Sabah Adventure - 2nd stop Kinabatangan

After the gruelling, activity-packed Kinabalu stop, time to relax a little by sitting through 2 days of river cruise - Kinabatangan River Cruise near Sandakan. An early morning flight (7am) took us to Sandakan airport before 8am, and a few bus hops and we were waiting to depart to Kinabatangan via mini-bus (RM20 each). We chose MisoWalai Homestay for our river cruise, where we stayed with the local Malay villagers. Our 2day package cost about RM200 each (include accomodation, food, river cruise and jungle trek).

The green house

Our host family was Kuling (based on phonetic, not sure if it is spelt that way). We got confused with the number of people appearing in the house as it started with the father, the son and daughter, then suddenly more kids appeared and seemed like they lived in the same house. Finally, we kinda figured out that those kids were cousins. But it was confusing when we kept seeing people in people out..Sleeping arrangement - JJ and Edric in 1 room on mattresses, and Me in another room by myself with a bed!!

After lunch (simple homecooked meal), we embarked on our jungle trek and river cruise. The jungle trek took us into the marsh land (muddy ground) and our guide (Braun) pointed out herbs, poison trees and such to us. Who needs to buy a manicure filer when u can use nature!

Then it was off to the river cruise where we saw monkeys, loads of them! At times, we just parked our boat by the side and watch the monkey show

Oxbow LakeAlong the river cruise

ANd we saw a flying monkey!!

River cruise ended around sunset, and we witnessed a beautiful sunset by the river. Off back to our home, with homecooked dinner and at night, nothing much to do but played cards for a while and slept..

Next morning, it was 6am wake up call for our river cruise (which I overslept cos the alarm was off because I though the phone alarm would work even if I switched the phone off). So anyway we started our cruise at 630am, and saw pretty much similar animals, but more birds this time.

Simple but nice lunch of vege and curry

Dinner was nice too!

Breakfast of homemade donuts and crisp...

Now I have to mention some of the really cute kids we met @ Kuling's. The little boy - Chai, whom I think I had a connection there! 1st time he met me, he came up to me direct (not JJ or Edric) and asked me to open his tidbit for him. He was sooooo cute. He grew a tail out of his hair! But he is shy towards the camera.. The other cute little girl was his sister (we guess) and she is soooo cute! Her eyes are soo big! And she kept 'flirting' with Edric because of his camelpack hydration water. Yes, Edric used his hydration pack to 'seduce' the kids into drinking out of it..

Drinking out of Edric's hydration pack..They were estatic when they did it

Me and Chai. He was sooo lively but when the camera points at him, he froze

Edric doing the human trophy with Chai

Then it was off to wait for the bus to Semporna by the bridge...Which will take us about 3-4hours

Sabah Adventure - 1st Stop Kinabalu

Background of the trip:

Destination: Sabah, Borneo - Kinabalu, Kinabatangan, Semporna (Mabul/Sipadan), Maliau Basin in 13 days. The 3 musketeers - Yours truly, JJ and Edric. Yes I'm the flower amongst the thorns.

Trip started rather hectic, when we waited and waited for dear Edric at the checkpoint for about 30mins. Our flight departs from JB Senai airport at 920pm, but we only reached JB around 830pm. A fast taxi ride took us to the airport by about slightly after 9pm, and due to our hiking sticks, we were asked to check in our bags. Hectic repacking and we were in by about 915pm, but lo and behold, the flight was delayed slightly.

By the time we reached Borneo Backpackers (our accomo @ KK) it was after midnight and promptly went to sleep...

Next morning was spent just walking around, settling money issues, booking trips etc etc

Chanced upon this graffiti area which was rather cool!!See what see? Beh Song??

Then we made our way to Kinabalu Park by taking one of the minivan that goes to Ranau (RM20 each pax). And FYI, you just wait and wait till the van fills up...Of cos, we didn't get there after we found Edric a pair of Adiddas Kampung shoes for the climb and trek later...FYI, Addidas Kampung is a pair of rubber shoes which is pretty good for trekking and cheap too! Locals swear by it though...

