AUSTRALIA - HOLIDAY

We are now in Australia for a 3 weeks break. Weather has been kind so far.

    Our first destination.

 Flew Malaysia Airlines' A330-300

 

 Beautiful Rainbow Lorikeets in a Brsibane Park.

A change of diet - enjoying the Aussie cuisine.

 250g of Aussie beef.

 Aussie steak burger.

Flat head fish and chips.

MESILAU NATURE PARK

A month before the magnitude 6.0 earth quake hit Mt. Kinabalu on 05June killing 4 mountain guides and 14 people climbers, we were at the Mesilau Nature Park located at the foot of the mountain. 

 Road leading to the Park.

   This is one of the best locations to enjoy the mountain view.

 

 

Sparse population of trees, verdant ferns as well as other medium-height vegetation are found here because of the chilly climate. 

From Mesilau Nature Park, climbers can take the Mesilau Trail, an alternative to conquer the summit of Mt.Kinabalu. Climbers who are to challenge this trail must be fit and sturdy as it is tougher and 2 km longer than the Tempohon Trail.   

The registration office, the starting point of Mesilau Trail.

Restaurants and cafes at Park.

There are also basic and deluxe accommodation in the park managed by Sutera Sanctuary Lodge.   

It's a good place to relax, enjoy the fresh air and the "Springtime" temperature. We stayed for an hour or so and left for Kinabalu park HQ.

The mist was moving in as we arrived at the Kinabalu park.

We had lunch at the Liwagu restaurant.

My favourite fried rice (Kampong Nasi Goreng)

While having lunch I spotted a few birds. 

This "Chestnut-crested yuhina" was having lunch too!

 

 The "Little Pied Flycatcher"

We headed for home in the late afternoon leaving Mt.Kinabalu behind.

Note: Sabah Park has closed all trails for climbing and trekking activities until further notice. Parts of the Poring hot Spring and Mesilau Nature park are also closed because of the damage.    

TREMORS ROCKED THE SACRED MT. KINABALU - UPDATE 06JUNE

To day, the Tourism Minister of Sabah has confirmed that 13 people were killed while 6 were still missing after the M6.0 earthquake struck Mt. Kinabalu yesterday.  About 60 rescuers and four helicopters were deployed to comb the mountain since this morning.

According to him, 137 people who were trapped near the peak when the tremors hit were guided down by rescuers this morning after spending more than 18 hours there.

It was sad to learn that a 12 years old student with a Singapore Primary school group on an excursion to the peak has perished. 

The Sabah state government has declared Monday a day of mourning in remembrance of the victims. Sabah Chief Minister made the announcement when he attended the disaster briefing at Kinabalu Park HQ.

On the other hand, Sabah Deputy Chief Minister who is a Kadazandusun blamed the tragedy on a group of 10 foreigners who "showed disrespect to the sacred mountain" by posing naked at the peak last week. He said a special ritual would be conducted later to "appease the mountain spirit." 

 The sacred Mt. Kinabalu.

TREMORS ROCKED THE SACRED MT. KINABALU

At about 07:15 this morning, a power magnitude 6.0 earthquake struck the world heritage area of Mount Kinabalu, cracking roads and buildings.

Strong tremors rocked the mountain especially the summit. As a result, many climbers were stranded there. Sabah Park reported that 138 of them have been trapped on the summit trail since the trekking path to Laban Rata has been impassable following the rockfalls and landslips. 

Sabah Park has closed all mountain trails and cancelled all climbs as facilities like the rest huts were badly damaged. Loose stones and boulders were reported tumbling down the summit and mountain trails.

The Government Authorities have seek the assistance of the Royal Malaysian Air force and private firms for helicopters to rescue the trapped climbers.

It was reported that the left "ear" of the iconic Donkey peak near the summit has fallen off during the tremors. Those who have climbed the mountain should know the icon.

  Picture of the "ears" in my file

 

 After the tremor.

In Ranau and Kundasang, several building structures, including business premises and roads were damaged including landslips.

The tremors were also felt in the west coast of Sabah, like Kota Kinabalu, Papar, Keningau, Tambunan, Tenom, Beaufort and Sipitang. 

Earthquake is very rare in Sabah - the last one was 40 years ago in Lahad Datu.

Many locals believed that the tremors were by spirits of the sacred mountain. They were angry over 10 foreign climbers who stripped naked and urinated at their resting place near the summit last week. 

However, some people were not convinced that there was any link between the spirits and the stripping and urinating incident.

Believe it or not, the Kadazandusuns (tribal group) maintained that the mountain is a sacred resting ground for their ancestors' spirits and should be treated with great respect. 

Let's hope that all the stranded climbers will be rescued soon.

HOLIDAY IN JAPAN - FUKUOKA TO TOKYO

Before leaving for Tokyo, some of my ex-colleagues hosted a get together or rather a "reunion" dinner at Gyoza Li (餃子李), a popular Chinese restaurant in Yukuin, Fukuoka. 

 

With good food and plenty to drink, it was an evening of joy, sharing the many great memories in the 90s during my tenure as their boss there.

On the next day, before boarding our flight to Tokyo, we had the Hakata ramen "高菜ラーメン" at Fukuoka Domestic Airport.

 The "Ramen" shop.

I have never missed taking this ramen whenever I returned to Fukuoka for a visit.

Our aircraft being "push back" for departure.

It's our first experience traveling on a B787-8 Dreamliner of ANA.

At cruising attitude.

The seat layout for Economy class is 3-3-3 with a comfortable 34 inch pitch. 

It was raining heavily when we landed at Haneda Airport.

 

 It's a long walk to the arrival hall, however, there's the comfort of walkalator. 

Our accommodation was Shinagawa Prince hotel, 1 minute walk from the station.

For dinner we selected an Izakaya restaurant near the hotel.

It was a very good meal to end our day. 

A WEEKEND BREAK AT MESILAU, KUNDASANG

Mesilau, closed to the foot of Mt.Kinabalu is the highest point accessible by automobiles. It is a great place to escape the usual hot weather in Kota Kinabalu. At an attitude of 1981 meters above sea level, the temperature ranges from 15-20 degree celsius in the day time and 10 degree and below at night. 

Accommodation is available in Mesilau and Kundasang like these lodges including a 5 star Mesilau Resort.   

 Flowers and green grow exceptionally well in the temperate highland.

Beside enjoying the cool weather, the spectacular view of Mt.Kinabalu looming in front was another bonus in the morning.    

  A picture to remember that beautiful morning.

I spent the morning zooming my camera at Mount Kinabalu. It was a real fascinating experience in seeing the top of the mountain at close range.

 

 

 

 

 

 I believed the summit trail is at the left hand corner of this picture.

  Zoomed into the trail.

I could see Laban Rata Rest house. 

We put up a night at the Dreamworld Resort. The accommodation was disappointing. The chalets appeared deluxe from outside but most the rooms were "run down". Surprisingly, there was no in-house telephone to communicate with the Receptionist.  Getting extra pillows cost RM10.00 each. 

I inspected this property when it was opened for business in 2010. The resort was well furnished especially the rooms. In the lap of 5 years, their rooms have run down, most probably caused by the poor house keeping and lack of maintenance.