We had made it to Laban Rata … got here after approximately 5.5 hours – and just a few minutes after the rest of the group – Team Turtoise – who had taken the Summit Trail.
The rest of the day was to rest, relax, enjoy the view, enjoy the food and prepare for what was to come tomorrow.
This gallery contains 16 photos.
Today was the start of our climb up Mt. Kinabalu. After getting ready and another good breakfast together, the group split into two parts. One group – Team Turtoise – left for the supposedly easier Summit Trail, the other group … Continue reading
This morning – after an excellent breakfast – we were led around in the village, there was also the opportunity to buy walking sticks and bottle holders. Afterward we we got transferred over to Kinbalu park for a preparatory walk around the National Park headquarter; the walk included the botanical garden.
Another state, another group …
Today was another first day of the tour … the second part had started, with a new group composition and a new tour leader. Already todays were now back to the road on our way to the first homestay in Kiau, the home of our mountain guides for the Kinabalu climb.
After arrival in Kiau and move into the guesthouse of the local catholic church (no kidding here), we enjoyed the first cultural show of the trip – dancing, singing and music. First we enjoyed the show… then we had to join in. Kopingi – the head of the village and our to-be guide for the Mt. Kinabalu climb – led through the show. After the show we walked over to the house of the sister of Kopingi – for dinner
I had a few more hours this morning in Kuching before making it to the airport for an early afternoon flight to Kota Kinabalu.
This gallery contains 12 photos.
Today we left the longhouses to get back to Kuching; this again involved a boat ride, followed by a multi-hour trip on a van. We got back to Kuching in the early afternoon, in time for a quick lunch and … Continue reading
This gallery contains 12 photos.
The day after rice wine … most of us with (including myself) with a slight headache. So it was perfect having a day of rest without many activities … just nice to chill out, read a book, go for swim, … Continue reading
After arrival we had a bit of time to check out the surroundings … followed by dinner.
After dinner we presented the gifts (some of the stuff we purchased earlier in the market, plus other stuff organized by Sally based on a wish list); the gifts were evenly distributed between all families in the longhouse – followed by a ‘thanking’ ceremony and loads of ricewine…
Eventually the ricewine was out … and the real party started. As we had gotten to Skandis just after the Gaway festival (similar to Thanksgiving), most families were still complete, means also the young generation was at the longhouse – to join in for Gaway from their normal lifes in the city. So there were plenty of people to drink (and to share the grilled pigs head) with ..
No further comments below … just a few notes (mainly for my fellow travellers)
We left Kuching this morning; first stop at the market in Serian to get some fruit as part of our gift for the longhouse community.
We had lunch in the small town of Lachau, before finally moving over to longboats once more – and arriving at our home for the next days – Skandis Longhouse.
We made it into Kuching in the afternoon; I started the usual town exploration – and discovered many cat statues around every second corner in town.
In the evening we had a briefing on the upcoming longhouse stay; after which we left the hotel and moved to a parking garage with a hawker center on the top floor to get some of the best food of this whole trip … for a mere 35 ringgit.
