Friday, 12 July 2013

Mount Kinabalu Budget Trip! 1 of 2

Yes! I conquered the highest mountain in Southeast Asia, the ever picturesque Mount Kinabalu! Which appears on our RM100 note (dulu RM1).

Will come to that. 

By the way, I owe this post to Umi! She's been waiting for this itinerary. Sorry hee. Nah hambek! ;p

Kota Kinabalu Itinerary

Day 0: Arrival. Accommodation at my sister's home-stay in Cybercity
Day 1: Visit Rumah Terbalik in Tuaran, Shop at Pekan Nabalu, Lunch at Kundasang, Check-in at Pine Resort, Chillex at Poring Hot Spring
Day 2: Visit Sabah Tea Garden, Visit Kundasang Memorial Park, Mesilau Dairy Farm, Check-in at Mesilau Nature Resort
Day 3: Climb to Laban Rata Resthouse via Mesilau Trail
Day 4: Climb to the top at 2.00 am, back to Kota Kinabalu 
Day 5: Island-hopping and shopping
Day 6: Pack frozen seafood, back to Kuala Lumpur

Mount Kinabalu Itinerary

Day 2: Welcoming Dinner at Mesilau Nature Resort, tidur
Day 3: Buffet Breakfast, Packed Lunch, climb until Laban Rata via Mesilau Trail (another trail is Timpohon trail), arrived at Laban Raya for Dinner, climb 200 m down to Waras Hut, tidur
Day 4: Supper at 2.00 am at Laban Rata, climb to the top, come down for breakfast at Laban Rata, climb down to Timpohon Gate and finally Kinabalu Park HQ
Since kitaorang naik via Mesilau, tidurpun kat Mesilau Nature Resort tapi turun kat Kinabalu Park via Timpohon Gate

Mount Kinabalu Tour Budget Calculation

  1. Mount Kinabalu Package - RM512/pax
  2. Return Flight Tickets - RM130/pax
  3. Accommodation -
  4. Car Rental -
  5. Food -
  6. Miscellaneous (entrance fee, climbing attire and needs)
Grand Total:


The Six Items

1) Mount Kinabalu Package - RM512/-

We opted to purchase directly from Sutera Sanctuary Lodge, the official manager of the accommodations at Mount Kinabalu. The mountain itself is taken care of by Sabah Parks Authority, they both are linked in a way that Sutera will forward our details to Sabah Parks to arrange for our insurance and climbing permit. Without that, tak boleh panjatlah. 

Anyway we called Sutera half a year before and only manage to book for 7 pax (we were a group of 8) because they were full house! Maybe except for certain quota that they saved for travel agency, which climbers will find it a bit pricier. The warm friendly staffs asked us to call them back on a certain dates, some cut-off dates for other climbers if they don't deposit 50% of the money. So we called them once in few days and our effort paid off, we secured one more place. So we deposited the money straight away to confirm our place. Alhamdulillah. Happy (n_n)v

The climbing packages prices were varied according to the type of rooms. Confirmlah nak yang paling murah kan. So the cheapest would be RM512/- is inclusive of the following:

3 days 2 night accommodation (NON-HEATED WOW TIDUR SEJUK MANDI LAGI SEJUK)
  1. 11 May 2013 at Bishop's Head Resthouse, Mesilau Nature Resort
  2. 12 May 2013 at Waras Hut (memang tak waras laa)
  3. Climbing Permit
  4. Insurance
  5. Makan: Welcoming Dinner at Mesilau, Buffet Breakfast at Mesilau, Packed Lunch at Mesilau, Buffet Dinner at Laban Rata, 2am Early Supper at Laban Rata, Buffet Breakfast at Laban Rata, Afternoon Tea Break at Kinabalu Park
  6. 1 Way Transfer to Kinabalu Park 
Tapikan, makan terbaiklah, 5 star.

