Adventure: Dive, Climb, Raft & Ride - PUBLISHED in SilkRoad in-flight Magazine

Fly Malaysia 遨遊馬來西亞

Visitors near Low’s Peak on the summit of Mount Kinabalu take in the vista

Dive, climb, raft & ride 動感領域

遊客站在距離神山最高點 羅氏頂峰附近位置遠眺美景

Feeling adventurous? Kota Kinabalu is filled with action-packed activities on land, in water – and by air 渴望一次刺激的冒險旅程？亞庇為你送上 一系列海陸空的歷奇活動 TEXT/文 siMoN PriDMore

F

or travellers seeking the buzz of an

adventure holiday, Kota Kinabula has it all.

Positioned between mountain and ocean, the capital city of the Malaysian state of Sabah is a gateway to a world of action, from paragliding and rock climbing to white-water rafting and scuba-diving. For years adventure-sports enthusiasts have flocked here for high-energy vacations.

Visitors who want to climb usually head to Mount Kinabalu which, at 4,095 metres, is Southeast Asia’s highest mountain but is surprisingly easy to scale even for inexperienced climbers. Many tour operators offer three-day adventures that include two nights in Kinabalu National Park, the first at the park headquarters and the second at a rest house 800 metres below the summit.

Packages include accommodation, a guide and meals, and prices start from about RM1,250 (about HK$3,100).

Climbers are advised to bring extra clothes to stay warm, rain gear, a torch and energy snacks.

A three-day schedule allows plenty of time to wander around the botanical gardens and visit the park museum. Mount Kinabalu is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a place of biological diversity and many unique species.

46 silkroad january 2011

於 追 求 歷 奇 之 旅 的遊客來 說，亞庇可說是應有盡有。這 個馬來西亞沙巴州首府依山傍 海，得天獨厚，是進行各項戶 外活動的好去處，無論是滑翔 傘或是攀岩、激流泛舟還是水肺潛水，一應俱 全。多年來，這個活力四射的度假勝地吸引眾 多愛好歷險運動的人士。

對

熱愛攀山的旅客大多會向神山進發；雖然 海拔4,095 米的神山是東南亞第一高峰，但 登山徑卻出乎意料地容易攀爬，即使是經驗 較淺的新手也可應付。不少旅行社均提供於 神山國家公園住宿兩晚的三日行程，首晚在 國家公園總部下榻，第二晚則在峰頂下方約 800 米的旅舍休息。行程收費包括導遊及膳 宿，價錢由1,250馬幣起（約3,100港元）。建 議登山者帶備保暖衣物、雨具、電筒及補充體 力的乾糧。 三日的行程讓登山者有充裕時間參觀植物 公園及造訪國家公園內的博物館。神山獲列 入聯合國教科文組織世界文化遺產名錄，區 內的生態豐富多元，擁有許多獨特品種。 攀爬神山的最佳日子是 2 到 4月間的旱季， 或8月及9月之間的季風日子。登山行程可分為 JANUARY 2011 silkroad 47

Fly Malaysia 遨遊馬來西亞

48 silkroad JANUARY 2011

FLY WITH US

港龍航程

Dragonair flies 12 times a week to Kota Kinabalu 港龍航空每周有12班航機 飛往亞庇

Hikers rest above the clouds at Laban Rata resthouse, on Mount Kinabalu 登山者在神山上的 拉班拉塔旅舍稍作休息， 恍若身處雲端

White-water rafting on Kiulu River (top right) is a whiteknuckle experience 於九魯河（左上圖）的激流上 泛舟既緊張又刺激

Divers can spot majestic whale sharks between December and April (left) 於12月至翌年4月期間，潛水者 有機會近距離觀看巨大的鯨鯊 （左圖） Photos. Rafting: Courtesy of Sabah Tourism Board. Rafflesia flower: Frans Lanting – Corbis

Photo. Previous page: Mount Kinabalu: SIME/ArgusPhoto. Laban Rata resthouse: Photolibrary. Whale shark: Lawrence Alex Wu

The best time to climb the mountain is during the dry season between February and April, or during the gap between monsoons in August/September. Reaching the summit is achieved in two stages. The first is a three- to six-hour trek from the Timpohon Gate to the resthouse followed by a two-kilometre trek to the summit. The second stage usually begins in the middle of the night so climbers can reach the summit at dawn. American visitor Jenna Halsey describes the trek as “breathtaking – in more ways than one”.

