Google Maps to Kg. Bavanggazo Rungus Longhouse, Kudat

8 Replies

Hmm… It seems that more and more Mount Kinabalu Borneo.com website visitors asking me on map to Maranjak Homestay, Kg. Bavanggazo Rungus Longhouse Homestay.

I put a “sketch” map before, but the information on the map was not easy to understand.

Thanks to Google Maps, you will now can have a beautiful map with satellite view of northern part of Sabah, complete with the direction to the Longhouse.

*Make sure you click on “Sat” button at right upper corner of the map, as the “Map” view have a very limited information on the roads after Kota Belud. You should follow the blue line up to the longhouse.


View Larger Map

Oh, if you are wondering on how to navigate to the north (the blue line) from Kota Kinabalu, check out my other maps on Kota Kinabalu HERE. *When you read the direction instruction number 9, GO STRAIGHT to the north in that roundabout.

Please vote. Your click is very much appreciated!

Leave a reply

Please vote for my website. Thank you!
Vote for Mount Kinabalu Borneo.com!

Hi Mount Kinabalu climbers and lovers,

It has been 2 years since I started my Mount Kinabalu climbing website. The site has been a reference to so many people, who are looking for information on how to climb Mount Kinabalu from the internet.

Until yesterday, me and my partner, Aiden, decided to take part in The Malaysian Dotcom Youth Search, The Hunt For Innovative, Commercially Viable Website.

I just would like to have your vote (click) on my website, so that I don’t have to rely on donation anymore to run it.

Please do so by clicking “Vote For Me!” on the right upper corner of the website. Here:
http://www.mount-kinabalu-borneo.com

Thank you very much for your vote.

Please invite your friends to vote for me too.

Have a nice day!

Ruhaizad

New Mount Kinabalu FAQ pages

Leave a reply

Mount Kinabalu FAQ moved…It’s time for me to migrate the old Mount Kinabalu FAQ pages to our new home. It’s not that I don’t like the old FAQ engine (I used SiteHelpCenter.com FAQ system), but I think it’s time for the FAQ to be more user friendly and have 2-way interaction between me and my visitors.

Some of the improvement on the new FAQ system are:

  1. The ability to collect questions directly from visitors. You can send me your questions on the FAQ page with the form at the bottom of the page and I will answer your question as soon as possible.
  2. The ability for visitors to rate the questions and the answers.
  3. It’s a WordPress plugin (FAQ-Tastic) which is easily maintained and have a very good support.
  4. Clean and white interface makes reading easy.

Just drop me your question in the form on our new FAQ page.

Map to Lok Kawi Wildlife Park, Kota Kinabalu

3 Replies

Few people have emailed and asked me whether I have any map to Lok Kawi Wildlife Park. Kuan & Tracy left a comment on my previous post about the park, asking the same thing.

After seeing that I could tell other visitors on how to drive from Kota Kinabalu to Kinabalu Park with Google Maps, I now found out it can also applied for Lok Kawi Wildlife Park.

Click the blue balloon for info, click and drag to navigate.

View Larger Map

Lets start from the airport Terminal 2, where Airasia is:

  1. Drive out from the airport to Jalan Mat Salleh-Lebuhraya Pantai Baru-Jalan Kepayan junction, and turn right. You will then be driving with the airport on your right, and newly developed railway track on your left. You are on A2 highway, heading south.
  2. Turn right at Jalan Kampung Ganang (or some called it Lintas Highway), and you should be on A1 highway.
  3. Turn left at Jalan Kampung Ganang-Jalan Pintas Penampang (A1-SA3) junction.
  4. Drive straight along the road, and you should see vacant paddy field on both side of the road. You should see a roundabout at the end of the road.
  5. Take a 3-o’clock turn to Jalan Penampang Papar, and you will be driving through villages at both side of the road. Some part of the road are not that well maintained.
  6. After passing Kampung Limbanak, you should see a very big signboard of “Lok Kawi Wildlife Park. Turn left after the sighboard.

Hope that you could find the way to the park!

Who else here can do something for our Mt. Kinabalu?

3 Replies

I received an email from our friend, Wai Yong today. This is what she wrote:

As I know, SSL will include packed lunch for all Mt. Kinabalu climbers in 2008, as compulsory. I just want to concern about the ‘litter bugs’ will throw the polystyrene boxes into Mt Kinabalu ravine or just anywhere and everywhere.

Previously, some ‘litter bug’ climbers often threw the wrapping of the chocolate, or just any drink or snack at the trail. Especially the area near all the shelters are very dirty with rubbish around now.

This is a very not environment friendly scenery. Even though, now I can’t 100% confirm how SSL going to prepare the ‘packed lunch’ for the climbers in 2008, but if they really use the polystyrene boxes for the packed lunch, I can’t imagine what will happen to Mt Kinabalu, our Malaysia heritage.

I have one friend who did call the Sabah Parks regarding this matter, but the reply that he get was the Sabah Parks authority have no power to do anything about it.

I wonder here is, if Sabah Parks can’t do anything, who else here can do something for our Mt. Kinabalu?

Us?

