CLIMB MOUNT KINABALU

It's All In The Decision

noreply@blogger.com (onghocksiew) — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 05:36:00 +0000

Doing something extraordinary is much simpler than you think

When you want to do something different in your life or if you want to do something extraordinary, it's actually much simpler than you think! All you need to do is decide. There is great power in the act of making the decision. Time and again, I have found that if I am willing to make a decision, things actually will fall into place.

Climbing Mount Kinabalu East

Mount Kinabalu East is a serious mountain climb where you have to use ropes and ladders to make the climb. The trail follows the same West trail (where most people make their climb) until you trek past Gunting Lagadan and almost hit the ropes. That's when you turn right and past some waterways and ravines. Then it's a straight-up climb which stretches for almost 2 000 feet.

Never thought I could do it

Although I love adventure, I am not an out-and-out Adventurer. When the suggestion of climbing Mount Kinabalu East came to me, I dismissed the though, thinking it was crazy for me to even consider it. Still, the thought won't go away and it became a small obsession for me.

"What if I trained hard for the climb; what if i did regular work-outs to build my strength; what if I focused on getting assistance on rock-climbing techniques" were some of the thoughts that stayed. The "WHAT IFS" came fast and frequent. If I had dwelled on the what ifs, I would probably have never climbed Mount Kinabalu East.

Just make up the mind

As with every other major undertaking I have taken on in life, I knew I had to just make a decision. And thet's what I did!! I told everyone I knew that I was going to climb Mount Kinabalu East. It was a blind and crazy decision and that's how it's done. I JUST MADE THE DECISION!

Everything else follows the decision

Everything else did follow the decision and the plans started taking form and format. Even though the planned trip was 6 months away, I started moving. The plans, the preparation, the training, the focus, the determination all came together. Theexcitement soon followed and although there were plenty of doubts, there was no turning back.

And there will be doubts

Everytime, we make a decision to do something that seems somewhat crazy, there will be plenty of doubts that will follow us. I had my fair share of doubts but because tere was now also purpose in the whole scheme of things, every doubt I had was quickly deal with. As the vision of reaching Mount Kinabalu East grew stronger, the resolve and the dedication grew bigger.

That's what life is all about.. Willingness to pay the price for excellence

Success is all about making clear commitments and then when the decision has been made, we should be willing to pay the price required for that success. Those of you who have made that decision to climb Mount Kinabalu with me will understand what I am talking about (after the climb has been made). I have no doubts that all of you will make the climb successfully!!! The lessons for life that we will learn will help fortify us for the future. WE will learn that with faith, hope, courage and resolve, we will be able to tackle most things that come our way.

Dress Code (For 3 Climb Days)

noreply@blogger.com (onghocksiew) — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 09:24:00 +0000

Day 1 of Climb (which is Day 2 of trip)

Wear : Shorts and a good T-shirt (will sweat)
Carry : Raincoat (must bring), Wind breaker, Small torchlight, Water bottle, Fruits, Munchies

Bring also a plastic bag to put stuff in case it rains.

Day 2 of Climb (which is Day 3 of trip)

Wear : Long tracksuit and a good T-shirt that won't itch (will sweat), Wind breaker, Rain coat, Hat, Good gloves, Gardening gloves
Carry : Water bottle, Fruits, Munchies (in a small bag or carry a rucksack.)

Bring enough water as you will get thirsty. Suntan lotion is useful as sun rays can be strong.

Day 3 of Climb (which is Day 4 of trip)

Wear : Shorts or long tracksuits (your choice), a good T-shirt (will sweat but can be quite cold0)
Carry : Raincoat (must bring), Wind breaker & Water bottle (pack rest of things for porters)

What a beautiful world..

noreply@blogger.com (onghocksiew) — Tue, 05 Oct 2010 07:55:00 +0000

"One of the most beautiful mountains in the world"

"A really fascinating climb"

This are some of the common descriptions used to comment on the climb up Mount Kinabalu. A better way perhaps to describe the climb is to perhaps say that "It is the most climbable difficult mountain in the world" because although it is high and relatively tough, any ordinary person who is quite fit and very determined can make it to the summit.

