Kina-blues

Throb, throb, throb went my right thigh

This was at about 8.30 pm on my bunk-bed in our tiny room at the Gunting Lagadan Dorm at Laban Rata some 10,000 ft. on Mount Kinabalu.


It was time to catch some much-needed sleep in preparation for the 2.30am assault of the SUMMIT - otherwise known by the very unassuming name Low's Peak.

We already had wolfed down a good buffet dinner at the resthouse cafetaria some 200 metres below, had a cold-to-tepid shower to wash off the day's exertions climbing 6km up from Timpohon Gate, and I had rubbed my tired legs with liberal lashings of funky-smelling Minyak Gamat Langkawi and even plastered Salonpas on the dodgy areas.

As I lay down and closed my eyes and wishing them to sleep, the throbbing started.

Throb, throb, throb

That's funny, I thought. It's my left hip and glutes that's usually wonky, but now they feel fine - but my right thigh's throbbing to a fifties rock-n-roll beat.

I groaned, switched on the light, fished out a Ponstan capsule left over from my last wisdom tooth extraction and swallowed it. I thought I wouldn't need any painkillers. My two young ladies already each had 2 paracetamol for their headaches at this oxygen-sparse altitude (10,000ft above sea-level). My hubby also had something for his problematic left ankle - from an injury in a high-speed motorbike accident.

We are to meet our guide down at the cafetaria for supper at 2 am before commencing the climb at 2.30.

I closed my eyes - trying to think beautiful thoughts. It was quiet, the whole dorm seemed to be sleeping. From the  2 overhead bunks - regular breathing, and from the other one below - reassuringly gentle snoring.

Throb, throb, throb

Some kind of brainwave made me put both palms under my bottom  as a cushion. That helped relax the muscles a bit. But still I couldn't sleep - the body being used to a 2 am beddy-bye on normal days. I massaged my legs with eyes closed, I turned to one side, then the other, I hear someone trudging to the restroom, luckily no eerie sounds, but all I could do was close my eyes while nursing a sore thigh.

Throb, throb, throb

The ponstan didn't take. My mind was restless, thinking about nothing and everything. I might have drifted somehow but I began to hear voices outside in the corridor. Soon hubby's alarm went off and it was time to get up. I reluctantly sat up, and then

THUMP, THUMP, THUMP

That was my head.

AAARGH... THUMP, THUMP, THUMP

The gang were getting dressed. It was decision time.

THUMP, THUMP, THUMP

"You guys go on down. If I feel up to it, I'll have those 2 hard-boiled eggs for supper, then we'll meet up  outside."

"Are you sure?" asked one

"Are you sure?" asked another

"Yes, I haven't slept a wink and my head's thumping". The throbbing in the thigh seemed mild in comparison.

Off they went to supper.

I got up, took two paracetamol left over from my last root-canal treatment, opened the window louvres - aaah fresh biting-cold air, and put my head on the pillow to rest a little.

I went off like a light! What did you expect? It was almost 2 am - bed-time!

I awoke to the chirping of birds. It seemed like the most restful 3 hour sleep I had in ages. 

It was time for dawn prayers.



That was when the gang REACHED LOW'S PEAK!  YAY!!! So proud of them was I.

Through the cold and the pain and fatigue, THEY DID IT by sheer grit and determination!!! A man 58 years of age and 2 very young ladies! Congratulations and Jubilations!!!

 Laban Rata Resthouse - Kinabalu Base Camp

And so that was MY attempt at the peak of Kinabalu!

Not so inspirational huh? So let's take away that label off me and let me be an ordinary makcik again hehehe

The helipad on Laban Rata