MALAYSIA, SABAH | Mt. Kinabalu, Manukan Island, Poring Hotspring & Padas River Water Rafting
Trip Date: 18th January 2007 - 23th January 2007
Day 1 (18th January) - Kuala Lumpur - Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
I woke up very early today to begin our trip that had been planned more than 6 months before Last year (Jan 06) i went to Sabah with Edan & Amie only. This time there are 8 of us (me, edan, Amie, Ein, Tip, Ayie, Ipah, Enor). It was really enjoying with all my best buddies around.
Ok, get back to the Trip’s story. We arrived at LCCT KK after 2 hours and 30 mins flight from LCCT Kuala Lumpur. Check-in at Borneo Backpackers (RM25/night/person). Night walk at the town, bought water proof disposable camera and went to a small club for karaoke, couples of drinks, pool & dancing a lil bit. before sleep, we play cards at the roof top and sleep late at 2-3am.
Day 2 (19th January) - Kota Kinabalu - Padas River Water Rafting
Woke up at 8.00am and get ready for White Water Rafting at Padas River that cost RM160/person (in 2009 the price was RM200-RM250/person). Only five of us joined, another 3 went for shopping. At 8.30 am, the raft’s people picked us by 12-seater van. After 1.5 hours, arrived at a very classic railway station at Beaufort. Waited for the train for about an hour. The Journey to the starting point took us about another 2 hours by an old steam train. Some people living around that area still depending on that train (the operation time is only 2 times) for their daily transportation. My last rafting was in year 2000 at Sedim River with my Uni-mates. But that one was shorter distance and lower grader than Padas River. Heavy rain since December and there was a heavy flood a week before in this area. Alhamdullilah on 19th January, the weather was good and the river grade increased (to grade 4-5). Before we get into the game, the Chief rafter gave a short briefing about the safety and some info of the river. "Ok Rafters!!! are u ready??", said the Guide. There you go…we start our rafting slowly, get into ‘washing machine’ and ‘merry go round’ and so on so on, get wet and wild…During the rafting, we stopped at a small waterfall near Rayah Station. Then, continued rafting to Rayah Station and had our bbq lunch and changed into dry clothes.
Padas River Water Rafting was GREAT!!!(but what sadden me is my disposable water proof camera is not functioning..Arrrgggghh..). At about 4.30 pm, reversed journey to Kota Kinabalu town by train and van. Arrived at the hostel at about 7.30 pm. At night, 9 of us went for seafood dinner at ….(sea-side) by city cab.
Day 3 (20th January) - Kota Kinabalu to Manukan Island to Kinabalu Park
Beach and snorkeling time...
Woke up at 8 am and Walked to Jesselton Point Jetty. The boat fare to Manukan Island was RM17/person (2 islands cost RM27), Jetty fee RM6/person and The Tuanku Abdul Rahman Park RM3/person. You can rent a snorkeling equipment for RM15 (Mask and life jacket/fin). Because of the raining season, the water was a bit muddy. At 1pm went back to the hostel and checked-out at 3pm. We chartered a van for 3 days (approximately RM100/person). Then, we travelled for about 2-3 hours to Kinabalu Park, checked-in Grace Hostel (RM30/person) inside the park.
Current hostel rate for 2009 at Kinabalu Park is RM100/person inclusive compulsory breakfast.
Day 4 (21st January) - Kinabalu Park to Laban Rata
Registered and started climbing from Timpohon Gate to Laban Rata. We will stayed the night at Gunting Lagadan Hut (2009 rate for non-heated dorm was RM290/person and heated dorm was RM330/person inclusive 4 meals). Since there’s no restaurant at Gunting Lagadan, we had to go down about 100 meter to Laban Rata Resthouse for dinner (Instant noodles cost RM12/bowl, fried rice cost RM16 and Hot milo cost RM5). Credit card accepted here.
Day 1 (18th January) - Kuala Lumpur - Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
I woke up very early today to begin our trip that had been planned more than 6 months before Last year (Jan 06) i went to Sabah with Edan & Amie only. This time there are 8 of us (me, edan, Amie, Ein, Tip, Ayie, Ipah, Enor). It was really enjoying with all my best buddies around.