At almost 4,093 meters or 13,430 feet, Mount Kinabalu is South-East Asia's highest mountain. The sense of accomplishment as you scale Mount Kinabalu makes the climb extra special.

Additionally, the natural wonders that 'burst' into sight as you climb across three vegetation types cut across terrain that contains :

almost half of the world's flowering plants,

more than 1,500species of orchids,

more than 400 species of butterflies (Great britain has only about 50 species),

more than 150 species of montane birds

and 9 species of pitcher plant (& still counting),

many different species of rhododendrons, oaks & other exotic vegetation makes the climb unique & unforgettable.

My Role : Try & Make Sure Everyone Reaches The Objective

noreply@blogger.com (onghocksiew) — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 05:11:00 +0000

We ( That is me & my assistants) have climbed Mount Kinabalu many times & we will use that experience to help you succeed in your climb. We know the intricacies of organizing the climb and will take away much of the administrative things that have to be done so that you can onluy focus on the climb itself.

Safety is given paramount importance and risk is manged effectively. Every precaution like having more guides and people not having to carry things is arranged. The whole climb is an exercise of "encouragement". The climbers are 'bonded' into teams and they are encouraged to support each other. There is a huge sense of camaraderie and many end up as life-long friends after the climb.

Clear guidelines are given to each climber on what to bring , what to wear, what to do, how to do it, etc. It takes the guessing out of each climber. More importantly, every climber is given information on what to expect. Food is usually well-organized on the trip and effort is made to arrange meals at great places like the prawn farm.

You will be entertained on our climbs. There will be singing and sharing and each one is given song sheets to sing songs of motivation. Everyone will have a great time as they let their hairs down and join in the fun.

REMEMBER YOUR COMMITMENT!!

Success in life is about commitment! It is about the inexplicable call to achieve greatness and goodness. No summit was ever reached without dedication and no goal was ever attained without difficulty. The true measurement of a man or a woman is when the odds are stacked heavily against him or her. This is the key that opens every door to excellence!!

When you stand on the summit of the highest mountain in South-East Asie you will know that there are such occasions in your life which are highlights; where you have done something far beyond your normal capabilities and competencies. "Feel the wind in your face!"

2 Simple Stories of Self - Fulfilling Prophecies

noreply@blogger.com (onghocksiew) — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 07:16:00 +0000

Those who keep confessing negatively about themselves will find that there is truth in what they believe. There are 2 friends of mine - a husband and wife couple who are just in their early thirties. They keep telling that they are not fit people and that they cannot do strenuous activites like go climb a mountain. Everytime I see them or talk with them, negative words about themselveswill flow out from their mouths.

THE DOUBTERS WILL ALWAYS HAVE THE RIGHT REASONS

Little wonder then that they are constantly in poor health. They are so sickly that the slightest change of weather will make them really sick. Try to talk them out of their attitude and they will give you all the reasons how and why you don't really understand what they are going through.

I have given up trying to change their minds. Recently the husband was taken ill and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit without doctors even really understand the reason for his condition. When I visited him, i sadly saw a countenance of belief that bordered on self-pity and self-belief in the wrong context. How sad. They don't need doctors - they need to change their lifestyles and their attitudes.

A DIFFERENT STORY OF COURAGE AND FORTITUDE

Contrast this with a friend of mine who was also quite sickly and had been so for years. One day when he was told that he should perhaps give himself a chance to come out of such terrible condition of health, he saw that there was some validity to what was being said. When he saw that his lifestyle and attitude was part of the cause of his condition, he purposed there and then that he will change his attitude and embark on a lifestyle of exercise, fitness, proper diet and proper supplements. Today, he is literally a picture of health and strength.

YOU ARE WHAT YOU THINK

It must always begin with the mind - You are what you think!!! How true is this statement. If you have always had health issues and problems, give yourself a chance and try my solutions. I have a fantastic lifestyle program that I teach to people and everyone who has come into the program has said that their life has changed so much for the better. Yes, you can see your whole life change - you can see your health improve significantly. All you need to do is to follow my program.

