Mount Kinabalu

You know, as a kid I have always wanted to go over to East Malaysia. I don't know why, maybe I felt as if I have not explored my own country as much as I would have liked to, and therefore when the opportunity came, I seized it right away! So yeah, it was my first time going over to East Malaysia and I really really enjoyed the experience, the company during the few days spent there. Anyway here are some pictures taken over the last few days.

Pines resort.

Overlooking Mount Kinabalu
before the start of the journey. (9.30am)

reached Laban Rata (base camp) @ 2.30pm under rainy conditions.
looks can be intimidating.
(approx. a further 800 meters in height to the summit)
the view from Laban Rata lodge.
Yes, we were above the clouds. (:
(3275m)

That's me!
& er che
photographer in action.
started our morning hike at 2.30am at night,
picture captured while taking a rest in the "dark era" as we call it amongst ourselves
(it refers to a long dark patch after Sayat-Sayat check point)
At the peak of South East Asia!
Finally reached the summit at about 6.20am. The sun had already risen a fair bit.
didn't manage to capture many pictures as there were too many people crowding around the tiny summit.
To add, it was so cold that I couldn't even feel my fingers!
Hike all the way down from Low's peak (the summit) to Laban Rata to pack our baggage.
Then we continued all the way back to Timpohon (the starting point!)
Ben & Wern Eik @ Timpohon
If you wonder why Ben & Wern Eik are soaked, it's because it was raining on the way down as well!
How unfair!
Back at Pines the last day, our guide ( Mr. Ong)
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A little more pictures of friends
Ben, Wern Eik, Shaun, Ken
Ray & Nigel.Sandra
Ken.
airplane buddies. a.k.a agape crew.
futsal team.
Us, leaving pines resort and heading towards KK before heading home to KL.
Group photo #1
Group photo #2
Ben T, Wern Eik, Sandra, Ben Y, Shaun, Ken, Nigel, Jeff & Ray.
With the backdrop of Mount Kinabalu

Till we meet again, I'll definitely be back, but pretty certain it would not be in the near future. Ask me in a few months time, I might change my mind. : )

Out!

In another hour or two, I will be heading for breakfast with a few friends and then we will embark on our journey to conquer the summit of South East Asia. Will see all of you in a few days time. Till then. I bid my farewell for now.





Have yourself a great holiday, I'll be seeing you soon. And yes, I miss you too. Just take care of yourself. And all the best for your tournament. (:

Kota Kinabalu @ 5-8 July 2009

I just realized that as the number of days are getting lesser and lesser, things are beginning to feel more and more surreal. I remember just awhile ago I was still at the beginning of the 3rd Semester and I had half a year to go, and now its just another 2 weeks and I'm off! Mix feelings. Don't know what to expect. New friends, new surroundings, cultural differences. Well, I hope I get to maximize my given opportunity.

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On another note, with another 2 weeks left, I'll be heading over to East Malaysia to scale the highest mountain in South East Asia (4095m). Here's a little teaser of what we would be experiencing. I was quite curious of what was to be expected of Mount Kinabalu that I decided to do my Google research and I found some pictures. First and foremost, a trail map for the mentally challenged. Honestly, it helps me to prepare myself mentally. Oh by the way, we'll be going up the mountain using the left route (Timpohon). Definitely looks more interesting, got waterfall and all. :)

click image to enlarge

I am pretty sure our thighs will be aching and feeling sore after climbing multiple flights of stairs like the one in the picture below.


A little closer to the peak. Looks pretty cold if you ask me. Brrrr. I'm feeling less guilty now for buying a buff. :D


Moving a few weeks back, our guide told us that the porters are really strong, and I said to myself, ah, how strong can they be, I bet I wouldn't fair so badly against them. But after I saw this picture. omg, I'm humbled. *bows down to porter begging the porter to shed some mercy on me*. These guys are really something. They look so petite, but nevertheless they've been trained really well.


And last but not least, is it just me or is that snow on the mountain?


Now, after looking at all the pictures taken, I feel as if I'm so ill prepared. Sighh. Mind over matter. Expected the unexpected. Haha. And lastly, do not underestimate the mountain.

and if you've climbed Mount Kinabalu before, you should consider, 23rd Mount Kinabalu International Climbathon Malaysia 2009. Billed as the 'world's toughest mountain race', the annual Climbathon is not for the faint-hearted as competitors race their way to the summit of Mount Kinabalu, the highest peak in South East Asia. More details if you'd just check out the link.

That's all for now! : )

Let's just hope we did enough to make it to the top. ( :

Taking one day at a time.

15th July.

