Ask the expert: A cool respite on Borneo's Mount Kinabalu



I've booked a beach holiday in Borneo, flying into Kota Kinabalu. I know that after a few days chilling on a sun lounger, I'm going to be keen to do something more active. What are the options or is it too hot here to do anything other than relax?

Kota Kinabalu - universally shortened to KK - is only six degrees north of the equator so the weather stays consistently hot and humid all year. But there's more than one way to find cooler temperatures and if you can't go north, you can go up. Visible from downtown KK is Mount Kinabalu, South East Asia's highest peak, and when you're sweating on the beach, it's hard to believe that on the 4,095m summit there are climbers battling freezing temperatures.

An ascent is within the abilities of most reasonably fit people and an entire industry exists to serve the needs of would-be ascentionists. There is the option of a one-day ascent but that's only for the exceptionally fit because the trails don't open until 7am, there's a climb of 2,200m over 8km and there are usually no summit views because the mountain is enveloped by cloud by mid-morning.

Most people split an ascent over two days, with a rest overnight in a series of basic lodges at Laban Rata, about 800m below the summit. Sutera Harbour Resort (www.suteraharbour.com; 00 60 8831 8888) in KK has the exclusive contract for overnight ascents and offers a 512 ringgit (Dh613) package which includes the park entrance fee, climbing permit, guide, insurance and full board in a dormitory room in Laban Rata. You usually need to book well in advance, although you can also just turn up because there are often last-minute cancellations.

The climb to Laban Rata is steep and very scenic through gorgeous forest. It's on a good path, with lots of places to stop along the way. Most people try to leave Laban Rata at 2.30am so they can see sunrise from the summit, with is also the best time to get cloud-free views. The majority of those attempting the mountain are from the surrounding nations so their only previous experience with cold is air conditioning, which helps explain why they're rugged up as if they're about to join Captain Scott in Antarctica. (If the wind is blowing, you'll understand and wish you were dressed like them.) Dress in lots of thin layers, so you can adjust your clothing to suit the temperature. A good guide is worth their weight in ringgits because they'll keep a steady pace that prevents you sweating too much and which puts you on the summit right on dawn, where you'll be surrounded by others who climbed too fast and have been shivering there for the last hour.

You can't get lost on the stark and mostly unvegetated granite plateau above the treeline because the route is marked with a thick hawser rope. The rope also provides security on some of the steeper sections but it's not really a technical climb. Enjoy one of the most stunning sunrises around and then steel yourself for the quadricep-crunching descent, after which sitting on a beach doing nothing will once more have appeal.

Do you have travel questions or queries? Email them to us at travel@thenational.ae

Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
Rating: 4/5
Brief scores:

Toss: India, opted to field

Australia 158-4 (17 ov)

Maxwell 46, Lynn 37; Kuldeep 2-24

India 169-7 (17 ov)

Dhawan 76, Karthik 30; Zampa 2-22

Result: Australia won by 4 runs by D/L method

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What is an ETF?

An exchange traded fund is a type of investment fund that can be traded quickly and easily, just like stocks and shares. They come with no upfront costs aside from your brokerage's dealing charges and annual fees, which are far lower than on traditional mutual investment funds. Charges are as low as 0.03 per cent on one of the very cheapest (and most popular), Vanguard S&P 500 ETF, with the maximum around 0.75 per cent.

There is no fund manager deciding which stocks and other assets to invest in, instead they passively track their chosen index, country, region or commodity, regardless of whether it goes up or down.

The first ETF was launched as recently as 1993, but the sector boasted $5.78 billion in assets under management at the end of September as inflows hit record highs, according to the latest figures from ETFGI, a leading independent research and consultancy firm.

There are thousands to choose from, with the five largest providers BlackRock’s iShares, Vanguard, State Street Global Advisers, Deutsche Bank X-trackers and Invesco PowerShares.

While the best-known track major indices such as MSCI World, the S&P 500 and FTSE 100, you can also invest in specific countries or regions, large, medium or small companies, government bonds, gold, crude oil, cocoa, water, carbon, cattle, corn futures, currency shifts or even a stock market crash. 

The Scale for Clinical Actionability of Molecular Targets
Business Insights
  • As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses. 
  • SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income. 
  • Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
 
Started: 2020
 
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
 
Based: Dubai, UAE
 
Sector: Entertainment 
 
Number of staff: 210 
 
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
Disclaimer

Director: Alfonso Cuaron 

Stars: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Kline, Lesley Manville 

Rating: 4/5

Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
Rating: 2/5
 

Pupils in Abu Dhabi are learning the importance of being active, eating well and leading a healthy lifestyle now and throughout adulthood, thanks to a newly launched programme 'Healthy Lifestyle'.

As part of the Healthy Lifestyle programme, specially trained coaches from City Football Schools, along with Healthpoint physicians have visited schools throughout Abu Dhabi to give fun and interactive lessons on working out regularly, making the right food choices, getting enough sleep and staying hydrated, just like their favourite footballers.

Organised by Manchester City FC and Healthpoint, Manchester City FC’s regional healthcare partner and part of Mubadala’s healthcare network, the ‘Healthy Lifestyle’ programme will visit 15 schools, meeting around 1,000 youngsters over the next five months.

Designed to give pupils all the information they need to improve their diet and fitness habits at home, at school and as they grow up, coaches from City Football Schools will work alongside teachers to lead the youngsters through a series of fun, creative and educational classes as well as activities, including playing football and other games.

Dr Mai Ahmed Al Jaber, head of public health at Healthpoint, said: “The programme has different aspects - diet, exercise, sleep and mental well-being. By having a focus on each of those and delivering information in a way that children can absorb easily it can help to address childhood obesity."

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Profile of Hala Insurance

Date Started: September 2018

Founders: Walid and Karim Dib

Based: Abu Dhabi

Employees: Nine

Amount raised: $1.2 million

Funders: Oman Technology Fund, AB Accelerator, 500 Startups, private backers

 

UAE-based players

Goodlands Riders: Jamshaid Butt, Ali Abid, JD Mahesh, Vibhor Shahi, Faizan Asif, Nadeem Rahim

Rose Hill Warriors: Faraz Sheikh, Ashok Kumar, Thabreez Ali, Janaka Chathuranga, Muzammil Afridi, Ameer Hamza

How the bonus system works

The two riders are among several riders in the UAE to receive the top payment of £10,000 under the Thank You Fund of £16 million (Dh80m), which was announced in conjunction with Deliveroo's £8 billion (Dh40bn) stock market listing earlier this year.

The £10,000 (Dh50,000) payment is made to those riders who have completed the highest number of orders in each market.

There are also riders who will receive payments of £1,000 (Dh5,000) and £500 (Dh2,500).

All riders who have worked with Deliveroo for at least one year and completed 2,000 orders will receive £200 (Dh1,000), the company said when it announced the scheme.

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From Zero

Artist: Linkin Park

Label: Warner Records

Number of tracks: 11

Rating: 4/5

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JOKE'S%20ON%20YOU
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SPECS

Engine: 4-litre V8 twin-turbo
Power: 630hp
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: 8-speed Tiptronic automatic
Price: From Dh599,000
On sale: Now

MATCH INFO

Tottenham Hotspur 3 (Son 1', Kane 8' & 16') West Ham United 3 (Balbuena 82', Sanchez og 85', Lanzini 90' 4)

Man of the match Harry Kane