Mount Kinabalu is a renowned mountain in South East Asia and Borneo’s tallest mountain. Situated in Kinabalu Park in state of Sabah 80 kilometres east of Kota Kinabalu, Mount Kinabalu has a summit (Low’s Peak) of 4095 metres above sea level.
Kinabalu Park is located in Kundasang and covers an area of 754 square kilometres and establishes itself as a location to protect and promote this botanical paradise. The park is open daily from 7am to 5pm and more information can be found on the following link:
http://www.sabahtourism.com/sabah-malaysian-borneo/en/destination/124-kinabalu-park/
Sir Hugh Low made the first documented ascent of Mount Kinabalu in 1851. Both of Mount Kinabalu’s highest peak and the deep gully on the other side of the mountain are name after him. Sir Hugh Low was a British colonial administrator and naturalist. The son of a Scottish horticulturist, he acquired botanical experience at a young age before heading to South East Asia at the age of 20. [1]
Lilian Suzette Gibbs was a British botanist who worked for the British Museum in London. She was the first woman to ascend Mount Kinabalu in 1910 and had several plants named in her honour. [2]
Mount Kinabalu is one of the most accessible mountains in the world which does not require any special climbing skills; however, it would be recommended for people with a good physical condition. During the rainy season (typically towards the end of the year in November and December), the climbing conditions can get slightly dangerous as the higher slopes may be slippery and more difficult to climb. During this period, dense fog has also been known to reduce visibility. More suitable timing for the climbs would be around the month of April whereby the temperatures are typically between 20-25⁰C around the low lying areas and approaches much colder temperatures with higher altitudes. It is advisable to bring warmer clothing for the ascent. [3]
Mount Kinabalu is a mountain covered in rainforest that are populated by a variety of fauna and flora. Among, the vast bio-diversity, the surroundings of Mount Kinabalu includes the largest flower in the world, the Rafflesia. This parasitic plant is capable of growing to sizes up to almost one meter in diameter. A survey of the mountain indicated an estimate of 5000 to 6000 plant species in this area which is considerably more than all of Europe and North America (excluding tropical areas of Mexico) combined. With such staggering figures, it is no wonder that this area is a very important biological site. Besides the diversity of plants there are a range of animals such as orang utans, Kinabalu giant red leach and various species of birds such as the Rhinoceros Hornbill.
The mountain’s name also brings many stories with regards to the origin of its name. The first derivation of the word Kinabalu was taken from the Kadazan Dusun word ‘Aki Nabalu’, which translated means ‘the revered place of the dead’. The locals believed that the spirits were roaming on the peak of the mountain, feeding off moss that grows amongst bare rock. Upon ascent to the peak, the Kadazandusuns would perform religious ceremonies to appease the spirits of the mountain. In the modern times, these rituals are performed by the Kinabalu park guides.
A second source states that the name Kinabalu derives from “Cina Balu” (or translated to a Chinese Widow). The pronunciation of the word “Cina” (chee-na) was changed to “Kina” (Kee-na) due to the influence of the Kadazan Dusun of Sabah.
The story goes that a Chinese prince was cast away to Borneo when his ship sank in the middle of the South China Sea. After being rescued by natives from a nearby village, he grew fond of the people and was then accepted by the natives. He fell in love with a local girl and eventually married her. As the years passed, he felt homesick and requested permission from his new found family to return back to China to visit his parents. He had promised that after his trip back to China, he would return to Borneo to take her and their children to China.
Upon his return to China, he was given a grand welcome, but to his dismay, his parents disagreed on bringing back his family which he had left in Borneo. It was arranged that he was to wed a princess from a neighbouring kingdom. As such, he obeyed his parents with a heavy heart.
His wife back in Borneo decided to wait for his ship to return. She decided to climb the highest mountain in her village every morning at sunrise to get a better view of the coast, but eventually her efforts took a toll as she fell ill and died at the peak of the mountain whilst waiting for her husband’s return. The people in her hometown village were gravely touched by his and decided to name the mountain Kinabalu in remembrance of her. [4]
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Low
[2] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilian_Gibbs
[3] http://wikitravel.org/en/Mount_Kinabalu
[4] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Kinabalu
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