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Mount KK : [Part III] Laban Rata Go Go Go!!
Many mountains in the world have been explored and mapped out. Mostly for geographical, commercial, or purely time-wasting purposes.
This is the commercially available map of the mountain trail up to Mount Everest.
This is the commercially available ski map of the mountain trail at Anzère, Swiss Alps.
And this, my friends, is the commercially available map of the mountain trail up our beloved Mount Kinabalu.
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See, we love the environment so much that we print our maps black & white. No Color. On paper that has been reused TEN times, that’s why it looks like ‘HAM CHOY’ HAHA.
No lah, the paper was originally white and clean, just that we got caught in the rain and I forgot to protect the map 
But really, even if you bust the map, you won’t get lost on the way up Mount KK. There are 2 trails that one can use. 1 starts from Mersilau and the other starts from Timpohon. They both meet at a fork before Laban Rata, and from there it goes straight up to the summit. And there’s only 1 path to walk throughout the journey.
It takes a lot of imagination and genius to actually lose your way up the trail haha.
So here continues Day 2 !! *bersemangat gila*. Other episodes: Part I & Part II
Some of the things I appreciated were the 1/2 km milestones that indicated my progress on the way up the trail. It was just what I needed to think LESS about the long, long 8km that lay in front of me. Nice lor these Sabahans 
As you can guess, the km’s felt like they were getting further and further apart, as the steps seemed to get steeper and steeper…
Quite instantly, me and my bottle of 100 Plus became the best of friends. Nothing quenches your thirst as orgasmically as 100 Plus (damn I can’t believe I just used ‘orgasmically’ in my sentence lol)
As I mentioned, Mr Mersilau-Trail (from the right) will meet Mr Timpohon-Trail (from the left) before the two paths merge to go up to Laban Rata, at a small clearing known as ‘the fork’.
And at the clearing, our normally strong and tireless porter was spotted hiding away from us under a tree. Gotcha!
OK, so they’re human too. HAHA.
It’s very important to stay hydrated and rest every 20-30 minutes. Go at a steady pace, instead of sprinting ahead of everyone and burning up faster than everyone else. If you wana be Kiasu, you must be fit. No Fit = No Kiasu. And if necessary, pop an energy bar or energy gel for a quick recharge.
For me, I use Clorets chewing gum. *no need la energy bar laaaa* 
Somewhere along, we encountered a crazy porter rushing down past us. And I mean REALLY rushing.
What the hell man. These people’s knees made of STEEL or what???
Intentionally underexposed shot. What do you think nice ah nice ah LOL.
When it’s foggy and looks like rain, you can either express yourself to the sky…
…Camho…
Or….you can just stare blankly into the camera like Arhnue lol.
The one thing about carrying a DSLR around while climbing is that it has to be kept in a secure, padded compartment in my bag, and when it is time to take a shot of something or someone, I must:
(1) Stop walking / climbing
(2) Unhook front safety latch.
(3) Unhook one shoulder strap
(4) Pull backpack to the front.
(5) Reach my hand over my monster bag and pull open the zip. Then pull the camera compartment further out. Note : Must be careful here or you may end up with the catastrophic dumping of your lenses / flash onto the ground wah cry.
By the time the camera comes out, your subject would have reached the top of the mountain already.
OK lah, I exaggerated a bit there. But truth is, DSLR is quite a pain to carry up the mountain, although the shots are worth it. I suppose that is the way pros do it, so I must learn that! or die trying! cheh wah dramatic.
But at least I put everything into one bag, instead of carrying a separate camera bag like some other DSLR photographer.
Guess what. Eventually his camera bag became porter luggage hahahahaa. Okay, he was carrying Rach’s backpack as well. That surely deserves some credit.
I also guess that he finally realized that his 5D is probably safer with the porter than with him xD
May I also add that on the night before, his camera was already..slightly damaged, by ahem…me. Cos I tried to put my EFS lens into his EF camera lens hole. @.@ what! short of one ‘S’ got so big difference meh??
