After conquering Mount Kinabalu, we thought to ourselves that anything is possible... which give us the thought to "keep going" and making full use of our days, hours, minutes and seconds. But the moment we reached the foothill of mount kinabalu (timpohon park), the 1st thing that came to our mind was to quickly get on to our van and ask our driver to drive us to our next destination which is Berjaya Palace Hotel at the KK town where we'll be spending a night there before leaving KK. It's like a day off for rest and chill or a day buffer for our climb in case weather conditions did not facilitate our climb as planned. Before we head off to our comfy little hotel room to catch-up on our sleep and rest, we stopped by Kinabalu Park HQ to retrieve back our additional luggage where we kept to avoid carrying overloaded and unnecessary stuff up the hill. But what i've in my backpack already considered too much of unnecessary especially the two bottles of 1.5L water which i managed to enjoy them during my stay at laban rata resthouse but when i think of it, i wouldn't want to add an additional 3kgs to my back the next time i do any climbing. it's ridiculous! But nevertheless the damage already done to my back, my thigh and knee muscles and overall my whole body. Can feel aches all over but the aches was overshadowed by the success of the climb. Therefore, i didn't feel much of it until i've came back here in KL.
Upon reaching our hotel, we quickly get ourselves check-in went straight to our respective rooms. There were 6 of us so we got ourselves 3 double-sharing rooms and divide among ourselves. Once i reached my room, the only thing i want or i can think of is the nice and comfy bed laying right in front of my eyes. Oh boy, i really do need my sleep and rest!!! thank god, that we've finally made it and now it's turn for my own self-therapy, physically and mentally. ehehehehe....
But after my shower and drinking my last can of nescafe 3-in-1(yeah me and another member of mine brought 3 cans each up to the mountain and down back so that we can still enjoy the aroma of nice coffee while we are away... crazy rite? not so, if you are a coffee lover! you'll just indulge yourself the moment you pop the twister...), i feel so much refreshed and awake! Decided to unpack some of my stuff for tomorrow usage and re-pack those dirty clothes and unnecessary stuff. But before anyone of us could get a proper rest or nap, here comes the phone call from the other room asking where we should go for dinner and what we should be doing after dinner. Guess what, before even we go for our dinner, we went downstairs to redeem our free vouchers for a free cup of teh tarik and some fresh fruits served. While sitting there relaxing our muscles and enjoying our nice hot cup of sabah teh tarik, we started to talk about the next day activities which is to visit at least two islands and after which to drop by the filipino market to do some shopping and catch our dinner before heading back to our hotel and head to the airport.
After our discussion, we went back to our room have some rest and get ready for the night. It's going to be a night at KK town that we won't forget. Hey! Don't think overboard lah... we're not going to do anything crazy or what but just going to spend our time effectively. The 1st thing we did after leaving our hotel was to go to "tian tian" restaurant to enjoy our evening with one table full of our favorites seafood. It was rather a great pleasure for all of us since we haven't been getting any good food since our descend from the mountain and also food at laban rata certainly doesn't meet any of our meal criteria. Once we filled our stomache with those delicious sea creatures, we went to look for hyatt regency hotel. It's supposed to be the next happening place in KK town. We went to this club called "Shenanigans" just next to the hyatt hotel and owns by hyatt as well. It's the most happening club in KK. The place was dark with lots of people and loud music. It's divided into a few sections. The pub is right in the middle of the club with the stage right next to it. Yeah, there's a live band feeding us with loud and crazy music to get the crowd excited! We had a couple of drinks there and had some chats. It's really an eye-opener for those who havent been to a club at KK. I would say the experience clubbing at KK is much better than KL and also the crowds are different. Not going to spoil it, will be better if you guys go there and experience it yourself! Of course, make sure you climbed the mount kinabalu 1st.... remember your trip to kota kinabalu won't be complete without conquering mount kinabalu :p
It was one hell of night especially when all of us are still recovering and recuperating from our climb. Luckily still can find that little zest within each of us. After clubbing, we went over to a mamak shop just a few blocks away from hyatt hotel. Again, we were surprised by the mamak food and the taste of teh tarik there. The curry "dal" certainly looks ugly and taste weird. If you asked me which mamak is the best, i would say mamak in klang valley are so much better. Maybe it's because i'm just so used to the taste here. People there certainly got a unique taste... muahahahaha....
