Mt. Kinabalu Expedition: Day01

Finally I get to continue with my Mt. Kinabalu posts... Sorry for the delay because I need time to sort out the photos as I've made many shots throughout the trip... I think more than 500 shots for the entire trip =X

Still remember the post on 26th before we start our hiking journey..? Yeah.. we lepak at Tanjung Aru for the sunset view after we've made some shopping for our journey. Click HERE. Too bad Malcom was unable to join us...

That night, we packed and prepared our needs... especially food.



Look at the Gardinia bread... Twice heavier than the normal wan... already slotted with tuna and mayo (Look at the Baba, he just wanted ppl to notice his new bag).



The next morning, we left Tamparuli about 5:30am and reached to the National Park by 7:00am... After our registeration, we proceed to the Timpohon Gate, which is our starting point.
A record board showing fastest time for the climbathon 2007... From the gate to summit and back to the gate just in 2hrs 39min 10sec.... WTF???!!!



Our mountain guide, Edwin Moguring gave us a short briefing before we start our journey. We'll trek until Laban Rata resthouse which is 6km from Timpohon Gate.



A group photo... Observe the happy faces... ;)



We walk along the path... at the starting, there're many huge steps stairs. After a 3-hours walk, the path was more natural and no human-made stairs... The stairs really killing...! Suddenly Kev spotted something among the branches...



There're many pitcher plants... Not the typical that we usually see...



A little frog was there too...



Mr. Lui capturing the roadsign...



There're many people going down at that time. Mostly were foreigners... The 2 ulat miang kept staring at the white chick...



Another 1.5km more to go... Baba hoping...



As it gets higher, the scenery gets better...



Aargghh... stairs again...!



Lutut pun lembik...



Slanting...



Terrain was slippery as it rains early in the morning.



Gang photo again...



Edwin and I... He's just damn cool... No sweat... no fatique...



Baba drinking the fresh mountain water... Exteremly cold...!



At the final 1 km, there's a group of Koreans on their way down... and this happy Korean lady just wanted to take a pic with the lengchais... xD



Tay and Mr.Lui cam-horing at 5.0km checkpoint...



Don't just walk... Stop and stare...



Gang photo again.... with me this time... =D



The final 1km was the best... The trees were so unique...



The view was superb...! As if there're thousands of Bonsai plants...



Look at the twist and turn tree branches.... Either the plants are too healthy, or lack of CO2...



Not moving... Baba whacked Enigmaz' backside...



Continue moving... we won't be reaching if we keep stopping...



Until a part... the terrain changed... just like our typical rainforest...



Bunch of hungry squirrels... You can pet them... =D



Phew... finally at Laban Rata resthouse.... Wasted, the fog was so heavy. If not, the background will be the mount... T_T



3300 m above sea level... Yay..!



There's a digital and conventional thermometer at the lodge enterance. Daytime at 11.6°c... Can't imagine the cold at night at night...



In the Laban Rata resthouse... Just a small lodge... the lobby is the restaurant and the restaurant is the lobby... -_-"

The faces after day 01 mission accomplished...



Our room... Baba pengsan dy...



View of the mountain from Laban Rata... The white curtains from top of the mountain are streams...



Dinner time... Buffet style... Can't really eat much.. Perhaps the pressure difference. Everything went in just like coming out.



Check out the temp... 9.7 neh...! My room air-cond also kalah..!



Just walking around the lodge as it was raining at that time... Nothing much to do.



Yay..! Double rainbow again..!!! Seems like so common in Borneo...


We slept about 11pm as the next morning we need to wake up by 2am for the night climb via Summit Trail to the peak...

...to be continued