Aki Nabalu

     The name Mount Kinabalu most likely has derived from the Dusun words "Aki Nabalu" meaning " The sacred place of the dead". The Dusun people believe that when you die your spirit goes to the mountain and the moss and lichens growing on the rocks are the food provided. Sometimes when the wind is blowing, they believe that the sound of music can be heard and that the spirits are making music with the bamboo.Sometimes when Mount Kinabalu is covered with clouds for many days it is believed that the dead are celebrating and don't want to be disturbed. There are many legends surrounding  Mount Kinabalu and as I drove up to collect Patrick today, with amazing blue skies, after he had successfully ascended to the summit ( The first Wright!) I thought of how comforting it must be to know that your lost loved ones are safely up on the  mountain, ever present and near enough to feel close to.

In the last 10 days I have lost two very good friends. Jane arrived in Sabah on the same day as I did last year and we instantly became friends. We discovered we had many things in common but mostly I think we shared a love for life. She had the most infectious laugh and was kind, generous, talented and was the sort of person everyone wanted to be with. I felt privileged to be counted as her friend and when we discovered that by chance, our parents had been friends, (Coincidences or fate blog)I nearly felt like part of her family. She was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in late January and despite the treatment she passed away last week surrounded by her friends and family. Sue died yesterday after losing her brave battle against oesophageal cancer. We had known each other for many years, meeting in Bermuda as teachers in our twenties both newly married. Our lives followed different paths but we always stayed in contact and managed to see each other over the years. She was a very talented musician and was an inspiration to me and many others. She was a warm, lovely, fun person who enjoyed life. Why Sue and Jane's life books have been cut short when there were many more chapters to go is a question I ask myself.  My heart goes out to their dear families and I will miss them greatly. In the Dusun way I would like to think they are on Mount Kinabalu, laughing, making music and surrounded by friends and loved ones.

 These beautiful photos were taken by Patrick today as he ascended and descended the Mountain, seemingly with great ease - oh to be young and fit!