1. Penang – Kuching (via AirAsia – RM36.50)
2. Kuching – Miri (via AirAsia – RM101.50)
3. Miri – Mulu (via MasWings – RM111)
4. Mulu – Miri (via MasWings – RM111)
5. Miri – Kota Kinabalu (via AirAsia – RM36.50)
6. Kota Kinabalu – Penang (via AirAsia – RM33.50)
7. Bandar Seri Begawan – KL (via AirAsia – RM158.50)

If you look at it, it doesn’t make sense. It is because my journey was not fix. I kept my options open and in the end, I skipped flight #5 and #6. That’s the beauty of traveling alone. I do not need a fix plan. If my friends are following, they would have screamed their head off at me.

I began my 1 week Borneo adventure in mid-October to take advantage of the Deepavali holidays. I landed in Kuching airport around night time and shared a taxi with some local tourists to the waterfront. After a short walk, I reached my guest house; B&B Inn and stayed there for 2 nights. I had a wonderful time throughout my stays there. The private fan room was spacious, clean and it only cost RM25 a night. Most important, it has free wifi. The staffs are friendly too. We went out drinking, eating and even watched a movie in a cinema together. I did not hesitate when the owner invited me to follow him in his car when he wanted to go out to do some errant around town.

Kuching is a pedestrian friendly town. It wasn’t that big and most interesting places are cramped around the waterfront. However, the real attractions are all located far from the town and suitable for day trip. Since I was only there for 2 days, I decided to take it easy and sampled as much local delicacies as possible while strolling around the waterfront. Sometimes, I felt like at home because most of local Chinese speaks hokkien dialect but the slang is a little bit off. The city is pleasantly slow and relaxing because there are not many cars on the road and most places are not crowded. For example, I went to watch a movie in a cinema and it has only 4 persons including myself in the cinema hall. I was there during Deepavali celebration but it was not a public holiday in Sabah and Sarawak mainly because there are not many Indians around. The city’s Little India has more Chinese than Indians. I would like to end this post with some photos I took around Kuching.

If you love this post, then you might love these:

1. My 2 weeks backpacking adventure across Indochina
2. One month backpacking in India – Part 1
3. One month backpacking in India – Part 2

If you have visited Mulu before, you may want to try out other more adventurous options available such trekking to the Pinnacles. They may take more time and more expenses.

Other than food stuffs, these are some items you should include in your packing list.

• A good walking shoe. Even though the routes to all 4 show caves are easy stroll on the wooden plank, there is a lot of walking and climbing to do.
• Swimming attire. It is fun to swim at the entrance of Clearwater Cave and Paku Waterfall. So don’t miss it.
• Flash light or headlamp. Even though all 4 show caves have lights lit along the way, it is not bright enough to see in details. Also good to shine your way through staircases.
• Poncho or raincoat. They don’t call Gunung Mulu National Park a rain forest for no reason.
• Insect repellent. The bats may do a good job at keeping the insects populations at check, but it is good to keep a can of insect repellent for just in case.

There you have it; a complete guide to explore Gunung Mulu National Park at shoestring budget.

If you love this post, then you might love these:

1. Gunung Mulu National Park on Budget – Introduction and Getting There
2. Gunung Mulu National Park on Budget – Day 1 Itinerary
3. Gunung Mulu National Park on Budget – Accommodation and Food

• Wind & Clearwater Caves (RM10 per person)
• Longboat from Park HQ to Wind & Clearwater Caves and return with stopover at a Penan long house (RM30 per person)
• Trekking to Paku Waterfall (Free)
• Night Shift tour (RM10 per person)

The start of our 2nd day tour by long boat

Getting ready in the boat. Life jacket is provided.

Enjoying the view along the river.

First, we paid a short visit to a Penan longhouse

Buying some souvenirs

Helping the Penan to sell off some souvenirs

An elderly Penan women demonstrated her flute playing skill

The Penan long house

Back to the long boat

Continuing to the show caves

Some birds we saw along the way

At the junction. First cave of the day is Wind Cave

A bit of climbing to the entrance of Wind Cave

This is Wind Cave

Waiting for other tourists before the start of our tour

Some views inside the cave

King's Chamber in Wind Cave

Some views inside King's Chamber

Many long narrow columns in King's Chamber

The columns are long and narrow

More stalagmites and columns

A flowstone

More views inside King's Chamber

Some sharp stalactites

Inside Wind Cave

Cam whoring before leaving the cave

Walking to Clearwater Cave on the wooden board.

Raj, me and Justin

Enjoying the view along the way

More group photo

The platform outside the Clearwater Caves

The guide offering some wild durians to some tourist.

