Malaysia > Hiking in Mount Kinabalu National Park

Malaysia - Dew on a spider web in Mount Kinabalu National Park

When I wake up, I immediately receive a few text messages on my phone. The new year has now also begun in the Netherlands. After my shower, I watch the New Year celebrations in London live on the BBC. As if it were any other day, I drive to the entrance of Mount Kinabalu National Park, about ten kilometers further on. The park offers beautiful hikes along marked trails. You can also visit the Botanic Garden. I decide to take two challenging trails that connect, creating a loop hike of nearly seven kilometers. The route is quite up and down. At the start of the trail, it is immediately clear that there are many muddy sections. A mix of sand and clay makes the path slippery. Carefully, I make the climb up. Sometimes I need to avoid puddles on the trail. Through the trees and shrubs, I try to continue the walk with dry feet. The hike along the Kiau View Trail is stunning, winding through rainforest.

Malaysia - A special beetle with bright orange edges

I don’t encounter many animals, and the birds also remain largely hidden. Unfortunately, I do come across leeches again. The damp weather makes them particularly active. This time, however, I don’t have boots or special socks. Here, the creatures mainly attack from the ground. I try not to stand still too long and regularly check my hiking shoes. Several times I have to brush attackers off my shoes. After an hour and a half, I reach the main road through Mount Kinabalu National Park. Here the Kiau View Trail ends and the Silau-Silau Trail begins. The Silau-Silau Trail follows a small river, so the route involves less climbing and descending. Thankfully, there are also fewer leeches here. At the park’s restaurant, I take a break for lunch. Afterwards, I visit the nearby Botanic Garden, a lovely place with many unique flowers and plants, including carnivorous plants and orchids. Time flies, and I must hurry to finish the Silau-Silau Trail on time to be back at the agreed hour. With a brisk pace, I follow the trail. With about half a kilometer left, it begins to rain—a heavy shower.

Malaysia - An orchid in Mount Kinabalu National Park

A pity, since it had been such a beautiful afternoon. With my umbrella up, I walk the last stretch of the trail. At the endpoint, I hear that the climbers of Mount Kinabalu reached the summit and safely descended again. An amazing achievement! In the evening, I walk into Kundasang to eat. At a local restaurant, I take a seat. A young boy comes to take my order. It is a Muslim restaurant, so alcohol is not served. When I try to order cola, it turns out they don’t have that either. Hesitantly, I walk to the fridge display. Indeed, there are no soft drinks. The boy points me to a large water jerrycan. That doesn’t seem like a great idea. Instead, I order a Teh Macha with my sweet chicken. The tea is served with milk and doesn’t taste bad at all. The food is delicious as well. And the price is unbeatable—on average, a dish costs just one euro.