FUNNY HOW SAYING IT OUT LOUD IS USUALLY THE BEST FIRST STEP

If you want to change your whole life and perhaps come on the mountain climb with me, all you have to do is follow what i say now :

Close your eyes for a while and take every other thought from your mind
Now just say, "Yes, I have decided that I will climb this mountain!"
Now go on and say,"I won't change this decision and I will see it through!"
Just add this thought to end,"I will pay the price of doing it, no matter what!"

Close by thinking all that is good about climbing this mountain. When you do this, anyone who even attempts to dissuade you will find him knocking on a solid wall.

The Climb

noreply@blogger.com (onghocksiew) — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 05:15:00 +0000

CLIMB IS ON - WILL YOU BE PREPARED?

Have you ever wondered if you could somehow find it within your own personal 'reserves' to climb the highest mountain in South-East Asia - that great granite massif that stands in excess of 13,490 feet above sea level. When you stand there at the starting point, what will be the state of your preparation? Will you be ready? No one else can help you at that stage. You have to make the climb by yourself!

GREAT BENEFITS AWAIT YOU

Your life will never be the same again when you find that you can achieve things that you hitherto thought unlikely and perhaps even impossible. You will 'take' on great health when you prepare for the climb and you will find great friendships on the climb. Great difficulties bring out the best in people. After you have made the climb, you will not want to go back to the times when you were unfit and frequently tired. There is so much good that will come out of the climb - get excited about it and get ready!

IT'S NOT MERELY A CLIMB; IT'S ABOUT A CHANGE IN LIFESTYLE

I would like to start reaching out to all those who have committed to climb. I hope to change your lifestyle with this climb. It is not only about climbing a mountain. It is about preparation and changing your attitudes and lifestyles.

BANISH THOUGHTS OF FAILURE - IT HAS NO PLACE IN YOUR LIFE

Many of those who are coming for this climb will have doubts about their ability to reach the peak. Let me start by banishing such thoughts from their minds. All those who climb with me will have positive thoughts about themselves imbued in them. You can choose to make your life different and it will be so. I promise you - if you allow me to input into your life, you will make more climbs up even the higher mountains. Don't let a 'doubting' spouse tell you - you can't do it! These are self-effacing comments that reflect the commentator's lack of confidence in himself or herself. Break out of the shell that has been constructed around you. It is your life - live it!

CHAMPIONS ARE WILLING TO DO THE THINGS THEY HATE TO CREATE THE THINGS THEY LOVE

noreply@blogger.com (onghocksiew) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 04:08:00 +0000

Too many people today are living lifestyles that are bad for them. They know but they refuse to see that every action will produce a result later. Smoke and you will suffer sickness at some time; drink and you will encounter problems with your health; live stressful lives and you will be a nervous wreck. The consequences can not be avoided.

The price to pay is high and it is such a tragedy when people abuse themselves without regard for the consequences. This Blog is about health and wholeness. Climbing Mount Kinabalu is but a milestone in this process of change. Climbing Mount Kinabalu requires a person to change his whole approach to life. The climber will need to pay a price and start taking on things that are good and positive and wholesome.

Taking these steps will bring about an amazing transofrmation. Try it. Make that decision to climb Mount Kinabalu and you will see a NEW you coming through. In the process, we will teach you how to eat, how to lose weight, how to exercise, how to train and how to prepare. It will be so much fun!

Part 5 of the guidelines

noreply@blogger.com (onghocksiew) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 04:03:00 +0000

PART FIVE

TRAINING PROGRAM FOR MT KINABALU CLIMBER

The program outlined here is a simple exercise program that has been used (with some modification over the past 25 years) for the Mount Kinabalu climbers who have done the climb with me. It is a simple program that focuses on improving your fitness level, you lower body strength (especially the knees and ankles) and your tolerance levels. It is importantly a low-impact program that the very young and the very old can do. It is also very simple such that no special equipment is required.

The base inputs of this training program came from seasoned and veteran climbers who have climbed the high mountains in the world. Feel free to adapt the program by adding in your other exercises and complement it with additional runs and trips as you think suitable.

