I like ....Where Rainbows End by Cecelia Ahern

I repeatedly read this book a couple of times now. I just love it. My preferences is more towards historical romance, etc Judith Mcnaught or Julia Quinn but this book from Cecelia Ahern really keeps me entertained.

It's about two best friends, Rosie and Alex who known each other since childhood, and stuck thru thick n thin even as Alex moves from Dublin to US. Both miles apart, they never stop corresponding with each other thru emails, letters, texting, online messagine.. that's what I love about this book anyway, the stories is all captured in the form of emails, notes, letters, sms etc. A very different format of writing unlike any books I read before. You gotta get this book to know what I'm saying. Although my mum was a lil bit confused with it so she stops reading it. what a shame.

So anyway, something big happened to Rosie before her move to US. It kept her from going to US and stayed in Ireland. Alex was her rock and somehow, along the way, misunderstandings, circumstances and bad luck kept them apart. It's very frustrating at times as you know they're so close to being together but yet circumstances kept pulling them apart.

It's a very touching story. I had a lump in my throat reading the ending. Go buy the book and you'll know.

Things to bring for Mt KK

Sharing a few tips with whoever who cares to read this...
I separated my stuff to two backpacks. One bigger heavier one I paid the porter to carry up while the other smaller one I carried myself.

1st day - to Laban rata (things to bring in smaller backpack)
1)Just wear normal shirt and shorts/gym pants as you'll get sweaty and hot as you walk up to Laban Rata. Keep a sweater in ur backpack as you might get cold during the last km.
2) Normal sportshoes will do
3) 1 bottle of 500ml 100 plus - we were provided with a tin of 100 plus for lunch, so i just refill it in my bottle
4) KitKat bars - I only ate kitkats that two days during my hike plus the sandwiches provided.
5) Deepheat cream - I rubbed the cream before I start to hike. Helps to warm up.
6) Poncho/raincoat - though we still get wet, but still better than nothing
7) Waistpouch - to store ur camera and some panadol activfast
8) Face towel
9) Walking stick - just rent one from the park, it's useful when descending


Bigger backpack that I gave the porter to carry up (I recommend firsttimers like me to just pay the porters and not carry it up urself) to store things for the 2nd day hike up to the summit...
a) Winterjacket, gloves (waterproof a must!!), thermal wear, thick socks, long stretchable pants/tracksuits, sweater, balaclava, an extra pair of clothes to change after u descend..
b) HAIR DRYER - seriously, i don't see it written anywhere as a must have, but I think it's necessary in case it rains. My hair dryer was highly in demand on the evening we reached Laban Rata.
c)1 bottle of 500ml 100 plus
d) Kitkat bars & light food like raisins & oral dehydration salts
e) Kampung Adidas shoe - you can find it there in KK town , just ask around
f) Raincoat
g) Headlights
h) Towel , toothbrush, mini toothpaste, mini shampoo, minishowergel..etc - if you get ur warm shower, mine was icy cold , a lot of ppl opt not to shower as it was really cold.
i) Toilet tissue papers
j) slippers - 4 you to go toilet
k) Medicines - if you'll experience giddiness n such , refer to ur own doctor about this


So basically, on the second day hike to the summit, you can just wear ur e) kampung adidas shoe and ur a) winter wear and g)headlights as above list...
Bring along in ur smaller backpack :-
d) Kit Kat bars & raisins...
c) 1 bottle of 500ml 100 plus
f) Raincoat
And well , ur camera of course. Take nothing but photographs, leave nothing but footprints.


So hope this list helps whoever wish to read this..Happy Climbing.. I know I did. :D

Best Birthday Gift to Meself! (Reaching the top of Mt KK)

YES! I did it ! I conquered Mt Kinabalu a day before my birthday !

