To Mt kinabalu National Park

Monday 18 August 2008 Limbang to Mt Kinabalu National Park Headquarters

A rather leisurely start at 08h30 saw not 5 but 6 of us climbing into our vehicle for the drive to Kinabalu National Park headquarters. We are now 6 as Barry from Perth has joined the group. He is a retired orthodontist/vineyard owner who is out to enjoy himself. He was actually here 20 years ago and sees some changes but a lot is much the same!

In these steamy tropics I quickly develop an obsession with clean running water, even more so if it is slightly warmed.

We were a bit early for lunch so we were taken for a guided walk around a Botanic Garden within the resort, partly to fill in time but also to introduce us to some of the flora we may see growing on the mountain. There were some orchids including a magnificent slipper orchid and some examples of the pitcher plants that grow on the slopes of the mountain.

We went back to the resort for a very comprehensive buffet lunch with lots of choices from European to local dishes. After lunch we checked in and I fully expected that now we are 2 ‘single’ males that I would be sharing with Barry. Lucky for me, Barry paid for a single supplement so I am still on my own and my room is wonderful! It has a loft with a king-size bed and a separate bathroom with toilet and washbasin. Below is a lounge with a day bed furnished with big soft cushions, a TV and a couple of fancy wall-hangings made from by some unknown local weaver. There are potted plants in flower including a beautiful fuchsia absolutely covered in bright flowers. Most attractive and certainly set the scene. The whole set-up was very 5-starish for this part of the world – I’m very lucky! I’ve also been able to walk and climb stairs this afternoon without my thighs hurting. It is a wonderful new experience.

We were shown a trick today which gives a reason for one of the plant’s often used common names – kerosene bush. If a berry is squeezed, the resultant juices ignite on the application of a flame and burn quite well. The locals carry a supply of berries in sections of bamboo to light their fires. This saves a bit on the cigarette lighters. Presumably they used flints and rubbing sticks before butane lighters came along.

In these steamy tropics I quickly develop an obsession with clean running water, even more so if it is slightly warmed. Even though the exertion of drying off after a shower will bring you out in a sweat, it is still good to wash the last layer away, so into the shower I went.

Around 3pm it rained very heavily but as it was a free afternoon and I decided to stay in my room, it was just a passing event. The roadway outside my room was a torrent of water as was the grassed area nearby. The resort is on a pretty good slope so the water drained away very quickly. I tried to read my book but my heavy eyelids won the day. A couple of hours punching z’s rounded out the afternoon.

We all met up for dinner at 18h00 and ate in the same restaurant as at lunch time. In fact, dinner looked a lot like lunch rehashed, rearranged and reheated. Tiger beer was RM18, a bit steep particularly as it was lukewarm. Needless to say, one was enough, not so much because of the price but because it was warm.