The moment i reached my hotel room, i went straight to my bed. It's what i've been looking forward since i came down from mount K. can't believe that i sleep immediately the moment i lay down. haih... what a relief... esp for my aching body... some sleeping therapy would definitely help alot...
The next morning after we had our buffet breakfast at the hotel restaurant, we caught a cab and went to the KK Ferry Terminal to catch a boat to the mamutik and manukan islands. While waiting to board the speed boat after we got our tickets, me and another 2 friends when shopping around and i bought myself a t-shirt. pretty cool t-shirt and it's the only t-shirt i bought in KK. Also, we applied ourselves with sunblock lotions with everyone offerring tubes which of different SPF+. I applied almost every single part of my body which are exposed. yeah... yeah... trying to protect my skin color and also to avoid skin cancer.
Once are names are called for depature from the terminal, we head to the jetty to board our speed boat. The boat looks old but it's definitely have a powerful engine as it speeds with full momemntum eventhough we had around 12 people sitting together in quite a small boat. Can feel the sea water hitting the boat each time the boat drive forward. The experience is something new for me caused i haven't sat in one before. The 1st island we stopped was Mamutik Island followed by Manukan Island. We spent around 2 hours for each of them.
We rented a life jacket and a pair of goggles each from the owner of the speed boat. We planned to do some snorkling around the beach area and to enjoy the beautiful corals around it. As for me, it again posed me with a challenge. Since i doesn't know how to swim at all, i forced myself into the water and played around. Defnitely can't see any corals at all at the place i hang out except plenty of rocks... so damn painful stepping on them each time i try to float myself. While, the rest went further and further enjoying themselves with the view of the beautiful corals and fishes. sighed... really envy that experience not doing it. okok, must learn how to swim liao. Is it my body too hard to relax or i'm just afraid of the water? Need to spend some time to find this out :p
After spending some time at the beach, we went over to one of the hut there for lunch. Yeah, you certainly don't want to eat your lunch at Manukan Island as food there are so damn expensive. Luckily we listen to one of the advice given by my friend's friend. Hmmm... couldn't really remember what i had for lunch that time... probably the shock of drowning while trying to learn how to swim is still haunting me till i couldn't recalled. huh... ehehehe... kidding nia... if i'm not mistaken, i had the same order as the other 4 of them. We had fried rice, correct me if i'm wrong. Orh yeah, while we were busy enjoying our lunch and forgetting that we need to leave the island by 1pm to head to the next, our speed boat arrive just when we were about to finish our food. We had no choice but to ask for 15mins delay. Feeling kind of bad caused if we delay our trip then we'll also delay others whom are also waiting for the same boat. Nevertheless, the owner was kind enough to wait for us.
Manukan Island was totally a different experience and surroundings as compared to Mamutik Island. It's very heavily been commercialised. There are alots of restaurant around and shops. Yeah, the island is much bigger and there's a receptionist and souvenir shop right after the jetty or the entrance of the island. At Mamutik, they just have a small counter and a guy taking care of it. Manukan have sales girls and guys dressing up in those beach and hawaiian style clothing. Most of the sales girls there, dressed up quite sexily. Yup, it's definitely an eye-washer for all the guys out there.
We didn't do much of snorkling except for soo a.k.a james bond for our team. He did walked coolly and bondly manner down the beach and into the water. Too bad i'm not allowed to pose any of those kind of pics on my blog else you'll get what i meant. ehehehehe... dun worry soo... ur pics are in safe hands :p Anway, we spend sometime walking along the beach trying to find a nice spot under the tree where we could all sit down and enjoy the sea breeze and the sounds of the sea. After walking for around 5-10mins, we finally found quite a ok spot although it's quite near to the trash bin but we got no other spot except that one. The rest all are being taken. So without wasting much of our time since we need to leave in 2hrs time, we settled for that spot. Set ourselves down and had a few chats while our james bond do his diving and snorkling. wow... u guys should see the way he walked up from the water... stylo man! Orh yeah, apart from the bonding thingy, we took some funny pics and trying to add some effects before the pic was taken. It was rather fun playing around with the camera and take "candid" shots. too bad my camera already ran out of battery else it'll be crazy man!
