Kota Kinabalu Trip 4th - 8th July, 2008 (Part 1)

The day before the trip, 3th July, I was on leave and shopping at Jusco, Kepong. It was so exciting to take 5 days continuous leave and having a great holiday tomorrow. I have spent a lot of money in the trip of buying the stuffs that needed for the Mt. KK climbing such as 'Deuter Bag', Water Bladder, Chocolate Bar, Mt. Climbing shoe, short pants, medication tools etc...

Here the things I bring along for the KK trip.

For those who interested to climb Mt. Kinabalu, the things MUST bring along are as follows:-

1. Windbreaker/Warm Jacket
2. Glove (Your hand might be get cold when you reached Laban Rata)
   
3. Benny Hat (Your ears will drop if you don't wear it)
4. Rain Coat (There have some possibility of raining)
5. Chocolate Bar (You might be feel hungry all the time while hiking)
6. Head Light/ Torch Light (Very important when you climb for the 2nd day to summit)
7. Track shoe (optional to bring spare shoe)
8. Water (luckily I have bladder)
9. Medication (Poh Chai Yun, Panaldo) but I didn't use it at all
10. Extra clothing (you might feel very cool out there)

Thanks for the birthday gift - the glove and the headlight from my fellow colleagues - Ken Koi, Cherrie Ang, Lee Chuen, Daniel Chung, Novenn Teng, Sharon Leong and Cheau Huey. This two things is very much useful when I'm climbing the mountain.

I was overnight at my friend, Cyrus's apartment and departed from there to LCCT airport.

Day 1 (4th July, 2008)

Each person carrying 2 bags, 1 big 1 small. We are taking 6.50am flight to KK. We reach the KK airport about 9.30am.

I have totally not planned for this trip because I leave it to my friend to arrange everything. What I have planned is just train my stamina and strength only. So, I did not know what's the itinerary for the trip. It is quite adventurous with unknown activities for this 5D 4N trip. I'm just follow what that they have been planned.

We have 5 persons went for the trip. There are Cyrus, Rachel, Jess, Janice and me.

Here is the place where we stay. We've booked 2 rooms and staying 3 nights at here.

Once we reached the KK airport, the travel agency's driver was waiting us and also Jess' god father who are staying in KK was bringing us for fun after that. We reached Borneo Global BackPackers and checked-in at 10am.

The first day of the trip is free and easy. They have decided to go for snorkeling. Jess' uncle was fetched us to the Jesselton Point where we bought the ticket for the boat transfer to the island.

We have decided to visit 3 islands which are Sapi Island, Manukan Island and Manutik Island. For those who are first timer, please don't choose too many island, you won't be have enough time to visit all. I suggested visit 2 island is more than enough.

We having our lunch at one of the hawker stall in the Jesselton Point. I've ate a mix rice. It cost me RM5.30. Not cheap huh? It almost like KL price.


12.10pm - we were on the boat, depart from Jeti to the first island.

Okay guys, ready? Let's go for the first island.

The first island that we visited is Sapi Island. It take about 30 minutes boat transfer from Jeti to here.


We having our first snorkeling trip in Sapi Island. Seaside is quite beautiful but there are less fish and corals compare with Redang and Perhentian Island.

I love the phrase - Take Nothing But Photographs, Leave Nothing but Footprints

I was get injured for the first snorkeling in Sapi Island. My foot was being slight cut by the rocks. That's was not a good signal for me to climb Mt. Kinabalu. Few of my trip companions were also get injured but not as serious as me. We leave Sapi Island at 1.45pm and proceed for our second island.

The second island we visited is Manukan Island. It just about 20 minutes from Sapi Island to here. Manukan Island is the biggest island among the 3 island we visit.

We stopped snorkeling anymore due to scare of get hurt again of our foots. So, we rest, enjoying the seaside and shower here. We spent one and half hour here.

And also having a ice cream.

Strong wind. It's getting raining later.


3rd Island, Manutik Island. It takes 10 minutes from Manukan to Manutik. We have just staying 5 minutes in this island due to raining at that moment.

We have back to Jesselton Point at 4.30pm. While waiting for Jess' uncle to fetch us, we have bought some food at grocery for tomorrow breakfast. At 5.10pm, we have reached to BG Backpackers, and get some rest and prepare for dinner after that. About 6pm, we get out for BG Backpackers and having dinner fetched by Jess' uncle.

We having our dinner at chinese seafood restaurant near Tanjung Aru. The dishes are quite nice. We have a Sabah Vegetable, Sawi, Salad Prawn, Pork hand, Fish. Thanks for Jess' uncle for the treat.


After our stomach get full, we proceed to see culture dance at Tanjung Aru Seafood Restaurant.

And takes some photo with the native. Japanese having a threat by natives.

Not fair! Why Cyrus having nice photo with pretty natives.

We walked along the beach and across the hawker centre. A lot of nice food to eat here as well. This place is called 'First Beach'

At 8.20pm, we back to BG Backpackers and drop Rachel at there due to his uncle bring her for other activity. Then, Jess' uncle continued to fetch us have a round in Kota Kinabalu City. We have passby UMS, Likas, Mini Putra Jaya and One Borneo. We back to BG Backpackers again at 9.50pm and sleep.

Day 2 (5th July, 2008)
We having our breakfast at BG Backpackers.

We woke up at 7.30am and having breakfast of our own food at 8am. The 2nd day of this trip activity is Water Rafting. We started depart from here to Kiulu White River at 9.10am and reached there at 10.20am.

Here is the place where we having a great fun. The water level of the Kiulu White River is grade 1-2 and has been increased to 2-3 due to heavy rain yesterday. The greater the level the more swiftly the rapid.

Met a new friend here, Elliot from Chicago, USA.

That is our great team for the water rafting.

Its having a tough experienced on this.

We did it.


Happy face after rafting. All thumb up.

We finished our rafting at 1pm. It takes about 1 hour 30 minutes to complete the distance of 10km river journey. This is my first time I try water rafting and it was so fun. Perhaps next time I will try the higher graded water rafting. Later, we clean ourselves and prepared for the BBQ lunch.

That's our buffet lunch.

About 3.30pm, we back to BG Backpackers and have some nap. It was a great day that we enjoy a lot for this activity. It takes a lot of energy and we need to recharge it back before climbing the Mt. Kinabalu.

Minor injured at 1st day in Sapi Island. Need some medication on that. Or else, I really can't imagine how I'm going to climb the mountain.

We having a nice dinner in Upperstar Cafe & Bar.

At 8.10pm, we hanging outside and waiting for Cyrus' friend to come. He said will bring us have a nice local food in KK. After wait for a couple of time, we finally met his friend, Righteous. He bring us to town and having a nice dinner at Upperstar Cafe & Bar.

This is my dinner, Chicken Chop. We have also order some pizzas, Fish & Chip and beers.


Enjoying the dinner with (from left) Jerry, Righteous, Rachel, Jess, Janice, me and Cyrus.


Oh yeah, Cheers. Good luck for the Mt. KK Climb. Having a good sleep before climb the mountain.