Giant stalactites hanging outside the entrance of Clearwater Cave. Notice the single banana leaf like plant?

Inside Clearwater Cave

Amazing view from here

Easy stroll in the cave

The water in Clearwater Cave is indeed very clear. You can wash your hand in it...

...or wash your leg in it...

...or drink it!

The mini pinacles I found in the cave

The highlight of the day was swimming in the cold river outside of the Clearwater Cave

Don't miss this. It was fun.

You can just swim in it...

...or learn how to do some yoga pose.

End of the tour. Going back to the HQ.

On the way back to the HQ

Saw a weird looking gecko on our way to Paku Waterfall

Trekking to Paku Waterfall. It is free and guide is not needed.

Taking some group photograph along the way

What? This is Paku Waterfall? It was a bit disappointing.

The shower in our rooms have bigger stream of water.

Luckily we know how to have fun. First, we check how high is the fallen branch from the water.

Then, how deep is the water beneath the branch.

We decided to our own free-style diving competition. First contestant was Reinhold from Germany doing a"honey, here I come" jump.

Next was Karthi from India doing a "kiss my ass" jump

Next is Justin doing a "Give me back my balls" jump

Finally, is yours truly doing a "hidden dragon, crouching tiger" jump

"Hmm... what a fun day"

The contestants and the judges

One more pose in the jungle

We found this huge tree on our way. Can't help to take photo with it.

Some creatures in the night walk

Have you seen an insect doing yoga?

One nasty centipede

Frog...

Day 3 Itinerary

Mulu Canopy Skywalk (RM30 per person)

I didn't do this. Decided to relax on the last day.

To be continue…

If you love this post, then you might love these:

1. Gunung Mulu National Park on Budget – Day 1 Itinerary
2. Gunung Mulu National Park on Budget – Accommodation and Food
3. Gunung Mulu National Park on Budget – Introduction and Getting There

Day 1

• Deer & Lang Caves including bat exodus (RM10 per person)

Day 2

• Wind & Clearwater Caves (RM10 per person)
• Longboat from Park HQ to Wind & Clearwater Caves and return with stopover at a Penan long house (RM30 per person)
• Trekking to Paku Waterfall (Free)
• Night Shift tour (RM10 per person)

Day 3

• Mulu Canopy Skywalk (RM30 per person)

Day 1 Itinerary

Briefing infront of the park's office before the start of our first tour

Here we go. The long walk to the show caves.

Still walking

Chit chat along the way

then cam whoring...

Lantern bug

One of the encounter with the creature of Mulu

Close up of the millipedes

Resting at the place where we watch the bat exodus before proceed to the caves

Me and Justin

View of Deer Cave from the bat observatory

Another kind of hairy creature of Mulu. AKA the Wolverine with his cute girlfriend.

See. His back also got so much hairs.

Posing with the creature in his natural habitat

Really tiny butterfly landed on my hand

Huge bee hives hanging on the limestone wall

Spying on the bats with hidden camera.

Walking toward the show caves

Welcome to Lang Cave

Me and my headlamp

Our first cave was Lang Cave

Water dripping from stalactite to stalagmite

The ceiling in Lang Cave

Weird looking rock created by the wind

Some very fine silky threads hanging on the rock. No sure what it is.

Still inside Lang Cave

Adjusting my headlamp to have a better view.

Done with Lang Cave.

Going to Deer Cave

Next cave is the famous Deer Cave.

Walking toward Deer Cave

At the mouth of Deer Cave

Some information before entering the cave

The mouth of Deer Cave

Abraham Lincoln is in the cave?

The magnificient Deer Cave

The wooden walkway provides easy stroll in the cave.

Really ugly bat

Scary ant-like insect. Really big.

Walking back to Bat Observatory to wait for the bats to fly out.

Back to the bat observatory

Bat exodus has begun. Dinner time for the bat. Looks like a blank dragon flying out from the cave.

More bats

Close up of the bats

Close up of the bats

The bats flying in circular formations

Click here to view the embedded video.

To be continue…

If you love this post, then you might love these:

1. Gunung Mulu National Park on Budget – Day 2 and Day 3 Itinerary
2. Gunung Mulu National Park on Budget – Introduction and Getting There
3. Gunung Mulu National Park on Budget – Accommodation and Food

The cheapest place to sleep is at the Park HQ’s dormitory. It only cost RM37 per person per night. If you have two person and you wish to have some privacy, you can choose a fan room with attached bathroom that cost slightly more expensive at RM110 per room per night. Additional person may cost extra. There are also air-conditioned rooms that cost RM180 per room per night which I personally think not worth it because electricity is cut off from 12 midnight to 6am. That means no air-cond when you sleep. Breakfast is included in all accommodation. To avoid disappointment, pre-book your accommodation by contacting the Park HQ.

