I couldn't contain my love for mountain climbing that I finally grab an adventure tour abroad aiming for Mt. Kinabalu, the grand tourist attraction in Sabah, Malaysia. Since I have completed the top five highest summits in the Philippines, I was more than ready to take it further outside the country to quench my thirst for the great hazards of life. This event was hosted by a fellow Filipino mountaineer, Mr. Miguel Mapalad, known for coordinating international climbs based in Manila with its organization called YABAG Mountaineering.
Afternoon of June 9, 2017, we headed to Manila with our full packs, stimulated hearts and geared up muscles. There were 13 of us to climb Mt. Kinabalu, four of us from Davao and the rest were in Manila, including Mr. Miguel. We fled to Malaysia in the dark of the morning, June 10, 2017 and stayed in Kinabalu Backpackers Lodge. In the daylight, we roamed around the city for breakfast then visited three island beaches namely Pulau Manukan, Pulau Mamutik, and Pulau Sapi.
The next day, we traveled from KK (Kota Kinabalu) for 2 hours to Kinabalu Park, the foot of the mountain, to have a little overview of the place where we will be trekking by tomorrow. From that moment, we took our rest and preparation at Poring Hot Spring with its cold and serene atmosphere.
June 12, 2017, we finally set foot for Mt. Kinabalu. We need to get to Laban Rata, the hotel lodge in the mountain, before 4 PM for safety, and we started the journey at around 10 AM. That's a challenging 6 hours trek uphill but I still managed to make it 5. 😉
Kinabalu Park
Trail Map. (Sorry for the reflection☮lol)
Entrance
Gate Timpohon to start the trek
Brief Orientation by the guide
Up Up all the way!
Bonsai trees😍
Landmark nearer to Laban Rata
Laban Rata Hotel/Lodge
The hostel serves buffet meals for travelers and while dinner is served from 4-7 PM, we ate ours as early to cap off the night ahead since we will be waking up before 2 AM the next day to assault the summit. I also experienced headache that night which made me weak and wanted to rest right after dinner. I drank two pain relievers to take the pain away and sleep soundly.
When we woke up, we wore our coats actively and ate our prebreakfast meal before hitting the rocks. My contacts was torn unexpectedly so I had to wear my glasses to have a clear view from afar, also afraid of being hit by altitude sickness just because of my eyes. It was cold and dark outside, but when we started walking, it eventually gets hotter with our layers of warmers on. I had three layers of clothes, my jacket, fleece and compression undershirt, and I removed one afterwards.
The sky was getting quite brighter and I could see the rock formations to the peak. There were ropes to guide us up but then my headache came back and it made me too weak to advance. I almost wanted to stop right there in that famous spot with a towering slope, but my company pushed me to walk furthermore to the apex. Thankful she did, we were so happy and accomplished after all. I forgot about the pain in my head. I stayed there for a while waiting for my friend, thinking about what matters to me in life, my dreams and many more, and how I've become all through this journey. I guess that's just how mountaineers love to celebrate life simply, and that's how it affects our state of purpose because of the impact we get to see from the world in a beautiful perspective.
Outerspace feels😰
Here comes the sun...
Aiming for the summit
We made it!!!
One force of nature floats above it all... -Rei
Mt. Kinabalu's peak
It's 7 AM and we're going back; the sun is rising up. I took off another cloth, my fleece to make me breathe lighter. It was easier going down, although it was still exhausting but we were all contented. ♥♥♥
Going down...
Kaka, Banban and me
Notice the stairways
We were back in Laban Rata after 9 AM, not to rest the whole day, but to eat our proper breakfast and prepare our bags to resume another long trek to the foot of the mountain. We left the hostel at around 11 AM and I reached the end at 1:30 PM. My friend, Vanessa came late, after 4 PM that I had so much guilt of leaving her to others. I'm sorry again, Ban! I knew you can make it but I couldn't wait too long. ILY😘
At Baganihan, Marilog District, Davao City lies a long great waterfall named Kwagsik Falls. A destination we defied to reach with guts and insanity for a quick big break; one daring adventure for us Kela, Aia, Phan2x, Shyla and Stephen.
We hardly knew the exact jump off to Brgy. Baganihan from Davao City except the eagle statue. We drop off the bus (2 hours travel) in front of a covered court after it and we thought that was exactly where we'll start the trek. The local resident said there was another gym ahead but he wasn't sure he heard about Kwagsik Falls. He sent us to Commander Bayucboc in Maharlika to let someone guide us so we met Joel and Sony. The rain has poured that afternoon we arrived so we expected a muddy trail.
The team at Baganihan Gym
Misty and muddy
Dinner with a little bonfire to warm us
We reached the campsite (doesn't seem to look like one but we have no choice) after two hours and it was getting dark. We were starting to pitch our tents and get warm but suddenly a tree fell off beside us and it freaked us out. Our guides and Stephen inspected the other trees if they are prone to fall off next, putting up a straight log parallel to the trunks to barricade it. It didn't set off our worries but it was adventure that we sought, so the challenge of nature was really really there. Each of us prayed hard that night to wake up the next morning safe, and we did. God and nature, indeed, didn't betray us. Trust was only thing left for us to survive the trial.
When we woke up, we hurriedly packed our things and went off to the waterfalls.
Tip: Do not use trek sandals for muddy trails! 😂
Finally😍 Congrats team!
KWAGSIK FALLS/SANDAWA FALLS
Panoramic View 👌
After enjoying the magnificence of Kwagsik Falls, we ate our breakfast and took the river trek back to the road via Nam-Nam. At the highway, we fortunately tried to hitch a ride in a ten-wheeler truck with loads of mineral water to Calinan, Davao City.
taking a break...
Pa-zipline pls. Lol
Na-slide, natumba, naangol. Pero laban gihapon! Life of Phan2x👌
It was Friday night when Aia texted me to go to the beach in Samal, the nearest island escapade in Davao City and thinking it was also my rest day that the next morning, we were there instantly. Being explorers offhand just took over that both of us could say, hey, where are we going anyway?
We didn't know where we're heading but we're on our way...😂
Aia and me always wanted a secluded place for a getaway. I don't like much to go back to places where I've already visited so we looked for something new. We we're searching on the internet from our phone right then and there, asking a local habal-habal driver who waited for us to actually decide. He suggested some common cheap resorts but we told him we've been there because we're just from across (Davao City) just so he wouldn't trick us if he try. Then we found Kamayo Beach Resort...
What's in Kamayo? 🤔
Among other resorts in Samal island, Kamayo is just a very small black beach and has stony shoreline. They have a small pool you can enjoy but we weren't able to use it that time because the seawater which they also use to fill the pool was quite murky. We can't blame them since we we're just walk-ins they didn't prepare and the weather was gloomy and windy so as the water. So, we took most of time talking about life and walking throughout the shore we even passed an unfinished resort that looks private but we still did anyway.
Chill time
The destination doesn't matter as long as you're with good company.
Exploring outside Kamayo...
The feeling explorers. Chareet!😄
The boundary between the private resort to the unknown.
Passing that unfinished private resort...
Stopover for a nap shot. lol
Kamayo rocks! lol
Sandy part
Surfer feels🏄🌊
Killin' time⌚
🕶👀
Quality time | Friendship update | Shooting session
@wanderingfoodieshutterbug : "...that one friend who's up for anything fun and spontaneous... yeah we're kinda cool like that." 😎😛😝
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I really enjoyed this adventure we had; the early rise from home, crossing the island, the nameless ride, the talk about hating and missing other people, and the privy place to rest and think. I love the spontaneity and genuineness of such souls. Until next time, Aia! Thank you Samal for always being there. lol
