Wednesday, 4 July 2012
MULU CAVES 2july12
WASH DAY 2JULY12
Sunday, 1 July 2012
KAMPUNG RATAU HOMESTAY OPENING. 1july12
12 hours glorious sleep.awoke to cd music from sunday markets in jalan gays,our street of trees,outside our window.bought papaya,pineapple,mangos and banans for breakfast.dropped off 9kg washing at FastLaundry service=32rm=$10=so nice to go back with clean clothes.then a market stroll bought english newspapers andcolourful bracelets.
after chinese lunch we went to an opening of a kampung(village)homestay.a bit of a rentacrowd but free,loys of fun and colour,and reminded us of fun rally functions last year.the little girls who did dancing were very pretty.then there was some adult dancing to join in.kerry and I were interviewed by media several tines,.there were the obligatory vip speeches that most people did not listen too.lots of muslim women,some with striking red sabah shirts.they had a mock wedding in a traditional house,then a traditional meal in another nice local house-great food.everyone was so friendly,and they wanted us in lots of group photos with them.
we really enjoyed KK,and are looking forward to sailing there at end of month.
after chinese lunch we went to an opening of a kampung(village)homestay.a bit of a rentacrowd but free,loys of fun and colour,and reminded us of fun rally functions last year.the little girls who did dancing were very pretty.then there was some adult dancing to join in.kerry and I were interviewed by media several tines,.there were the obligatory vip speeches that most people did not listen too.lots of muslim women,some with striking red sabah shirts.they had a mock wedding in a traditional house,then a traditional meal in another nice local house-great food.everyone was so friendly,and they wanted us in lots of group photos with them.
WE CLIMBED MT KINABALU! sat30june2012
We made it!such a good feeling.also feel relieved,sore,and very tired.
toaday we went from 3273m to Lows peak,4095m,then back down to timpohon gate at 1866m.it is 2.7km up to summit,8.7km back down,total=11.4 km.It was hard,but doable,and very worthwhile.I was glad we had done so much walking since we left raffles gym ,where my fitness program started when kerry said she had booked climb!juro told us that of 100/150 made summit today.
up at 2am.down to laban rata for breakfast and coffee.about 3am departed our lodge.wering thermal top and bottom,and pants,as initially felt hot going up.gradually put more clothes on.after one hour we reached sayar-sayar hut,3668m,where were checked in.by halfway we were on exposed granite,with chilly wind,so now wearing all layers-plus shirt polar jacket,wind jacket,beanie and gloves.we now followed thick ropes in the dark,using them to pull us up steeper parts.otherwise our walking poles were invaluable.ahead and behind,a long procession of headtorches,going steadily up.
Juro said go steadily so not arrive before sunset as too cold .he was right.we made the summit on sunrise,fabulous view and atmosphere,but very cold,so after 10-15 minutes,started our descent.we could now see what was in the dark on the way up.fabulous scenary.great slabs of granite making huge slopes,with sharp angular surrounding peaks.followed ropes backdown,getting checked off,then a grat view of basecamp huts,and villages beyond in distance.
back at our lodge by 8,slept for an hour,had a light breakfast,and at 10 ,still had another 6 km to go.hard work on the thighs.down down down.water and dark chocolate at each reststop.halfway down there was a lovely view of dark stark mtn with swirling white cloud.back at park HQ we went to buffet lunch but only had fruit and coffee.we got our colour certificates for making summit(black and white if you dont summiy).bus back to KK,shower,no meal, all in bed asleep by 7!
toaday we went from 3273m to Lows peak,4095m,then back down to timpohon gate at 1866m.it is 2.7km up to summit,8.7km back down,total=11.4 km.It was hard,but doable,and very worthwhile.I was glad we had done so much walking since we left raffles gym ,where my fitness program started when kerry said she had booked climb!juro told us that of 100/150 made summit today.
up at 2am.down to laban rata for breakfast and coffee.about 3am departed our lodge.wering thermal top and bottom,and pants,as initially felt hot going up.gradually put more clothes on.after one hour we reached sayar-sayar hut,3668m,where were checked in.by halfway we were on exposed granite,with chilly wind,so now wearing all layers-plus shirt polar jacket,wind jacket,beanie and gloves.we now followed thick ropes in the dark,using them to pull us up steeper parts.otherwise our walking poles were invaluable.ahead and behind,a long procession of headtorches,going steadily up.