Gunung Mulu National Park HQ

Our room is in the same building with the cafe

Cafe Mulu. The one and only place to eat in Mulu Park HQ.

The private fan room. It is quite spacious.

Our room from another angle

Our spacious room

Corridor toward our room

Resting at the Cafe while escaping the rain.

Mulu Discovery Center located inside the cafe

Inside Mulu Discovery Center

Food

When it comes to food, you don’t have much options and they are quite expensive in Mulu. For example, a small bottle of drinking water is RM3, a bowl of plain rice is also RM3, a can of beer is RM8 and a plate of fried rice is RM10. Luckily water boiler is provided in the room. To save money, I boiled my own drinking water. Remember, you are going into a jungle. There are no 7-Eleven or coffee shops. So, pack your own food stuff and snacks before you fly into Mulu. That will save you some cash.

The cafe's counter. Order your food here.

The menu

The menu

Our free breakfast

Laksa

The cafe is nestled at the edge of the jungle surrounded by greenery

To be continue…

If you love this post, then you might love these:

1. Gunung Mulu National Park on Budget – Introduction and Getting There
2. Gunung Mulu National Park on Budget – Day 1 Itinerary
3. Gunung Mulu National Park on Budget – Day 2 and Day 3 Itinerary

Many have the misconception that Gunung Mulu National Park is an expensive place to visit. I’m gonna show to you that it is not as expensive as you expected. Firstly, let me introduce to you what is Gunung Mulu National Park. Like any other National Park in Malaysia, Gunung Mulu National Park is one amazing tropical rain forest with rich biodiversity. The star attractions are the caves and the bats. Of all caves in Mulu, the most famous cave is Deer Cave. It was the largest cave passage in the World until a new cave named Son Doong Cave was discovered in Vietnam early this year. The national park offers multiple level of challenges that cater for family vacation to adventure outing. It is good enough for 3D/2N weekend vacation. Oh, it is also listed as a world heritage site by UNESCO.

Inside Deer Cave

Getting There

Even though you can get into the park by boat, the best way is by air. Why? Firstly, the boat ride takes 10 hours and lastly it may cost more than flying. The only airline that flies to Mulu is MASwings. You can fly in either from Miri or Kota Kinabalu. If you are not from these locations, you may need to find a way to get there perhaps by budget airlines such as AirAsia. Check the website regularly for latest promotion. At the time of writing, MASwings is having a promotion for their 2nd anniversary. The cheapest fare (excluding tax) from Miri is only RM2 (yes, two Ringgit) and from KK is RM22.

The smallest aircraft I have ever fly in. Not as scary as I expected.

Boarding the plane

Inside the aircraft. I love free drink in the aircraft

I know it sounds crazy, but before you rush to book your flight, here is an important tip. Don’t ever book your flight out from Mulu at late evening or you will risk your flight being canceled like what happened to me. This is because they don’t fly after 4pm. Millions of bats will come out for dinner around this time and it is definitely not a good idea to bump into them at midair. So, if the flight go delayed past 4pm, they will cancel the flight. This can be a dreadful experience to some people especially to those who has another flight to catch at Miri airport. However, MASwings will provide free accommodation at the luxury Royal Mulu Resort which includes buffet dinner and breakfast. So yeah, it may be a good thing to some people such as myself

My room at Royal Mulu Resort. I had the whole room to myself. Courtesy from MAS.

My room from another angle

View from my room

View from my room

Enjoying the night with some friends in the pub of the resort

On the way back to my room

Buffet dinner and breakfast were provided free

I was there

Another view in the resort.

To be continue…

If you love this post, then you might love these:

1. Gunung Mulu National Park on Budget – Accommodation and Food
2. Gunung Mulu National Park on Budget – Other Expenses and Packing List
3. Gunung Mulu National Park on Budget – Day 1 Itinerary

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On top of Malaysia – Posted on 13 Feb 2007

It’s high, it’s cold, it’s crazy… and it’s peak of Mount Kinabalu. After recuperating from the unsuccessful attempt 6 months ago, I finally made it to the top… in a day! Yes, we (Ong, Joe and me) climbed from mountain foot (Timpohon gate) directly to the peak in a day.

I still can’t believe I walked up there

Group photo before climb.