For people with LITTLE TIME and little avenues to do sophisticated training, keeping to the recommended regime will help you make the Mt Kinabalu climb successfully. Physical exercise as preparation for the climb should begin at least 2 months before the climb. This is the recommended 2 month schedule (9 weeks) and you can start earlier with the program as it will make you even more ready for the climb.

WEEK 1-2

First do a Tolerance test

Daily (morning), warm-up exercises (exercises for neck, shoulders, arms, waist, knees & legs) (2 mins)

4 times a week, do step exercise (walk up & down one step at 35 steps per min) (at home for 20 mins)

4 times a week, do stomach strengthening exercises (lying on back lift head & arms together)(100 times) 4 times a week, do cycling in the air (lying on the bed)... 500 times

2 times a week, do 2 circuit of the Bukit Kiara hill trek (or equivalent)

WEEK 3-4

First do a Tolerance test

Daily (morning), warm-up exercises (exercises for neck, shoulders, arms, waist, knees & legs) (4 mins)

4 times a week, do step exercise (walk up & down one step at 35 steps per min) (at home for 25 mins)

4 times a week, do stomach strengthening exercises (lying on back lift head & arms together)(100 times) 4 times a week, do cycling in the air (lying on the bed)... 500 times

2 times a week, do 2 circuit of the Bukit Kiara hill trek (or equivalent)

WEEK 5-6

First do a Tolerance test

Daily (morning), warm-up exercises (exercises for neck, shoulders, arms, waist, knees & legs) (2 mins)

4 times a week, do step exercise (walk up & down one step at 35 steps per min) (at home for 30 mins)

4 times a week, do stomach strengthening exercises (lying on back lift head & arms together)(100 times) 4 times a week, do cycling in the air (lying on the bed)... 500 times

2 times a week, do 3 circuit of the Bukit Kiara hill trek (or Apek Hill)

WEEK 7-8

First do a Tolerance test

Daily (morning), warm-up exercises (exercises for neck, shoulders, arms, waist, knees & legs) (4 mins)

4 times a week, do step exercise (walk up & down one step at 35 steps per min) (at home for 40 mins)

4 times a week, do stomach strengthening exercises (lying on back lift head & arms together)(200 times) 4 times a week, do cycling in the air (lying on the bed)... 800 times

2 times a week, do 3 circuit of the Bukit Kiara hill trek (or Apek Hill)

WEEK 9

First do a Tolerance test

Daily (morning), warm-up exercises (exercises for neck, shoulders, arms, waist, knees & legs) (4 mins)

4 times a week, do step exercise (walk up & down one step at 35 steps per min) (at home for 45 mins)

4 times a week, do stomach strengthening exercises (lying on back lift head & arms together)(200 times) 4 times a week, do cycling in the air (lying on the bed)... 800 times

2 times a week, do 3 circuit of the Bukit Kiara hill trek (or Apek Hill)

Remember, 3 days before the climb, you should start tapering off in the intensity of the exercise schedule. 2 days before the climb, you should only do very light exercises. In fact when Sabah is reached, the exercise regime should be reduced significantly (to very mild) and the climbers should be very relaxed. Tolerance test can be done as often as possible by climbers.

Remember “Winners never quit, quitters never win!”

Posted by: ONG HOCK SIEW

Part 4 in the guidelines

noreply@blogger.com (onghocksiew) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 03:43:00 +0000

PART FOUR

ASSESSMENT OF FITNESS FOR MT KINABALU CLIMB

We will assess you on your fitness 2 months before the climb & a last one 2 weeks before the climb to determine your fitness & to see if you are in the condition to make it.

The tolerance test is simple. 3 readings are taken of your heart beat (pulse)

READING 1

The first one is your base rate taken at rest. This tells us your approximate base condition. A lower reading is generally reflective of a fitter base although this may not necessarily be the case as certain medical conditions may alter the reading. Assuming you are normal and without ailments and not anemic for whatever reasons, a reading of (say) 64 will probably mean that the person is fitter than a person whose reading is 76. The average reading for a healthy adult man is between 68 to 78 and a healthy adult woman is between 74 to 84. Children will usually post faster heart beats.

