4095.2m, the peak; 2007, the start.

The fact is, yes I did promise some of my readers to post pictures on the peak of Mt. Kinabalu, but this post was being composed, right here right now, not under any intention of hitting those promises. The fact is, C'MON, I've been to the top roof of Southeast Asia -- OF COURSE it's going to be a MUST for me to show it off!!

... but, still.., the fact is, I've nothing to say about.,, or put it in this way, the feeling of speechless when getting to the top of the mountain is still deep inside my heart -- It's the feeling of dream comes true, it's the feeling of self-assurance.

A few names to thank. Fariz, my mentor who leads me becoming 'wild' and 'cool', and for those who are interested to know, being my guarantor of my MSc. study, Fariz supposed to make sure I stay inside classroom, study and excel... ; Amir, another cool guy who has 'Adventurous' as his middle name; Emy, my companion to reach the peak of the mountain; every names under the flag of PETRONAS Sabah, they are simply the best and the coolest; Poon, 5zal, Togok, Min, Azwa, Dani and Juanne, they are the ones who gave me 'guilt-free' pass to skip classes.. hehe..; and.. erm.. .. Prof. Rudy.

Well obviously this is the last post of my Mt Kinabalu journey, but it's too another start of my journey of pursuing my further dreams. I remember well when I dreamt about reaching the peak of Mt. Kinabalu during age of 15, my friends laughed at me. And recently I told some of my friends that I sort of 'received' a 'calling' from the highland of Tibet, again, my friends laughed at me.. Hmmm.. let's see...

What's next? No, not yet for the highland which is higher than the peak of Mt Kinabalu.. After reaching Southeast Asia's highest point, I'm setting off to the world's largest cave at Mulu. :> PEACE. Next after that? I'll go diving in Similan, west coast of Thailand.. 80% planned. hehe, PEACE again... 2007, what a wonderful kick-start for an adventurous dream-catcher.. ;> PEACE, again and again. :p

Happy 2007 to y'all!!


Spider, killing time in The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, Jusco, Ipoh.

When you believe. -- a letter to Prof. Rudy

Dear Prof. Rudy,

Bonjour.

I'm writing this to u after knowing that u actually expressed ur dissappointment towards the not-up-to-100% attitude of us in learning during the final lecture of u. I apologize about that. Sorry sir I just have to admit that, I'm one of those who not giving 100% commitment to ur lecture.

I know skipping lectures is certainly not a good attitude for learning, and I just did, even worse, skipping 2 days of lectures, for a silly reason like climbing up to 4095.2m height and then coming back down.

...but that's what being young and dangerous means, I guess... :>

Remember the small talk between us about Crocker Formation? U said that u believe there are karst holes lie beneath the islands around Mt Kinabalu, like the 'Blue-holes' lie beneath the Bahamas Island -- and then u added that not many people knowing that and only those who held this belief think of exploring and discovering it.

U know what? That remarks impressed me. Yes u're right sir, it is the 'BELIEF' that pushes us to keep on discovering and exploring -- our life, our dream, our world, and ourselves.

... even though sometimes, we need to sacrifice, like skipping 2 days' lectures of carbonate sedimentology. :p

(..and I guess that explained why I decided to set off the journey..)...

I know u were a diver when u were young. So I guess you'll know what's the feeling like at every descent u made downward to the bottom of the sea -- like wise, my journey of climbing-up bears the same significances -- we learn at every stage we are, and we surprised when things around started to change everytime we decide to move on.

I'm not going to share what I'd perceived in this journey of climbing up to the top roof of Southeast Asia. It was like diving right into a secret garden under the sea, and then when you ascend back to the sea surface, you'll just let the feeling of thrilled overwhelming you for a moment, without saying any words -- I know you'll agree with me, cuz u were once a young and dangerous adventurer too who learn from our quest of discovering and exploring.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.


Merci. A Bientot.


Cheers,
Spider

Gambate no, opa-sang!

We all believe that there's always something mystical about mountain. Too many stories and legends about the existence of Gods and Spirits of mountain made people treat mountains respectfully and worshipfully.

This Japanese Opa-sang was dancing and singing in front of me when I was walking alone, trying hardly and tiredly, to get myself every inch closer to Laban Rata where we all would finally have a good rest before pushing ourselves towards the summit of Mt Kinabalu.

I overtook her and she greeted me, with a sunny smile, "slowly, no tired", she said to me, then continued with her humming and dancing.

....and out of all a sudden I was amazed -- no she is not any goddess or angels that fell from heaven -- I felt like I caught a sudden grasp but I didn't figure it out.

The second time I met her, I was exhausted and taking my rest at a point a few meters off from where I first met her. I heard she humming her Japanese song. This time, I walked by her and chatted with her. She told me stories about her hometown Kyoto and her passion for mountain climbing. I stared at her grey hair and a feeling of respect wholly smeared into my heart. At that moment, I knew that I've solved THAT mysterious puzzle in my mind...

I tapped her shoulder and said, "slowly, no tired", it was like answering my own question.

She smiled, "slowly, no tired", in her typical Japenese slang.

"Gambate no," I think this Japanese word was used perfectly in such a timing.

"Arigato gozaimatzu," with her sunny and mercy smile.

