August 11, 2007

• the new 9 to 5

   

  KOTA KINABALU, MALAYSIAN BORNEO | LE MERIDIEN KOTA KINABALU, 7F è

  yesterday was quite possibly the perfect day: relaxing, inexpensive, and fantastic.

  we awake at 8am after a good night’s rest from the previous two days’ climb up mount kinabalu, the tallest in southeast asia at a staggering 13,435 feet above sea level.  our entire bodies–surprisingly both lower and upper–are sore from the 10+ mile combined ascent-descent, ankle and knee joints throbbing in pain at every move.

  at 9am we enjoy a complimentary buffet breakfast at the hotel’s circle restaurant.  roti canai, laksa, and pan-fried noodles all find their place among the more familiar scrambled eggs, hash browns, and baked beans.  i enjoy several cups of thick mango juice, and chow heartily down.

  as it nears 945am, we taxi to jesselton pier to catch a ferry to the islands of tunku abdul rahman park, just off the coast of KK.  we decide on one island, sapi, for its reputation as a relatively uncrowded, great snorkeling site.  we had the option of exploring up to three islands, but the one island price was just right: 17 RM roundtrip (less than $5).

  on our ferry to sapi, we meet and mingle with two of the very few americans we’ve seen since arriving borneo, chatting up travel tips, foreign policy, and graduate schools.  (one was a private equity guy starting at georgetown for his mba, the other getting her masters at the LSE.)  now a foursome, we grab a bench, bust out books and sunblock, and begin our lazy day at a spectacularly beautiful beach.

  there’s no rush.  it’s only 10am and our return ferry picks us up at 5pm.  so for the entire day we swim, snorkel, sunsoak, read, write, talk, and eat.  i finish several chapters in harry potter year 4 while becoming several shades darker.  the air is thick and hot, the water cool and refreshing.  i even fall asleep right where the ocean meets the sand, the waves gently rolling under my body like a natural massage.  heaven.

   
  
  

  afterwards, we ferry back to KK, wash up, and enjoy some evening hors d’ouevres during a gorgeous sunset overlooking the south china sea. 

  

  we then catch the 7pm viewing of transformers at the new, stadium seating cathay cinemas for a mere 6 RM each ($1.73).  popcorn and drink cost only 5.80 RM.  the movie’s very entertaining, albeit a little long.  post-film, we hit the night market for some tasty malaysian eats — chicken satays, skewered shrimp, fried roti.  everything is cheap and delicious; a single satay costs only 1 RM ($0.29)!

  day six concludes in a glorious three-room suite, compliments of spg platinum, and a host of new memories.

  sadly, in a few hours, our time in borneo comes to a close, and we spend a night in kuala lumpur before jetting off to hanoi, vietnam early tomorrow morning.  but before i sign off, i wanted to share some of the breathtaking vistas from atop mount kinabalu.  more detailed post about the climb forthcoming, including tips should you ever want to tackle the mountain yourself (as you should).

  hope everyone’s well!

   
  
  
  
   
   
   
   
  
  

   

  • 3:54 am
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