The Asik Asik Falls Experience

The newly discovered tourist attraction of North Cotabato is located at Brgy. Dado in the town of Alamada. From Midsayap town, the center of commerce of the PPALMA (Pikit, Pigkawayan, Alamada, Libungan , Midsayap and Aleosan) Alliance,  we traveled by a private car to the town of Alamada which took us about 30 minutes.

Another way is to commute through public transport, which is composed of “Double-tyre Jeepneys” which will take you to the town of Alamada or directly to Brgy. Dado. From the town of Alamada, we left our private car in a police station and negotiate for single-motor drive which will take us directly to Asik Asik falls. The standard price is PhP700 and we ended up to 600 per motor. Each motor can carry up to 3 to 4 people but it is recommended that 2 passengers should be the maximum since the road is not that good and to prevent accidents.

The ride directly to Asik asik falls took us about an hour from the town proper of Alamada. The road way up is composed of dusty and rocky parts. Inclinations are about 45-50 degrees, that’s also the reason why a maximum of 2 people are allowed.

After an hour, we arrived in the jump off point. The local government has developed the place where there were already some stalls selling local delicacies like Patil, a rice with chicken toppings covered with banana leaf. There were also soft drinks and other food items.

From this point, we walked down in a hill where the falls is hidden. The walked down is composed of about ~300 steps in a half developed stairs. The local government improved the trail path after people all over the province began to visit the place.

After a few minutes, we arrived in the majestic asik asik falls. The falls looks like a curtain of falls adorned with green wild plants. The source of the water is still unknown at this time since the water is coming out of the rocky wall at the top. The current of the water is quite strong indicating a possible bigger water body source. As I would assess it, I think there exist a “Tinagong Dagat (Hidden Lake)”  up in the mountains which is a possible source of the water.

There‘s no existence of huts in the area, this is to prevent people to stay long in the area where possible accumulation of garbage can happen. It is suggested that you bring your own food to save money. The water is freezingly cold and there are deep parts but composed mostly of shallow parts. The current of the water also depends on the weather.

Generally, Asik Asik falls is a beautiful and breath taking place to visit. It is worth the effort to go there.  

Kota Kinabalu Trip P7 "The summit"

Kota Kinabalu Trip P7

Day 7. October 25, 2012

It was 1:00 AM when we woke up. Our Canadian roommate quickly went out of his bed and put some warmers. He told us to get ourselves up because he said it's colder inside the room than outside. So after some fixing of ourselves, we ready for a more challenging cold for the trek.

We went out of our hut and proceeded to Laban Rata where we will have to take our supper. A simple meal composed of continental breakfast enough to give us energy. Our Belgian groupmates we're already there taking their meal and after some time, we're all set to go. 

Since we're one of the early birds, we decided to go ahead from the rest of other climbers so we could catch sunrise at the summit. For Filipinos, the low temperature is one thing that climbing Mt. Kinabalu makes it hard - we're not used to this kind of condition. Good for me, I bought some warmers and a simple gloves to protect my hands - but it's not enough. I was thinking of carmela because she didn't bring one, and she has asthma. While we're climbing, I often checked her but she said she was OK. I always checked on her everytime I stopped and she tells me to go ahead, it would not be a problem since the guide was behind her. 

As we proceeded to the granite part of the peak, a rope is provided to help you climb some steep part. At this moment, since it was dark it was quite scary. But as they say "Just go on, and don't look back!", I continued to follow the rope and as I checked for Carmela and our guide, they're quite far from me. 

There were times in the climb that I was walking alone because the climbers were either too way ahead of me or too behind me. I was making little steps and rest for some time to keep my pace constant. There were times when I would passed by  some climbers who were resting and made some "hi's and hello's and see you at the top" conversations  just to keep our spirits alive to reach the summit.

After sometime I was already climbing the Low's peak and it's just a little push to reach it. At 5:41 AM, I reached the Low's peak at 4,095.2 MASL. The temperature dropped a little more, but I was thankful to my warmers which has served it's purpose. It took me almost four hours to climb the peak.

I'm one of the few who reached the the summit at an early time. Some white men and Malaysians started to take pictures of the view at the top. Take turns to have picture of their selves and I was even asked to take photos of them. I was waiting for Carmela to reach the summit so we could have individual pictures, finally, at around past 6, she also managed to reach it while catching her breath. It was so cold, that our hands we're feeling numb and some friction doesn't help.

