Mt Kinabalu - Part 4-Laban Rata “Coolest Night Stop”

Finally after 10 hours stretching my steps for nearly 7.5 KM ascending to Laban Rata, at 6.30 pm, I managed to reach the rest house at Laban Rata.   Laban Rata will be our quick night stop to rest and sleep before summit to Low’s Peak.  There will be another 2.5KM to Low’s Peak from Laban Rata.

First thing was to eat, the cold temperature made me very hungry.  The foods provided by the rest house were so good.  There was variety of foods to choose.  Once the stomach full, I collect the room key and headed to my hostel room. They provided double decker beds.

I was so tired and my legs and body was too exhausted.  I rested and slept from 7 pm to 1.30 am. I can feel my legs hurting like mad.  It felt like a thousand needles stitching violently on your knees and ankles.  The body was torn up to pieces.  I cannot sleep well since the weather was so cool even there was a hitter in the room.  

It was raining and drizzling the whole night.  I did not take a shower since there was not hot water.  The water was so cool.  I just wash my face and brushed my teeth.  Even I took my ‘wuduk’ to pray also was very painful, the water was so cool and I felt that like being electrocuted.

While resting, suddenly I woke up hearing a commotion outside.  It was learned that two of our team group were still at KM6 and one of them cannot walk anymore because it was raining heavily.  The time showed at 7.20 pm and it started to get dark.  I heard that Aw our team leader rushed to help our poor friend.  Three of them managed to reach the guest house at Laban Rata at 9 pm. 

One of our friends also cannot climb to the top because he received a call from his wife that his father passed away.  He needed to fly back to Kuala Lumpur tomorrow.

My 2 cents opinion, if you can, try to stay overnight at rest house at Laban Rata after you climbed from Timpohon Gate or Mesilau Gate.  Once you get a full rest and relief your pain muscle, than you can continue on the next morning to climb to the peak.  3 out 30 hikers from our team did not manage to reach Low’s Peak because cannot stand the very cool temperature, got cramped legs due to long day trekking from Mesilau Gate and the third which is the most critical is that the hiker must reach Sayat-Sayat check point before 7 am because the rule states if you reach Sayat-Sayat check point after 7 am, the gate keeper would not allow you to continue your climbing to Low’s Peak.

Coming soon....Finale Episode .... Part 5 - Low's Peak  "Are we there yet"

Warung Satay & Cafe Mak Long has the best Spicy Satay and Baked Tofu

Last sunday, after shopping at The Mines Shopping Mall, we went to Warung Satay & Cafe Mak Long near Masjid Jamek Petaling and Taman Tan Yew Lai at Jalan Puchong.  3 KM from exit from Jalan Klang Lama to Jalan Puchong before Police Station Petaling.

The best about the Warung Mak Long is the satay, baked tafu (tauhu bakar) and rojak.  The best drink is the green apple juice, the best of the kind.  The price is also reasonable.  Layman quotes "cheap and good".

The satay taste is likely different from our satay that I had tasted. If you compared with satay Samuri, this satay has a spicy taste.  Satay Samuri's peanut sauce is better because has chili gravy.  Overall, the satay is quite good. The restaurant opens only in evening until midnight.

The best of all is the tauhu bakar.  Crunchy and sweet.  We also ordered Patrik Fried Rice and USA Fried Rice.

Key-in this location code (N03.04.627   E101.39.732) if you have navigator devices.

Mt Kinabalu - Part 3 –Mesilau Trail “Never ending journey”

The Mesilau trail was liked a roller coaster trekking, we trekked up and then down to Mesilau valley. Trekked up again until reached a highest route which totally different view. 

The best part is there were beautiful scenes along the way up to Laban Rata from Mesilau.  I took a break at the junction between Mesilau and Timpohan Gate.  The cool whether made me hungry.   Luckily the resort provided us with a lunch pack.  

When I was having my lunch, I saw a squirrel was patiently watching me eating.  I gave a piece of my lunch and she became my lunch buddy.

One thing amaze me was the potter who carried 5 bags which the weight may be around 60 to 70 kg.

I looked the sky turned dark and in minutes it started to rain.The temperature started to get cool. Quickly I put on my raining coat and it helped to warm the body. Another 1.5 KM to go, each time I encountered with other hikers who descending, they told me Laban Rata is not far from my spot, will take another 30 minutes.The problem was I still trekking after 30 minutes, I felt like dying.

Coming soon...

Part 4 – Laban Rata – “Coolest Night Stop”

Part 5 – Low’s Peak – “Are we there yet?”

Work Hazard from Bird Eyes View

Sometimes work requires a surprise element. The today’s surprise was to test my endurance in height. I was instructed to go for a ride in a helicopter. I like aircraft but I hate flying. When I was asked to join the ride, I thought it was only a joke but when the time comes, they forced me to get in.

Before taking off, the pilot told me not to worry and he gave me a paper bag for the emergency if I puke out. I sat at the last row alone taking everybody risk that I will dirty the heli with my lunch meal. The first minutes takeoff, I was so nervous. The pilot lifted up the big machine to the air. Then we went airborne to view the city of Kuala Lumpur. This is my first time to go into a heli and the experience was so fun, thrill and scary.

After 20 minutes hovered around Kuala Lumpur, the pilot went to land the heli on the helipad on top of Mid Valley. The landing was so prefect. When come to lift up the heli, it was the scariest things happened in my life. The pilot slowly lifted up the heli, I can hear the sound of the rotary engine and the wind blew from no where to shake the heli to right and left. Then the heli moved forward and in sudden, the heli hovered downward and the pilot quickly speeded up the heli forward. The feel liked my balls dropped and smashed to the ground. My stomach gave me an early warning to vomit. Sh** I’m going to die.

When we flew back, come to 1 KM to the takeoff site, the pilot speeded up and tested his skill by making 45 degree maneuvre to right and left and up and down. The feeling likes taking a roller coaster ride. It reminded me of my roller coaster ride at Cedar Point, USA. The pilot is so skilful, his name is Patrick, a France pilot.

What a day for me, once we got out from the heli, a few chit-chat about our experience with the pilot and the organiser, I went to my car and vomited.

My face looked very nervous...my life ended here.

Me, heli & pilot (Patrick)

There were few other heli on the ground...

Pilot said that he is ready to takeoff, i looked at him and said nothing..."Roger out??"

I do not know how to operate the buttons??

View- Subang Airport

View- Kuala Lumpur Tower (Menara KL)

View - Midvalley  - can you see the helipad there... the heli landed there!!

View-  Twin Tower KLCC

View - My parents' house at Taman Bunga Raya, Setapak.  Near the University TAR

View - Batu Caves Hill

View - New royal castle (Istana Negara) at Jalan Duta

View - Parliment Building

View - I can see Maybank Tower

View - Citetel Hotel near the Midvalley

This is the one that thrill me the most.  The landing on the helipad was prefect but to takeoff.... aaAArrRRR!!

View - Menara Telekom

View - MAS Cargo, Subang

View - Ha ha ha, we meet again, Pos Malaysia's Aircraft...

View:  DHL's aircarft

Finally, safe landed at Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah (Subang) Airport

The End.