Anyway, I damaged it. Slightly. One of the mirrors cracked and fell out, that’s all. Desmond’s viewfinder changed from a nice big frame to a 5-sen-sized hole. But still can see a bit lah. Hey his shots still turned out ok Haha. Sorry Desmond.
Everything was forgotten when I caught a glimpse of the bare-rocky mountainside about 1.5 km from our destination.
It’s truly quite a sight to admire momentarily, when for the past 5 hours, I saw nothing but trees and valleys and squirrels. Some mean-looking mountain babeh!
It was at this point when the moment we were hoping to avoid came…it started raining!
Ey, when raining quite scary la. With this device in my bag which cannot kena a single drop of water one. A rain cover + poncho is a must when rain comes in.
Sadly, I’m not very good at putting on ponchos. When you’re tired and really very hungry, all you wana do is get that damn piece of plastic over your head and body. I ended up punching big holes all over the poncho instead. It was simply no protection at all.
Even Pian Porter had to use an umbrella *chik chak*
Yes, despite the rain + hunger, the Shutterbug in me prevailed. Jai-Ho! Cam-Ho! But while shooting must wrap camera in Plastik Beg or habis.
I’m beginning to think that I should have shot in RAW mode, so i could recover the underexposed foreground…is that what you would do? Does it work that way?
The final kilometer before we reach Laban Rata, and before sunset!
And finally, an extremely welcome sight…..
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LABAN RATA GUESTHOUSE!
As you can see, Mount KK is quite popular until there was hardly any tables left. Kit Loong, our hero, however, reached first and was able to get a table just in time for us xD
And the best plate of Chap Fan I had for years (it seemed at the moment) I had for dinner.
Eat until. damn. Puas.
And the timing was just nice. Ngam ngam sunset…! Cam-Ho alert! Jai-Ho!
It takes a real good photographer to capture the full range of colors while correctly exposing the contrasting parts of the pic wei. I need more practice…I need more KK trips!
My 3 favorite shots =)
Did I mention that the room which I tried to get in the main Laban Rata resthouse wasn’t available? That meant I had to bunk in alone at another resthouse, 15 mins away. It’s quite a thrill, hiking up at night…
Can you imagine the excitement while jostling amongst other climbers at 3am the next morning to the summit? It’s incredibly surreal. @.@
Check back soon for the next part =)
If you liked this post, do check out Part I & Part II ok…!
Cheers!
-EVo-
Desmond June 18th, 2009 23:38 pm
It’s MESILAU bro
Not Me(R)silau….climb already still dunno ar! But anyways thanks for not humiliating me too badly this round. And no you’re not forgiven for what you did to my cam.
[Reply]
euveng Reply:
June 19th, 2009 at 8:56 am
Yo dude!
Tell me about it…the locals call it mAsilau yo. so i just stick to my original version that i know
Wei i’m a fair blogger, dun simply write nonsense one. unless ur too full of nonsense ahahha. eh btw how’s ur cam ah?
[Reply]
Desmond Reply:
June 21st, 2009 at 12:23 am
Haih, have to stare at black dust everyday through my viewfinder…what to do….
[Reply]
EVo Ooi Eu Veng June 19th, 2009 00:48 am
Mount KK : [Part III] Laban Rata Go Go Go!! http://tinyurl.com/l3w9bu
maRCus June 19th, 2009 00:58 am
You wrote SO many things, i addressit one by one:
#1. the map comparison dam chun idea lo! Funny weii!
#2. If the porter who was “rushing” downwards, was actually rushing down, then you wouldn’t be able to get that shot in time now, would you? Or would it be tht u were exaggeratiing a wee bit? the mountain dew has gotto yer head eh?LOL
#3. If you’re werent exaggearting abt the carrying the DSLR, your post wudnt be entertaining. like AT ALL. XD
#4. i could almost fell your enthusiasm when i read LABAN RATA!!! =D
#5. The starting trail (red soil) looks like a scene from Sta Wras. @_@
#6. The pic just before your DSLR exaggeration dam chunntek! Like going into the Misty Forest in LOTR…XD
#7. the word Jai HO! which came after the word “cham ho” just before your picture with your larger than life grin: PRICELESSLY FARNEE!