This time around, we keep a close eye on the time to avoid been the "procrastinator" but again self-disciplined only works for a person but not the whole group. Orh yeah, almost missed one of the moment at Manukan Island. After the beach, we went over to the jetty where we spend some time feeding with the groups of fishes around the water there. The water was so crystal clear that we could see all the fishes directly below us. Had another session of fun-filled-fish-feeding activity. Again, my fear came to struck me... this time round, not the water but the fish. Was kind of weird to get contact with the fish. Not used to it lah. Yeah, all of them teased me. ehehehehe...
Alas, we still missed our time once again. But fortunately enough, me and another fren took hold of the boat while we wait for the rest to arrive. The rest of the passenger have arrived except the four from our group who went to take their shower. Wanted to be clean wor. As for me, i rather stay dirty since we will be going to the filipino market and then dinner. I'm sure there'll be a few more rounds of sweat so why waste my shower cream and energy going for a rush shower. After waited for them for around 5-10mins, slowly one by one they surfaced. Among them all, the funniest will be the "bollywood" act by eric. that guy did a bollywood dance for us with his towel holding up and both of his hands stretched up with his towel and run along with the wind blowing against him. muahahaha.... all of us couldn't help but LOL!
After the islands visit, we stopped by the filipino market which is around 10-15mins walked from the KK Ferry Terminal. A few of us went in to take a look at what they got to offer. Me and another fren opt not too. The reason for so, it's because it's a very crowded place and very cramp and stuffy too. I thought the prices there will be cheap but when i take a look at some of the items there, it seems like some of them even more expensive that you see elsewhere. So both of us, took some time off enjoying a nice cold bowl of "ice kacang". The feeling was refreshing and cooling. While enjoying our bowl of ice kacang, we saw many people passing by and at the same time, many starting to setup the stalls around. I guess there'll be a mini pasar malam next to the filipino market at the night time.
Once done with ice kacang and the shopping, we started to hunt around for a place for our dinner. We walked around for 15-20mins and finally settled down at the restaurant next to the one where we had our seafood dinner the previous night. This time round we didn't go for seafood but instead went for a nice and simple dinner. Although it's just a simple one, but i feel very sumptuous after the dinner. Maybe it's because of our achievement and the company and of course the craps and jokes that we bring on to the table during dinner.
Then, we went back to our hotel. After shower, we grabs our luggages and waited for our tour guide to bring us back to the airport where we'll board our flight back at 9:45PM. While at the airport, due to some unforseen circumstances our flight was delayed by around 1hour and also we waited two hours at the cafe before we could checked in. Waited another hour at the waiting area. What a waste of time! But that's what you get if you go for cheaper airline. Every single cents count! Sighed... how i wish that there'll be more local airline to compete so that instead of them squeezing us out of our money and service, it'll be the consumer who benefits the most. Aiyah... after 4 days of hardwork and achievement, i'm just too tired to argue with them anymore... just want my rest and sleep nia... muahahaha....
Overall it is one of the memorable trip i ever went and this will remains as one of my greatest achievement while i'll continue to seek more glory and achievement... Life always progresses!
[okok... time for the pics... i'll categorise them accordingly...]
[KK Ferry Terminal]
[On the Speed Boat]
[Mamutik Island]
[Manukan Island]
[Filipino Market]
[Berjaya Palace Hotel]
3 comments:
nice detailed trip posts!
by the way, I think it's Mamutik, not Manutik. :)
hey JK, thanks...
definitely can still further improved. can be even more details loh... muahahaha... afraid too lengthy ppl may just got fed-up reading it :p
yeah i thanks for the correction. just realised it when i double confirmed it wt the pics. correction made ;)
nice island pictures you have there...!!
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