Juro said go steadily so not arrive before sunset as too cold .he was right.we made the summit on sunrise,fabulous view and atmosphere,but very cold,so after 10-15 minutes,started our descent.we could now see what was in the dark on the way up.fabulous scenary.great slabs of granite making huge slopes,with sharp angular surrounding peaks.followed ropes backdown,getting checked off,then a grat view of basecamp huts,and villages beyond in distance.
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| cold going up |
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| summit |
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| below summit with juro,our guide |
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| sunrise from summit,from low's peak,looking over lows gully |
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| kerry and sophie descending,just below summit |
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| amazing scenary |
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| basecamp below kerry |
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| looking back up to summit |
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| its official! |
SUMMIT TRAIL 29 june2012
today we climbed from timpohon gate,at 1866 metres,to Laban Rata resthouse,3270 m ,6km.
we started with a big breakfast.then we met Juro, our guide up and down the mountain.He is 36,from a local tribe and nearby village, and much shorter than even me.we drove to Timpohon gate to start the ascent.juro showed us the map.he offered us porters but we said no thanks.we each had a name badge to wear all the tinme.we werechecked in twice goiing up,and twice going down.they lost a young backpacker last year who died,and a man died from a heart attack 2 days ago.so when juro said walk steadily we were happy.he kept a very close eye on us.we left about 9.
The first day was hard,unrelentingly up,but beautiful.the trail was excellent,and no rubbish.there were well placed reststops ,with loos (just as well as we all had travel sickness-not sure what meal).
Lunch stop at11.we had packed lunches -sanswiches,2 apples,and 2 boiled eggs each.cold enough for us to seek shelter in the sun ,ouy of the wind.
At 2 we arrived laban rata resthose.pretty 2 story yellow building,with mt kinabalu looming over it Reminds me of smiggins ski lodge,and also huts on routburn track NZ,..inside ,upstairs is restaurant,the sign says breakfast 0200-0330!dinner not till 5,so had coffees,chocolate,and read,admiring view out big windows.Excellent buffet.final carb loading.place packed.150 people a day try to summit.
after dinner ,over to our hut=gunting labadan.4 bed dorm.in bed by 8.we get up in 6 hours.
we started with a big breakfast.then we met Juro, our guide up and down the mountain.He is 36,from a local tribe and nearby village, and much shorter than even me.we drove to Timpohon gate to start the ascent.juro showed us the map.he offered us porters but we said no thanks.we each had a name badge to wear all the tinme.we werechecked in twice goiing up,and twice going down.they lost a young backpacker last year who died,and a man died from a heart attack 2 days ago.so when juro said walk steadily we were happy.he kept a very close eye on us.we left about 9.
The first day was hard,unrelentingly up,but beautiful.the trail was excellent,and no rubbish.there were well placed reststops ,with loos (just as well as we all had travel sickness-not sure what meal).
Lunch stop at11.we had packed lunches -sanswiches,2 apples,and 2 boiled eggs each.cold enough for us to seek shelter in the sun ,ouy of the wind.
At 2 we arrived laban rata resthose.pretty 2 story yellow building,with mt kinabalu looming over it Reminds me of smiggins ski lodge,and also huts on routburn track NZ,..inside ,upstairs is restaurant,the sign says breakfast 0200-0330!dinner not till 5,so had coffees,chocolate,and read,admiring view out big windows.Excellent buffet.final carb loading.place packed.150 people a day try to summit.
KK to MT KINABALU PARK HQ thur 28june2012
In the morning we found an outdoor shop to get another headlight torch,and bruce got a new hat ,and new trekking shoes-50% off sale.after lunch our tour minibus collected us for trip to mt kinabalu park.at one reststop we could see mt kinabalu majstically above us with everchanging cloud.
On the way we stopped at the SANDAKAN WAR MEMORIAL.It was terrific.thet showed an excellent short video.then we went to the wall with names of all the dead-only 6 survived out of > 2000,australian and british mainly.beautiful gardens,fabulous view of mt K.
hq has alpine architecture and nice gardens..nice to have cool weather.buffet dinner-start the carb loading.our package includes meals and dorms.unfortuneately the 4th person in our dorm was a loud snorer.
On the way we stopped at the SANDAKAN WAR MEMORIAL.It was terrific.thet showed an excellent short video.then we went to the wall with names of all the dead-only 6 survived out of > 2000,australian and british mainly.beautiful gardens,fabulous view of mt K.
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