Sorry for being dormant. I just got back from Kota Kinabalu in the evening. It's a nice journey with picturesque scenery but it's tiring. I feel really sleepy now (since 5pm actually). And I think I have to clear my sleep debts soon.

DAY 1 AGENDA: SHOPPING!

So on Friday the 11th, we made our way to the airport at 600h to catch our 800h flight. Yknow why we like to check in early? Because I love duty free shopping! Hehe, my mom, sister, and I bought a Braun Buffel wallet/cardcase (photo below) each because they were cheaper than they usually are.

Saw this gorgeous golden bag from Braun Buffel's Enchante collection. Was really really tempted to get it but I didnt have sing dollars with me (purposely didnt bring so my mom can pay for me, hehe). I dont know how much it costs, but the handphone case alone costs 100plus. I shall dream about getting it for now.

So we reached KKIA at about 11plus after a 2hr15min flight. We had airport transfer waiting for us (yknow when you go to the airport, you see people holding up pieces of paper with people's names on it at the arrival hall? yes, thats for aiport transfer/if you're following their tour itinerary). So yes, we had a van waiting for us. Now for the epic part. The slider just wouldnt budge. So the driver was trying very hard to open the slider. I think he was at it for about 10mins or so? But finally it opened. The same thing happen when we reached the hotel, but now, we were in the van, not outside. But thank god the slider opened after abit of prying from the driver and the bellboy. So the rest of the day was retail therapy. Actually, there's not many things ah. Cos the inside of the shopping mall (called Centrepoint) looks like Far East and it's quite dirty, and it's filled with many many people. Even though they speak in malay, their accent is really different, they sound like Filipinos so we can barely understand anything they say. Oh and yes, their day starts and ends earlier, even though it's the same time as sg. The sun rises at 6am and sets at about 1830h. Subuh is at 430plus (so imagine what time i have to wake up). The photo below was taken at about 1800plus h.

DAY 2 AGENDA: Poring Hot Springs and Kinabalu Park

Woke up at 4plus. Tour guide waited at the lobby at 810h to bring us to Poring Hot Springs and Kinabalu Park. The Poring Hot Springs is actually a Japanese style open concept bath. It's located to the south of Mt Kinabalu and is 456m above sea level. Kinabalu Park is the entrance to Mount Kinabalu and it's originally opened for research purposes. It's 1585m above sea level. FYI Mt Kinabalu is 4095m above sea level. The trip is 3h from the Kota Kinabalu and it's a really really bumpy trip because the whole trip, we were travelling from peak to peak to get to Kinabalu Park/Poring Hot Springs. We stopped by the Poring Hot Springs first even though it was further than the Kinabalu Park. We didnt dip into the Hot spring cos there were many many people around. Instead, we went trekking (like staircase training to me) and went for the Canopy Walk.

Recall from Geography that there were different layers to the tropical rainforest, and one of which is the canopy layer with trees which are 30-45m tall. Yes, the canopy walk was 41m high, so it's quite a height, especially for those who are afraid of heights.

Picture of us on the Canopy Walk

After that, it was close to an hour's journey to Kinabalu Park. But the sad thing was, we couldnt walk around because it was raining so we had to rush back to the city cos according to the tour guide, the floods are really really bad when it rains. He said there was this group which reached the city at 2300h because of the floods (Note: We reached at about 1700h). I was really sad we didnt get to walk around. But the visibility is greatly reduced during the rain cos we were at cloud level and there were many many clouds around so it was a whitewash around us, so the drive down was kinda dangerous but that didnt deter the driver from speeding down. I was feared for our lives, really. He was going at 100plus km/h round the bends downhill.

The picture below: Mt Kinabalu taken on the way down. Many clouds such that the peak is no longer visible (Compare with the first picture in the beginning of the post)

Reached the hotel, washed up and went out for dinner. Most of the shops in Karamunsing Complex were closed. Guess what time we were there? At 1900h, and the shops were closed. Really depressing sight for a shoppaholic. We ate at kfc and they still use plates to serve, how environmentally friendly. Walked around after that to lose some calories, and bought clothes. I was so happy. Because the shop, which was conveniently located beside kfc, and was still opened, sells maxi dresses (my fave). A maxi dress only costs rm39. So I bought 3. Awesome rightt. I was sooo happy cos I didnt buy anything else for myself from KK (excluding the too-sweet hazelnut choc chip crepe and cup corn I bought).

Picture: The Palace Hotel which is located atop a hill

DAY 3 AGENDA: HOME!

Nothing much happened. Made our way to the airport. Saw Allan Wu (actually i stood about 3cm away from him at the ticketing counter cos they were checking in beside us) with the Amazing Race camera crew and Nat Ho, the captain in Polo Boys (they were travelling separately). Didnt take photos with them though even though I bumped into them many many times. Oh they were taking the same plane back as us to SG. Nat Ho was nice, he smiled at us. He looks more down to earth and more natural, Allan macam too guarded, macam obvious dia tengah maintain handsome sebab ramai orang kenal dia, so tak natural. Anyways, the flight back was abit bumpy cos it was very very cloudy. Luckily, it only started raining after we've touched down, or else it would have been worst.

Interesting, no? (: Will upload the whole album on facebook when it decides to work with me. 'Cos I got many 'Upload failed' after waiting for it to load. -.-