Without a doubt, this has to be the biggest highlight of the me trip - not reaching the peak of Mt Kinabalu!
It was good to meet up with me mates like Augustine, Constance, Chris and Ru. I especially spent the most time with Augustine. It was really nice. We'd talk about everything - spiritual matters, politics, personal matters etc. There were many times when we'd just continue chatting after dinner till late.
It was also good to spend some time with Sam - not being a student of mine, i never really got to know her very well. But she took the time and trouble to meet up with me and i had a good time!
2. Meeting new people
Strange for an introvert like to say this is one of the highlights! But it is. It always is one of the highlights when traveling.
I trekked up the mountain with Allan and Jacqueline. And our guide, of course. Yata! Along the way, we met various people from different countries. There was this family from Netherlands who were really frenly. There was this french guy who always joke with us, telling us that we cannot overtake him. I met a couple from Hong Kong, another couple from Australia and one guy from M'sia - KL from PJ!!! Had a nice time chatting with him as we were in the same room and both on the top bunks.
Over at Sandakan, i got to know one of the employees at the hostel where i stayed. I also got the pleasant experience of meeting Sam's mom who was really nice and frenly - and din scorn at this scruffy looking fella who is supposed to be a lecturer at her daughter's college!
And finally, Kuching. Got to know a lot of people there thanks to Ru who made sure i had a different group of people to hang out with each night. It was really fun having coffee and getting to her frens. It wasn't too hard since they were lawyers, students in the UK, action figures collectors, footie fans, dslr camera owners and planning to scale up Mt Kinabalu!
And at the hostel where i stayed, i shared the dorm with one other guy - Ordi, a theology student from Germany. Swell guy!
3. Walking down from the peak of Mt Kinabalu
4. Good food!
Me mates really treated me well! Had the best Japanese food in KK! Dim Sum. Roast duck. Home cooked food. Lobster. Coffee and cheesecake. Local specialties like Kolo Mee, Tomato Mee, beef noodles, pork noodles. On me own, i had great and fresh seafood at Sandakan too. And seafood bak kut teh.
5. Photos taking!
I did regret not taking my DSLR over - but that could not be helped. Still, i had fun wif me compact. And i managed some really nice shots too which made me really pleased. Check out my albums in me Facebook account. Here are some (click on the pic to see larger version):-
