A Walk in the Park

Despite what you might think, those of you who have never been to Borneo before might be under the illusion that its all rainforest and monkeys here. Well, though there are indeed monkeys (not just orang utans you know) and though there are rainforests, Borneo, and in this case Sabah is also highly developed and continues to advance in terms of both population and tourism. Both have an obvious affect to the natural landscape here with great chunks of forest being carved out to make way for housing projects, shopping malls and the Date Palm Oil plantations to name a few. Its the price of progress and for sure its not just in Borneo.

Despite its evolution into the 21st century and beyond, Kota Kinabalu for me retains a pleasant mix of old and new buildings (though there is not a lot older than the mid 1940's due to the allied forces bombing the crap out of it), mountains and forest, rivers and seas and each day I am here I like to get out and feel it, breathe it in and take a picture.

Today, I packed my little Cadbury's backpack (which came free with a box of chocolates I bought Duty Free last week!) with camera, water bottle, umbrella, mozzie spray, towel (I sweat profusely and its not pretty) and some cash and around 3pm, heade out to catch the number 12 "bas mini" to the Bukit Padang. This is locally well known for two things. One is the mental hospital, and two is the Taman Tun Faud, a beautiful recreation park and it was to the park that I was headed though some days the latter seems more appropriate.

The park (named after Stephen Tun Faud, a polititian who was killed in a plane crash some years ago) is made up of a 2km tarmac path pleasantly shaded by trees bearing huge leaves and smelling of nature in all its splendour. Smack in the middle is a lake which is cross-able (?) by a bridge if you are too lazy to walk round. From as early as 5am you will find people (predominantly Chinese) either running, walking or rawking (a cross between running and walking of course!) around the lake enjoying the cool morning air, or taking part in Tai Chi. I am never up early enough and so i am usually found there after 4pm when the sun is starting to reduce the heat to just the low thirties!  All around you is the sound of cicadas chirping merrily, swallowtail butterflies flap erratically from hibiscus to hibiscus, terrapins pop to the surface for a lungful of clean, fresh air and green crested lizards skitter across the path to the safety of the foliage. 

Most of the joggers and walkers are oblivious to it as they huff and puff and sweat their way round thinking about Dim Sum for breakfast.  At various points around the track you will notice paths which seem to have a definite incline.. And at kilometre 1.5/6 you will find the start of the "steps". I think Terry counted about 560 of them. And they are tough! Not one step is the same height as the other and the gradient is sharp. Once you think you are at the top, you soon find out that you have just reached a junction. Hang a right up some smooth rock formations and you will reach the foot of set number 2. These buggers are made of car tyres filled with sand, though there is a slope you can take if you fancy or "normal" steps. Whichever you pick it'll hurt, at the very least just your legs. However, it'll all seem worthwhile once you reach the top where through the sweat that's pouring from your brow you will see the best views of KK for miles around. Its a magnificent site (on a clear day anyway) to see the islands in the distance and a perfect spot for sunset. I don't think I can ever tire of the view though my legs are always tired of the climb. Local fit bods use the steps as training for the Mount Kinabalu Climbathon. Its humiliating when some bloke trots up past you with barely a bead of sweat on the end of his nose, and even more so when after he passes you on his way back down, he passes you again on his way up for the 2nd time before you've reached the top for the first time!

Anyway, to conclude this rambling, there is plenty of green and pleasant land out their, even in the largest cities. Instead of whinging about the demise of the country side, get out there and make the most of what's there. Feel it, smell it and take a picture. Not forgetting of course to take your litter home with you!