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Gunung Kinabalu or Mount Kinabalu is the most famous national park of Sabah. It is over 4,100 m high. The mountain can be climbed relatively easily provided one follows the right trail. |
Bursting through the famed "Spine of Sabah", the Crocker Range that is, it soars aloft spectacularly into the Borneo sky. Its awesome height prompted reverence from mortals living in its shadow, in bygone ages. In fact, it figures centrally in the traditional belief systems of the once animistic Dusuns in its foothills and the Kadazans in the plains and valleys beyond, who for centuries had regarded it as the resting place of their dead - their version of heaven. Until today, Dusun high priests dutifully perform the annual sacrificial rite of killing seven white chickens, near the summit, to appease the spirits.
It is cherished and raved about as the highest peak in Southeast Asia, which towers 4,101 m (13,455 ft) above a tangle of mountains. Not surprisingly, one visitor who saw the spectacle in 1990, exclaimed tauntingly: " If you haven't seen Mt. Kinabalu, you haven't seen Southeast Asia." The imposing, snow-free and bald top granite massif rouses man's instinctive yearning to get to the top the feeling of being in the top of the world.
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Park Headquarters at 1,588 m (5,000 ft) is well organized with accommodations ranging from hostels to classy chalets but they are so popular, booking well in advance is advised. Daily temperature here vary from 20 degrees centigrade to 13 degrees at night. |
Many of the annual 170,000 visitors simply enjoy the cool climate here strolling around trail walking or simply doing nothing.
Located at the southern boundary, Park's headquarters is 83 km from capital city Kota Kinabalu with good, paved roads.
Poring Hot springs is 43 km further to the northeast where natural open air sulphur health spas, a canopy walkway through the rainforest tree crowns and perhaps a chance to see the Rafflesia (if one is lucky) are possible, in addition to reasonable accommodation facilities. with thanks to Sabah Tourism Promotion Corporation)
Park Headquarters: the government owns several lodges. Outside the park there is private accommodation too, which may prove a useful alternative.
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Many of the trees and flowers are unique or extremely rare but to the uninitiated novice in matters botanical there is no doubt that the pitcher plants steal the show. Even the most casual observer cannot fail to notice these impressive insect guzzling monsters with up to a pint of liquid waiting to lure and drown the passing fly or mosquito. |
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Balanophora is a root parasite distantly related to Rafflesia. But unlike Rafflesia whose flowers, depending on the species, may be as large as one metre (three feet) across, the Balanophora blooms are very tiny...roughly the size of your little finger-tip. |