2) Return Flight Tickets (RM130/pax)

We bought Zero Fare AirAsia promo in 2012 for RM130 per person from KL to KK and return. 1 and half month before our departure date, Malaysia Airline did their promo too, RM135 return inclusive of meals on board and 30 kg check-in baggage. Sakit hati tak? Actually it was a blessing in disguise because one of the team backed down, so the replacement was found immediately to purchase this once in a blue moon MAS flights. Murah sangat la.

3) Accomodation

My sister owns an apartment in CyberCity 2, which was stone's throw away from Kota Kinabalu International Airport.

4) Car Rental

We were so lucky having to came across the cheapest

5) Food

Food expenses depend on your appetite?

6) Miscellaneous 


Tuesday, 9 July 2013

Ramadhan Journey

السلام عليكم and happy Ramadhan!

Alhamdulillah syukur, masih berkesempatan menyambut bulan mulia, bulan penuh keberkatan.

Unfortunately it's repeating! My inconsistency in keeping good habits. Susahnya nak istiqomah. Entahlah kata orang 40 hari praktis insyallah jaya. Okay here we go...starting from today, 9 July 2013, the day before Ramadhan...(aik tiba-tiba teringat birthday adik 11 July 2013 kah kah kah)

Solat Terawih (with different Imams <3)
  • Day 0: I forgot how to Witir in 1 salam =.='
  • Day 1: Suddenly there was no tazkirah
  • Day 2: Imam did 4 + 3 which confuses most of us who were used to 8 + 3. On another note, no offense, but big sized girl sooner or later will break my small frame. Learning to adjust my toes
  • Day 3: Imam sengau-sengau merdu. Just like Saujana lead singer hehe. Witir Imam's voice so far was the best 
  • Day 4: Most pleasant Terawih...the girls on my sides were graceful and considerate, the air-condition was cooler (people went back kampung) and the Imam's recitation both Isyak and Terawih was soothing. I felt blessed <3
  • Day 5: Imam was a singer, believe me his recital was like a sing-song, so beautifully delivered
  • Day 6: Suddenly there was solat hajat before solat sunat after Isyak
  • Day 7: Praying under air-conditioner. Tazkirah went 20 minutes long


Tuesday, 22 January 2013

Broga Hill

Broga Hill, widely known since our first astronaut to the space, had his pre-wedding photoshoot there:


Oh ya, I'm a big fan of his wife, Dr Harlina's blog, http://barelysupermommy.com/, always so entertaining and informative! Doctor pula tu. Hehe.

Broga Hill climb was one of the fitness regime that my group did to prepare our body for Mount Kinabalu. Located in Semenyih, Selangor, this hill was already the usual among avid climbers. We arrived at the entrance, through a palm oil plantation, quite late. Ample parking was available though the place was already packed with cars. Opposite the entrance was a mini zoo and saw some stalls selling rambutans. 



Broga Hill


Friday, 18 January 2013

Bucket List 2013

19 days passed but I haven't decide on my mission for this year. Let's just put that I want to grow mature in mind, body and spirit. This idea was planted by him, the always responsible and alert.

Anyway, my bucket list for 2013!:

  1. Climb Broga Hill
  2. Climb Mount Kinabalu
  3. Get married because I am already 26 this year!

Sunday, 19 August 2012

PM Najib's 2012 Raya Open House

Kids,

Both my sister and I went to our PM, YBhg Dato' Najib's 2012 Raya Open House.

We went there at 11.30 and waited 1 hour for the feeder bus to fetch us at Mizan Mosque. Should have just went straight, the bus was too crowded and the waiting made us waited more to meet the ministers.











Saturday, 4 August 2012

Bandung Budget Trip Day 3

Day 3 - 29 June 2012

The entire day was dedicated for shopping in factory outlets.

But I don't have much photos to show.

Anyway, we had our lunch at Karamba restaurant, this time it was Sundanese cuisines! Our Sundanese Supir helped us to choose. I remember reading somewhere that a deep-fried Gurame is a must try! So we ordered Gurame!