First few who made it to the top.

Taking picture of myself - waiting for Carmela to reach the top.

After a few minutes when carmela arrived, I suggested that we should go down because it's cold in the peak. She agreed and we started to trek down. Since we had already conquered the peak, we started to enjoy taking pictures. We are also concerned of going down as fast as possible because we don't like to get wet again in the rain. Usually, it rains during the afternoon. 

The steep part.

We arrived in Laban Rata at around 30 minutes past 8. We checked out our things from the resthouse and went to the cafeteria where our lunch was served. We had a very good meal after a tiresome climb. 

Our guide - Abi - was an ex-porter for Laban Rata. An article was made featuring him was written in honour of the "unsung heroes". 

At around 10:00 AM, we decided to trek down from Laban Rata back to Kinabalu park. We started a fast pace to catch our Belgian groupmates but unfortunately Carmela got injured and after some time my knees also started to feel pain. We started to slow down halfway but it was good because the expected rain didn't come. 

One of the porters I met along the way, he's a carrying a door frame.

Pitcher plants.

While on our way down, to our surprised, we saw Ollie and Rico climbing for Laban Rata and maybe they will climb the peak at the same day. We had a little funny conversations that goes like this:

Carmela: Did you bring some warmers?

Ollie: No! I don't need it!

Me: He don't need it because he's Caucasian!

Ollie: Yeah! Because you Filipinos are weak! 

And that was a quick laughed to lessen the pain in our knees and legs that time.

At around 2:30 PM, we arrived at Timpohon Gate. We took a mini bus which took us back to the park, bid goodbye to our guide, Kuya Abi and went directly to the restaurant for our last buffet dinner.

Together with Belgian guys, we had our meal and some little talks and convincing to visit the Philippines. After some time, we decided to part ways, the white guys were going somewhere in central Sabah to start their next adventure, while me and Carmela took a bus for Kota Kinabalu. 

When we arrived in KK, Carmela and I had dinner in the night market and after that decided to part ways.

I arrived back to the hostel at past 8PM. Took a bath and slept.

Day 7 ends. 

Kota Kinabalu Trip P6 "Cold sickness"

Kota Kinabalu Trip P6

Day 6. October 24, 2012

The night before I and carmela parted ways, we planned to meet by 530 AM the next morning to catch public transport bus and mini buses to take us in Kinabalu park. 

I woke up around 430AM, took a bath and get myself ready. I texted carmela that If she arrives in the hostel, she'll just drop me a txt message (Carmela and i agreed to meet at the hostel where I'm staying and that night she stayed in a couch surfing friend). There was no reply and I was thinking that she ran out of load, so i decided to call her. She answered my call and she said that she's on her way to hostel. 

I went out of the hostel and waited for her outside, that was 530 AM. After an hour, I tried to call her again and she answered that she got lost on her way that's why she haven't arrived yet.

At almost 7 AM, and admittedly, a little pissed, Carmela arrived and hurriedly went to the Plaza area where we would try to look for a transpo going to Kinabalu Park. While we're on our way to the plaza, the woman we met the night before saw us and again offered to take us to Wawasan bus terminal, where we'll take a bus for the park. Since we're late, and maybe Carmela sensed that I'm not in the mood, she agreed to the woman and she told me that sh'ell be paying 75% of the fare. So I agreed and get ourselves inside the "taxi". While on our way, carmela asked the woman if how much would she offer us if she would take us directly to the park and she answered - since we are Filipinos,  it would be RM 180 (~P 2,520) and the regular cost RM 200 (~P 2,800). We agreed because we thought we really have no choice because the time is running and we need to catch our climbing time at 9 AM. Regular buses would take about 2 hours from Kota Kinabalu to Kinabalu Park!  

While on our way to Kinabalu park, the woman asked us different random questions like the Ampatuan Massacre, that she's malaysian but because she has a lot of Filipino friends, she learned to speak Tagalog, and even forced us to avail of the climbing certificate that would cost RM10 for each of us. She also told us that If we arrived in the park back from the climb,  we would text her so she could fetch us but carmela told her that maybe we'll take the bus.

We arrived in Kinabalau park around past 9 but the woman said that it's okay  eventhough we're late because we made a call to the park that we're coming.

I was wearing a T-shirt and a shorts with my trekking shoes on but when we arrived  in the park, I changed my mind! It's very cold!

