2012:Escape to Mount Kinabalu?

Mount Kinabalu in Sabah is indeed one of the youngest non-volcanic mountains in the world! Its majestic peak tops out at 4,095m and is easily recognized as the highest mountain in the Malay Archipelago region.

Now…  many of us have seen that ‘horrifying’ sequence  trailer of the very much anticipated ‘2012’ movie (attached below). And some even commented that if ‘ it’  was really to happen… would Mount Kinabalu be the safest bet to escape that catastrophic event within this region?

Errr… wellll… I don’t know about that. Indeed I don’t really believe that it would actually happen (as depicted in the movie). But then again… in this post I would like to share with you my own experience of climbing this gorgeous mountain. Yeah, it was yearsss ago when I first ascended the summit of Kinabalu. So, be warned, some of the photos you see here are quite old, really:) But the experience has always been fresh and new on my mind… forever.

Stairways to Heaven...

Good thing is, no climbing experience is really required to conquer the peak of Borneo… that is if you take the main route. So, like many other ordinary average people, I started from the main starting point located in the Kinabalu Park. The park is located less than 2 hours drive from Kota Kinabalu, the capital city of  Sabah.

When the going gets tough...

Average person, me very much included…:) takes about 4 to 6 hours to reach about 3/4 of the way to the summit. This mid-way spot is called Panar Laban(3,270m).

I was also informed that presently the Sabah Parks limits the number of climbers to only 192 people a day. Why such an odd figure, eh?

Dreamy Ascend...

Anyway, given the popularity of the Mount Kinabalu, it is advisable to book your adventure/climbing at least 3-4 months in advance! Indeed, some have claimed that they have to book as early as 6 months prior the climbing! Whoa! Try to beat that!  Truth is… Mount Kinabalu is really, truly that immensely popular. And why not? The site has even been declared by UNESCO as a WORLD HERITAGE SITE.  So there you go…

 

Finally... after 4 hours of climbing... catch the glimpse of your 'Reward-Of-The-Day'!

I finally reached Panar Laban where I stayed overnight at the Laban Rata Rest House. Mind you, camping is a big ‘NO, NO!’ (as strictly stipulated in the National Park’s rules & regulations). So, you are left with the choice of very limited accommodation choices. There are actually other accommodations ‘available’ beside the Laban Rata Rest House, ie ‘Gunting Lagadan’ and ‘Sayat Sayat Huts’. And that’s about it:( So, sadly, in the event that there is no accommodation available here, it is not possible for you to continue with your climbing plan. And, oh yeah, a Mountain Guide is compulsory.

Now... the 'real' climbing starts

At that time I had to pay only RM30 for a bed (in a dorm). And RM10 for dinner… a bowl of Instant Noodle Soup! I thought that was already wayyy too much for me. But listen to this… the current price for a bed plus meals (a packed box, buffet lunch, dinner & breakfast) for one person is a whopping RM330! And this rate is valid for Malaysians, Permanent Resident of the country and also for those with Malaysian working permits.

Dont get sloppy on the slope!

The real challenge for me started on the next day. Very, very early on the next day indeed. By 4 am I was already in the midst of  struggling to grope the rope (and tried to do my best not to get myself strangled in the process…)  in order to ascend the slope leading to the peak.

Now… the thing is…if you reached the summit too early, it will be too freezing cold to wait for the sunrise. So, listen to your Mountain Guide’s advise. He/She knows best.  And for me, that last part of the climbing…with ropes and slippery slopes and all… that was the hardest!  But then again… below here are the rewards…

View from Top

'Aki Nabalu': literally means 'Home of the Ancestral Spirits' in Kadazan/Dusun(the natives of Sabah)

So, every Malaysian (and also those who come to visit this blessed country), if you are able to find time and means, I would strongly recommend you to climb this beautiful, gorgeous mountain… at least once in your life time. Well… you don’t have to wait until the year 2012 to do that. Go now if you can. The experience is, honestly, beyond any words that I could print in here. But if I were to sum it up in only one word, the word would simply be… AWESOME!

Sing now...'Shine on me...!'

eSa @ Kinabalu Park. Before the climb

LifeLine

Yeeehaw! Made it to the Top! eSa clutching tight to the Visitors Record Book!

Living on the Edge

'Bad-Hair-Day' at the top