Preparation for Mount Kinabalu Climb ...

Mount Kinabalu is the most famous place for climbers in Malaysia. Low's Peak is 4095.2 meters above sea level. Conquering Mont Kinabalu is not as easy as it thought. You need to be well prepared both mentally and physically. Beside that, you also must prepare some of the major equipments.

1. Windbreaker
2. Raincoat (Disposable one will be better, easier to carry around)
   
3. Gloves (Water resist will be a good choice)
4. Socks (Bring extra pairs)
5. Boots (the cheap and practical Kampung Adidas would be good enough)
6. Headlights (Avoid China made one :P)
7. Instant Energy ( Glucose, Chocolate Bar , etc)
8. Robber Mask :P (In case it get too cold)
   

Got this sets of Robber mask from my hometown (Sandakan) for RM3 each!

Kampung Adidas! Its a bit harsh on your feet, but u will be surprise how nice it grips on slippery rocks.

Be prepare!

Map for the route to the Low's Peak. There is 2 choices either it will be from the Timpohon Gate or Mesilau Gate. Both trail will meet up at Layang-Layang. Timpohon to Laban Rata will be 6km while Mesilau to Laban Rata will be 7.5km. From Laban Rata to Low's Peak will be 2.7km.

Mt Kinabalu Trip..

This trip was planned since 6 months ago. Due to the popularity of Mt Kinabalu, we have to book our trip early as the resort will be fully occupy just minutes after the booking being release.

We planned for 16 person but only 14 of us turn up at the trip. We took flight as early as 6.50am on 24/april/2008 departing from KL to KK. The flight arrive at KK at 9.20am then we rented 3 Proton Wira for this trip.

After having our Brunch at Damai, we headed to warisan square some last minute shopping. Soon after we finish up our shopping, we head directly towards our first destination, BCCM camp which is situated near Mt. Kinabalu Park. After check-in and change we went to Hot Spring Poring to enjoy the waterfall and canopy walk there. Soon after we were done there, we headed back to our hostel where my Mum has already prepare the dinner for all of us. It was a tiring day as we went to airport early in the morning and has to travel here and there, so end up after taking dinner, we all slept early as a preparation for tomorrow's journey to the top of the mountain.

25/Apr/2008, Today we will start the climb. All of us wake up as early as 0530 hours to make some last minute preparation.

We were looking at the Mt.Kinabalu and some of them says "HuH? So Short only ah.. " :P Myself standing on a platform at BCCM camp with Mt. Kinabalu behind me.
All pack up and ready to go. We took a group photo befor we leave our hostel. This is the view of the mountain from the Mt Kinabalu Park. Its much nearer compare to BCCM camp. Soon after we settle all the registeration and check-in for the night, we started our journey.

At the begining of the journey, everyone seems energetic and has a very strong will to reach the peak. The first part of the hiking was as long as 6km using Timpohon route. We started at 0910 Hours. Lum was the fastest to reach Laban Rata, he reach there at 1215 hours followed by Yew at 1245 hours. Followed by Graven, Siew Ming , Me, Eng Keat and Loon at 1335 hours. Others reach at 1445 hours and latest by 1645 hours.
Its raining when we reach Laban Rata (at 3233M above sea level). Notice from the picture there is water flowing down from the top of the mountain.
We rested for the night and prepare our 2nd stage journey at 0230 hours the next day. The temperature at 3233M ASL is only 7 degree. We were all fully armed with hand gloves, masks, jackets and pants.

Here are some of the funny senario's made by my funny friends. Terrorist act!

We manage to pass the 2nd check point at 4062M ASL and headed towards the peak. But the weather turn worse, Heavy rain and strong wind causes the temperature to drop below freezing point. our pants, clothes and gloves were very wet due to the rain and mist leaving us freezing cold. Though the weather was that bad, I insist of heading towards the peak. Till apoint where i felt that my life could be in danger in i continue this journey as my body temperature was droping drastically already. The Mountain guide suggested us to return as it would be dangerous. Finally we gave up at around 4080M ASL (I think), and we started our return trip to Laban Rata. We were so close to the top yet so far. The peak is 4095M ASL but due to the bad weather is very hard for us to reach. Any how, its a very nice experince as we know how difficult it would be in such a situation.

I wasn't able to capture any picture there as it was raining.

Here are some of the beautiful scenery ....
Although we didn't manage to reach the peak, but we had a great time. We will come back for revenge in the future! Next time we will be even better equip!

Mt. Kinabalu .. here I come again ..

Since I'm a Sabahan, reaching the peak of Mt Kinabalu has to be a must for our own pride :P. I first went up to the peak was 8 years ago. 2nd April 2000. That time I was only 18! lolz. Now Im going 26, again I'm going to challenge myself against the mountain. The journey this time will be together with another 14 friends. Its a journey that test both physically and mentally. I have to be physically fit to be able to reach the top yet i have to be mentally strong as well.

