LESSONS OF LIFE - FROM THE CLIMB
Actually life is quite similar to the Mount Kinabalu climb. It is there before you and if you make it a clear objective in your life, then you cannot avoid making the climb. Climbing Mount Kinabalu will make you a much stronger person mentally. One day when the storms of life hit, you will carry the fortitude required to overcome such storms.
NO EASY TO GET PLACES.....
Unfortunately today climbing Mount Kinabalu is no longer easy because of the huge demand for places. To plan for a climb is a crazily detailed process. It is not like planning for it for a month and making the climb. Today people come from all over the world to climb and they pay for their places 6 months in advance. You simply can't get places for the climb. We planned for the April climb almost 1 year ago.
THE CLIMBS ARE ALMOST AT COST.....
Our climbs are amost made at cost. The additional charges are the following:
- Arrangement fees paid to my Associate company in Sabah to arrange the bookings, transportation, guide arrangement (guides who are my regulars), hotels, snorkelling, restaurant booking, etc. It also covers the provision of one staff who will handle all the spare bags when we climb and delivery of packed meals, etc.
- Cost of 3 staff who will come for the trip and handle the administrative arrangements. This adds a small amount of cost to the climb per pax.
NOT COMMERCIAL TRIP - NO SPECIAL TREATMENT
Please remember that this is not a commercial program so climbers should NOT come in and demand for special treatment. It is simply a climb organised for you and you come in just alike any of the other climbers who are there as friends. In 52 climbs, we have had complaints only once and even that was due to a misunderstanding. This is a climb that I make for friends and because there are additional places, I open it to friends of climbers.
COST OF CLIMB COVERS A 5 DAY - 4 NIGHT TRIP
Remember, the cost charged does not cover only the climb. It covers 5 days 4 nights of an organised trip. The first night is spent at the Pines Hotel. It is a lovely rustic hotel nestled amidst a proliferation of flowering plants. The dinner is usually very good and the first night is spent in the many meeting huts for bonding and briefing.
A STRETCHED CLIMB OF 3 DAYS - 2 NIGHTS
The climb which begins on the second day is a 3 day-2 night climb. This doubles the cost of the Mt Kinabalu climb but almost everyone makes it to the top in such a climb. The enjoyment is tremendous and everyone who has gone for the usual 2 day-1 night climb have said that it is so much more enjoyable for a climb stretched by one more day. We have also included the cost of guides for the climb but the cost of porters have NOT been included. This is because people bring different amounts of stuff for the climb and it is best that they pay for what they elect to bring.
Then on the fourth day, we get to stay at the newly refurbished Palace Hotel in Kota Kinabalu where breakfast on the fifth day is provided. The fifth day takes the group to snorkelling in the exotic islands of the Kinabalu Parks and the cost is also covered (excluding lunch).
TRAINING PROGRAMS ARE PROVIDED AT PART OF THE PROGRAM
All-in-all, 2 dinners with the best of KK's seafood cuisine is provided. The rest of the meals are on your own. What is most important are the training programs that are arranged. We actually lose money on these training programs because the time spent for such sessions are not really covered in terms of cost. We provide for only RM100 to cover the sessions.
YOUR CHOICE TO CLIMB WITH US?
So you have your choice. Climb with us and have the benefit of the experience of 52 climbs thrown in including preparation and training provided for you or you do it on your own and save a little bit of money. Ask the many who have climbed with us and they are saying to me, "Why don't you charge more?" My response to that is I am bringing many of my friends to climb and I can't do that.
WE CAN'T GO LOWER ON THE CHARGES!
Compare this with the commercial climbs I have arranged in the past when I took groups. If they want me to climb with them, a 5 day-4 night trip would cost them at least RM1,800 (and that was before the fees and charges were raised by the Sabah Parks). Some have asked whether the rates can be lower. Unfortunately the answer is no. We have little room to go lower.
REASON FOR NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSITS
This is also the reason we collect non-refundable deposits. Please remember that I have to pay cash upfront to get the climbing places and stay at Laban Rata and the risk of loss is high. This is why I try to get the no of climbers early and then I close the climb places. After the climb places are secured, there will be no more places that can be given out.
TESTOMONIES OF THE PAST CLIMBS
What are some of the responses from those who have climbed? The testimonials will be posted in the blog on Kinabalu but suffice it to say that the following comments are representative:
- I have never enjoyed myself so much on a climb. Although it was tough (but I expected it to be so), I will hold the climb as one of the highlights in my life. Ong's team performed superbly and the organisation was outstanding
- Mindy, Alice and Sam were wonderful in the way they handled the team. Of course Hock Siew's leadership and encouragement made all the difference. Without his encouragement and help, I would not have made it to the top
- I can't believe I climbed South-East Asia's highest mountain. There were many moments of doubt but Hock Siew's briefing and preparation of our minds at each stage of the way made all the difference. I cannot see how the trip could be further improved.
- I cried and cried at the last part. I just could not go on anymore. This was when Mr Ong came and led me on. His constant encouragement and help got me to the top, step by step. I am so grateful to him for going out of his way to take me through the last mile. I have learnt precious lessons that I will take with me through the rest of my life
- What a climb. What a feeling - to have the wind blowing into your face and to know that the effort has been all worth it. Thank you Hock Siew for the wonderful organisation and thank you for the great motivation that you gave. Having your guitar and having us sing throughout the whole trip is truly unforgettable. It was like re-living my days of youth and carefree freedom again. Thanks again!
The testimonies speak for themselves. Come and enjoy yourself!!
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