The Whole Story

First, read the happy ending. Victims trapped by flash floods at a Malaysian national park have been rescued and they’re in good health

http://news.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20111220-317285.html

Now, read the details, before the rescue.

http://www.asiaone.com/News/AsiaOne%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20111222-317663.html

This may sound like an isolated incident, but rainy seasons in the tropics are predictably. In fact, flash floods are very common this time of the year. The weather won’t give you “face” just because you’re on holiday. You don’t have a Transport Minister or CEO to attack. Mother nature does what she wants to do.

Things are only unpredictable during the “dry” season. In fact, there is no real “dry” season anywhere near the equator. During this time of the year, the weather is unpredictable. It may rain, it may shine. Whether you’re going to enjoy your trek and have good pictures to show off depends entirely on your luck.

I’ve climbed Kinabalu 4 times and this is the only time it didn’t rain on the summit. And I’ve bothered to pay more for May-June as they are the driest months in Sabah. Still, it rained the day we started and the day we left.

Like I’ve said before in this blog entry, this is one of the reasons why I do not like to trek in places with no distinct seasons – namely Malaysia and some parts of Sumatra. There are lots of places nearby that have distinct seasons – like northern Thailand which is cool and dry in December and January. Java, Bali and Lombok which are dry in July and August.

I avoid trekking in Malaysia when it’s not the rainy season. I won’t do even if you pay me if it is the rainy season. Definitely tak boleh.