Carmela and I directly went to the counter where guest can confirm their reservations. As soon as things we're okay, we checked for other climbers that could share the guide with us. It is one way to minimize the cost. The Belgian men we saw the other night we're there and fortunately they were looking also for climbers who can share the guide. We agreed and we waited for our ID's to be released and also our packed lunch which was included in our reservation.

I chanced to have some little talks with one of the Belgian guys, his name is Wenas though it's spelled as Wanes (I forgot the name of the other guy) and learned from them that they we're fresh graduates from college and spending their time travelling before they get into their jobs - Their engineers by the way, construction and mechanical? They said they went there for Mt. Kinabalu and soon they'll go to Australia to surf and they plan also to dive somewhere in Asia and climb a mountain in Indonesia. I told him that if they visit the Philippines, they can all do that in the country. He just smiled and told me that maybe in their next travel, they'll consider.

After arranging for our guide, we took a van to take us to the Timpohon gate. This is where we'll start our trek.

At the Timpohon Gate with the two Belgian guys behind.

Our guide's name is Abi. Before we started trekking, there's a simple briefing at the gate on the routes and stations that we'll passed through and sign some sheets.

We started at around 11 AM. The weather was cold and there's a big chance of raining. The Belgian guys were ahead of us and apparently, they walked fast. There were also some trekkers who we're with us but they have different guides - they are composed of mostly white people and some Asians - Koreans. Actually the guides, if you think of it, are not necessarily needed because the park and the mountain is commercialized. It is easy to find your way, given that there are signage and cottages available while you are climbing. But for formality and most mountain climbing essentials, guides are necessary. The guides usually stays near with slowest hiker of the group, so for our group, our guide - Abi- is behind carmela. Carmela has an asthma but she's really a determined mountain climber.

 A falls while trekking

 Trekking would be easy by this.  =)

 A common sight while trekking - A squirrel.

It rained! Good thing, we bought some poncho! It was cheap and not that durable though.

We arrived at Laban Rata at past 5 PM. It's very cold but the view was amazing. We checked-in and ate our buffet dinner. The schedule for the climb would usually require you to eat your dinner at around 5PM to 7PM. So to make use of the money we spent for the reservation, we ate a lot - actually carmela did- and enjoy the BUFFET dinner.

The Laban Rata

Me and our guide - Kuya Abi

Carmela enjoying her buffet dinner.

Want some Sabah Tea? ;)

At around 7PM, Carmela and I decided to go to our cottage. Our cottage was quite far from the building where we had our dinner. Wearing our jackets, we went to our cottage shivering. The cottage looks good and it has a lot rooms. The rooms have 2 double decks - complete with mattresses enough to keep you warm for the night. Since we reserved for three, there's a single vacant bed. The other bed which when enter the room was already occupied, so we thought that maybe the person there went out to do something. After fixing our bags and some things, we hurriedly jump of the bed with my warmers on until someone opened our door.

Canadian guy: Hi guys! what are you doing?
Me: uhmm.. we're sleeping now! It's very cold! and we're not used to this kind of weather!
Canadian guy: You know, this weather is still hot for me! In Canada it's much colder! (While talking, he took off his pants - he was wearing shorts and a shirt for the night) Okay, goodnight!
Me and Carmela: Goodnight!

So Okay, while we're suffering from cold sickness, it's still hot for him. =))


Day 6 ends!

Kota Kinabalu Trip P5 "Nasi Goreng"

Kota Kinabalu Trip P5

Day 5. October 23, 2012


Nothing so much this day.

I woke up at around 8 AM and everyone in the room were still sleeping. So I made my way out of the room and prepared some breakfast. The same thing with the hostel in KK, we have toasted bread with jam and coffee/cocoa/tea.

After a few minutes, Carmela woke up, prepared her breakfast and everyone also woke up.

Rico, the Italian guy, learned the night before that I and Carmela are climbing Mt. Kinabalu and he was interested to join. We told him, we have a spare slot that we reserved for Laban Rata and if he wants to go with us, he'll just pay for it. Ollie was actually convincing him the night before that he should be joining us. Conversations something went like this:

Ollie: You should climb!
Rico: No, I'm not climbing!
Ollie: Why?
Rico: I'm not ready, mentally and Physically!
Ollie: You're a big man, so you can do it! For the team Philippines!
Rico: No...
Me: You should join us!
Rico: How much do you weigh?
Me: <Smiles!>
Rico: So I think you weigh about 50kg and I'm twice as your weight. I'm gonna get my ass off at the top of that mountain!
Everyone laughed!