In order for us to complete the journey in the same day, we have to make it to Laban Rata rest house before 12 noon. Based on my last climb, which took me almost 4 hours to reach the rest house, we have decided to start our journey as earliest as possible. We began at 7.30 am, the earliest group to start on that day.

The reasons why we wanted to make the journey in the same day are because…

1. Escape from the crowd. From my previous experience, almost everyone took the sunrise trip. That makes the journey to the peak crowded with climbers and we have to walk at slower pace.
2. Safer. Journey from the rest house to the peak requires you to cling on to a white rope. If one person in front or behind you slip, chances are you will fall down along with him. So less people means less risk.
3. Double the chances of reaching the peak. From my previous climb, the weather can get very nasty and caused every climbers to abandon their journey. If the weather is bad on the afternoon, then I still can try again on the usual sunrise trip. I don’t come this far to face the similar fate again.
4. Travel lighter. When you climb a mountain, every ounces count. Climbing on broad daylight means no need to bring along torch light, head lamp, extra batteries and extra clothes to keep warm.
5. I have seen better sunrise from airplane’s window.

A long “stair case” up the mountain.

Unlike my last climb, the weather was generally perfect. We can see our surrounding clearly. But I began to worry when it started to drizzle when we reached 4 km mark. Doina; our mountain guide seem unperturbed at all. Perhaps, it was expected and normal over there. I put on my poncho at Layang Layang hut and continued to climb.

After 3 hours and half enduring cold rain water, I finally reached the rest house; half an hour faster than my last climb. As expected, we were the first group of climbers to reach the rest house that day and we have plenty of time recharging our energy. After few cups of hot Milo and few chocolate bars, we felt good and confident that we can make it.

We left our backpacks at the reception office, wore my track suit and brought along only the necessities; camera, spare glove and socks, energy bar and water. We continued our ascent around 12 noon.

The total distance from Timpohon Gate to the peak is 8.7 km and the distance from Timpohon Gate to Laban Rata rest house is 6km. The last 2.7 km to the peak made the 6 km climb to the rest house seemed relatively easy. It took me another 3.5 hours to reach the peak from the rest house even though the distance is only half the distance from Timpohon Gate to the rest house . The steps to 6.5 km mark were very steep. I had to stop to catch my breath after every 10 steps because of the thin air.

Hold on to that rope if you don’t want to break any bones

After reaching 6.5 km mark, the route was even more challenging even though it was not that steep. We have to cling on the white rope to prevent from falling down the cliff. The rain continued. After few minutes, the chill broke through our cotton and latex gloves. Then, I felt like my hands were dipped in ice water. It makes my grip more difficult.

Waterfall on top the mountain?

The rain seemed to last forever. Waters were everywhere. It flowed down from the granite surface, some as big as waterfall. I had to go across it cautiously, not because I was afraid of slipping, but to prevent my sock from getting wet. The RM4.50 rubber shoe did a remarkable job in keeping my feet on the slippery granite surface but not so good in keeping my sock dry.

What a relief when we saw Sayat-Sayat hut. There was no one there, only 4 of us. We took a short break to shelter from the rain and and refresh ourself. We had our remaining energy bar and refill our empty bottle. Doina went to survey the area and decided it is still save to continue. Thank god! I’m not going cut short my trip at the same place again. This time I must make it…

The last few km’s were an easy stroll along the white rope. No need to hold on it anymore. The landscape has changed drastically. There were no plants in sight, only small scrubs with beautiful red flowers. It was all gray colored granite ahead of us.

It still rain mercilessly. I thought we were suppose to be on top of the cloud but it was more like we were inside it. I could hardly see any peaks.

In front of the famous South Peak. However, it is not the highest peak.

Perhaps because lack of tree, the wind was strong up there. Cold water and cold wind made a dreadful combination. It broke me physically. I almost gave up but the sight of Low’s Peak keep me going. Oh yes, the sky was getting clearer.

Now we can see some peaks.

I pushed myself on the last 200m. Launi and Joe were already waiting for me on the peak. Even though I was the slowest among them, but I was glad that I finally put my feet on top of the highest mountain in Malaysia and my heart sang out…

tinggi-tinggi gunung kinabalu
tinggi lagi sayang sama kamu
biru-biru puncak kinabalu
tengok dari jauh hati saya rindu

A dream came true

Click here to view the embedded video.

See the rest of the photo here…

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A Dream (Almost) Came True – Posted on 20 Aug 2006

The idea of standing on top of the highest mountain in South East Asia started playing in my mind 2 years ago. Finally, the chance came on 12th August 2006. Launi, Joe and I planned the trip to Mount Kinabalu when Air Asia gave away 2 million tickets for free early this year. However, only Launi and I went as Joe has unforeseen emergency on that day.