The day that I will be departing for Brisbane to continue my tertiary education for the next 2 years and hopefully the experience gained will be able to bring me places that I can only wish for. For those who don't already know, I'll be studying in Brisbane, not Melbourne and I'll be graduating with a Bachelors of Commerce (Finance). ( I've been repeating this statement for countless times already! *almost to the point of annoyance.* HAHA! Don't worry I'll still be there to let you know on my whereabouts! Don't hesitate! (: )

So anyway, I just realized 2 days back that I was leaving Malaysia in exactly 3 weeks time. And today marks another day closer to my departure. I really don't know what to feel. To be honest, it feels as though I've still got so much left to complete back here, and yet another part of me is raring to get going to see what the land down under has to offer.

Somehow I always admire how some friends and family who have left their home are able to adapt to the lifestyle and culture so quickly, don't know how they do it, but I guess our surroundings shape the person you become and people are forced to adapt. So many things to look forward and to learn, a new found independence being away from my family, will definitely be looking forward to seeing her once again, meeting new people and finally growing up, being someone who possesses responsible traits which would do great in building solid relationships and also for the future.

Oh well, so many things left to do actually, just can't think of any right now at 4am in the morning. Maybe my next blog post could just be "things left to do before I depart". Haha, oh well, we'll just have to see how things go. 19 more days to go. And I've still got a mountain to scale, a football team to go great lengths with, a suitcase to pack, a list of things to get and the list goes on and on and on.

Oh well, that's all for now. Out!




and I still love you.

Father's Day

Today, for the very first time I watched a movie with my Papa.


I can already sense some jaw dropping, speechless looking ones giving me that shocked look. Well yeah, I guess everyone has their first and so happen that I am only able to be able to enjoy such moments so late in my life. I don't know if it has ever occurred to you that having a fatherly figure at home is really important in a child's upbringing, more so if you are a boy. I know that everyone is really curious to know what my Papa looks like, but unfortunately I do not have any picture of him. Sorry guys. Don't mean to disappoint you.

No matter how much we would like to deny that we do not look up to our parents, we've all have in our little secret corner of our minds the aspiration to be like our parents one day. At least in our functional families, but for those who have not had the best of family ties with their parents, we will tend to not become like our parents and be someone who is of much better principles. Truth be told, the saying which goes, " like father, like son" or " like mother, like daughter" is really evident if you'd just pay a little more attention the next time you converse with your parents/children.

But I must say that there are so many things that I've yet to learn from my Papa & Dad. Both of them have been essential in my life. Both have taught me that humility and fairness is really important in life, that living a simple life would lead to a much happier family than being cash loaded but not having time for your children. I think growing up in a broken family have taught me to love the person I love with everything I've got, no matter what it is, I know that I would be able to pull through those moments. At the end its about the one you truly love and all other things would seem so irrelevant because you know that that person whom you truly love is by your side. Life, love, is not something you'd be able to learn off the books, but through experience. I guess sometimes the hardest way is the only way to reach the one you love.

And ohh, I found a picture of us with my Papa.

do we look alike?

Last but not least, all the best for your exams. : ) and I pray you get well real soon. Till I see you again.

Happenings

It's obvious that my blog have not been updated.

No excuses. Just didn't have the urge to blog and with so much things left to do (yes, if you don't already know, I have been accepted to study at University of Queensland, Australia and I will be leaving in less than a month's time! GULP! T_T) such as finalizing my visa, getting my medical check up done, buying my air ticket, necessities that I will be needing and other miscellaneous goods that I believe will be bought during the last few days before I leave. So many things left to do, and somehow I still don't feel the urge of getting things done!

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On another note, I was reading a friend's display message on msn the other day and it says, " From now onwards I will not be affected by what others think". As much as I would love for her to feel that way, I somehow believe that we as humans are made to be affected by other peoples comments and what others thinks of us. That is why I feel emotions were instilled in us to be able to feel sad/angry/happy/mediocre. I actually think that it would be pretty scary if there is someone who is able to go through life without letting anyone affect their lives, don't you just think it's so freaky?!

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And I still miss you very much, and I am really not ready to let you go. I'm taking one step at a time, and I can only hope that things will work out between us. I know you're scared as well to venture into it again, but I know if we take things one step at a time, we will be able to pull it through this time around. You're my one and only. If there is one thing I will do, it would be to continue loving you. : )

I wish..

*each paragraph starts with the title of blog post*
And for the last paragraph, instead of I wish, it's gonna be "I know"


That there will one day be a day dedicated as "happy day." Where people have only the choice to portray characteristics which are joyous or fun filled! There are no such thing as "sadness/being emotional/fights." on this very day. Don't you just feel the world have just become a much better place for you and me? :D

Bah. Who am I kidding anyway?

Oh well, maybe it can start between your girlfriend/boyfriend/family/friends. I'm just tired going through this ordeal day by day. Everyone knows where my heart is, but it hurts knowing that you're so close yet so far away.

...everything that happened/is going to happen will bring us together. Remember you asked me one word to describe who you are? Well, I thought about it long and hard, thinking for that one word to totally describe you. And I just don't know. Maybe one day when I really know that word, I'll let you know.








..you're amazingly beautiful.