The Borneo Experience - Part II: Sabah

Asia » Malaysia » Sabah » Kota Kinabalu
June 12th 2008

Published: June 12th 2008

Edit Blog Post

Fatman

Steps and more steps

walking through the clouds on the way up to Laban Rata

So took a flight over to Kota Kinabalu (KK) on the 8th June, straight over to the Parks office to sort out my very expensive booking to stay on the side of Mount Kinabalu. Had booked a room for 208 Rm, about 40 quid! Discovered that this included meals though, so persuaded them to give it to me without meals, only 80 Rm (25 quid for 4 meals?!). So had a relax in KK in preparation for the hike tomorrow.

Up at 6am and went to find a shuttle bus, luckily found a few other travelers heading over, so after more noodles for breakfast drove up to the park entrance. After signing in they gave me my meal coupons, bargain!! Although had taken loads of food myself which I had to carry, but couldn't complain! So after lunch(!) started the walk up to Laban Rata which in 6km and 1400ms up! Walking through cloud covered slopes through lots of jungle, step after step after step. Not really any flat bits!! Made it to Laban Rata about 4hrs later. Nice cup of warm tea...so cold as you get higher...well was 10oC but felt freezing! Been away for too long! After dinner

View down into the clouds below

got into bed, around 5pm, as we had to be up at 2am to get to the summit for sunrise. Couldn't sleep at all though due to the altitude, at 3272m's!

So up at 2am for breakfast, which they tried to make us all pay for?! So all snuck out quietly, professional bum! Had a slight headache but nothing too serious. Had been a little worried about the altitude after Peru but walking up was no problem at all. So up more steps and then ropes to pull yourself up the rock slopes, all in the dark and being saturated by the clouds we were walking through. All wrapped up though so was all good! As it started to get a little lighter reached the top, but it was covered in cloud so didn't get to see the sunrise. Wasn't too bothered though, just wanted to climb it! People started going straight down again to my amazement, but was freezing up there! Persuaded a couple of others to stay and wait for the cloud to clear. We were rewarded with 20 mins or so and you could see right down to the floor! Amazing surroundings with smaller peaks and

Pitcher plant

sheer drops down from where we were standing!

Gave in to the cold eventually and went back down after lots of photo taking! Back down on the ropes, a little more scary now you could actually see where you were going! Back in Laban Rata for another breakfast within a couple of hours and then carried on down to the start. Soooo many steps, never ending, had very sore legs quite quickly and was suffering by the time we reached the bottom, a good 4 hrs later! Lunch at the park HQ and then got a free ride back as a couple of girls had already paid for their own transport, result! Crashed when I got back to KK and slept for 14hrs!

Woke with stiff legs, surprisingly! but wasn't too bad! Lazy day in KK, getting flights etc rearranged for the homeward leg. Plan is to get home in August some time! Lack of funds, but thinking its about time I came home!

Off to Sipidan tonight for some diving and flying out of Borneo back to KL on the 17th. The photos at the end are the ones I couldn't stick on the last blog,