Mount Kinabalu Hike (30 and 31 May 2010)

We reached Kota Binabalu on 27 May 2010 and stayed one night at Tune Hotel. Thanks to Lean Choo's cousin for sending us from the airport to Tune Hotel. The next day, we meet us with Lean Choo's cousin family for breakfast. It was nice to meet this friendly family. Then we proceeded to Eden 54 Hotel.

After check in, we went to Island Sapi. This island is known as the cleanest and nicest island in Sabah. The sand is soft and the sea is clear. We saw nemo and other fish which made us quite exciting. At night, we had seafood, which is very nice and fresh. I love the lobster. We had ice cream on the way back to Eden 54 Hotel. Thanks for Lean Choo's husband for treating.

The next day, we proceeded to our destination ~ Kinabalu Park. But we didn't hike on this day yet, we walked around the park and stayed at Grace Hostel for one night before the hike. The hostel is very clean and well maintained. We went for the briefing around 6 pm and meet Uncle Anthony. Uncle Anthony is a 67 years old Singaporean which has rich travel experience. He has went to Everest Base Camp, Mount Fuji, Gunung Tahan and many many more mountain hiking, long driving, white water rafting and lots and lots of travelling. I salute and admire him for being young at heart and he is the inspiration for me. He has went to Mount Kinabalu for few times. Special thanks to Uncle Anthony for sharing his experience with us.

On 30 May 2010, we met our guide Jamalin then we started to hike at around 8:25 am. He is not only our guide but also the porter to carry our heavy bag. We used the Timpohon gate (at 1866 m). There is a signature Carson Falls situated 500m from Timpohon gate. The rock there is quite slippery as near the falls. Below are the time:
1) Kandis Shelter (1km) ~ 8:52 am
2) Uboh Shelter (1.5km) ~ 9:15 am
3) Lowii Shelter (2.5km) ~ 10 am
4) Mempening Shelter (3km) ~ 10:58 am
5) Layang layang Hut (2702 m) ~ 11:54 am (Stopped for lunch)
6) Willosa Shelter (4.5 km) ~ 1:39 pm
7) Paka Cave Shelter (5 km) ~ 2:22 pm

We reached Laban Rata resthouse which is situated at 3273 m around 3:30 pm. I was very tired and my muscle quite painful after the hike. Besides, I also having difficulty in breathing due to the thin air. It was very tough but it's worth as the view is very breathtaking and it is a very wonderful experience for me. I was having gastric so I didn't make it to the low's peak, the summit. I was very disappointed but to be safe is utmost important. Anyway, I am very contended. I would like to take this opportunity to thanks to my travel partners for being so supportive as I was a bit emotional around 5 km.

Along the journey, we saw some wonderful people
1) Porter carrying climbers' belongings (man or woman)
2) People carrying gas, beras and others food
3) Mountain Guide

Life is never easy and these people life is even harder. We must learn how to appreciate what we have. I will remind myself of them before I start complaining about my job next time. It was a wonderful and fruitful trip for me.

林宥嘉

我很喜欢他。一开始，当他以星光大道冠军身份加入娱乐圈而且相当受欢迎时，我是不以为意的。自觉得他应该只是一般的歌手。

最近，终于有机会看到当时他参加星光大道时的影片。我终于明白为什么他那么出名。他真的唱的很好。他在比赛时说唱过的歌，如走鋼索的人，你把我灌醉，懸崖，你是我的眼，那些日子，拔河，Creep 和Last Order，至今，我都还是很喜欢，特别是你是我的眼。

希望他持续的发光发热。

Mount Kinabalu

I'm going to hike Mount Kinabalu next week. This is my dream since long time ago...finally I will be there.

I have did some preparation..training training training. Although I still think I am not very good yet but I will try my best to make it happen.

More update after my trip...

The Blind Side

I watched this movie during the last weekend...and I simply love it. I loved the story. It is a genuinely heartwarming tale of an abandoned teenager adopted by a wealthy family and guided to success. And it's all true. What a great film! Go see this movie. I loved it and so will you.

