First Paragliding Flight From MT Kinabalu To Tip Of Borneo

Come next year, plans are underway to notch up a record for the first paragliding flight from the vicinity of the summit of Mount Kinabalu to the Tip of Borneo, in the northern-most district of Kudat.

Local paragliding company Borneo Air Sport Ozone Adventures is now working with the Sabah Tourism Board to see the attempt by a local in either March or April.

The company's instructor, Bruce Patrick Soimil, said the idea came about after a German had hang-glided from Laban Rata at Mount Kinabalu to Masilau in 1985. Only this time, Soimil wants to take it a step further, and set a record for a local, instead.

In an interview with Bernama Sunday, he said the company had identified a person for the record attempt and that the board's response to the idea was "most welcoming". Meanwhile, the Sabah Malaysian Borneo XC (Cross Country) 2010, the first worldclass paragliding event held at Tamparuli, ended today. During the event, weather and wind conditions proved challenging to the participants since last Friday.

Borneo Air Sport Ozone Adventures, together with the Tuaran District Office and Tamparuli Sub-district office, have jointly organised the three-day event at Ruhiang Hill, Tamparuli. It is aimed at boosting the tourism industry there, while promoting paragliding as a sport.

Soimil said more than 40 participants from 11 countries were expected to turn up at the event, but only 20 international paragliders, namely those from Indonesia, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Nepal, China, Korea and India, showed up. "Since this is our first time organizing such an event, there are bound to be glitches here and there, but as we go along, the organisation will be smoother," he said, hoping to see more foreign participants next year.

Source: Bernama

Other: http://www.discoverborneo.com/blog/2010/06/first_paragliding_flight_from_mt_kinabalu_to_tip_of_borneo.html

Mount Kinabalu Legends

The Legends of Mount Kinabalu

"Once upon a time there was a giant living... at the foot of Mount Kinabalu."

- Ansow Gunsalam,1983

Until now, Kinabalu's name is still a mystery. The most popular view derives it from the Kadazan words, Aki Nabalu, meaning 'the revered place of the dead'. The local Kadazandusuns belief that their spirits dwell on the mountain top. Among the bare rocks of the summit grows a moss which early Kadazandusun guides said provided food for the spirits of their ancestor.

Many of the mountain's early explorers reported that their Kadazandusun guides performed religious ceremonies upon reaching the summit. Sir Hugh Low wrote that his guide carried an assortment of charms, pieces of wood, human teeth, and other paraphernalia weighing three kilograms (seven pounds) up to the summit. Whitehead recorded the slaughter of one white chicken.

These ceremonies were performed to appease the spirit of the mountain as well as the ancestral spirits who lived there. Nowadays, a ceremony is conducted annually by the Kinabalu Park's guides. Seven chicken and eggs, as well as cigars, betel nuts, sirih leaves, lime and rice are sacrificed, and later enjoyed by the guides.

Another theory about the mountain's name comes from the derivation of Kina meaning "China" and Balu, meaning "widow". A Kadazandusun legend tells the story of a Chinese prince ascending the mountain. He is seeking a huge pearl on the top which is guarded by a ferocious dragon. The prince succeeds in slaying the dragon and stealing the pearl. He then marries a Kadazan woman, but soon abandons her and returns to china. His wife, heartbroken, wanders to the mountain to mourn. There she was belief to turn into stone.

KADAZANDUSUN BELIEFS

An ancient mythology lies at the heart of Kadazandusun culture. A Kadazandusun creation myth tells how the supreme deities Kinohiringan and his wife Umunsumundu made the earth while Kinohiringan created the sky and the clouds. But the clouds were smaller than the earth and Kinohiringan was ashamed. To save his pride, Umunsumundu reshaped the earth, making it smaller, and thus created Mount Kinabalu, the mountain that we know today.

A Kadazandusun story tells of a giant king named Gayo Nakan ('big eater') who lived at the base of the mountain. His people tired of his enormous appetite and were had pressed to feed him. Hearing their complaints, the king told them to bury him alive at the top of the mountain. Bringing all their tools they laboured in vain, until the king uttered magic words and sank into the rock up to his shoulders. He then told his people that, due to their lack of patience, drought and famine would afflict them - but promised to help them in times of war. Fearful and penitent, the people made their first sacrificial offerings at the wishing pool below the summit that was Gayo Nakan's grave.

Story By: Harry George
Sources: http://mount-kinabalu-borneo.com

Mount Kinabalu Fro Air View

Mount Kinabalu from the air

Managed to snap some shots of Mount Kinabalu while traveling from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan on a flight. I went to Sandakan few months back, but did not managed to upload the photos sooner. The photo quality is a bit low, as I shot it with a smart phone, to be exact, Blackberry 8520.

I traveled from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan in the afternoon. Afternoon shots are not good as clouds had covered the mountain which obscure the view of the mountain. I came back from Sandakan to Kota Kinabalu on a morning flight. This is the best time to see the majestic mountain of Borneo, as the sky is really clear!

There is one shot that is different from the others. See if you can identify it!

Mount Kinabalu from the air

Guess what airline has that kind of wings?

Wide angled shot of Kinabalu

Clouds on Kinabalu

A close up view of the mountain

Clear view of the mountain

Picture By: http://mount-kinabalu-borneo.com
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A self-employed general medical practitioner who love his wife and kids in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Dedicated his spare time by serving the people with precious information about climbing the majestic mountain of Borneo, Mount Kinabalu.
Contact me at: drizad(at)gmail(dot)com