Climbing up the mountain prove to be a tough challenge for a first timer like me. Even though I trained regularly 3 months before the climb, it only prepared me physically. The biggest test is on my very own mind. After enduring cold, strong wind, bad visibility and thin air, I almost gave up. The only thing that kept me going was my strong determination to realize my dream.

Even though I did not reach the summit, but I have learned something. One is, even though you have the ability to go further, do not go against the force of nature. Always be humble and learn to let go so that you will have another opportunity to try again. That was the case happened to us. Total distance to reach the summit is 8.72km. We have covered 7km, only left 1.72km and yet we are forced to stop at Sayat Sayat hut because the ranger did not allow anyone to go further due to really harsh weather (almost freezing, strong wind and thick mist). I insisted to go but was discouraged by all the guides there. After putting some senses into me like, “which one is more important? your life or the summit?” I decided to try again next year. So close and yet so far…

Sometimes destination is not everything. It is the journey that fulfill us. I could have reached the summit if I put my life into risk but what is the point? I couldn’t see a damn thing. Not even my leg.

It may seem tough at first sight, but when you started your first step, there will be a second step and so on until at one point you know you will reach it some how. At times, when you are too tired to go further, just stop and take a rest. Once you have enough rest, continue. Don’t just stop there or worse; go back to where you came from.

So here I am, live to share with you my trip to the “land beneath the wind” on last weekend.

Cost break down:

Flight from PG to KL: RM30
Flight from KL to KK: RM40
Flight from KK to KL: RM40
Flight from KL to PG: RM79.99
1 night stay at Grace Hostel: RM30
1 night stay at Laban Rata Resthouse: RM50
1 night stay at Mandarin Hotel, KK: RM50
Taxi fare from KK airport to bus terminal: (RM20 + RM15)/2
Bus fare from bus terminal to Kinabalu Park: RM10
Bus fare from Kinabalu Park to KK town: RM10 + RM1
Taxi to seafood restaurant and back: (RM5 + RM7)/2
Boat ride to Pulau Gaya: RM34/2
Lunch + other expenses at LCCT: RM50
Dinner at bus terminal: RM10
Face mask and glove: RM10
Mountain guide fee: RM70/2
Climbing permit and premium fee: RM74/2
Bag keeping: RM10
Transport from park reception to Timpohon gate: RM15
Tongkat: RM3
Certificate: RM1
Eating at Laban Rata: RM80
Lunch at park restaurant: RM7.30
Durian + drinks: RM19/2 + RM3
Seafood at Ocean Seafood Village: RM168.30/2
Breakfast: RM6
Kiulu River whitewater rafting: RM140
Souvenirs: RM100
Dinner at LCCT: RM11

Total Expenses: RM993.44

When I almost gave up, I saw this guy overtook us.

Click here to view the embedded video.

See how my body heat up during the climb.

Click here to view the embedded video.

See the rest of the photo here…

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1. Climbing Mountain Kinabalu (second attempt)

After having our breakfast at Breakfast Bar, we followed Zac to Awana Porto Malai for the tour. We paid RM40 each.

The Breakfast Bar

Actually the place is over crowded and under staffed. Expectantly the food comes late and below standard.

We depart from a marina near Awana Porto Malai.

Pregnant Maiden Island or Pulau Dayang Bunting. Do you see a shape of a pregnant lady lying down on her back? That’s how the island got its name.

We have reach the jetty of the Pulau Dayang Bunting.

Resident of the island

Another resident of the island

High vertical wall beside the lake of Dayang Bunting

Army of ant on our trail.

The fresh water lake of Dayang Bunting

The beach and rock that separate the fresh water lake and the sea.

Tiny caves on the beach. Is any treasure hidden inside there?

Nah… confirm don’t have

Akir and me.

On the viewing platform

Another group photo on the viewing platform

On the way back to the jetty, we stop by for a fish spa (it’s free). This is the official look during fish spa session. Instead of using garra ruffa, this fish spa is using cat fish.

No wonder not many fish come to us. One guy with really stinky feet is over there. Just kidding. He has bread to lure the fish.

Next stop is eagle feeding. We don’t have to do anything. The boat man will throw pieces of meat to the sea and swarm of eagles will clear it out in just few minutes. Honestly, I never see so many eagles at one place before.

Click here to view the embedded video.

This is our last stop; Beras Basah Island.

The beach and water is quite nice.

I couldn’t help myself, so I took the plunge into the sea with hot babes around me.

With that, it concludes my 3 days holiday in Langkawi.

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