I left her. I felt no more tired and exhausted. Meeting this Opa-sang had made me reset my pace. I took out my camera and started to look around. I couldn't imagine how many wonderful things I'd missed before this. Why rushing? Slowly, no tired, and there's so much wonderful things just around me.

Just slow down my pace and enjoy everything that surrounded me, all the huffing and puffing, what for?

We all believe that there's always something mystical about mountains. Too many stories and legends about the existence of Gods and Spirits of mountain made people treat mountains respectfully and worshipfully, but sometimes, we respect mountains because we learn from mountains. The meditation that took place in the heart of a mountain, or the journey climbing up a mountain, people learn from mountains, to be able to see things again after being blinded, and to reset our pace after being rushed.

KL has just got TOOOooo many staircases..

This post, if finaly published, it would be an intro.

I'm here in KL, after a great journey of my life in Sabah. My hp is out of order, partly due to the journey, hence I need to get it repaired before going back to my plate tectonic and sequence stratigraphy's notes. My point is, I didn't actualy get a rest after the tiring journey -- 4095.2m height of climbing, and then coming down (that seriously counts), early flight right next day, and it was Air Asia (ooh that seriously undeniably counts..), then I started my another journey of 'saving private Sony' in KL..

My point of all my points is, I'm so damn tired. Pain on my calves and thights remind me on how 'de-energized' I am, but yet it also remind me on how proud I am to reach the top peak of Malaysia.

Well I certainly have a lot of stories to tell, as I mentioned earlier this is just an intro. A wise intro should be served as a perfect appetizer. I hope this one would not be too far from that standard.

Oh yeah BTW, pain on my calves and thights got me realized something while walking in KL -- It's not that I'm becoming staircasephobic after Mt. KK -- KL has just got too many staircases..

Part of it: PGCE.2006

I know I should've posted an entry bout PGCE.2006 before the thing becomes expired like today, but trust me, I have drafted something bout it but busy days delayed everything and there's another reason that held me back...--

--what I drafted was somehow experimental for my blogging style --

--I put all the SMS's, emails and YahooMessenger's conversations together, to sort of complete the puzzle of the whole story about "How I finally got a chance to finally joinned back PGCE's committee after quiting it for my Master programme".. and "How weird things happened and how I finally pissed-off and decided to skip one class and stay with PGCE's family"...

However, as what I said, the composition was rather experimental and I just afraid those who read it won't get any clue of what I'm trying to say -- and it would be the longest post I've ever had if it was finally posted -- nobody will have the patience to read all the sms's and emails and messages between somebody else and some-other-body else, those are simply crapping!

Anyway, people like to look at pictures.. I believe Aza who said she couldn't wait to read my entry about PGCE was actually saying that she couldn't see her pictures during PGCE appeared in my blog.. (eh-hem..) .. So.. I got a little Tabblo with the pictures of our celebration after PGCE.2006 to cater the appetite of all picture lovers.

Sorry for those who really want to read something bout PGCE, but is there any allien like this out there? I doubt it....

If you don't feel satisfied by just looking at the small pictures tabblo at the right, click here to enter its larger version (I would certainly love to see your comments left here instead of Tabblo -- u might be asked to register in Tabblo if u insist on leaving comment over there .

Introducing... Brad.

Oh yeah my little specky dog featuring in my last entry names Wellington. Many of my readers found it cuter than his master.. duh.. those people are simply too caring to try to compare a human with a huggy animal -- THAT'S NOT FAIR -- of course human being is always uglier!

Ok now I introduce to you another heavenly CUTE huggy creature -- Brad. I bet Wellington won't like him but Brad, with his full-of-curiousity-big-eye on his little face, would xtremely love Wellington and scratch him and kiss him and hug him..

I met Brad in one wonderful morning and I believe meeting Brad made the wonderfulness fully complete the rest of my entire day. Brad names Brad just because Brad is naughty and playful. Unlike Wellington. Wellington is quiet and matured and smart.

Well I'm not going to describe how cute Brad is and how naughty he is. Obviously this entry is posted for the sake of killing time while waiting for my friends to finish their Friday Prayer, and also to grant the wish of my friends to show Brad's photos online so that they can see him and maybe kiss him thru the screen of their PC, like Brad tried to seduce me through my camera lens when posing in front of me.

The way you look tonight .. with a spec on..

I wouldn't say I am not used to have a pair of spectacles hanging on my nose... I just wanted to say I am not QUITE used to have a pair of created-by-Louis-Koo high-trimmed-high-price ZERO-X luxury hanging on my nose..

Well the ZeroX will be only used to, mainly and supposedly, help me filtering all the radiation coming from PC screen.. (certainly not to make me look any bit like LouisKoo..)....

...but the fact is, with this ZeroX bought, I'm gonna postpone my plan of buying a Canon EOS DSLR, cancel my will of having Chevrolet Optra5, reconsider my diving trip in Cebu Island or Sipadan -- What? How much does this ZeroX exactly cost? Hmmm, not that much actually, but it used up my budget to buy a set of dinner suit to attend my dearest sis's wedding, and the budget to get equiped for my year-end mountain climbing plan.

So? I thought I was saying something about drawing in my horns? What are those dinner suit and mountain climbing plan about? sigh.. don't tell my mum. At least don't let her knows that I'm now wearing my created-by-Louis-Koo high-trimmed-high-price in front of my Fujitsu and typing this non-sense instead of getting an early sleep.

Sigh.. don't tell my mum...