While this route to the top may be a sufficient challenge for most, the granite, upper reaches of the mountain provide the more adventurous with the only opportunity for alpine rock climbing in Southeast Asia. The walls, peaks and spires are a playground for climbers of all levels but the ultimate test is Low’s Gully, a gorge more than a kilometre deep that splits the mountain and has been called one of the most inaccessible places on earth. Visitors should note that there is no organised rock climbing in Kota Kinabalu and groups must apply for a permit from the Sabah Parks Department.

Another draw, three kilometres from the city centre, is Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park, a collection of small islands and coral reefs teeming with marine life.

Its calm, warm, sheltered waters make the park a colourful place to snorkel and learn to scuba-dive although there is plenty for experienced divers to get excited about too. “People are amazed that there are such varied and interesting dive sites only 10 minutes from the city,” says Joanne Swann, owner of Downbelow Diving.

The seabed is a mix of hard corals, rocky outcrops and sand patches to a maximum depth of about 20 metres, which means it is not difficult to make three or even four dives a day. There is a profusion of the usual suspects on the reef but sharp-eyed divers will also spot rare creatures such as devil scorpionfish and frogfish.

Belgian visitor Sofie Hostyn says the Sapi Island jetty is a superb muck-dive site, where divers can find an abundance of rare and exotic marine life. Frequently spotted larger creatures include stingrays, hawksbill turtles and sea snakes, and between December and April you can spot migrating whale sharks.

All dive operators offer packages that include a guide, transportation and equipment. Package prices start from RM160 and visitors also need to pay a Marine Park fee of RM50 (RM20 for Malaysian nationals).

Beyond the ocean and the mountain, the rivers, hills, fields and jungle near Kota Kinabalu offer more action.

The combination of high ground and heavy rainfall during most of the year means plenty of water cascades down the slopes of Mount Kinabalu, creating great conditions for rafting. Adrenaline-seeking beginners and advanced paddlers alike will enjoy the spectacular white-water sections of the Padas River, described by Hong Kongbased British traveller Ian Michaels as “horrifying, yet

The gigantic rafflesia flower (below) is found in Mount Kinabalu National Park 神山國家公園內可以看到碩大 無比的萊佛士花（下圖）

兩個階段，首先從丁波漢閘門出發，約三至六個小時後便抵達 旅舍，第二階段是在休息過後從旅舍攀爬兩公里上山頂。於第 二階段，登山者通常在半夜出發，於黎明之前抵達山頂。 美國遊客Jenna Halsey 這樣形容攀登神山的體驗：「精采 紛呈，令人心靈悸動」 對大部分的人來說，這條登山路線已極富挑戰性，而接近山 頂部分的花崗岩路段難度更高，並且是東南亞地區內唯一的 高山攀岩地點。山壁、山峰及山頂為攀爬者提供了不同程度的 挑戰，但最終極的考驗當屬攀爬貫穿神山、深逾一公里的羅氏 沖溝；這裡曾被喻為世上最難踏足的境地之一，而遊客必須留 意，神山公園當局並無組織任何攀岩活動，有意攀岩的團體旅 客必須向Sabah Parks Department申請許可證。 另一個旅遊熱點是距離市中心僅三公里的東姑阿都拉曼海 島公園— —由多個小島及珊瑚礁組成的海洋生態公園。 海島公園內平靜、溫暖且受到保護的海域，適宜進行浮潛及 學習水肺潛水等水上活動，而潛水老手也不愁找不到刺激的 活動。Downbelow Diving的東主Joanne Swann說：「這裡 距市中心僅十分鐘車程，卻有多個繽紛多采的潛水景點，令人 們驚喜不已。」 那裡的海床由細沙、硬化珊瑚及嶙峋岩石組成，最深水處 約為20米，潛水愛好者在一天內可以輕鬆地潛三至四次。除了 常見的海底珊瑚礁生物之外，目光敏銳的潛水員亦能觀賞到 魔鬼石狗公及躄魚等奇特的生物。 比利時遊客Sofie Hostyn說，沙比島碼頭一帶是「漫潛」的 熱點，該水域有豐富的稀有海洋生物，最常見的大型生物包括 魟魚、綠海龜和海蛇，而在12月至翌年4月更可見回游的鯨鯊。 所有潛水店均提供潛水套餐，價錢由160馬幣起，費用包含 導遊、交通及裝備，外國遊客須繳付海島公園門票50馬幣（馬 來西亞國民繳付20馬幣）。 除了海洋及高山的精采活動之外，亞庇附近的山川、田野及 森林亦是進行其他戶外活動的好去處。 由於其高山地帶經年多雨，充沛的水源從神山流瀉而下， 令當地成為激流泛舟的理想地點。尋求刺激的遊客定會愛上 巴達士河的激流旅程。說到當中的樂趣，定居香港的英國遊客 Ian Michaels形容說：「的確是驚險而刺激的體驗。」若想體 驗沒有那麼刺激的活動，則可選擇在九魯河上泛舟，整個行程 較為平穩舒適。安排活動的公司均會詳細講解必須注意的安 全事項，並提供所有的相關裝備。 騎越野單車探索亞庇的鄉野地帶亦是另一個不錯的選擇。 在導遊引領下，你可走進人跡罕至的擔布南村，了解當地的