After about close to 2hrs, we reached Kinabalu Park and checked in with the Park Ranger to get our permit for the 1 day climb up and down Mt Kinabalu the day after. After many referrals (please go here, find this person, he's not in, find another person etc etc), we settled with Mr Martin. Alas, we were too slow and already 3 people had signed up for the 1 day climb and the limit is 4 per day. So we were told - You guys can only go up to Laban Rata (3272m). Ok we accepted that, but deep down inside, we were devastated and devised a plan that we are sure will work to barge our way to the top. Hey! We were already there, if we don't go up, what's the point!!We checked in at D'Villa (RM30 per night) and our dorm was empty except for the 3 of us, and 1 canadian joined later at night. Settled our dinner at one of the local restaurant nearby and lights out by 9pm for an early day rise the next day.

Our day started at 6am, wolved down our breakfast and started walking to the Park. Turned out the 3 brits who took the permits stayed at the same place as us. Edric started talking about overtaking them, burning their room etc etc.

Total cost of the 1 day permit with guide was about RM464 for 3 pax. Took the van up to the starting point at Timpohon (please take the van!!! Don't try walking it) and officially started our hike at 740am with our guide Jaldi Jaidi at the back. All 6 of us started at the same time.

So it was then that we talked to our guide and privately we made our own arrangement to go all the way up despite not being given permission. Well hey, who is to stop us?? But of cos, when we were near the top, our guide started to give me the talk and asked for some extra cash for disobeying orders.....Well, anything to get to the top.

Technically, the trek is not too tough, the roads are well marked and the steps are well maintained. Then it was non-stop walking up to Laban Rata which is the rest stop. To be able to complete, one has to reach Laban Rata by 1030am and I did it by 1015am. The boys were way ahead by about 20mins.

After Laban Rata, the tougher part presented itself. Rock face where you have to climb up with ropes. And that is when you just keep counting down 100m by 100m where the end seemed sooo far awayBy about 1130am, I was at about 3600m, about 400m more to go (distance wise). Edric started to cramp and had to slow down..The view was amazing up there, sky was clear and visibility was good!The last 300 or so metre was torturous cos it's so near yet so far.. FInally by 1250pm, I made it up there! And that was when it started to change, weather wise. Rain and cold wind...Then it was pouring rain as we started to descend.. Which was bad bad bad. By the time we reached Laban Rata, it was about 215pm and soaking wet, cold and shivering...

The rain made the descend even harder as the ground was slippery, so it took really long for us to be back at square 1. And once again, we found ourselves counting down the distance once again - 2km, 1.5km, 1km, finally 500m!!So it was, at 6pm we reached back down, all 6 of us. Well, 1 of the 3 brits didnt go up to the top, so only 5 of us officially made it!Missed the public bus back to KK town, so the 6 of us chartered the van for RM35 each and made our way back to KK town. It was about 9pm when we reached, all of us starving, cold, wet and desperately in need of a HOT HOT shower! And that was when it happened - My Blackberry got electrocuted while I was trying to charge it at the hostel. There was a sudden 'Punk', lights went out, and when I walked nonchalantly back to my room, I saw everyone standing there, holding a blackened USB charger and my phone. I just stared and was totally speechless.. RIP my BB. Let's just say it sucks to not have your phone, somemore so early into the trip...

The next day, we rented a car - 1L Viva Automatic, really small white car to venture out to Kota Belud, Kudat and Tip of Borneo. RM100 for 1 day, RM18 for insurance and you don't have to fill the tank upon return!

Missed the Sunday Market at Kota Belud, so we went on to Tip of Borneo, losing our way while trying to search for the elusive coastal drive. Just so you know, there is NO coastal drive!!! The map is not accurate. The main road is the only one. We went 1 big circle trying to drive close to the coast but came back to square one.

Then it was a bumpy ride (really bumpy) in the pouring rain towards Kudat and Tip of Borneo. There was a petrol scare when we were left with about 20+km with no gas station and only 1 bar left for fuel. Luckily, we found the gas station. By then, it was 5+pm and we had to rush to the Tip of Borneo by 6pm

And we made it! It was all worth it. The 5-6hr drive. The view was amazing there!

And we waited for the sun to drop drop down the horizon...

Jumping shot once again with the orange sunSuper Mario Brothers with the lady

Yoga pose seems to blend in with the setting and atmosphere

At 7pm, we started our drive back and it took much shorter to get back to KK town. Slightly less than 4hr. Exhausted, fell asleep, in anticipation of the early morning flight to sandakan the next day...

Till the next post...

I'm back, I'm gone soon, I'll be back very soon...

Busy busy these 2 months, flying around the world auditing.. Just back from another round of business trip and some fun weekend time in Germany. Now back and packed and off to Sabah soon. No time to update anything. But, stay tuned cos Sabah will be adventure packed and loads to blog about. With pictures... If I survive the gruelling schedule and activities...

