Again we arrived at Kuala Penyu, with nine guests well prepared for the tough cycling under our Borneo hot & humid weather.  With a few very strong cyclists in the group, they really enjoy the faster-than-leisure pace of riding, with Ishak & Maik always around at the front pack with their careful eyes.

This time we have a very clear sunset view of Mt Kinabalu when we arrived at the foothill for overnight.  More pictures can be seen HERE.

 With four good friends and Taising as our mountain guide, we started going up Mt Kinabalu from Timpohon Gate on 12th June.  We took the whole trip in a slow & leisure pace, with two nights at West Gurkha Hut, targetting five peaks with weather permitted.  For five days on the mountain, hot cloudless morning & freezing cold nights were no exceptions.   Yet we still encounter thick mist when trek past the foothill of Low’s Peak towards West Gurkha Hut.

Being able to stand on top of Victoria Peak again is very exciting.  Though we gave up the plan of scaling the horn as we were not fully equiped with our rock climbing gears.  Alexandra Peak & Oyayubi Peak were climb with cautions.  Due to the heavy rain before sunrise, we gave up St John’s Peak as some parts are very slippery after rain.  We went up Low’s Peak on the way descending to Laban Rata Resthouse on 15th June. 

When I arrived at Timpohon Gate again at noon of 16th June, my little friend, a common treeshrew came fast on to my backpack to greet me for my safe coming back…  For more photos please visit this photo gallery at my Climbing section.

The ride started with cloudless sky, and curious eyes of the Kuala Penyu folks.  With a “Before” photo shot with the ferry as background, we rides along the quiet road towards Tempurung Village, rest stopped at Sawangan Beach, passing lots of traditional fisherman houses on stilts and troops of buffalos across the road with their siblings.  With all these, Kevin’s camera never stop clicking…

With my guests from UK, Kevin, Lisa, Geoffrey & John, we arrived at the scenic tempurung Seaside Lodge to have our late lunch, not to mention the finger-licking food.  This is when our famous tropical thunderstorm started!

The afternoon ride is totally different from our morning session, from starts we have all the way of slippery and sticky muddy trail with result from the pouring rain & running trucks to the construction site nearby.

No long on the trail, my bike to be the first to call it a day with a broken rear derailer.  Nevertheless, all enjoy the exciting ride and we headed back to Kota Kinabalu with mud and sand.

This is a typical North Borneo Mountain Biking package from TYK Adventure tours.

   

    

Mountain biking in Sabah, North Borneo state of Malaysia, is another kind of experience for the Garnett family.

Other than the scenery landscape & green vegetations, the tropical fruit – Tarap, attracted Stephen’s attention with its unique hairy outer shell, the inside arrangement of the seeds, strong flavour, and it’s sweet starchy taste.

The rubber plantation gave our overseas guests a great knowledge too with its planting, tapping, and processing of the “milk” or sap.  They even got the opportunity to try on our local games using the rubber seeds and the shells!!!

Overnight in a Rungus Longhouse also excited Leah very much other than the cycling.  The friendly Rungus children running around her with all sorts of games, colourful traditional costumes and head decorations of the Rungus ladies during cultural performance, and the local native puzzle games which gave everyone’s head a real spin for not less than half an hour.

After a quiet night in the longhouse, our footsteps move on…

For those who is interested to experience mountain biking in North Borneo, please refer to this link, there are more coming soon. 

Took the chance of a free week end, I went on this trip with good friend Ishak.  Under the clody sky, we went up slowly while take rest stops & enjoy the view whenever the mist clear off.  From here, we can see the sceneic long western coastal line of Sabah.

For more cycling trips infomation in Sabah, North Borneo, you can click HERE.

This group came a week later after the previous group.  Other than knowing more friends from the United Kingdom, this time we have two cyclists from Canada.  Every member of the local cycling guides and our foreign guests are strong & fit throughout the trip.

Due to weather and safety factors, we detour a short section of the route.  In replacement, we visited a waterfall which everyone happy to find this a bonus for the trip.

Tip of Borneo, Simpang Mengayau, is always the highlight and here is also ending point for the cycling trip.  Excitement of completion for the cycling challenge, amazement of the scenery, tireness from the heat and humidity, sadness of leaving new freinds, always show on a few and may not be all faces…

Selamat jalan, datang lagi..  Good bye & please come again !!!

Being occupied & away since end October, this post consider out-dated, but here is just to share some pictures with you.  The cycling trip started from 26 Oct to 8 Nov, with fantastic coastline, tropical forest, mountain & villages of Sabah, northern Borneo state of Malaysia.

This group is from United Kingdom, with winter approaching in their country, it took all of them a few days to get used to the hot & humid climate here.  But with great humour & freindly smiles, we all have a very enjoyable journey.  Some more pictures can look at here & here.