Ok, get back to the Trip’s story. We arrived at LCCT KK after 2 hours and 30 mins flight from LCCT Kuala Lumpur. Check-in at Borneo Backpackers (RM25/night/person). Night walk at the town, bought water proof disposable camera and went to a small club for karaoke, couples of drinks, pool & dancing a lil bit. before sleep, we play cards at the roof top and sleep late at 2-3am.
Day 2 (19th January) - Kota Kinabalu - Padas River Water Rafting
Woke up at 8.00am and get ready for White Water Rafting at Padas River that cost RM160/person (in 2009 the price was RM200-RM250/person). Only five of us joined, another 3 went for shopping. At 8.30 am, the raft’s people picked us by 12-seater van. After 1.5 hours, arrived at a very classic railway station at Beaufort. Waited for the train for about an hour. The Journey to the starting point took us about another 2 hours by an old steam train. Some people living around that area still depending on that train (the operation time is only 2 times) for their daily transportation. My last rafting was in year 2000 at Sedim River with my Uni-mates. But that one was shorter distance and lower grader than Padas River. Heavy rain since December and there was a heavy flood a week before in this area. Alhamdullilah on 19th January, the weather was good and the river grade increased (to grade 4-5). Before we get into the game, the Chief rafter gave a short briefing about the safety and some info of the river. "Ok Rafters!!! are u ready??", said the Guide. There you go…we start our rafting slowly, get into ‘washing machine’ and ‘merry go round’ and so on so on, get wet and wild…During the rafting, we stopped at a small waterfall near Rayah Station. Then, continued rafting to Rayah Station and had our bbq lunch and changed into dry clothes.
Padas River Water Rafting was GREAT!!!(but what sadden me is my disposable water proof camera is not functioning..Arrrgggghh..). At about 4.30 pm, reversed journey to Kota Kinabalu town by train and van. Arrived at the hostel at about 7.30 pm. At night, 9 of us went for seafood dinner at ….(sea-side) by city cab.
Day 3 (20th January) - Kota Kinabalu to Manukan Island to Kinabalu Park
Beach and snorkeling time...
Woke up at 8 am and Walked to Jesselton Point Jetty. The boat fare to Manukan Island was RM17/person (2 islands cost RM27), Jetty fee RM6/person and The Tuanku Abdul Rahman Park RM3/person. You can rent a snorkeling equipment for RM15 (Mask and life jacket/fin). Because of the raining season, the water was a bit muddy. At 1pm went back to the hostel and checked-out at 3pm. We chartered a van for 3 days (approximately RM100/person). Then, we travelled for about 2-3 hours to Kinabalu Park, checked-in Grace Hostel (RM30/person) inside the park.
Current hostel rate for 2009 at Kinabalu Park is RM100/person inclusive compulsory breakfast.
Day 4 (21st January) - Kinabalu Park to Laban Rata
Registered and started climbing from Timpohon Gate to Laban Rata. We will stayed the night at Gunting Lagadan Hut (2009 rate for non-heated dorm was RM290/person and heated dorm was RM330/person inclusive 4 meals). Since there’s no restaurant at Gunting Lagadan, we had to go down about 100 meter to Laban Rata Resthouse for dinner (Instant noodles cost RM12/bowl, fried rice cost RM16 and Hot milo cost RM5). Credit card accepted here.
Day 5 (22nd January) - Laban Rata to Low’s Peak to Poring Hotspring
2.30 am: Started climbing to low’s peak (the highest place in South East Asia that people can climb). It was raining and i think the temperature was around 2-3 degrees. Everyone made it to the top. We checked-out around 11.00 am and had our breakfast at Laban Rata Resthouse. Climbing down at a very fast pace (probably less than 2 hours). We had early dinner at a small traditional restaurant near Poring Hotspring. Checked-in at Poring Hotspring, Ranau (2009 rate was RM100/person inclusive breakfast). At night, sulfur hot bath and dinner at the Resort.
Day 6 (23rd January) - Poring Hotspring to Kota Kinabalu to Kuala Lumpur
Before breakfast, we walked to the jungle for a canopy walkway. There was no other visitor except us. The canopy walkway was high and kind of unsafe. I felt so relieved to reach the end of the walkway. After that went to a hotspring pool. Checked-out at 11.00 am. Drove back to Kota Kinabalu and arrived at 4.00 pm. Shopping and Lunch-Dinner at Philippines Market. At about 7.30 pm, went to airport and flight back to Kuala Lumpur.
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Lyna