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Conquering Kinabalu: A Memorable Adventure in Sabah |
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The memory of the cool crisp morning air still remains vivid in my mind from the
day when we climbed Mount Kinabalu. Our group consisted of 30 individuals from
various faculties at the University, and for many of us, it was our first time
visiting Sabah and even flying on an airplane.
Upon our arrival, we were taken on a slow drive along the undulating country
roads of Kota Kinabalu to Ranau, a picturesque mountainside town where people
grew vegetables and fruit. At almost 5000 feet above sea level, the air was
pleasantly cool.
After being assigned guides, we had to leave our belongings at the park hostels
before embarking on our climb. Although many of us were not as fit as we would
have liked to be, we were all excited and fearful of what lay ahead. The next
morning, we were awakened by our lecturers and sent off to a breakfast of eggs
and instant noodles before starting our climb.
By 6:30 a.m., we were on a trail that suddenly climbed vertically into the
jungle. The climb was tough, but it wasn't as bad as I had imagined. It felt
very much like the trails running up Penang hill from Moon Gate. As we made our
way up the narrow steep paths into the slopes of Kinabalu, we encountered many
exotic plants that were in bloom and curious monkeys that made the trip exciting
for some. However, some of our group were too out of shape and exhausted to
really enjoy the scenery.
As I climbed the steep terrain, I volunteered to help two girls who were
obviously not used to exercising. We had to take several breaks at regular
intervals, and our guides were rather amused. Eventually, we reached the hut at
Panar Laban. The trees of the tropical forests were replaced by coniferous
trees, and it was cloud country at 11,500 feet. The temperatures dropped to 10
degrees, and there were waterfalls everywhere. This is where rivers are born!
The night we spent at the hut was miserable but memorable, as the temperature
dropped to minus 1. We tried to sleep as we had to continue the climb at 2:45
a.m. the next morning. We grabbed our torches and groped our way up rocks and
crevasses in the dark, with only the reassuring voices of guides and the nylon
ropes. As the hours passed, we watched the night grow brighter, and as we
reached the summit, dawn broke over the horizon like a scene from a National
Geographic Special. I was above the clouds at 13,000 or more feet, and my
outdated camera froze due to the extreme cold, so I had to rely on Rajesh, my
enthusiastic friend, to take a snap of my frozen face.
Conquering Kinabalu was an adventure that I will always remember. It challenged
me physically and mentally and gave me a sense of accomplishment. The stunning
scenery and the camaraderie with my fellow climbers made the experience even
more special. |
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