Legend of the Seas Borneo Cruise March 2013 Picture Review

[Scotland01]

Could not wait to view my PC this morning for more info. Could I please ask you a Singapore question? Four of us arrive into airport from Scotland at 3pm. on Tuesday 2 April We have been quoted 100SA by hotel Novahotel at Clarke Quay to transport us to hotel. Does this seem a fair price? Airport travel site stated much less for large taxi for 4 plus luggage. Bearing in mind we will be exhausted and we are seniors!!!( Who do not see themselves as seniors!!!!!!) Many thanks Margaret

[Iluvcruising2]

Could not wait to view my PC this morning for more info. Could I please ask you a Singapore question? Four of us arrive into airport from Scotland at 3pm. on Tuesday 2 April We have been quoted 100SA by hotel Novahotel at Clarke Quay to transport us to hotel. Does this seem a fair price? Airport travel site stated much less for large taxi for 4 plus luggage. Bearing in mind we will be exhausted and we are seniors!!!( Who do not see themselves as seniors!!!!!!) Many thanks Margaret

 

Happy to be of help.

 

100 Singapore dollars is way too expensive for a 3 pm transfer from Singapore Changi Airport to Clarke Quay. Normal metered taxi should cost no more than 30sgd. But you would need 2 taxis. Still cheaper than 100.

 

Or just go to the ground transport desk to get a large taxi. I think they charge a flat rate of 60 to anywhere on the island.

[Iluvcruising2]

A useful sign post.

 

[Iluvcruising2]

A nice stream.

 

[Iluvcruising2]

I found this plant to be rather fascinating.

 

 

Here is why.

 

[Iluvcruising2]

Another look.

 

[Scotland01]

Happy to be of help.

 

100 Singapore dollars is way too expensive for a 3 pm transfer from Singapore Changi Airport to Clarke Quay. Normal metered taxi should cost no more than 30sgd. But you would need 2 taxis. Still cheaper than 100.

 

Or just go to the ground transport desk to get a large taxi. I think they charge a flat rate of 60 to anywhere on the island.

Thank you so much will just go to ground transportation at airport.Margaret

[Iluvcruising2]

Unfortunately, the day we were at the Kinabalu National Park, Mt Kinabalu was hidden in the cloud. I shall side-track from the LOS review and share some of the pictures I took when I climbed Mt Kinabalu in 2011. (I am becoming a Mt Kinabalu Tourism Ambassador!)

 

The view of Mt Kinabalu from the coach.

 

[Iluvcruising2]

You don’t need any prior experience or training to climb Mt Kinabalu. You just need to be physically fit.

 

[Iluvcruising2]

A lot of the climb is mind over matter. Just keep climbing the never ending staircase.

 

 

As you get higher, the steps get less defined. It is starting to look more like cut rocks now.

 

Edited March 26, 2013 by Iluvcruising2

[Iluvcruising2]

They have rest huts, every 500m or so. They call them pondoks.

 

 

This was past the 3,000m mark. Just keep going.

 

[Iluvcruising2]

I reached the Laban Rata rest house after a 5.5 hour climb. Looks quite neat!

 

We would rest here for the evening and start the morning ascent at 2am the next morning.

 

Truth be told, the climb up Mt Kinabalu is highly commercialized. Then again, I’m not into climbing mountains, and I’d like some creature comforts.

 

[Iluvcruising2]

Thank you chefs!

 

[Iluvcruising2]

You could even get a beer. Felt a bit like a cruise? :)

 

[Iluvcruising2]

Next morning, this was taken at 3am. Climbing into the darkness. What an experience. All of us had headtorches.

 

[Iluvcruising2]

Sayat Sayat Checkpoint. The last checkpoint before the summit. If you are too late arriving at this checkpoint, the park rangers will not let you pass.

 

[Iluvcruising2]

We were almost at the summit. Doesn’t look like we’re on Earth now.

 

 

The last push to the summit is a difficult climb up very steep rocks. I felt like a mountain goat. If you look at the top right of this picture, you see a mass of people – that is the summit.

 

[Iluvcruising2]

We were above the clouds.

 

[Iluvcruising2]

This was very near the summit. Certainly not something you see everyday. The locals believed that the final resting place of their deceased would be the top of the mountain. Here, you are witnessing a priest decked out in what looks like Catholic robes, conducting some type of religious service.

 

[Iluvcruising2]

Well, after the euphoria of reaching Low’s Peak, we had to face the inevitable. We had to climb down the mountain! It turns out that climbing down was even more difficult than climbing up. Why? We were tired. Legs were aching. But, I fully intended to get home in one piece. So we did it.

 

On the plus side, the views were fantastic.

 

[Iluvcruising2]

Alright, I have come to the end of my little side-track. I leave Mt Kinabalu with this poignant picture. Look at the load this person is carrying up the mountain. It is a lady. She is one of the many locals who make a living carrying food, goods and other equipment up and down the mountain. My guide told us that they only get 30 to 40 Malaysian Ringgit (or USD 10 to 13) for each round trip, to the Laban Rata Rest house. It is very humbling. We ought not to take our good lives for granted.

 

[Iluvcruising2]

Back to the review. This was the evening where we had Izumi. We brought the kids and parents.

 

Some soup.

 

Vegetable tempura.

[Iluvcruising2]

Sashimi!

 

[Bobal]

This review is fantastic. We just booked to sail on Legend in 5 weeks time so loving seeing all the pictures and hearing what you have to say. We sailed on her in summer 2009 so very much looking forward to seeing all the changes.

 

It's also amazing to see your KK pictures - my son spent a month in Borneo 4 years ago and also climbed the mountain - I'll show him the pictures which will definitely bring back some happy memories :D

[Iluvcruising2]

Some lobster roll. It was good.

 

 

Beef Sukiyaki. My kids loved the soup.