#8. The view: awesome. NOW i know why you like it so much!
#9. btw, saw any “kuai”? Kuai lou dont count ha. XD XD XD
#10. Good thing you “forced” me to read yer post. A good post deserves a well written comment.
JAI HO!! XD
[Reply]
euveng Reply:
June 19th, 2009 at 10:29 am
Wah u r really memang the brudder of all brudders lah. if there’s an award for commenter of the day it’ll go to u wei xD
#2 Yes he was really rushing down, my camera fast so can capture
#6 got some forest pics really quite chun so must take n share!
#7 of coss man. Jai-Ho rhymes with Cam-Ho! lolll
#8 we should ALL make a trip here next year wei. mount kk + sipadan!
#9 what kuai la? ?_?
#10 haha dun say so obvious…later ppl think i desperate xD
How’s d friday going bro?
[Reply]
Jing-leBelle June 19th, 2009 03:33 am
OMG the sunset pictures are just awesome colouring!
Nice shots Euveng! haha..and hoh, i also shoot RAW now to prevent pics underexposure..and disappointed after a couple days when i process it..haha..
Btw, you’re bravo enough! to damaged the 5D HAHA!
i think i never touch a 5D before >.<
hope to own one nex time, *if i kena lottery* LOL!
[Reply]
euveng Reply:
June 19th, 2009 at 10:32 am
Yeah dude… i think in this case should shoot RAW. see la i climb so high and wasted shots ahahahah.
My itchy fingers la went and play with the 5D. but my fren was cool with it la..calmly went n repair it. hard to find
[Reply]
David June 19th, 2009 11:28 am
great write up and pics Evo! One day I will try to climb. Sadly I have been there 4 times and only to the Kinabalu Park and base camp
[Reply]
euveng Reply:
June 19th, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Thanks dude! got more to come later
i suppose u went for the other parks with rafflesia and hot water spring as well? Mount KK ah..must climb at least once in lifetime =)
[Reply]
thisgirlyouknow June 19th, 2009 12:17 pm
urgh.. my thighs hurt just looking at that “uphill” shot.. gosh i miss the pain. i do i do.
[Reply]
euveng Reply:
June 19th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
AHhahaha so do we wana go there for the pain together again? then we can go diving after climbing down hey?
[Reply]
ahmike June 19th, 2009 15:38 pm
Ah I really tak kuasa to list down one by one like bradder marcus k..
Just a short one,..
I feel tak boleh tahan and wanna get there too, especially the guest house, and looking at your pictures, i can imagine how refreshing there was.
Tak boleh tahan ….. wanna go shh shh d.. xD
[Reply]
euveng Reply:
June 19th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
Marcus is damn power one i tell u. u hang out with him in real life and u will know! xD
Eh comment last line…why come to my blog wana shh shh one LOL
Don’t think anymore ahmike…just…GO! next year we planz ok!
[Reply]
David June 19th, 2009 16:31 pm
Evo, yes I did. Raffelsia, Poring, the Islands, rafting and the works! Soon I will post them in my blog too. But damn a lot of pics man.
[Reply]
eunice June 20th, 2009 15:54 pm
Awesome pics! I think this is the first time I’ve seen so many Mt KK shots! I don’t like to climb mountain cos I might get altitude sickness (got terrible experience up at Mt Huangshan) cos I’ve slight low blood pressure.
Must be a really enjoyable trip, with good food after the climb too, right?! Hey is your profile pic featuring you as a good guy or a bad guy? lol
[Reply]
bingwui June 20th, 2009 20:54 pm
wah my link hilang!!!
[Reply]
bingwui Reply:
June 20th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
eh.. got pula… so weird…
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Joshua June 20th, 2009 23:58 pm
i wan the cheat codes!! =]
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mynjayz June 21st, 2009 00:04 am
hello evo. jason here remember ? =) KK mount ! cool.
[Reply]
EVo Ooi Eu Veng June 22nd, 2009 02:34 am
has everyone seen my Mount KK Post III yet? =) http://bit.ly/wOwZX
air jordan 17 May 27th, 2010 15:35 pm
Nice going!Is wonderful！
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