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.

Kota Kinabalu Trip P3 "Balut"

Day 3. October 21, 2012

I woke up early. It's sunday market in Gaya Street. A famous street in KK where the whole street is closed starting at 6:00 am until 1:00 pm for the locals to sell their products. Anything around the sun, from fruits to jewelries to even pets.

Gaya street is a stone throw away from Borneo Backpackers.

                                                                                       (https://maps.google.com.ph)

I took a bath and went to Gaya street to check things there. Just like here in the Philippines, example in my hometown, sunday market is a popular thing. I saw different things sold such as Jewelries, T-shirts, juices, dogs, cats, fruits, gongs and anything (this is exaggeration! LOL). After taking some snapshots, I went back to the hostel because it's quite hot.

(I also bought a local simcard (DIGI) which cost me RM15 which is preloaded with RM5, I subscribed to this text promo which is 100 texts for RM1. So maybe, that's quite enough! I need to text Carmela, my schoolmate and an orgmate from UPV Mountaineers, which I didn't mention, was already in Malaysia  having her backpacking adventures already that time =D).

So when I arrived back at the hostel, I texted carmela informing her that I already arrived in KK and I asked her how can we meet etc. So she replied that she's going to the island Labuan, Malaysia, where we could possibly meet. So I checked the internet, and it's a 3 hour ferry ride from KK.  I checked the time schedule for the ferry and a site posted that it's 3 pm. So by that time, Carmela will be in Labuan because she's in Brunei while texting me. I packed my things and I  planned to stay in Labuan for two nights. After packing, Sergio woke up and I asked what is his plan for that day. He told me, he'll meet a friend which he contacted through couch surfing. Since my ferry schedule is 3pm, i asked him if I could go with him because they plan to tour the city. Sergio said that It 's okay to go with them..

At 10 am, his friends arrived in the hostel and there were four of them - 2 Malaysian girls (Jackie and Angel), malaysian guy (Aaron) and the Australian guy (Chris). After some brief get-to-know moments, the group decided to eat breakfast at a nearby eatery.

So Jackie asked me,

Jackie: Rj, in the Philippines, what do you usually eat for breakfast?
Me: uhmm.. We have rice, egg, etc..
Jackie: Ooh! I love Philippine breakfast! You have this.. mmm... Tapsilog with rice!!! I love it!
Me: haha

After breakfast, we checked things in the sunday market and have some juice coz it's very hot.

After quite some time, the group decided to go to the floating Mosque, as Sergio was saying.

We went to this "hotel" and proceeded to the car park where Jackie's car was of course parked!

I forgot to mention that in KK, most people have cars, and funny thing is I barely see pedestrian lanes and everytime I crossed the street, it's a a life and death experience. LOL.

So, in Jackie's car, we fitted ourselves, 4 of us at the back! and while on our way, Chris asked if "how would you know that a boy turns into a man?"

Conversations went like this:


Chris: how would you know that a boy turns into a man?
? : Is there such thing as that?
?: Well, maybe, if a boy had sex with a woman!
Us: hahahaha
Chris: In the Philippines, how would you know that a boy turns into a man?
Me: In the Philippines we have this circumcision so maybe that's it!
Jackie or Angel: So all Filipino boys are circumcised?
Me: Yes! (smiles!)
?: You like circumcised men right?
Everyone laughed!!!



So after a few minutes, we arrived at the floating mosque!

The group decided to go inside but we have hesitations because our outfits are not that suitable for the situation!

When we arrived at the mosque's entrance, the man in charge told us that I and aaron are not allowed to enter the mosque because we are wearing shorts but they have this shop where you could rent proper attire to enter the mosque.

Aaron, Jackie and me decided to stay outside while Chris, Sergio and angel went inside.

While waiting for them, Aaron and Jackie shared some stories of their experiences in the Philippines.

Jackie: In Boracay, I've experienced the best massage of my life. I took off my shirt and while the masseur is doing it's the thing, the breeze of boracay feels so good!

Aaron: When we went in Baguio, I wondered why there's no aircon in our room and there's just an opening at the top part of the room and later that night I realized that it's very cold!


Jackie: You know, I ate pork in the Philippines and I love it! you know the lechon! (She told me this whispering because we're talking in the vicinity of the mosque) =))


After some time, Angel and the guys came back and we decided to go, they know that i'm leaving for Labuan at 3PM.

So while inside the car, Sergio shared what he experienced in the Philippines.

Sergio: You know, in the Philippines. They have this Balut. It's made of duck's embryo and they said if you eat it, You'll have the best erection of your life! And you need to eat three pieces of that.


Everyone laughed.

Me: So did you eat 3 pieces.

Sergio: No! I just ate a little! It's so gross!!!

Everyone laughed again!

Jackie asked me if it's not that too early for them to dropped me in Jesselton ( The name of the port), I said it's okay with me if we need to go somewhere else. It's 1 PM.

The group decided to have some snacks. Bought a pizza which we instructed the waitress to cut into slices enough for the six of us.

After some few minutes, they decided to take me to Jesselton to catch my ferry. It's 2:45 PM.

After arriving at Jesselton, I asked for the ferry ride to Labuan on the information counter and learned that the last trip was at 1pm that day.

Okay, so I decided to go back to the hostel to spend the night and catch the ferry ride by 830 AM the next day.

Day 3 ends.

Kota Kinabalu Trip P2 "Borneo"

Day 2 October 20, 2012

I woke up early at around 5 am to prepare for my long day.

