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!
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.
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!
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!
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