The Quest to Mount Kinabalu

Having been climbing Mount Kinabalu twice and to have friends also doing the same, here are some tips to prepare yourselves, if you’re thinking of climbing this mountain.

1. If you have hiked mountains in Malaysia before, Mount Kinabalu is more ‘commercialised’ compared to the other treks. It has huts for resting, water taps to refill your bottles, toilets and proper steps.
2. Having said that, it doesn’t mean you do not need to train. Training is vital, and if you stay in Klang Valley, training at Bukit Gasing or the nearby Gunung Nuang. Do not just focus on climbing up hill; hiking down is equally important (or more)
3. Pace yourself while climbing the mountain. It is not a race.
4. Carry a 1.5 litre water bottle is sufficient. There are stops for you to re-fill your water bottle.
5. There is no best time to climb this mountain. Malaysia has a tropical weather, so it can rain anytime, anywhere. Note: The weather report in Malaysia cannot be trusted.
6. Try to be the first set of climbers to climb the mountain on that day. This is to avoid having to meet other climbers either going up or down. That means waking up earlier, and having your breakfast earlier.
7. A walking stick is not necessary! It can be more of a nuisance rather than help!
8. It is not necessary to hire a porter for the climb. A 35-litre bag would suffice with all your equipment and clothes.
9. Try to look for a head torchlight. It’ll be good if you can free your hands - because you need them to hold the ropes!

Any of you have other tips to share?

For bookings and more information, click here.

Scones in Cameron Highlands

What’s more mouthwatering to the palate then warm scones with jam and clotted cream with a cuppa tea on a chilly day? Interestingly, Cameron Highlands is noted for this English charm. Chances of indulging in scones are quite high but finding the best may be quite a hunt. Here are our recommendations after stumbling into these places and tasting a couple of more buttery scones:

T-Cafe

Serves delectable scones and fine tea. By far, one of the most famous drop-in cafe/restaurant in Cameron Highlands. Prices are very reasonable (between RM2-3 per scone) and it’s a good place to stop by to have a meal too! Menu ranges from local to western dishes. Try their claypot curry chicken with rice/noodles. It’s lovely, especially in the cold weather.

This is a backpacker lodge along Jalan Mentigi, Tanah Rata. A wonderful backpacker’s place with great reviews. We will definitely stay here on our next visit. Rooms are clean and affordable. By accident, we tried the scones here and they were awesome! Dare I say, a tinge better than the ones in T-cafe.

Personally, we have not tried their scones here, but heard great reviews. The price is not exactly cheap in fact quite steep. For a set of scones & a pot of tea, you’d end up paying RM18.50.

Boh Plantantion
Also, we’ve not tried the scones here, but most tourists to the infamous Boh Plantation normally ends up in their cafe overlooking the tea plantation. They serve scones, tea and strawberry pies.

I’m sure there are many other cafes serving scones in Cameron Highlands. Do you know others? Care to share? We’d love to explore them sometime.

Climbing Gunung Ledang: Preparation and Checklist

BE PREPARED:

• Do not take Gunung Ledang likely. Most Malaysians may have climbed Mount Kinabalu… according to the local guide, he says it’s rated number 12 in terms of difficulty. Ledang is rated as 6 - making it twice tougher.
• Adequate training is required. We trained at Bukit Gasing for 1 1/2 months, at least 1-2 times a week.

Here’s a short CHECKLIST to help you prepare for an overnight Gunung Ledang trip:

• Extra pair of tshirt
• Raincoat - a must!
• Shoes - we strongly suggest good ol’ Adidas Hutan (rubber tapper shoes)
• Muesli Bars - to replace the energy
• Basic first aid kit
• Pen knife - always comes in handy
• 1.5 litre water bottle - is enough
• Torchlight - in case you get stranded
• Food for lunch! (We brought pasta and maggi mee)

Optional

• Gas stove
• Walking stick - but can be a chore when using ropes
• Mess can - if you’d be cooking
• Camera

Additional Notes:

Call Taman Negara Gunung Ledang at +(6) 019-7772057.

You can also download the price list and map to Gunung Ledang.

A comfortable drive from Kuala Lumpur to Gunung Ledang takes about 3 hours.

Climbing Gunung Ledang

9 ½ hours of climbing on rugged terrain merciless to our over stretched limbs. The trail had us weaving through dense forest and narrow paths. Gunung Ledang (better known as Mount Ophir, to the locals) was more than we expected but it thrill to know that it wasn’t a walk in the park. You’d see why… read on!