I took a taxi for Philtranco Bus terminal which I paid for ~120 peso (~2.67 USD) and I was quite too early for the 8:30 departure time. I was there at 7 am.

After waiting for an hour and a half, the bus left with 4 passengers on it's way for SM Megamall to pick up other waiting passengers. When we arrived at SM Megamall, there were two passengers, so a total of 6 passengers heading for Clark International Airport (DMIA). The cost is 450 pesos (~10 USD)  for one way.

                                                  (http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/11008548.jpg)


The bus arrived at DMIA at exactly 11:00 am, proceed directly inside the airport with out any questions from authorities. So, I seated in the vacant seats inside the airport and realized, I don't have spare cash to spend after I arrive in KK. So I asked for an ATM in one the guards and told me that the ATM is outside the airport. I went out and withdrew some cash, I planned to change half the amount withdrawn to US dollars and the other half would be my spare money.

I went directly in front of the airport after I got my money to wait inside the airport. As I showed my ticket to the officer, he told me that I was too early and the check in counter for my flight would be open at 1 pm. I told him it's okay, I'll just wait inside the airport because it's hot outside. He said, there would no be available stores inside except when I'm on the departure area and that would be impossible for me because I haven't checked in yet. So I asked him where could I buy food for lunch or something and directed me to the right side of the airport, in the arrival area, where some food stalls are located. Fortunately, there's this Mini-stop where I bought my lunch.

While I'm having lunch -- actually I'm finished that time, a late 20's something girl respectfully ask for the vacant seat and we started to have some little conversation.

I learned that she went there because she's having trouble booking for the company trip and she's from Subic. I learned that she already visited KK and told me what to see there and all. She told me that she can accompany me until 1pm so I could go inside the airport. I had a very good time talking because she's smart and she's pretty. She looks like a well educated girl from a well off family. Unfortunately, I forgot to ask for her name. So sad.

After we parted ways, I immediately went inside the airport, have my ticket checked, checked in, paid necessary payments, immigration and at last in the departure area.

I was patiently waiting for my flight, when a guy sat beside me and started talking in english. He's 18 yrs old and he's a malaysian citizen. His mother is a Filipina from zamboanga and his father is autralian-malaysian by blood and doing business here in the country. He asked me about what I'm going to do in KK and I said just to roam around and climb Mt. Kinabalu. He told me there's nothing to see in KK and answered him back that maybe he could say that because he's from KK and everything is familiar for him. By the way his name is Naz, and he asked me where will I stay in KK. I told him I'm going to stay in a hostel (Borneo Backpackers) but I haven't made any reservations but I'm going to try to get a space. I also told him that I'm going to take a mini bus from the airport and make my way to the hostel. Naz, is kind enough to tell me that buses are no longer available at the time we arrive in KK and offered me to go with him in his friend's car.

After some time, our plane's gonna leave and had our seats. The plane ride would be two hours. After the plane took off, I sat beside Naz to talk because it would be a long travel. We talked about different things politics, culture and even religion. We didn't realize that we're almost in KK and the flight attendant told me to return to my original seat.

After disembarking, Naz told me that we'll meet outside the airport. So I had my passport checked in the immigration, get my ckecked in bag and went outside the airport. The terminal 2 airport is for low cost carrier flights so the airport isn't that big. I met Naz outside and we waited for his friends to come. After Naz's cigarette break, his friends came ( I can only remember his bestfriend's name - Jason) and so I stucked myself in and dropped me at Borneo Backpackers. Naz also gave his number so that I could contact him whenever I need some help for directions etc.

Borneo backpackers 

                                                             (http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/42787837.jpg)


So I went to Borneo Backpackers hoping to get some space. At first, they told me that the single rooms are the only available rooms for that day so without hesitation- even it would cost me a relatively expensive rate, I grabbed it. While talking at the counter with Maam edith- the name of the staff- I asked her if there still a space for the aircon mixed dorm ( This room from it's name is mixed men and women dorm type) and she said yes so i instantly told her that I'm going to check in for the mixed dorm so that I could save. They're kind enough to allow me and led me to room 3 near the public wash room.

When I went inside the room, there were currently four occupants. A dannish girl and guys from Spain, Italy and Germany. The german guy talked to me first asking me if where I'm from etc. and after learning that I'm from the Philippines, he asked me " So, I heard a lot of bad things about the Philippines, will you recommend  your place to me?" So as a proud Filipino, I answered, "Yes sir!" which he replied immediately "So, you're saying that the Philippines is a safe place" and I answered back "Actually sir, there are places that's quite not safe in the south but generally Philippines is a safe place" . After that he just smiled.

I forgot to mention, when I arrived the light went busted so no lights for that night! After fixing my things I talked to the spanish guy, Sergio.I told him that I was hungry and I need to eat outside and invited him if he wants to go with me. He immediately answered yes and we went outside the hostel to look for a place to eat. We ate at this chinese eatery,  and later on I learned that I'm not used to their food and it's quite strange for me. After finishing our meal, Sergio and I went at the coastal area to check the place. We talked about what he's doing there and same as the other guys, hes travelling - backpacking.

After a few minutes, we went back in the hostel, took a  bath in a heated shower and went to sleep. Indeed it was a long day and i felt very tired!

The aircon in our room is blasting cold. What I have was thin blanket from the hostel and that's it. Good time to curl up.

Day 2. The End!