So till then....Just be contented with other people's blog then....

Dubai Dubai

Picture this - Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte and Miranda sashaying down the streets of Dubai and the desert in their designer wear and Manolo Blahniks.. That movie surely made loads of people dream about flying to Dubai to enjoy life and lay by the beach and do nothing but be served... It sure made me feel like doing that with my girlfriends. Only thing - Dubai is EXENSIVE! The hotel they stayed in? That cost a bloody fortune! So a thought remained a thought, never realised until recently... A business trip took me to Dubai! Was a little excited about it, exploring a place I would never dream about going..

1st thing to know, their work week is Sunday-Thursday, weekends on Friday and Saturaday. So landing on a Saturaday, I was faced with a horrendously long queue at the immigration which took almost 2 hours to clear. Apparently, that is not uncommon. Heard from my colleague that you can opt for the Marhaba service (USD25) where you will be personally escorted from the point you get off the plane and whisked through immigration to the taxi stand. Definitely worth it..

It was winter when I went. Yes, there IS winter in Dubai, where temperatures hover around 15-25, more cooling in the early mornings and night time. You don't have to be fully covered Head to Toe, but you are only allowed swimwear on the beaches and no public display of affection (recall Samantha??)

Weekend came and I went for the much talked about Desert Safari. For a fixed price, you are driven about 45minutes out of Dubai into the desert and go through a thrilling dune bashing ride! It was awesome! I was famished before the ride started and glad that I did not eat anything! It will make you puke if you were on a full stomach.

Then a stop for pictures! It was very sandy...And rather chilling...After which we stopped by the campsite for R&R, camel riding, henna and just chill (literally). Went on a camel ride, was fun..The 'exciting' part was when the camel was getting up and getting down. Wooh!Got myself a henna drawn on my hand..and had a good BBQ dinner. The food was good! And we were entertained by traditional dances.

Explored Dubai a little too. Went to Souk Madinat (Souk is their local market), which is close by to Burg Al Arab. Burg Al Arab being the only 7-Star hotel, and you are NOT allowed entry unless 1) You stay there; 2) You made a reservation to dine there. Yes, the toilets are gold crusted.. So I was not able to get in cos 1) I'm not staying there unless someone pays me to; 2) I can't afford to eat there it's too bloody expensive. But being in Souk Madinat was close enough to get pretty great views and photos of the Burg Al Arab!The Souk madinat is a pretty beautiful place! It's along a river stream and the buildings are beautifully designed. Shopping wise - nothing much though...But it was a lovely day to stroll along the river stream and sit and stare into nothingness...That's Burg Al Arab, also known as The Sail...

Also went to Old Dubai for a look see..Took a 1 Dirham boat ride across the river to the other side...Had lunch in one of the restaurant along the river..Just chilling and eating...

Then off to Dubai Mall, THE biggest mall! And i'm telling you it IS big!!!! THere's an aquarium, a zoo, an ice rink, waterfall and whatever you name it in there!!!

The aquarium costs you 100AED to enter through an inner walkway, but you can view pretty much most of it from the outside at a distance! Yes, big fish in there - Sting ray, sharks etc etc..Shopping is tax free in Dubai but Dubai mall is considered a more upper class shopping venue, and I wasn't in the mood for shopping (though I did pop into H&M to check out the prices). Then it was off to Burg Khalifa for my trip up to the top! FYI, to save cost, book in advance online. It is AED100 vs AED400 if you buy it instantly on the spot. Also, you book a timeslot but you can arrive earlier than your allocated time spot!

Pretty amazing at night up there! With all the lights and stuff. If you're up there at 630pm, you can even see the Dubai Fountain show from above!Went down for the Dubai Fountain show. It was awesome! Lasted probably about 3 minutes or so. Great show!

Dubai was alright. Overall impression is it's a very modern city, with tons of skyscrapers. Like Singapore but more buildings, taller and bigger infrastructure and roads. The architectural aspect of buildings is really amazing. It's very very clean and you feel safe in Dubai! It is a little yellowish, probably due to the tons of construction still going on there. The beaches are alright, but hey it's a nice respite from the city - beach city distance is probably only a 20min ride away. But i guess it's more a destination for families & couples. Or slightly older crowd with a bunch of friends. Not really a place for youngsters or backpackers (hey it's an expensive place to stay in). I kinda like it, but I probably would not be going back for a holiday.