It was my most wonderful birthday celebration ever. The feeling when I reached the summit is pure heaven. I just sat at one of the rocks, trying to catch my breath and to take in all the beautiful view around me. It was still a little dark with strips of red/orange in the sky. One of the tour guide there, Abang Di had to keep reminding me take out my camera for him to snap pictures for me. Thank you Abang Di, you're the best! I still couldn't believe it myself that I made it since walking up the stairs of Batu Caves is enough to make me feel faint. My dear cousin who was laughing at me when I said I'm going to climb Mt KK couldn't believe it either. We bet on a meal...so now i'm getting a free meal. Muahahaha. For those who said I was too woman to do it ..eat your words back!

Basically for me, ascending the mountain is much easier than descending (although my friends like the descending part , i also dunno why :P). I really hate the descending part. We ascended in the dark so we can't see how dangerous some part is until you descended in the early morning light. I got bruises cos I kept slipping descending. It gets boring as you have to keep watching the ground with rocks.

So here are the pictures on my crazy adventure....

Above is a group picture taken before we start our journey on the Timpohon trail. As you can see, everyone looked very excited and energetic...but after several km, nobody looked this fresh anymore. We had to walk about 6km to reach Laban Rata where we stayed over for a night before continuing our journey to the summit the next day.

This is our porter who carried our bigger bags up. Poor woman but she said she's used to it.
They don't seem to carry any food or water with them. I didn't realise this earlier in the journey. After my 4km, I shared my sandwich with her and I regretted I didn't offer to her earlier.

Note: Share your food with your porter/tourguide, you probably are carrying too much food up anyway.

We took pictures for every km we reached. It's always a relief when we see another km signboard.

And of course, we had to camwhore a little along the way. For me the view after the 4th KM is beautiful with all the dwarfed trees. I'm doing a little kungfu meditation so that I can just fly up to the top..

After walking about 5 to 6 hours, I was so happy when I saw this yellow roof building. It mean rests and food finally!! But when the receptionist told me that we had to walk about another 500m up to our hostel, I almost strangled the poor girl. So I had my food, icy cold shower and rest (though i couldn't sleep a wink) and proceeded to wake up about 2.00am to continue our journey to the summit. With only our headlights strapped on our head, we proceeded to walk in the dark. There are parts that I find myself alone with nothing but the light on my head to guide me. Kinda freak me out a little as I kept wondering if i got lost or something.

Wahaha.. I was almost breathless but still insisted to take this darn picture.

When I reached the summit, I just sat for quite some time to catch my breath. I didn't want to move at all but thank god, Abang Di kept asking me to take out my camera.

Note: bring a waterproof glove! I thought mine was, but it wasn't as it was soaked thru on the first rope climb. So when I reached the peak, i quickly take it off but it was so cold that I decided to just put back on my wet gloves.


On top of the world feeling. OK.. now I can strike off Mt KK in my to-do-list! If only they have bungee jump then I can strike both off and save maybe part of the awful journey down maybe.

Look at all the faces... extremely happy!!

So there, finally in the airport, we took out all our coloured certs and banner and had the group pictures. So semangat!

It was serious fun ..but this will be probably my one and only time climbing Mt KK. For a few days after that, I curse everytime I walk down stairs.

Goodbye, My Boy

Sometimes I thought I hear him in the living hall when i'm in my bedroom or bathroom...

..like today.


I went down and only then I realised, he's not here anymore...

Rest in Peace, the most beautiful golden haired boy I've ever seen.

I just missed him lots today although it's been months since his departure.. don't know why.

RIP Boy Boy: 09/03/09

What have I gotten myself into...

**Gasp GASP Gasppppppp..... OMG... oMg......OH.. oH ..oh.. OHhh...**


No.. it's not the sound of orgasm...


It's just me almost dying out of breath from training for my Mount Kinabalu trip.
What was I doing thinking that I was fit enough to go??? I had no idea at all.
Just one trip up to Batu Caves is enough to make me feel like I'm having cardiac arrest. Look at the picture, it's only like 4 or 5 floors of stairs, when did i ever become so unfit?



Oteokeyo? How to go Mount Kinabalu in another two weeks time liddat? i seriously dunno.

Please god, let me make it to the top.. please let me have my best birthday celebration ever. I don't wish for presents, cakes or $$$, I just want to reach the top of Mount Kinabalu this year ...
(and to go UK and Australia as well).