The Majestic Mt. Kinabalu: Fourth Highest in Southeast Asia

Mount Kinabalu

The tallest mountain in Malaysia is Mt Kinabalu. It is located in Sabah, also famously known as "The Land Below the Wind" as geographically, it is located below the typhoon belt, and it also is part of the Borneo islands. Standing at 4,095 Meters, Mt Kinabalu is not only the highest mountain in the country but also the 4th highest in Southeast Asia. It is home to a rich and diversified flora and fauna which are unique and cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Climbing Mount Kinabalu is one of the most fulfilling activities. Many local and international tourists do not want to miss the opportunity to climb this mountain when they visit Sabah. 

View of Mt Kinabalu from Kundasang

The best Mt Kinabalu view is before 10am on a bright sunny day

Mt. Kinabalu is actually the peak of the Crocker Range. It is a non-volcanic mountain, deemed to be one of the youngest in the world. The wide climatic range in the mountain is the main factor that contributes to the fertile growth of numerous and rare flora and fauna. It is home to more than half of the flowering plants in the world. It has more than 500 species of ferns, 700 species of orchids, and some unique animals that are native to the land such as Kinabalu shrews and pygmy squirrels. It also has the world's largest plant, the Nepethes Rajah; and home to over 24 species of Rhododendrons. Seventeen of the 29 species of birds endemic to Borneo live in this part of the world. The red-breasted tree partridge and crimson-headed wood can also be found here. Mt Kinabalu, already listed in UNESCO World Heritage record, is a favourite destination for both amateur and professional climbers as it not only offers climbing adventure, the wide range of botanical and biological species attract nature lovers as well as scientists from all over the world.

 

It only takes 2 to 3 days to conquer Mount Kinabalu. Climbers do not need to have any climbing experiences. However, it is advisable for anyone, individual or group, before they climb the mountain to plan ahead. They should check the weather conditions as Sabah often experiences heavy rainfalls and also be physically prepared by doing some exercises before the Kinabalu climb. You don't even need a strenuous exercise regime. Just concentrate on being healthy and fit.

The best start for anyone who is thinking of climbing Mt Kinabalu is to sign up for the mountain climbing package with an experienced and reliable tour agency. You need help from a tour agency to guarantee a smooth, enjoyable, and trouble-free climb. The Kinabalu climbing package is usually an all-in-one package which includes accommodation, meals, transportation, park entrance, transfer, climbing permit, and mountain guide fees. Package rate is quite reasonable and can also be customized according to client's preference. 

24-Hours Guarding

Entrance to Kinabalu Park

Kinabalu Park Office - Here is where you register yourself before you climb

Climbers start their Mt Kinabalu trip at the foothills by registering themselves at the park's office. Then they can stay for a night at one of the nearby accomodations to rest and enjoy a full day sighseeing at Kinabalu Park World Heritage Site. On day two, climbers will gather at the Timpohon Gate to start the first phase of their trekking. On the third day, from Panar Laban, they will wake-up at at 3'oclock in the morning and start their journey to the summit so that they can reach on time to enjoy the beautiful colours of the morning sunrise. The peak is at its most exquisite during the sunrise time.

This rare scenery of swirling mists and rich flora and fauna await climbers and thrill-seekers from all over the world.

Please contact: inquiry@kotakinabalutourism.com to inquire about our Kinabalu climbing package.

Leisure Walking at Poring's Treetop Canopy Walkway

I've heard about my friends' and other people's experiences at Poring canopy walkway, how they said it's an experience not for the faint-hearted and height-phobia people. One friend even told me how once a weak hearted lady almost suffered a heart-attack when a squirrel jumped on her head while she was concentrating on crossing the walkway. Before, I tried to imagine and picture myself, tried to feel what it would be like  walking on a walkway that is about 421 meters above sea-level and could feel my hair rising and my goosebumps getting goosebumps. At the time everything about Poring canopy walkway just sounded really scary. 

My friends dared me when we made a trip to Poring but I balked, telling them I was not ready and would rather spend time enjoying myself dipping in the sulfuric mineral bath. But just recently, on a lovely Friday, there I was with my family, wearing a T.shirt and a skirt and carrying a handbag...which makes me look more like joy walking than preparing for a 'live or die' experience. Funny, this time all the scary stories did not bother me at all. I was just, you know, feeling more relaxed and although I was not at my fittest condition (yea, thanks to no exercise, I've gained weight and I panted almost all the way up and stopped a few times, probably every 10 minutes or so, even rested at one of the the gazebos there) I was, I think, ready for the experience amid going there in a very unsuitable gear.

Nabalu Lodge

We started our journey from Nabalu Lodge, our lodging at Kundasang, at about 12.00 noon time. On the way to Poring, we passed by some very well known resorts such as the Kinabalu Pine Resort and Mountain Kinabalu Heritage Resort (used to be Perkasa Hotel), Sabah Tea Garden, the Luanti Fish Spa, Ranau town and we also noticed many new homestays along the way. We arrived at Poring about 45 minutes later. 