When Rico woke up, I asked him if he went out with Ollie together with the British girls last night and he answered:


Rico: Who's Ollie?
Me: The British guy!
Rico: Oh! Is that his name? yeah! I'm with them last night!

So Okay, that's an eye opener for me. I really thought that they knew each other's name the day before because really!, they talked they knew each other since they were 10! haha

I asked again Rico if he already decided to go with us in the mountain and he said he's going with Ollie because they decided to climb the mountain and they will do it in just one day- half day to climb up and the other half to go down. They also convinced the two British girls- Lisa and Lottie- to join them.

Carmela and i decided that we'll leave Labuan by noontime, the Europeans also decided to leave. So for the sake of travelling, the group decided to take the way via Menumbok. Labuan to Menumbok would take you more or less hour by ferry and about two hours by bus from Menumbok to KK.

www,map.google.com

www.map.google.com

Ollie, Lottie, Lisa and Rico - In Labuan Port

Menumbok, Sabah, Malaysia

After arriving in Menumbok, we took a bus for KK. It took us 2+ hours and it's almost dark when we arrived in KK. The bus dropped us in the central terminal/Plaza and bid goodbyes to our friends. The Europeans planned to eat dinner in KK for awhile and will be going to Kinabalu park that night.

Carmela and I walked along the plaza and encountered a woman in her 50's and asked us if where are we going.

Woman: Are you going to climb Mt. Kinabalu?

Carmela: Yes! Tommorrow..

Woman: What time is your schedule?

Carmela: 9AM

Woman: You should be going now in Kinabalu park! Tomorrow there'll be no bus to take you there! Here I have this taxi and you can go with these guys (pointing to a two white guys). They are from Belgium and they are waiting for other passengers to share this taxi with!

Me: (Making hand gestures to Carmela to go and leave the woman because obviously she's making some monkey business!) Carms! Tara na!

Woman: Where you from?

Carmela: From the Philippines!

And she began speaking in Tagalog and I didn't hear it because I didn't pay attention. After that, Carmela told her that we'll back tomorrow in case we cannot catch the bus. She gave her calling card to Carmela, well in case!

Carmela wanted to change her cash for the local currency but we couldn't find any open forex shop so I decided to withdraw some cash and let her borrow mine.

We decided to eat at the Filipino/Night market where locals and I think, most people there are really Filipino but I couldn't distinguished them from Malaysians because they speak the local dialect. While crossing the street, we bumped in one carmela's couch surfing friend together with another white friend-Australian. We decided to eat together at the night market, and Carm's Malaysian friend made the transactions for us so they could not raise the price once they knew we're foreigners.

After a few minutes, her friend went back and he already ordered some grilled fish with Nasi Goreng (Fried Rice) and Lato (seawweeds). It was the best meal I've experienced in KK. I was very full and it's a treat =)! Her friend told us that "We should not try to climb Mt. Kinabalu, we should enjoy it!" A very good to bear in mind while climbing. =)

After we're done with our meal, Carmela texted another couch surfing buddy where she will stay for the night. We bid goodbyes for the two new friends and I went back to the hostel.

Day 5 Ends.

Kota Kinabalu Trip P4 "Aussie Accent"

Kota Kinabalu Trip P4

Day 4. October 22, 2012

Because I got the wrong info the other day, I made sure that for this day, I got the right one.

At around 7:00 am, i went to Jesselton to catch the first trip for Labuan. I got an economy ticket for 30 RM (~420 pesos) fair enough for a 3 hour ferry ride.

So I waited at the departure area for boarding and chat some seatmates. At 8:00, the inspector called for boarding and headed for the fast craft. As I enter the economy area, I tried to find my seat number but there are no obvious signage so I sat at the corner. As people were coming in, they were also trying to find their numbers so I asked a malaysian middle aged man for my seat and pointed to a seat at the center aisle. So I transferred and checked if there's really a number on it. The numbers are actually written at the side of the seat and it's not clear and suddenly a woman behind me said " That's your seat number" and I said "Thank you!" and I sat.