We started our hike at 7am from Ledang National Park. The initial few minutes into the trail consist of climbing up 600 over stairs. After about 15 mins of steep and narrow stairs, we got to Check Point (CP) 1, the first of 8 CP’s.

The ascent gradually moved from cement to moist forest soil. The climb from then on was a endless uphill with no flat ground to catch a breather. The landscape was magnificent with towering trees and the gush of fresh air at every inhale. Fierce looking boulders greeted us along the path, so big at times I felt like an ant next to it.

The trail got even more exciting when we had to climb up ladders secured on tree roots propped onto massive boulders and vertical platforms. We climbed the ladders as if children would, on all fours fearing that if we lose grip we will fall 90 degrees backward.

We wanted a challenge and we got it. For the first time after countless hikes, I finally found a trail that literally required arm strength. Ladders were not enough to test our endurance, from CP5 onwards; our arms were put to test. Some parts of the trail required us to hoist ourselves up with just rope! I felt like Jane (from Tarzan) pulling and tugging at the rope. The ultimate rope experience came when we had to pull ourselves up a 2-storey boulder at 45degree gradient. Every muscle and ounce of energy was needed to make this ascent. The guide later told us that many have turned back because they failed to make this part of the ascent. It must have been a waste to come so far just to stop at a fierce looking rock.

We continued along the trail moving out of the dense forest into rocky paths. At about 1130am after 4 ½ hours of climbing, the summit was finally a stone’s throw away. We reached the peak at 1215pm with a shouted of victory! As a toast to our achievement, we opened a bottled of Gatorade and gulped it down. Food was next on the list. We cooked Maggi Mee and emptied two cans of tuna into our lunch. Needless to say lunch was gone in less than 7 mins!

The view at the summit (I’m sure) would have been more spectacular if the clouds cleared a bit more. But we were the least disappointed as we had the entire summit to ourselves. The Lord had granted us great weather throughout the morning and it so happened that the clouds decided to blow in just as we were there. But we managed to catch glimpses of Malacca.

We begin our descent at 1245pm. We took a different trail down, this time much easier, less exciting and downhill all the way. Excitement came in an unexpected encounter midway into our descent. Our guide suddenly stopped in his track and immediately asked us to stop. We heard of rustling of leaves then silence. Hoping to inch closer to our guide for protection, he spun around and asked us to stop. The rustling started again, then we heard loud angry snorts, then loud charging steps. Unaware of where the sounds were coming from Terence and I froze, hands clutched together, heart pounding. The snorts got louder and the steps got fiercer. My mind was reeling with many thoughts – what do it do?! Headlines flashed before my very eyes “Hikers got mauled by wild boar”. My eyes prancing left and right trying to locate the vicious animal. After minutes of crazy thoughts our guide shouted “Come!” we ran as fast as we could and trailed him within inches for the rest of the journey.

Climbing Ledang was a priceless experience. It wasn’t the summit that made it worthwhile but the journey (with it’s ups and downs) that made it remarkable. Both Terence and I took back many life lessons while climbing the mountain.

Read this post for further information about Gunung Ledang’s contact, preparation and other important notes.

Diving at Tioman

Early June 2008, we decided it was time to dive Tioman after hearing so much about its pristine beauty amidst the perpetual development on the island. It was our first trip (not counting our honeymoon) for the year - we had the biggest day of our lives to save up to.

The weekend holiday was perfect with comfortable beach huts fully furnished with simple beds, a small bathroom and air condition. The resort overlooked a quiet stretch of beach with hammocks scattered across and a family run restaurant to feed our hunger. The dive operator owns the piece of land with a small wooden shelter for the dive equipment.

To add to the friendly seaside atmosphere, we had a display of lights – fire to be exact. A towel twisted into a ball at the end of a metal sling is soaked in kerosene and lit on fire. Then fearless men who have been practicing and playing this with fire for many years will then swing it around their heads with gusto. The skill displays such spectacular style as the fireballs illuminate the dark skies.

Additional and useful information:

For more pictures, please visit Deb’s blogpost.

To get to Tioman, you need to take a boat via Mersing Jetty. From KL-Mersing, it’ll take you about 3-4 hours drive. For directions, please visit this site. The ferry ride from Mersing to Tioman is about 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on the type of boat you take.

We dived with Ocean Elements. Halimi and Muzie are the owners. Two thumbs-up for their professionalism and wacky-ness.

For leisure divers, we paid RM590 (5 dives, accommodation and food), Open Water Certification (additional RM890) and Advance Open Water (additional RM650).

We stayed in Coral Reef Holiday Resort. Located right in Tekek, right in front of the beach. Toilets need a whole lot of improvement, however, for roughing out…it’s okay.