Realtor On Trails

The mountain stood before us, a silent sentinel against the pre-dawn sky. Gunung Bunga Buah. A name that whispered of gentleness, of something delicate and inviting. But names can be deceiving.  That morning, the mountain was anything but kind. The night’s rain had left its mark. The trail, once firm and familiar, had transformed into an unpredictable adversary...slick with mud, shifting underfoot, every step a battle. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth and our determination.  It was around 12 km to and back. The first 30 minutes was a steep climb. It was muddy, slippery and no rest. Then came the tarmac, a gentle incline stretching for about 2.5 km. We reached Checkpoint 1, and from there, it was a relentless up-and-down journey until Rock Garden. I had pulled a muscle during warm-up. Every climb up, I felt my glutes muscle tearing. I wanted to stop, to turn back. But I took painkillers and soldiered through.  If it wasn’t for the pain, I would have loved the...

Preparing for Mount Kinabalu was a journey that required consistency, planning, and understanding my body’s limits. Here's a detailed breakdown of my training routine and strategies that helped me reached the peak and came down safely. 1. Building a Base with Weekly Hikes For a year leading up to the climb, I made it a point to hike once a week. These hikes ranged between 7 to 10 kilometers, focusing on building endurance and getting my body accustomed to long-distance trekking. Consistency was key, as it laid a solid foundation for more intensive training closer to the climb. 2. Intensifying Training Two Months Before Two months prior to my Kinabalu climb, I started stair training to mimic the steep ascent of the mountain. I used the staircase in my building, climbing up and down seven flights of stairs for 30 rounds. This session took about 1.5 hours and was a true test of both my stamina and mental strength. It was exhausting at first, but over time, I noticed my legs growing st...

1. Graduated ED in Real Estate. Finally leveled up and feeling accomplished. 2. Went on 52 hikes (sometimes twice a week!) and summited Mount Kinabalu, Gunung Besar Hantu, Gunung Gap & Gus, Gunung Datuk, Gunung Alai, Gunung Angsi, Bukit Kutu, and so many more. 3. Adopted Luna and Leo, my new fur babies who’ve completely stolen my heart and brought so much joy into our home. 4. Picked up my pool cue again and realized I’ve still got it! 5. Moved to a new office. A fresh space with new energy always feels amazing. 6. Started camping with my loved ones. There’s nothing like stars, campfires, and quality time in nature. 7. Changed Maher to a better school, and seeing him happy, thriving, and enjoying himself has been such a rewarding decision. 8. Broke through the hardest season at work. This one deserves its own spotlight. It was my toughest year in real estate, but I pushed through and came out stronger, and I couldn’t be prouder of that. What a year it has been. The realization that...

Talk about easy hikes with high rewards, Bukit Batu Sawa is exactly that. For those coming from Kuala Lumpur, the drive to Jelebu takes about 1.5 hours. Just plug in "Bukit Sawa Trailhead" on Waze, and it will guide you right to the starting point.  Here’s a tip: if you’re visiting on a weekday when there aren’t many hikers, you can park closer, right by the roadside in front of the trailhead. We didn’t realize this and parked a little further down, but hey, the extra walking time gave us a chance to warm up. I made this trip last Friday with my hiking buddy, Siti. It had rained the night before, and the skies still carried a light drizzle when we arrived around 9 AM. The weather wasn’t exactly on our side, but we have a rule. Always show up and let the trail and Mother Nature decide. Sometimes the forecasts are spot on; other times, they’re way off. If you’re chasing the legendary awan karpet (cloud carpet), you’ll need to come much earlier to catch the sunrise. ...

The world seemed to pause for a moment. No phone buzzing, no one needing my attention, not a single sound except the rhythm of my own breath. For a while, it was just me and the jungle. The green leaves sparkled like they were alive, catching every bit of sunlight. The dew clung to my skin, sharp and cold, waking up every nerve. The air smelled like earth and life, damp and rich, while the soft rustle of leaves sounded like whispers of encouragement. Even the occasional chirp of a bird and monkeys felt like nature cheering me on. Despite the burn in my legs and the sweat dripping down my back, I felt an overwhelming calmness as I climbed, step by step, rock by rock, root by root. The trail was no joke, with its steep climbs, tangled roots, and slippery mud, but that only made the satisfaction sweeter. Mindless chatter with my trail friends made the climb even lighter. Our hearts felt unburdened, and if there was any darkness trailing us from the week, we let it spill out on...

  26/8/2024: Day 1, Heading to Kinabalu   Left home at 5 AM to catch my 9:15 AM flight to Kota Kinabalu. Khaled drove me to the airport and dropped me off at 6:30 AM. Met up with Siti, and we checked in our luggage before grabbing a quick breakfast of coffee and a chicken sandwich to fuel up.   The flight was smooth, though I took my first dose of Diamox at 8 AM. It’s a must for AMS, taken twice daily starting 24 hours before your climb. It made me feel a bit floaty, and the plane’s descent hit my ears harder than usual, but it was manageable. Landed in KK at noon, and Siti mentioned feeling numbness in her fingertips, which is apparently a common Diamox side effect.   At the airport, we met Francis and Mimi, our cheerful organizers. They whisked us away for the three-hour drive to Kundasang. Along the way, we stopped to stock up on essentials like water, snacks, and a few first-aid items and took a short break at Jambatan Tamparuli.   In Kun...

Oh boy, where do I even begin? By now, you probably know I try to hike once or twice a week, usually to easier spots. "Easy" here means no permits, no long drives, and definitely no nights away from home. But every few months, we like to challenge ourselves with a big hike. This time, we decided on Gunung Besar Hantu. Being the highest peak in Negeri Sembilan at 1,426 meters, just the name itself gave me chills. Add to that the daunting 20-kilometer journey to and fro, and I was already nervous. But I thought to myself, if not now, then when? The mountain is in Jelebu, and the drive there felt a little like Fraser’s Hill, twisty and narrow. Siti had booked us a campsite to rest before the hike, and we arrived at around 7 PM. She told me not to bring any fancy camping gear; we were going "basic." When we got there, I was pleasantly surprised by how beautiful it was. The camp had already set up a flysheet, so all we needed were our rain ponchos as ground covers and ou...