After sitting, the woman suddenly whispered in tagalog "Pwede namang lumipat kahit saan basta wala lang tao!" and I looked back and asked " Filipina ka?"

She: oo! nakita ko kasi ang passport mo, pareho tayo!
Me: Ang saya ko! First time kung may nakausap na Filipino.

And I asked her what's shes doing there and learned that she's working in Brunei and she was from Sulu and made her way to Sabah by backdoor to Sandakan.

After that I tried to sleep for the three hour travel and but kept on waking up because it's quite very cold, because of the ferry's airconditioner.

At 11:00 am, the ferry arrived at Labuan, I texted Carmela to fetch me at the port and fortunately, the hostel is a walking distance from the port. I met carmela and made our way to the hostel.

Jack's B/B (Bed/Breakfast) is ideal for backpackers and cater visitors with uncle Jack's (the owner) hospitable nature. The place has 5-6 rooms with 2 rooms are dorm type while the others are private rooms. It has a kitchen where you can prepare your breakfast (Toasted bread with jam and coffee/tea).  If permitted, and I think if you asked permission from uncle jack and would probably allow you to cook your own dish like what we did ;) . You can also do your laundry and can relax on the "veranda" outside the back area.

As I rest and  had some bread, there these two women cleaning at Jack's. I forgot to ask for their names but the younger one is the daughter of the older woman. As we talked to them and later learned that we're from the Philippines, this woman started to talk in broken tagalog and find it to be interesting. She's a malaysian and told us that she learned tagalog from her parents who visited Sulu way back and also because of the influence brought by "Jericho Rosales" - Teleserye  thingy. =)

I stayed on the room same as carmela in the mixed dorm. In the room there were currently four occupants including a carmela, a britsh guy - ollie and two aussie-british girls (lisa and lottie) - actually they are british but they have this aussie accent which I later learned that they stayed in Australia for a year. In Jack's, there's this tall Italian man, Ricardo (Rico) where Ollie and him we're always hanging together, sharing some funny stuff. We invited Ollie if he wants to go out with us and he said he's fine! we told him that we're going to cook Adobo for dinner. He said h'ell just be around after we're back.

At past 12, Carmela and I went out for lunch and went downtown to explore the island. Labuan is a duty free state so goods such as beer, chocolates, cigarettes etc are quite cheap.We went to Labuan's museum and other places nearby.

So after spending the whole afternoon walking around the city, we looked for the ingredients we needed for our adobo! We bought some chicken cuts and bought vinegar, onions and garlic. We looked for peppercorn in sachets and bay leaves but couldn't find one. We decided to look for these things in the supermarket near the hostel but couldn't find peppercorn in sachet but those in big containers. The bay leaves are hopeless! I told Carmela to buy the peppercorn because we have no choice and it's one of the main ingredients nevermind the bay leaves.

All are set, so we started cooking our adobo, a little boiling of chicken to extract chicken oil and this will serve as our cooking oil. Put the other ingredients and voila its "pseudo-adobo" haha I asked Carmela to buy plain rice and it cost a lil expensive but it's okay I'm hungry! =))

We also had conversations with the malaysians who are staying in Jacks, including some working men and Daryl. Daryl is a young chef working in Labuan and when we told him that we're from the Philippines, he asked us some Filipino words that he can use to his FB girl friend! LOL! 

Ollie and rico joined us in our dinner. Jack had his share too. They find it good and we tried to explain to them that it's not perfect but anyway for them it's good. so no worries! =))

After eating, I'm supposed to wash the dishes but rico asked me if he can wash it because i'm the one who cooked. So okay, no problem =))

Ollie also invited to have some beer, so he went out and bought some beers, one can for each of us! we spend the night talking funny stuff etc.

At around 9 pm we went back to our room and the two "aussie" girls are having a good time playing guessing games while sipping their mug-vodka-shots. After some time, Ollie and rico joined them and you know british stuff so i can't really relate and i chose to listen and well.. I'm having fun. 

After some time, they decided to go out to have some "food" so i slept LOL.

So at around 1 am, I woke up because the two aussie girls arrived and very drunk but they managed to get into the hostel without any problem. But when I tried to sleep again, a malaysian guy woke me up and said "You're friend! (making sleeping action with both hands folded and head bend on the side) pointing to the comfort room! So okay Lottie slept in the CR, and as I tried to check her, she  finally managed to go back to our room. =))

Day 4 ends.