The movie is based on the true story of Leigh Anne and Sean Tuohy who take in a homeless teenage African-American, Michael Oher ("Big Mike"). Michael has no idea who his father is and his mother is a crack head. He has had little formal education and few skills to help him learn. Leigh Anne soon takes charge however, as is her nature, ensuring that the young man has every opportunity to succeed. When he expresses an interest in football, she goes all out to help him, including giving the coach a few ideas on how best to use Michael's skills, i.e. play like you are protecting the family. They not only provide him with a loving home, but hire a tutor to help him improve his grades to the point where he would qualify for an NCAA Division I athletic scholarship. Michael Oher was the first-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in the 2009 NFL.

I love this movie and the Michael's little brother, Sean Junior. He is such a lovely boy and a soon to be coach, I can say. he got such a talent to be a good coach by looking at how he help Michael. Go watch this movie and I'm pretty sure you will love it!

My Working Life

上一篇所提到的“扮”公室，跟这篇是有关连的。我说我不属于“扮”公室，但算一算，我也在这样的环境工作了将近十年。想想，将近十年，还不适应，也太失败了吧。

第一份“扮”公室经验，是在吉隆坡的一间会计公司。那时，我还在念书。那段半工读的日子，相当的辛苦，但是，这个经验是宝贵的。曾经，我也怀疑过，我是不是不适合半工读。但，毕竟那是自己的选择，也就咬紧牙关度过了那一年。

第二份“扮”公室经验，是在我家乡吉打的一间会计公司。那时我毕业了，因为不太喜欢吉隆坡的生活，于是决定回家乡工作。我在那也待了将近三年。

第三份“扮”公室经验，是在槟城的一间跨国公司。我还记得，在我还没被录取时，我的朋友都跟我说，像我这种个性的人，就是那种有话直说，从来不会掩饰的人，不适合在这样的公司工作。但是，我也相信，只要我认真努力在工作，我会有这个能耐在这样的公司生存下去的。今年，也是我在这公司得第五周年纪念。

虽然，我并不是十分出色的员工，但是，对于每一份差事，我的确也尽力在我的能力范围完成。

办公室，“扮”公室

那天，跟我老板在讨论过去一年的工作表现时，她说我是一个情绪波动很大的人，什么事都写在我脸上。我承认。她又说，或许是因为我是一个太坦白的人。。。这点，我也承认。

这也让我想到，前些日子看的一套港剧[绝代商骄]里头的一个创新“名词”-“扮”公室。意识是一个人如果要在办公室生存，首先要学会扮。这不是打扮的扮， 而是装莫作样，英文是pretend. 我在“扮”公室工作也将近十年了，也学会了不少东西。但是，我相信我永远也学不会“扮”。不过，我会尽我的一切能力，做好我的每一份工作。

勇敢

身边的人一直问我，到底喜欢怎样的人。我喜欢勇敢的人，那种勇于表达自己的人，是我最喜欢的人。

我喜欢看唱歌比赛，除了因为我爱听歌，我其实更爱参赛者的故事。每个参赛者的故事都会给我一些对人生的启示，一些对生命力的感动，一份面对人生每一个挫折的勇气。

有太多的参赛者都来自单身家庭，这教会我们每一个人都应该学会珍惜。

超级偶像的江明娟，她的妈妈在她很小的时候，离开了他们。她的每个兄弟姐妹，被分配到不同的地方长大。她的开朗，让我觉得我要用开朗和积极的态度去面对人生的每一个考验。

超级星光大道的赖铭伟和叶玮庭，他们的坦然，他们的大剌剌性格，让我觉得我要勇敢的说出我心中的看法。当然，他们的表演也让我佩服。赖铭伟的那首[阿嘛的话]让我哭了好几遍，他的那首[我要我们在一起]让我听了都很想跟他在一起。:P 叶玮庭豁达的放开，也让我知道我要学会放开，学会let go.

超级星光大道的梁文音，她的人生经验，让大家对她的故事，用自己的眼泪哭出来。她很勇敢，她对每一个考验，选择用微笑来面对，这个态度，是每一人都应该学习的。她的那首[远行]相当的感动。

每一个参赛者面对比赛的考验，都会有不一样的应对方法，但就如Roger说的，大家都会看到他们的努力。这才是最重要的，结果反而并不是重点。

最后，希望大家都会勇敢的说出自己的感觉，勇敢的面对自己的人生。