Later I found out that it's actually Ikan Kaloi =.='. Gurame is Osphronemus gouramy, a gourami, a freshwater fish. Believe me sedappppp.

And the Mendoan, oh my food...sedap gila.

I vote this restaurant the best we went in Bandung!

Bandung very own otak-otak. More like fish cake
Nasi Goreng Karamba 30000 rupiah or RM10
Rice for 4 16000 @ RM5.40
Karedok 14000 @ RM4.70
Peda Bakar 8000 @ RM2.70
Tahu 12000 @  RM4
Mendoan (Left below) 15000 @ RM5
SEDAP. Gurame Cobek (Ze Kaloi) 67000 @ RM22.40
Ayam Goreng 15000 @ RM5. Ayam Bandung kurus-kurus semua.

We decided to go back to Cibaduyut. Grutty Shoes was the best store there.

Ballerina shoe 30000 @ RM10

We bough Chocolatos from a random store on our way back, same as love letter but more chocolaty
 With nothing to do, we went back to the market outside Pasar Baru.
Tidbits outside Pasar Baru


Day 4 - 30 June 2012

Our last day was only to pack. We used 50% of our luggage. Rugi. Cause we didn't shop much. 

On our way to the Bandung airport

No road is long with good company

See ya Bandung. We had so much fun. Cool climate, cool people. I'll be back ;)

note: changed 900000 with 0.33 rate got back RM297.00

Bandung Budget Trip Day 2

Day 2 - 28 June 2012

We started our morning with tasty breakfast at the hotel. Had only one mission for that day, to visit Wisata Kawah Putih (Tourist spot, White Crater). Kawah Putih is one beautiful lake crater 3 hours drive from Bandung city.

Paperboy in the middle of morning traffic
It was a common sight in Bandung to see the locals selling newspapers, tidbits and even beggars on the road trying to meet their end needs. At some tricky junctions there's always a guy tipped for sorting traffic flow. One time we were watching an overloaded vege cart coming into a junction when all of the sudden a random man pulled some vege leaves and helped the cart gets into the busy main road. That vege was taken as a token for his service. Pun boleh.

Petrol station where we bought some breads for the 3 hour journey
At the roadside entrance

Had to take Angkutan Kota, feeder to Kawah Putih up in Mount Patuha. No door or seat belt. Just me holding for my dear life


Click to read the history of Kawah Putih

Stunning colour contrast

Picturesque Kawah Putih

Sulfuric and we started coughing after 15 minutes, had to put on mask purchased at the entrance 

Guess what, Kawah Putih is actually a movie site for My Heart! So I get to cross my Bucket List 2012 number 6: Take Photo at 1 Movie Site! I just couldn't believe my destiny. Cehhh.

Tea plantation in Bandung
We requested Pak L to bring us any nearby Wisata and he drove us further down to Situ Patengan (Patengan Lake). We stopped once in a while to photograph the refreshing scenic tea plantation. Our guy was at this point, tired. Had to drag him out from our vehicle. It looked as though we were having good time conquering the hills. Deceiving. Roots and rocks were covering the ground and it was hard walking up and down. I wonder how they run gracefully in movies, seriously.


Had always wanted to photograph a dandelion. Back-dropped by serene tea plantation and Situ Patengan

Situ Patengan
Situ Patengan (Sundanese words for 'looking for each other' lake) is a beautiful recreational lake in Ciwidey. Popular with a romantic legend about two lovers finally reunited in Love Rock and Love Island, people go boating around those two places to find eternal love. Aww...so sweet.


They were washing something. What is it, what is it? I'm really curious

Coffee beans? No? Please what is it?

 Bandung Strawberry

Bandung cabbage


On our way back, Pak L brough us to Jalan Cibaduyut.

He carves names onto China fountain pens. 




Day 3