Mount Kinabalu from Tambuyukon

World’s highest “via ferrata” – Newsfeed from New Sabah Times

9 Replies

KUNDASANG, 16 December 2007: Mountain Torq Via Ferrata, a mountain path (via ferrata is Italian for iron road) which opened here yesterday has been certified by the Malaysia Book of Records (MBOR) as the world’s highest and Asia’s first.

It is at an altitude of 3,800 metres on the 4,095-metre Mount Kinabalu, Southeast Asia’s highest summit.

The Via Ferrata, a climbing facility named and built by Adventure Factors Mountaineering Centre Sdn Bhd, would further elevate the tourism industry’s service standard and enhance Sabah’s reputation as a world-class adventure destination, said Tourism, Culture and Environment Minister Datuk Masidi Manjun.

(A via ferrata is basically a long climbing route with permanently fixed cables for protection. Steel rungs are used on steeper sections to keep the difficulty of the climbing moderate).

“The tourism industry is a highly aggressive field as we are also competing with other countries for the same customers.

“To stay competitive, we need to keep abreast of the current and future needs of this ever evolving industry and respond to the demands of the increasingly sophisticated travellers,” he said in his speech at the opening of Mountain Torq Via Ferrata at Kinabalu Park here.

The text of his speech was read out by his political secretary Datuk Amisah Yasin.

The Mountain Torq, with various alternative routes, enables people of all ages to enjoy climbing Mount Kinabalu’s rock faces, giving them a chance to view the mountain from different angles, said Eric Wong, Adventure Factors Mountaineering Centre director.

Over the past 30 years, Mount Kinabalu’s climbers’ aim has been to climb up and come down in two days after having conquered the summit.

All they could remember was the gruelling five to eight hours hike up, sleepless nights, trying to catch the sunrise and coming down from the mountain.

“We felt we need to give Mount Kinabalu the respect that it deserves as a full-fledged mountain. So we came up with the idea of developing Mount Kinabalu into a mountaineering centre for Southeast Asia,” he said.

Wong said the Mountain Torq Via Ferrata, comprising rungs and cables embracing the mountain’s rock face, allows access to scenic sections of the summit normally accessible only to rock climbers and mountaineers.

Resources: New Sabah Times

World’s highest “via ferrata”
Congratulations…Amisah (right) presents the MBOR certificate to Eric

World’s highest “via ferrata” now on Mount Kinabalu!

39 Replies

While poking through the net, surfing around technorati, I found a very interesting blog post by kenjj about the newest adventure on Mount Kinabalu – via ferrata. So, what is via ferrata?

A via ferrata (Italian for “iron road”. Plural vie ferrate. In German, klettersteig) is a mountain route which is equipped with fixed cables, stemples, ladders, and bridges. The use of these allows otherwise isolated routes to be joined to create longer routes which are accessible to people with a wide range of climbing abilities. Walkers and climbers can follow via ferratas without needing to use their own ropes and belays, and without the risks associated with unprotected scrambling and climbing. – Wikipedia

Via ferrata on Mount Kinabalu

I found out that there is a new company which provides the adventure activities – Mountain Torq – that was just started on September 2007 (only running for about three months). The interesting thing about them is that, they have given Mount Kinabalu climbers other options of activities and accommodations, apart from the usual climb up and down Low’s Peak.

Lucky for me, while checking up their new website on this new thing on Mount Kinabalu, I found out that their main office in Kota Kinabalu is just across the street of my clinic. I went there last Monday during lunch time, and fortunately, I-Gek, their sales & marketing director was there.

We just have an informal conversation on our passion about Mount Kinabalu, and how hard it is to get a slot to climb nowadays. Apparently, they are very busy, as they are going to have their launching ceremony this Saturday, 15th December 2007 at Kinabalu Park.

During that short period of time, I managed to get more information pertaining the climb, the activities and the accommodation that they provide. In summary, these are the things that we ought to know at the moment:

  1. Pendant Hut, Laban RataThey have a newly build hut/lodges on Laban Rata – Pendant Hut, which is non-heated, bunk-beds that could accommodate 30 climbers. This is a good options for climbers who could not get through to SSL for bed. However, they have set their own rule; if you are planning to stay in their hut – you have to, at least, pick one of their activities on their via ferrata, apart from the usual Low’s Peak trip.
  2. They are the only sole provider for via ferrata, equipments and staffs, and they are not related to SSL.
  3. You have three options of via ferrata that you could choose – Walk the Torq, The Low’s Peak Circuit and The Preamble. More coming soon!
  4. As they ONLY provide the activities, you have to book for accommodation in Pendant Hut from their designated travel & tour company. This also means that you still can do their activities although you stay in one of SSL’s huts in Laban Rata.
  5. Having said the above, they welcome ‘Walk-ins’ at either Laban Rata / or at Pendant hut. It will be on a first come first serve basis and weather permitting.
  6. They are the world’s highest and Asia’s first via ferrata located at 3,800m, offers a range of routes designed to match everyone’s ability and endurance.
  7. They did not disclose the pricing structure. You need to contact them to ask for quotations. *Please mention my name/website/blog when you contact them. You may get a special treatment for mentioning it. And they will know how powerful blogging-advertising works!