JANUARY 2011 silkroad 49

Fly Malaysia 遨遊馬來西亞 exciting; a thrilling experience”. If you are looking for a gentler way to take to the water, a rafting trip down the Kiulu River is a calmer option. Operators give extensive safety briefings and provide all equipment.

Another way to see the countryside and jungle around Kota Kinabalu is to go off-road on a mountain bike. The tours guide you through rarely visited areas such as the Tambunan Valley to observe rural life at close hand and “the very best of Borneo wildlife”, according to tour operators Borneo Ultimate. All operators offer packages including transportation, accommodation, meals and cycling gear. Prices start from RM350 for a one-day tour.

Don’t forget gloves, good shoes and sunscreen.

For the ultimate sightseeing perspective, a pyramidshaped hilltop 30 kilometres outside Kota Kinabalu is home to Sabah’s paragliders. Borneo Air Sport Ozone Adventures owner Bruce Patrick is always eager to welcome visiting pilots and or teach curious beginners.

The best way to enjoy the experience is to choose a tandem flight (RM220) – and return for a pilot’s course if you get the flying bug. Happy landings!

Paragliding offers a bird’seye view of the landscape 滑翔傘飛行讓你可以鳥瞰景色 優美的地貌

農村生活，並欣賞旅行社Borneo Ultimate所說的「最佳婆 羅州野生生物風貌」。所有旅行社均提供包括交通、膳宿及 單車設備的套票，價錢由每日350馬幣起。別忘了帶備手套、 舒適的鞋子及防曬用品。 若想有一次無可比擬的觀光體驗，定要造訪距離亞庇約30 公里外一座金字塔形狀的小山，其山頂是滑翔傘愛好者的 勝地。Borneo Air Sport Ozone Adventures的東主Bruce Patrick非常歡迎滑翔傘高手到此大展身手，並樂於指導好奇的 新手進行這項刺激活動。 體驗高空滑翔傘的最佳方法，是先嘗試由教練陪同的雙人 滑翔傘飛行（220馬幣）。若刺激的飛行體驗令你念念不忘， 則可考慮回來參加學習操作滑翔傘的課程。祝一路順風！

Choice of hotels:

• Grand Borneo Hotel • Sutera Harbour Resort • Shangri-La’s Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa • More

Package price includes:

• Round-trip Economy Class flight between Hong Kong and Kota Kinabalu • Two consecutive nights’ accommodation • Daily breakfast • Travel insurance • Earn 1,000 Asia Miles

50 silkroad JANUARY 2011

Departure period:

旅遊套票價格包括：

Please visit www.cxholidays.com for booking

• 來回香港及亞庇經濟客位機票 • 連續兩晚住宿 • 每日早餐 • 旅遊保險 • 賺取1,000「亞洲萬里通」里數

Now to 30 April, 2011

Cathay Holidays Limited terms and Asia Miles conditions apply.

Licence No.: 352024

酒店選擇： • Grand Borneo Hotel • Sutera Harbour Resort • Shangri-La's Tanjung Aru Resort & Spa • 更多

出發日期： 由即日起至2011年4月30日 訂購請瀏覽網站www.cxholidays.com 須受國泰假期有限公司條款及「亞洲萬里通」 細則約束。 牌照號碼：352024

Photo. Paragliding: Courtesy of Sabah Toursim Board

Cathay Pacific Holidays 3 Days/2 Nights Kota Kinabalu (Sabah) Year-Round Economy Class Package from HK$3,300 國泰假期3日2夜亞庇（沙巴）全年經濟客位套票由3,300港元起

JANUARY 2011 silkroad 51