Mt Kinabalu - Part Six: Home Sweet Home

The journey down was a long and tiring one.

Donna and I at KM8

We left nothing but our footprint in this awesome place

Couldn't imagine how we made it up, and now down

We descended back to Laban Rata for breakfast and packed our bag.  We were supposed to reach Timpohon Gate by 3pm but it took us forever to get there.  The hike definitely seemed more pleasant than the descend.  Perhaps it was the adrenalin rush.  We walked and walked and walked.  Though it was less tiring, it was unexpectedly arduous and seemingly an endless trail.  My legs were wobbling like mad and I vowed that it was gonna be the first and the last climb for me.  In fact, the last 3km Robbi had to hold Audrey and my hand all the way.  Audrey's dizzy spell was still lingering around whereas my knees were so weak that it was as though I was going to fall anytime.

When we reached the gate, we were welcomed by the applause of the staff.  hahaa... such an honour!  Poor Donna and Chu!  They have been waiting for us for an hour at the gate.

Robbi gave us our certificates from the HQ office; Donna and Chu took our packed lunch from the restaurant while Audrey and I rested at the bench.   

Yes, we did it!

We were so thankful with the perfect weather right from the beginning till the end.  I couldn't imagine how slippery and tough could it be with even the slightest drop of rain.

Soon, we boarded our tour bus and headed back to Marina Court with mixed feeling.

I called up Amazing Borneo office to make sure we were not 'forgotten' again by the Marina Court person-in-charge.  Thank God for the call.  By the time we reached KK town, the PIC had left but she made some arrangement with the guardhouse to give us our apartment key.  However, our luggages were left in her office.  There goes another drama where I made umpteen calls again.  Finally, she brought our luggages to our doorstep and apologized to us.

Audrey and Chu volunteered to buy KFC for dinner while Donna and I stayed at the apartment.  (Told you my teammates are awesome!!!)  I took the longest shower ever; just enjoying the water running down my smelly and tired body.  We rested early for the night and the next morning we boarded the plane back to KL.

Throughout the past few days, I am surprised to find myself not homesick or rather 'childsick'.  What amazes me more was my children did not miss me either!!!  Looking at the bright side: Perhaps this indicates that I could travel more often next time.  Andrew took good care of the kids.  A good father indeed.

The aftermath effect of the climb: I was limping for the next two days and in pain for a week.  But till today, I am still at awe, reminiscing the moment where I was at the highest top of Mt Kinabalu - a mountain standing so mighty at the height of 4,095 metres in East Malaysia - Sabah.





Sidenote:  I am so grateful to have Audrey, Chu and Donna as my climbing partners.  Thank you so much for everything!  Everything here means: The 100+ that Chu offered me after I reached Timpohon Gate; the 'scarry' stairs that Chu and Donna had to take after the climb just to get our packed lunch; the KFC dinner that Audrey and Chu bought after the climb; the Secret Recipe cake that Audrey went all the way out to buy for me... and the list goes on.  

Disclaimer:  All the photos in the Mt Kinabalu blogs are mostly taken by Audrey and Chu; with only a few from me.