READING 2

The second reading is taken after 10 minutes of a fairly strenuous exercise (usually the step exercise on one step taken at 30 steps per minute).. This reading indicates the fitness tolerance level of that person and it is a clearer indication of the actual fitness level of the person. This is how fast his heart will need to beat to cater to the exercise and how efficient his general condition is in catering to the exercise.

Consequently someone who has a reading 64/145 may indicate that his base rate is not actually reflective of his fitness. The variance of 81 shows that he is not fit at all and might even have a problem with his health. The person with a reading of 76/145 might indicate that this person is not quite fit but the variance of 69 is more acceptable. It is quite usual for normal UNFIT men to have a reading 78/145 or 82/155 or 72/140. The woman will usually have slightly higher readings and it is not unusual for a normal UNFIT woman to have a reading of 84/150 or 90/160.

Can such relatively normal unfit people climb and reach the peak of Mount Kinabalu? The answer is YES! But they will go through intense endurance and struggle somewhat So be forewarned. Prepare yourself well and you will have a good climb.

It is amazing what training can do to a person's base fitness level.. Time and again, I have seen people who had readings of (say) 78/145 go down to 68/125 after about 2 months of good rigorous training. Imagine what the improvement would have done to their health!!!

My friends, if you are now at 78/145, once you have experienced the 68/125 condition, you will never want to go back to your previous condition of being lethargic and tired most of the time. If you feel tired and unfit (this is the platform for sicknesses and diseases to come in) and you want to improve your condition, just carry out the training program that we will work our for you in preparation for the Mountain climb and feel the difference after just two months!!

READING 3

Just the 2 readings of base/ tolerance alone will not tell the complete story. Although it will indicate your fitness, the true picture of you fitness will only come with the third reading which indicates recovery. This 3rd reading is taken of the heart-beat after 5 minutes of resting from the strenuous step exercise.

It is a reading of your condition after your have had time to recover. If your recovery is great, the mountain will not be a problem. Why? Because each time you pant and wheeze, a little bit of rest will see you recovering your base position. Such people climb the last part of the mountain with relative ease.

The likely reading of an UNFIT person would probably be 78/150/135 or 76/155/133 (Men). For women the reading will probably be a little higher. For such people, a little bit of strenuous exercise will have them wheezing and panting and after that, they will just sit there stony-faced and worn-out because they have not really recovered from their ordeal. How sad and how terrible to be in this condition.

Such people will never be able experience the best of the outdoors and to understand how wonderful it is to be fit and really well. Many go through life in this terrible condition much like driving a car with punctured tyre and a battered engine. The good news is all this can be changed in only a short time. Just do the program that I designed faithfully and you will get to be in the condition that is ideal and the bonus is you will climb and reach the top of Mount Kinabalu with relative ease.

After about 2 1/2 months of training, the readings of unfit people could probably drop down to 68/125/80. Such a person will have little problem handling the mountain as it will only be the attitude that will need to be called into question on the climb proper. The readings never fail to tell the condition of the person and it is an extremely interesting way to get people to hunker down to realizing where they stand. Many heart problems, diabetic problems and other sicknesses could be averted if people choose to be fit. So choose wisely and be blessed!

Prepared by Ong Hock Siew

Part 3 of the guidelines

noreply@blogger.com (onghocksiew) — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 03:19:00 +0000

PART THREE

MT KINABALU - LIKELY TRIP SCHEDULE

Day 1...

07-15am KL to KK (Those on this flight will arrive 2 hours earlier)

09-30am KL to KK

01-00pm Depart for Salut

02-00pm Lunch at Salut Prawn Farm (Provided except for drinks)

05-30pm Arrive at Pines Hotel, Kundasang - Acclimatisation

07-00pm Dinner (Provided)

08-30pm Briefing

09-30pm Free Time

Day 2...