This new activities has made Mount Kinabalu more interesting than just up-down climb. And I am now working on how to work together with them to promote their activities in my website and blog. Stay tune for more info.

For those who are going to be at the foot of the mountain (Kinabalu Park) this Saturday, 15th December 2007, just drop by their launching ceremony. I won’t be able to be there. Send my regards to them if you happen to crash in their party.

Need I say more? Just check out their photos which I have extracted from their website (I got permission on this. Thanks, I-Gek!). Cheers!

Via ferrata on Mount Kinabalu

Via ferrata on Mount Kinabalu

Via ferrata on Mount Kinabalu

Via ferrata on Mount Kinabalu

Via ferrata on Mount Kinabalu

Via ferrata on Mount Kinabalu

Via ferrata on Mount Kinabalu

Via ferrata on Mount Kinabalu

Via ferrata on Mount Kinabalu

 

I have helped thousands of climbers of Mount Kinabalu to book their climbing spot since 2006. If you want me to help you, just fill in the form below and send it to me. Thank you very much!

New 2008 rule for climbers of Kinabalu

15 Replies

I heard rumours about new rules and regulations by Sabah Park Authorities for climbers of Mount Kinabalu. Starting from 1st January 2008, all climbers who decided to climb Mount Kinabalu MUST apply for the CLIMBING PERMIT first, before proceeding to book accommodation from Sutera Sanctuary Lodges.

Not like the existing booking system, whereby you must book your accommodation with Sutera Sanctuary Lodges first and only get the climbing permit the day you start your climb.

I think the Sabah State government is getting their hands on this whole booking-accommodation-with-one-provider thing, as they may have realize that there is a very big flaw and issues on our heritage site. *Some* parties are making huge money out of this issues and it is about time they do something.

At the time I wrote this post, no specific guidelines that I could give as the discussion is still on going. They have to create a new booking mechanism for climbers, and I am still waiting for them to announce it as soon as possible.

You can discuss the issues in the comment area, and hopefully *somebody* from the authority will listen to our voices.

Watch this space for new updates.

How to get to Kinabalu Park HQ from Kota Kinabalu using Google Maps

2 Replies

After seeing the popularity of my “Kota Kinabalu City Map” post, I got an idea on a new post about going to Kinabalu Park from Kota Kinabalu only by using Google Maps.

It has been a while since I last review Google Maps, and the last time I tried to use it (maybe few years ago), the map that they present was not precise at all. It was almost impossible to use it as a guide for foreign travelers around the world to get to Kinabalu Park.

However, when I did another review of Google Maps today, there were A LOT of improvements. I could even see the details of the lane in front of my house using it!!!

So, I decided to make it an effort to post about how to get to Kinabalu Park using just Google Maps from Kota Kinabalu. I was very surprised that you CAN get to Kinabalu Park without the need of Sabah & Kota Kinabalu 2004/2005 Map (Periplus Travel Maps)(it’s outdated also) from Amazon.com!


View Larger Map
Click and drag the map with your mouse. Click the balloon tips for more info.

Follow the Blue Balloon Tips!

  1. We will start from Kota Kinabalu International Airport Terminal 2, where Airasia is. Most of budget backpackers and travellers board Asia’s leading low cost carrier. You can always rent a car from the airport terminal, as there are many providers there.
  2. Drive out from the airport, until you reach a T-junction of Jalan Mat Salleh. Turn right.
  3. Drive straight and take 12 o’clock position road at Tanjung Aru roundabout.
  4. When you reach another traffic light, turn left to Coastal Highway or Jalan Coastal, and you should be able to see Sutera Harbour Resort on your left. Drive straight through Kota Kinabalu city.
  5. Just follow Jalan Tun Razak until you reach Jesselton Point or Kota Kinabalu jetty, and take left turn at the roundabout of Jalan Tun Fuad Stephen. You should be able to see Sabah Port on your left, and soon, the South China Sea.
  6. You should arrive at a roundabout, and should be able to see Sabah State Mosque (white colour) on your far right. Take the 3 o’clock turn and drive straight at the next roundabout.
  7. Take left turn at the T-junction traffic light and another left turn on the Jalan Lintas-Inanam traffic light.
  8. You should be on A1 highway (on the map) and this is one of the trunk road in Sabah. Google is good enough to declare it as a main road, and it has ease our problem getting on it.
  9. Just follow the road for about 20 minutes, until you see a big roundabout that leads to north and west of Sabah. Take the 3 o’clock turn to go through Tamparuli, you should pass through a metal bridge. You are now on A4 highway (another Sabah main road), and this is one of the road to western part of Sabah (Sandakan, Tawau and Lahad Datu).
  10. Just go straight on the roundabout, and you will start driving uphill and winding road. Enjoy the journey and scenery.
  11. Stop by Pekan Nabalu if you want, as you have only about 12 km away from Kinabalu Park HQ.
  12. You should be able to see a very big signage of Kinabalu Park HQ, just after you turn left into the entrance booth.
  13. Happy climbing.