The Poring canopy walkway is a visit not to be missed by anyone especially foreigners who are first-time visitors in Poring Hot Springs. Just take a stroll amidst the lush canopy of the Menggaris tree, the tree which is known as 'king of the forest'. The walkway is about 157.8 meters long. It took us about one and a half hour to complete our canopy trip, starting from the bathing center and then back to there.

Signboard...Choose where you want to go

Trek to the Canopy Walkway...fairly easy ehhh

If you feel comfortable trekking in skirt...why not huhu

Beware of any falling things...branch, fruit, animals etc

Menggaris tree

Resting at one of the gazebos

I was not the only one who needed a rest...

Pondok Manggas is the starting point of the Canopy Walkway

Canopy Walkway

We're on a suspension bridge under the Menggaris Canopy

Menggaris is a huge tree...see if you can wrap your hands around it

Yahuuu...can't wait to dive-in the sulfuric bath!!

Of course, when we arrived at the sulfur bathing center, we wouldn't in the world miss the opportunity to dip our achy legs in the hot sulfuric baths. We chose the enclosed bathtub and spent about one and a half hour dipping and relaxing to soothe our achy muscles, also hoping for the sulfur to work its miracles on our skin (they say the sulfur kills all the harmful germs on your skin). The rate is RM20.00 per hour for a deluxe size bathtub which includes a jacuzzi and RM15.00 per hour for a standard size bathtub. It is on  first come first serve basis, you cannot pre-book the enclosed bathtubs.

Enclosed bathtub - standard type

Poring Hot Springs' daily opening hours is from 7am to 6pm. The conservation fee is RM5.00 for adult and RM3.00 for students (below 18 years-old). There is also an additional fee of RM5.00 for every camera and video that you bring with you.

Try Sabahan Rendang Ayam Recipe

Hari Raya Puasa is a very important celebration for the Muslims. This year, 2012, the  new moon was sighted on August 19th. Every year, the sighting of new moon at the end of Ramadan month signifies the end of the fasting season and also marked the first day of Hari Raya Aidil Fitri. Muslims, all over the world, start off their day by gathering in the mosques very early in the morning to perform their prayers as well as paying visits to the graves of their loved ones.

Hari Raya is welcomed with great joy. Houses are cleaned until they're shiny and decorated with the lighting of oil lamps. The young Muslims will kiss the hands of their elders and ask forgiveness for their wrongdoings. They also wear new Malay traditional clothes. Open house, which means the Muslims inviting family members, relatives and friends to come over to their house is widely practised.

In Malaysia, the first two days of Hari Raya is declared as Public Holidays but the celebration lasts for a month. This is the time you can see plenty of traditional Malay delicacies. One of my favourite dishes is the Rendang Ayam. It is basically a spicy dish consists of one whole chicken, slow cooked with coconut milk, spices and a variety of local herbs. For this posting, I like to bring my readers' attention and encourage them to try this Rendang Ayam recipe. It is not very difficult to prepare, the dish is really delicious and can be served and eaten together with white rice or pulut lemang (glutinuous rice cooked with coconut milk using a bamboo), another famous dish served during this festive season.

 Fresh spices and herbs

Chicken, cut and cleaned

Dried chillies

Fried grated coconut

Coconut milk

RENDANG AYAM RECIPE

Ingredients:
1 whole chicken (cut and cleaned. You may remove some of its
skin and fats if you want your rendang to be less oily)
For the gravy: (Blend together)
10 shallots
4 garlic
15 dried chillies
15 eye of the bird chillies
1 inch of ginger
1 inch of galangal
1/2 inch of fresh turmeric
2 lemon grass
Add these after chicken is marinated:
4 cups of concentrated coconut milk
2 pieces of turmeric leaves
4 pieces of kaffir lime leaves
4 tbspns of fried grated coconut
salt, sugar to taste

Instructions:

1. Marinate chicken with gravy for about 1 hour.

2. Place marinated chicken in a pot and pour the coconut milk into the pot. Leave until it is boiling. Then add in kaffir lime leaves, turmeric leaves, fried grated coconut and salt and sugar to taste.

3. Cook until chicken is tender and the gravy is thickened. Serve with white rice or pulut lemang.

Spices and herbs blended together

In my attempt to cook this dish, I failed to include the galangal (lengkuas) as no one were selling it the time I went shopping for it at the nearby vegetable market. *sigh!* It was just one of those days...you know... you don't always find what you want. This dish is not perfect but even without the galangal, the taste of the Rendang Ayam was still very delicious. It would definitely taste even better if galangal was added in.

Yeahhh...Sabahan's Rendang Ayam