06-00am Wake-up call

07-00am Breakfast (Provided), Lunch (Provided)

07-45am Check-in Sabah Park for registration

09-30am Climb begins at Timpohon gate

04-30pm Arrive at Laban Rata

05-30pm Dinner (Provided)

06-30pm Rest & Relax

07-30pm Briefing on next day's climb

08-30pm Free time

10-00pm Sleep

Day3...

06-00am Wake-up call

06-30am Breakfast (Provided)

07-00am 2nd day climb begins from Laban Rata

11-00am Reach Low's Peak - the objective

11-30am Descent to Laban Rata

03-00pm Laban Rata - Lunch (Provided)

03-30pm Rest & Relax

06-30pm Dinner at Laban Rata (Provided)

09-30pm Sleep

Day 4...

06-30am Wake-ip call

07-00am Breakfast (Provided)

07-30am Descent to Timpohon & Park HQ

12-30pm Lunch at Park HQ (Provided)

01-30pm Board bus to KK

03-30pm Arrive at KK

04-00pm Check in to hotel in KK

04-30pm Rest & Relax

06-30pm Dinner at Palace Hotel (Provided)

09-00pm Free time (Massage & Karaoke)

Day 5...

08-00am Breakfast (Provided)

09-00am Island trip

12-30pm Lunch (On your own)

01-30pm Pack to go home

02-30pm Leave for KK airport

05-10pm Board plane for KL

09-00pm Home Sweet Home

Part 2 of the guidelines

noreply@blogger.com (onghocksiew) — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 08:14:00 +0000

PART TWO

AN ADDITIONAL NOTE FOR CLIMBERS

DEAR CLIMBERS,

TAKING A COMMITMENT EARLY IS WORTHWHILE

Imagine achieving the climb to the top - standing at Low's peak with the wind blowing in your face and knowing that you have achieved something extraordinary in your life. That is enough motivation for you to make the early commitment.

MOST ORDINARY PEOPLE CAN MAKE IT IF THEY DO IT RIGHT

Climbing Mount Kinabalu is definitely attainable and most ordinary people can do it! I have brought more than 1,500 people up to the top and the satisfaction they have in reaching the top is exhilarating. My role is to make sure you arrive at the top. My responsibility begins when you confirm to me that you will climb. The journey begins at that point because I will start preparing you (supply you with notes) and imbue in you the right thoughts - thoughts of a winner!

4 things to make you succeed - my "Champions formula"

I use the same 4 points to produce and develop champions in my coaching programs for young people. It is these same 4 points that will definitely get you to the top!

• Desire - you must have an overwhelming desire to climb the mountain!

• Dedication - you must have a commitment that will make you pay the price of training

• Discipline - you will train and prepare even when you don't feel like it

• Determination - you will continue even when you think you are failing

Nothing can stop you from succeeding if you carry the 4"D"s above into the climb.

OUR ROLE IS TO GUIDE AND ASSIST YOU TO THE TOP

ADVANTAGES OF CLIMBING WITH ME

Why climb with me? The answer is very simple and it is listed below
• I have climbed it 56 times & will use that experience to help you succeed.

• I know the intricacies of organizing the climb and will take away much of the administrative things that have to be done. You only have to climb.

• Safety is given paramount importance & risk is managed effectively. Every precaution like having more guides & people not carrying their things is arranged.

• The whole climb is an exercise of "encouragement". The climbers are broken into groups and they are encouraged to spur each other on. There is a huge sense of camaraderie and many end up as life-long friends after the climb.

• Clear guidelines are given to each climber on what to bring, what to wear, what to do, how to do it, etc. It takes the guessing out from each climber. More importantly, every climber is given information on what to expect.

• Food is usually well-organized on the trip and effort is made to arrange meals at great places like the prawn farm.

• The "best of Sabah" is the experience. You will be entertained on our climbs. There will be singing & sharing and each one is given song sheets to sing songs of motivation. Everyone will have a great time as they let their hair down and join in the fun.

AGAINST YOUR POSITIVE RESPONSE TO CLIMB WITH ME...

