From: eoahmad@ntuix.ntu.ac.sg (Othman Ahmad)
Newsgroups: soc.culture.asean
Subject: Re: Info on Mount & Kota Kinabalu
Date: 26 Sep 92 03:16:54 GMT
Organization: Nanyang Technological University - Singapore
X-Newsreader: Tin 1.1 PL4

ruben@tasman.cc.utas.edu.au (Ruben David) writes:
: 
: I will be making a trip to Sabah soon. There is a very energetic
: suggestion that the group of us should try and do the walk to the
: top of Mt Kinabalu.
: I would like to anybody who has done this walk or knows of it.
: What is their experience with it and any advice their have.
: Any information regarding the length of the walk, preparations
: required or info regarding Kota Kinabalu and surrounds would be 
: much appreciated.

The walk to Mt. Kinabalu:

i)the safest highest mount climb in the world(not sure if there is other
contenders), you will be given a ceritifacte for this feat

ii)the climb only look dangerous but some people actually died there in the
climbs, either got lost, or slipped(?) when it is raining. The guides will not
allow people to climb if it rained the night before the final ascent,

iii) One whole day to reach about 12000 ft altitude to camp at rest house.
I believe they have improved the rest house.
	The next morning, you can finish the ascent. The descent takes only
half a day.

Precaustions:

i) must be reasonably fit. I say your female nurses vomitted at had to be left
at the rest house.

ii)very cold. Need warm clothing, at the peak. No need for warm clothing during
the ascent but you will get cold when you want to view from the peak and do
some other stupid things like putting your signatures at a book.
	Do not underestimate this coldness. One American climber nearly froze
when he only wears a T-shirt to the peak. The temperature is like Autumn morning
in Tasmania( 5degrees centigrade).

Interesting things about Mt. Kinabalu:
i)half of the world's plant species can be found at Mt. Kinabalu. I cannot even
see the largest flower, Rafflesia, let alone count the plant species.

ii)You can view the whole state of Sabah from the Peak if there is no cloud.


Kota Kinabalu:

A lot of tourists may miss some interesting points about this City. It has
a fine beach just 2 miles from the City Centre.

The best beaches and coral reefs in the world can be found just 15 minutes by
speed boat from the harbour. However you cannot find regular service to these
islands, you must make special arrangement. 
	I have never done this before because
it is too expensive for me, I have gone there before, courtesy of the Marine
Police, my wife does not enjoy looking at beaches and coral reefs, I do not
know how to scuba dive.
	Maybe someday I'll try, if only I can swim  2kms to qualify for scuba
diving lessons.

Cost of living in Kota Kinabalu and for that matter, the rest of Sabah is as
high as Singapore, unless you cook yourself.
	You cannot find anywhere else cheaper and convenient in finding fresh
sea food, not even in Sarawak. Remember that Sabah has lots of fine
natural harbours because of its geography.

Sabah is not very backward. You can find some 4 star hotels at some resort
places.

There is a hot spring at Poring, near Mt. Kinabalu. After the ascent, it may
be nice to have a hot bath there.

	Tourists are welcomed to Sabah although there is very little 
information about it. I recently read that a lady prepares a book exclusively
about Sabah and its tourist attractions.
	Malaysian tourst board does not promote Sabah almost at All. It was
a Caucasian tourist consultant who voiced loud and clear about this. I knew
about it a long time ago because I do not know how to publise this fact.
	The toursit map of Malaysia put Sabah in a shrunken mode making it less
significant than it actually is. I have gone to all the places in Malaya, I
do not find their tourist attractions impressive because I had seen better in
Sabah, but this is true only as far as nature is concerned.
	A lot of tourist actually go for shopping or night life, which Sabah
lacks. Langkawi is popular because of its tax free status. Its proximity to
Penang with its historical places make it very attractive for most tourists who
want to sample Malaysian life.

If you want to sample nature safely and conveniently, you'd better go to 
Sabah and Sarawak. Sabah for its sea and mountain, Sarawak for its caves and
river life.
	You'd better hurry up because they are being destroyed at a rapid pace,
especially the sea. Imagine a fine beach being filled for office spaces, which
was not even used up immediately, or being a place for ship repair getting 
virtually nothing in revenue.

The reason is that our people do not value NATURE. They are more interested in
making quick money at high profit margins. It is up to the nature loving 
tourist to convince them that preserving nature and environment can still make
 a lot more money than destroying it.
	Singapore is an excellent example. The major source of revenue for
Singapore is still tourism not industry. The others are all related to
excellent environment.


--
Othman bin Ahmad, School of EEE,
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 2263.
Internet Email: eoahmad@ntuix.ntu.ac.sg
Bitnet Email: eoahmad@ntuvax.bitnet