Murphy's Law in Action ..
Day 2: 19 July 2008
Mysterious Cheeky Taxi Driver!
Woke up as early as 7 a.m. undecided what to do. So many option :
Option 1: Get Semporna ticket and head straight to KK Mountain
Option 2: Go to Tengku Abdul Rahman Park
Option 3: Round KK Town and shopping
Nevertheless, it all depends on my confirmation for Laban Rata room at KK Park. So we started our day with very light breakfast of bread and tea at local kopitiam. After breakfast we walked to Sutera Sanctuary in Wisma Sabah but unfortunately the office only opens at about 9 a.m. So we decided to wait instead of heading to Inanam bus stop to get our Semporna tickets.
The famous roti khawin: bread with kaya and jam
I manage to change my accommodation form unheated Panar Laban Hut to heated Laban Rata hut for just extra RM20 as well as change my accommodation date to 26 July 2008. We were told that the Inanam (the long distance bus stop to east) was really far and it was best to taxi which was just opposite Wisma Sabah. Since it was already late, we decided to take cap anyway opposite Wisma Sabah to take us to Inanam bus stop.
Deng, deng, deng! Up came a taxi driver approaching us. His name was Samsir a.k.a Pak Cik Samsir. Not wanting to waste anytime, I quickly bargained the taxi fare to Mount KK and Inanam bus stop for a fair of RM200, through and fro. I thought it was pretty good. We hopped in to the taxi and headed to the mountain.
Nevertheless, in just less 15 minutes with him, he managed to dig out our 4 day schedule in Sabah and in less then 40 minutes he made bargain with us and closed the deal.
1. KK Mountain through and fro and a stop at Inanam bus stop : RM200
2.Sending Inanam bus stop in the evening : RM20
3.Picking us up on the 21 July 2008 and city tour RM80
4.Sending Guna to Airport: RM20
5.Sending me to Inanam bus stop on 23 July 2008 :RM20
All in he manage to bargain for RM340. Above all he even, helped us to get our bus ticket to Semporna, through and fro as well as my Sandakan tickets. Phew! Sleekly old man huh, and we got entrapped into his idea.
It took us approximately 1 ½ hors to reach Kinabalu Park. Upon our arrival, Pak Cik Samsir made us pay RM100 as deposit. He refuse to take us around in his cap so we decided to go for a walk up till Timphonan gate, the beginning of the Mount KK track. The walk was tiring but was fun.
Some of the high end guestrooms
The walk to remember..to Timphonan gate
Beautiful marigold..
Beautiful view of the mountain..
Timphonan gate
Our journey down was really fast. It took us only 30 minutes. We had to rush back as Pak cik Samsir need to get our tickets to Inanam bus stop and send us to Inanam bus stop later in the evening. We were both tired, Guna slept through out the journey, where else I tried to stay awake since i still didn't believe this cheeky old man.
We reached Inanam bus stop at about 4 p.m. The bus stop was ten times worst then Pudu Raya, middle man was practically bugging people to buy tickets from their agents. I was glad I gave the task to Pak Cik Samsir. He manages to get the Semporna tickets (through and fro) for RM260 (for both and Sandakan but unfortunately he refused to hand it over. And upon our arrival at X'plore backpacker, he made us pay all the money to him..and I did. Sigh! Cheeky old man.
We headed back, took quick shower, packed and headed for our dinner.
Our breakfast lunch and dinner...
Lemon juice was superb..sabah and sarawak always served ice lemon tea with lemon unlike peninsular with limau kasturi
My yummy stir fried vegetable
Guna's lemon chicken
Pak Cik Samsir picked us up at 6 p.m. even though our bus was only schedule to leave at 7.30 p.m. The moment our taxi stopped we were ambushed by many agents who wanted to sell us tickets. People were opening door, offering to carry our bags and if possible carry us to their bus stop counter! I kept on telling them that we have already purchased the tickets, but they don't take NO for an answer. I was suppose to pay Pak Cik Samsir another balance RM20. But looking at the crowd, I refuse to open my wallet in public and assured him that I will pay upon our arrival on 21 July 2008.
The people in the bus stop looked so scary that we deliberately hugged our begs. Even us, could tell that their all not Malaysian. Most of them are from Philippines or Indonesia and many was heading to Semporna and Tawau.
The bus only departed at about 7.45 p.m. Our journey to Semporna is approximately 9 hours and I was glad it departed late as I was not keen on arriving there that early. The bus was uncomfortable and I was hopping to get my on place to cuddle up. I did but only after an hour after the journey begin. As for Guna, the moment the bus started, she dozed off not waking up even when the bus stopped for police check up. It was a long journey to the south.
Note:
Accomodation:
X-plore backpaker
Explore backpackers staff was so awesome. The best! They were so nice to give us the whole room for our self plus, gave space to put our bags, gave us towel and place to bathe and had the most beautiful smile every time we walked in and out of the door. Besides, its cheap, clean and in the heart of the city.
1st Floor, 106/108,
Jalan Gaya,
88000 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah
Telephone:(6) 088 - 538780Mobile:(6) 012- 8375858
Fax:(6) 088 - 538781
Email:info@xplobackpackers.com
web: http://www.xplobackpackers.com/home.html
KK Park
Sutera Sanctuary
Lot G15
Ground Floor
Wisma Sabah
88000, Kota Kinabalu
Sabah, Malaysia
Phone: +60 88 243 629
Fax: +60 88 259 552
Email: info suterasanctuarylodges.com.my
Reffer this page:http://wikitravel.org/en/Kinabalu_Park
Reference:
Roti Khawin: Two slices of bread with jam and kaya (local jam made of cocnut and sugar)
Pak Cik: Uncle
Kopitiam: local old time cafe
No comments:
Post a Comment