MALAYSIA, SARAWAK | Mulu National Park

- January 11, 2009

Trip theme: Mulu Adventure
Members: A.n.n.e, E.d.a.n, I.f.a.h, N.o.r, E.i.n, T.i.p, Z.u, A.y.i.e and A.q.i.m
AirAsia flight tix (Kuala Lumpur-Miri): RM153/return (bought during promo)
Maswings flight tix (Miri-Mulu) = RM262/return
Accommodation (5 nights) + Activities + Guide = RM370
Meals = spend around RM12/meals

Trip starts from Desa Pandan at 4.00 am (6th Jan) and end at 2.00 am (12th Jan).

Day 1 (6 Jan 09)

5.15am: From KL Sentral to LCCT By AirAsia bus

6.15am: Arrived at LCCT and check-in
7.25am: Departed to Miri, Sarawak
9.40am: Arrived at Miri Airport

2.50pm: Maswings flight to Mulu
3.20pm: Arrived at Mulu Airport

Register at Mulu National Park and spend the rest of the day at Park HQ hostel (The cheapest accommodation here) and cafe. The rate is RM37/person (shared bathroom).

At Mulu National Park

Day 2 (7 Jan 09)

Breakfast at Park's cafe and start our river travel by Long boat to Kuala Litut (where we start 8km walking to Camp 5). The cost is RM90/person/return (1 boat cost RM450). On the way, stop at Penan market and village and later went to Wind and Clear Water Cave. We ate packed lunch there (bought at Park's cafe).

Long Boat

Boatman waiting for us at the jetty

at Rumah Panjang, Penan

at Penan traditional market

Villager with his horn bill bird

At Clear water

Clear water cave

One of the cave entrance

After lunch by the river, another half an hour boat journey to Kuala Litut. Change to trekking shoes, start trekking around 2pm..99% flat trek. Even my old mother can do this.

2.5 hours later arrived at Camp 5 (Camp 5 is like the base camp before climbing the pinnacles in the next morning. )..The camp is located just beside a crystal, clear, icy cold, mineral water river. So clean!!!

Camp 5 is very basic, they just provide sleeping mat and mosquito net (rental at RM15/night). Dinner also not provided.

Day 3 (8 Jan 09)

Today's main activity is Climbing to The Pinnacles' view point (1200m++ height, 2.4km distance). The distance maybe very short but seriously I think it's harder than climbing to Laban Rata.

7am start climbing. After 900m climbing, we stopped at Mini Pinnacles (spacious area for larger group to stop simultaneously). Two members gave up here.

Continue climbing and arrived at the warning point (2km distance) at 10am. If climbers arrived here after 11am, the guide will not allowed you to continue climbing to the top. The next 400m the trail is steeper and dangerous.

1 hour later, arrived at the top overlooking the magnificent Pinnacles.

After 1 hour resting, we went down. Going down is more challenging than climbing up (4-5 hrs to arrived at Camp 5).

Day 4 (9 Jan 09)

Today is the last day kat camp 5. After breakfast and swimming, start trekking back to Kuala Litut and took a long boat back to Mulu Park HQ.

Edan with guide's son , Benny. So chubby and heavy, aged 3+ . Give him almost all chocolate and jajan that we had left. Gembira dia dpt byk chocolate.

Late afternoon free and easy at Park HQ due to heavy rain (Paku Waterfall plan canceled).

Day 5 (10 Jan 09)

According to itinerary plan, this morning we are supposed to go for canopy walk but because of the non-stop heavy rain, Park's management didn't allowed any tourist to go there due to safety reason. So, at about 10-11am, time hujan renyai2 we all decided to visit Royal Mulu Resort which located about 5 minutes travel by 4WD (cost RM5/person/way). Before that, posing ngan baju hujan ala2 american next top model dulu.

At Royal Mulu, kitaorg jalan2 sambil mengintai2 bilik2 yg dikatakan hebat tu..kitaorg ni posing sakan kat sini mcm dibayar Ketua Menteri utk wat promo lak kan..:) p..this place is really great, beautiful, luxurious, 5 star service but even I've d money, I prefer to spend more on activities or travelling around the world backpacking style. Hotel/hostel/guesthouse with clean, safe and friendly and helpful staff is good enough.

After lunch at restaurant nearby Royal Mulu (just outside the entrance gate), went back to HQ and straight to Deer and Langs Cave. We need to walk 3.8km to get there.