If you decide to climb with us, we will make the necessary arrangements and do the following:

• Brief you about the climb

• Give you clear guidelines

• Provide you with lessons on the "home-exercise" program

• Run training sessions to test you on fitness

• Arrange trips to Bukit Tinggi - you will walk similar trails like Mount Kinbalu's

• Make the bookings for the climb

• Brief you on travel arrangements

• Lead you on the whole trip to Sabah and the mountain

YOU WILL NEED TO MAKE A COMMITMENT

Success in life is about commitment! It is about the inexplicable call to achieve greatness and goodness. No summit was ever reached without dedication and no goal was ever attained without difficulty. The true measurement of a man or a woman is when the odds are stacked heavily against him or her. This is the key that opens every door of excellence!

I look forward to having you on this climb and I will make sure you stand on the summit of the highest mountain in South-East Asia and know that for once in your life, you have done something far beyond your normal capabilities and competencies.

"Feel the wind in your face!"

THE JOY OF CLIMBING MOUNT KINABALU - GUIDELINES

noreply@blogger.com (onghocksiew) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 07:51:00 +0000

This post was first made in 4 April 2008. It has since been upgraded to consider the latest developments relevant to the present times. The latest revision was made on 24 August 2010.

PART ONE

THE MOUNT KINABALU EXPERIENCE - ON TOP OF SOUTH-EAST ASIA
Mount Kinabalu, Southe-East Asis's highest mountain should be one of our goals as we enter 2011 because climbing Mount Kinabalu is consonant with many of our desires to live excellent lives and to overcome the mountains that are before us!

MOUNT KINABALU - WORTHY OF THE EFFORT
Ask anyone who has reached the peak of Mount Kinabalu and he will share with you an enthusiastic account of the tremendous feeling that accompanies one who has made the climb successfully. With the wind blowing in your face and with cold etched on your hands, standing there tells you that you have lived the life of a winner. It is a reflection of the overwhelming determination that must be exercised to go past the pain barrier and to relentlessly move on, step by step until the peak is reached.

A SUBLIME ACCOUNT OF "VICTORY"
Traversing that great rock face and reaching Low's peak, (a seemingly unattainable goal) brings a sense of victorious elation. It is an account of unstinting dedication and the realization that each of us can have the power to overcome if we seriously apply ourselves to the goal. A successful climb requires us to live again that dream that is inherently below the surface of those of us who once dreamt of doing great things in our lives. It is a reminder of how we cannot fail to achieve great results if only we are prepared to plan the program and program the plan.

A WONDERFUL CHALLENGE TO THOSE WHO WOULD COMMIT
It is against this background that I continue to organize periodic climbs for my friends and anyone keen to climb the mountain. It is a call to excellence, a call to commitment, a call to paying the price and a call to not settling for second best! For those who are serious and who would like to be counted and be found willing, the climbs organized would be excellent platforms for accomplishment, achievement & fulfillment. There is no better way to reflect and represent what our aspirations should be in life.

DREAM YOUR PICTURES, PAINT YOUR DREAMS...
Van Gogh, that unparalleled master painter & dreamer said those words that etched him into the annals of immortality - "dream your pictures, paint your dreams". We should have an equally clear dream - a dream of unsurpassed excellence! The question that must be asked is, "Are we painters?" It is a question that only you can answer as you read this invitation. We hope you will respond and say without reservation, "I will be climbing this mountain because it is there before me!"

MAKING THE NECESSARY SELECTIONS
The people who will make this climb should meet the following criteria
-- A clear desire to climb the mountain
-- A willingness to train and be fit for the climb (training done in your own home)
-- A commitment to the promise to train diligently for at least 1-2 months
-- An absence of serious physical impairment or sickness
-- A willingness to attend 2 training sessions before the climb (for assessment & briefing)

TAKING THE DECISION NOW - NO TURNING BACK
Your decision should be one that does not leave room for turning back. The climb will be made under the direction of someone who has climbed Mount Kinabalu 56 times. The program is woven into a structure of fun, enjoyment, camaraderie, encouragement and accomplishment. You will probably have the "time" of your life and it will bring home many precious lessons as we journey together to make our experiences richer and more secure.

Posted by: ONG HOCK SIEW