our packed lunch