This trip has been planned since Nov last year. Its seems like just a blink and now that tomorrow we will be heading for this journey. The whole trip will be 4D/3N . We will be visiting the Hot spring as well.

I hope i'm fit enough to reach the peak again.. not hope , its a must! :) After this i have to prepare for another round as i promise my fren to bring her next time :)

Living my old company ...

Before I've actually resign from my previous company, many people advice me to stay back to the old company because they offer me better allowance when overseas and most likely its a larger company which is more stable compare to the new company that I just join. Well, I know myself well enough, maybe I'm still young, I love to explore.. I want more challange! I know I'm that kind of person who learn very fast when I'm on Challange mode.

Finally, everything is over with my old company. At first I'm kind of worried that i would regret living the old company, but i end up kind of like the new company that I'm currently in. Thanks to all the intensive work loads from my previous company, now with the 2 years experince I'm able to catch up with the work here easily. In just mearly 3 days I'm here, I've already been assign to a task. I hope there is more challange to come so that i could learn faster. I wish that i could make big money with a promising carrier before I'm 30 !!! so that our dream (me n my brother) to start our retirement by age of 40's :P will come true! haha. Well, thats just kind of AIM which i dont think I would do. Cause if I retired 40 , I will be bored to death!

After I left my old company, I heard all sorts of troubles storming my old company. There are imigresen Issues, delay on Increment, no backdate for the increment (unconfirm). Problems seem to be stacking up all the way. I really hope they could solve the imigresen issue as I worry Some of my friends would be in trouble when they are going in or leaving Jakarta. My excolleague use to says that I leave the company in a very Good time! lolz... Anyhow, all the best to you all!!

After a week in Malaysia

Life was back to normal the day i step back onto Malaysia's soil. But lot of things has to be adjust back. I use to have to wake up on time and catch my daily company van for a trip to the office but now I have to drive myself to office which i would happily like to do so. Lunch time is still the same but I hangout with different colleagues. Dinner time is a bit different for me here in Malaysia. Back then in Jakarta, I've lots of colleagues staying together, where by I can dinner with them anytime. Here in Malaysia, I stay alone in a Town house own by my aunt at Sunway Damansara. It might be bored having dinner alone sometimes but then Its kind of relaxing when u juz wanna get away from the crowd sometimes. When I'm bored of having dinner alone, I will call out my frens and we would have dinner together at where ever I want.

I guess I'm so use to spending in Jakarta. Back to Malaysia if a single lunch cost RM10, I would have say, it is not that expensive at all !!! But then my colleague will start to curse me... LoLz.. Back in Jakarta, cheapest food during lunch would be at WI, which cost roughly RM3 ~ RM4, and for dinner would roughly cost RM10 or better one would be RM20. Here a dinner which cost over RM5 would already been expensive. Haha. I guess i would have to readjust to spend less here in Malaysia.

Lately it has been raining most of the time during the evening. Its actually kind of nice to have a cold weather for a relaxing weekend. But then it spoilt my mood today as i was thinking of going to have a jogging session today. Anyhow, just before it rains, I manage to have a round trip at my housing area which i was planing to do 3 today .. LoLz... hmm.. I wonder when my fren can get me the access to California Fitness so i can join them for Yoga, boxing and of coz swimming :)
Sadly, the weekend is almost over and tomorrow is gonna be another blue monday. Well i guess this is what we call Life. Anyhow I'll get use to it :). Glad that I'm finally back to my motherland.

New Life @ New Job

1st April, today is my first day to start my new job in my new company. I have been longing for working back here in KL for sometime. This morning, i woke up at 8 am then i only start to travel to my working place at 8.30 am. Its not like when I'm in Jakarta. Here i can drive my own car, listen to whatever music i want, drive which ever route i want!

As I reach office, my new colleague and I decides to trick my new boss. We sms him says we want to resign. LoLz. He indeed believe what we says at first because he was still sleeping when we SMS him hence he is still very Blur!! but later on he notice it is April Fool! :P

Anyhow, new job seems to be good to me. Every source seems familiar as the core banking is from my previous company. The only different is that the way we do things and the tools we use. I really hope i can do well here. :)

Regain my Freedom...

18/June/07, the day i touchdown at Jakarta airport for Bank Bumiputra project. That day onwards, my total freedom were reduce to mearly sports and "Wu liao"-ing with my frens in TA appartment here in Jakarta.

27/Mar/08, the last day that i finally left Jakarta heading back to Malaysia. It has been a 6 week stay for me. The moment i step onto Malaysia soil, I have this feel of very much relief... Its kind of like , I'm finally home..

When I'm still working for SL previously, everytime i come back to Malaysia, I'll spend all my time hangout with my frens. This time I've choose to stay home and clean my house a bit as I know i have lots of chances to hang out with my frens :).

Life is so relaxing here in Malaysia. I can go out with my frens and yumcha anytime I wan :).. I finally regain my Freedom...