Reunited! Next Destination: Singapore

July 14 & 15, 2018

The two climbers arrived to Rasa Ria safe & sound albeit more than a bit weary-This momma was so happy to have all 4 of us back together!  We enjoy 1 final evening at the beach & leave tomorrow mid-morning on a flight to Singapore.

The Ice Monkee ice cream shop that made the delicious Oreo milkshake also offered a special
"Mt. Kinabalu Sundae"-
Ross couldn't wait to celebrate his brother's summit by sharing this 6-scoop treat complete with marshmallows, gummy bears & meringue.

Cannot express enough how happy (& relieved) this momma is to have all her fellas in the same place again-
* a sharp eye can notice by Nash's posturing, the soreness in his legs is beginning to set in...

The next morning-
Stairs proved to be extra difficult!

Wide range of breakfast options-
from chocolate fountain...

...to chicken feet!

Good-bye to South China Sea

Shangri-La Rasa Ria sends all guests off with a personal good-bye song

ARRIVAL SINGAPORE:

The famous Raffles Hotel was closed for refurbishing but we were able to secure a uniquely modern place directly across the street.

We walked to the Esplanade along the bay in search of dinner and discovered a student musical group performing a concert!  As you can see, many of the instruments were played by kneeling musicians.  

The iconic triple towered boat topped Marina Bay Sands hotel & the Science and Art Museum

Gluttons Bay Food Market-
so many people...

...and so many options!

We opted for a less hectic environment & dined at No Signboard Seafood Restaurant-
First course "baby squid" followed by a shared dish of chili crab.

Chili Crab is to Singapore as hamburgers are to the US

Early in the morning...late at night...donuts are always a hit-

Matt & Nash- Mount Kinabalu

June 12-14, 2018

Guest Blogger - Matt Kaye

The beast behind us (and ahead)

2 day climb of 13,500 feet

Checkpoint #1 - Fresh

The slow slog up - 3.5 steep miles

The footing was a bit uneven in some places, well, all places

With lots of "steps?'

Arrival at base camp over look

Took us 4 1/2 hours to arrive

Ready for summit departure - 2:00 am

Now imagine all that uneven terrain in the dark

Only about 500 more yards or another hour - doesn't seem properly aligned

Daybreak at summit 

Similar to the moon and Iceland

Summit marker - The 1 1/2 mile trek to the top took nearly 3 hours

Sun breaking on overlook

Descending - Would have taken picture going up, but decided to keep holding on to ropes plus dark

Then, the trek all the way to the bottom - It took about 6 hours more

A carnivorous pitcher plant

They left out a few words such as brave, mentally tough, inspired 

In the van to reunite with the beach bums

Kelly & Ross: Shangri La Rasa Ria

June 12 & 13, 2018

While Matt & Nash made their way to Kinabalu National Park,  Ross & I made our way to a beachfront resort on the South China Sea at Pantai Dalit Beach.
It was almost a 2 hour drive from our resort but we had a view of the  mountain that Matt & Nash would climb.

Greeted by the calming sounds of gongs

To the beach with a good book!
*Notice the white capped waves & red flag...no watersports today.

All that reading works up an appetite that can only be satisfied with an oreo milkshake-

Our best guess is some sort of crab made this beautiful sand art...
These perfectly rounded little balls made pictures all over the sand...many looked like angels's wings.

Sunset Celebration-
complete with drums, warriors and a toddler Malaysian princess

Beautiful night sky-

On our trip we have really enjoyed the Asian cuisine that offers rice & noodles at every meal.
However, Ross was thrilled to see donuts on the breakfast buffet!
*There was also a chocolate fountain & ice cream...

After a sugar-filled meal, Ross was ready to try parasailing for the 1st time-
The sea was still a little wild but they assured us it would be ok-

Up...up...we go!

Ross did so well that the crew let him drive us back to shore!

Walking along the beach we noticed all these "tracks" in the sand...

Turns out they were sand dollars...
when the sea is rough, it washes them up onto the beach & they "walk" back to the water & bury themselves.
It was fascinating to walk along & see literally hundreds of these tracks & live sand dollars.

Tiny little sand crab, reminded us of our years of crab hunting on 30A

Evening fun at the Game Center-
Ross beat me at chess so I had to smash him in Jenga :)

Cultural dinner show with dancing, fire eating & ....

...warriors!

Our time at the Rasa Ria was filled with pure leisure and hourly prayers for our guys on the mountain... we anxiously awaited their return the next afternoon...