We woke up at around 2.00 am to start the remaining trek to the peak of Mount Kinabalu. The target was to get to the top by sunrise to catch that extraordinary view. This time the climb was, as expected, harder. It was made more difficult coz we only had two working torchlights between us and then left with one when P'red and Naz left us slowpokes behind....

We had to climb in near darkness, pulling ourselves with ropes up the steep rocky trail. This was when I caught my foot between a rocky ridge and sprained my ankle. I managed to get myself to the last base camp, Sayat-Sayat (3380 m altitude) and told our guide about it. I wanted to carry on to the top but he advised me against it. He said not to aggravate the sprain as the climb down would be harder later on. To my surprise (and guiltiness), my loving Monique, decided to stay with me eventhough I assured her that I would be fine alone there. 0)

We waited until the sun came up around 7.00 am before we descended back with the help of another guide. The guide mentioned that he passed Rusty and Reza on his way down and that they doing fine although they would most probably miss the sunrise. Nevertheless, it was still disappointing not to make it to the top after coming all this way.

When everyone was back together later on, we made preparations to climb down. With everyone tired and aching all over, it was a slow journey. But we made it and had a 5 o'clock lunch at the National Park restaurant with our guides. We said our goodbyes and left for our hotels, leaving behind disappointments, regrets, personal achievements but most of all, a wonderful experience...

p/s Pics at the top courtesy of the ones who made it...

The day didn't start out quite so well. We had a late-ish breakfast at around 7.00 am although the hotel said the kitchen will be opened by 6.30 (which it didn't). So, we kinda rush through it coz our pickup was already there waiting. Then halfway there, the van overheated - twice -.

Luckily, we were strangely having fun with the situation. We eventually managed to get another ride to Kinabalu National Park and was rushed through registration and all that. Soon we found ourselves at the Timpohon Gate (1866 m altitude), the entrance to the hike up. We started out in good spirits with Reza leading the way. The reality of the climb and the lack of proper preparation began to get to us and suddenly we found ourselves going at a slower pace, trying a take a break every so often. We stopped at every rest stop, had a long lunch at the halfway point (which slowed us down even more - bodies cooled down and heavy -

Everybody was just struggling a bit with the climb, looking at our porters in wonder as they almost casually escorted us with our baggage on their backs. The rain - which threatened to pour early on and eventually didnt help much too. Our breathers between climbs began to increase, mainly for rest and waiting for the guys who were lagging behind. Reza was having difficulties by now while Rusty was experiencing muscle cramps due to that overly long rest at lunchtime.

To the guys' surprise, Monique was the hardiest climber in our group. She was leading the way at the last stretches as well as giving encouragements to the rest of the group. At long last, around 5.45-ish, we set foot at the Laban Rata base camp. We got settled in and took our well-earned RnR. The next day was going to be a harder day...

Monique and I took a half day from work to get ourselves ready for our BIG adventure!

A group of us was supposed to go to Kota Kinablu for our friend, Lene's wedding (which was on that sunday weekend) but we somehow decided to fly in earlier so that we could climb Mount Kinabalu - the highest mountain in SE Asia.

We met up with the rest of the gang - Reza, P'red and Rusty at the airport and then off we went.Lene and her dad picked us up at the airport where we had dinner at her place. There we met up with the last member of the group, Naz (lene's cousin). We also got some important advice and pointers from her family about the trip up (they all have done it..) as well as some more equipment which would prove very very useful later.

We walked back to our hotel - only 5 minutes walk from Lene's - and got some rest for our excursion the next day.

After our two-week training class, we drove down south to visit our manufacturing plant in Stonehouse..somewhere in Gloucestershire i think...

Drilling bits if anyone is wondering.....

That's what the industry uses for their drilling operations. You can find out more at my company's website at ReedHycalog

Monique, who was working in London as a Fund Manager at that time, dropped by to visit me for the weekend. Both of us have been to Nottingham a couple of times before but never had the chance to properly explore the city. So, we did exactly that...

As part of the training scheme in Schlumberger, each junior or trainee engineer was required to attend a "School" in order to progress or qualify as a full fledge Field Engineer. After 4 months of rig experience and getting ready for it, i went to Nottingham, UK for my 3-week School.

There was an entrance exam on the very first day of school and anyone not getting thru this exam was to be send back to their location and released from the company. This is how serious Schlumberger's training policy is.. . Luckily no one from my batch failed...

During school, we had to show our proficiencies that we developed during the first months, from rig operations to rig components, both theories and practicals....! They went into more details on what we have done before and explained about every single aspects of our operations and industry. Man, it was tiring but very interesting..!

I myself went to the East Coast for the holidays. The initial plan was to attend my friend's wedding in Kuala Bharu, Kelantan but coz I had to attend my colleague's wedding in Gombak on the same day, unfortunately I had to give this one a miss. However, the gang had planned an exursion to Perhentian Island after the wedding in KB and this trip I did make it (had already paid in advance.. ). I met up with my honey and the rest in KB airport and then drove down to Kuala Besut jetty for the 45-ish minute boat ride to Perhentian.

Suffice to say, I had a blast!!!

Had my first snorkelling experience, had beautiful tropical fishes eating bread out of my hands and the best was finding Nemo@clown fishes among the ameno..amone...amene...

The company was great, had fun playing pictionary and hanging out with gang...it was a great weekend break eventho' we had to cut it short....

Note: Pics courtesy of Reza...left my camera at home..duh!