Due to the freezing temperature, getting a warm & snoozy sleep is a nightmare. I only managed to fall deep at the last hour before roomates’ alarm drilled through my eardrums. No time playing dumb by the bed coz the cold will struck even whenever we stood still. A quick glance at the washroom basin & mirror, making sure my face looked healthy & the whole Laban Rata hostel were in rush our. Everybody were busy getting into their gears & gadgets.
By 2.00 a.m. we rolled up into more steps…again. The first few hundred meters were so hard on ourselves. Body was trying to overcome the numbness of the freezing wind, heartbeat was ramming high even though we just started climbing the first few steps. Steps and more steps before we hit the rock surface. It was one mother of all rock. So huge that it seems like a bare rock plain and the only way was UP. We pulled ourselves up the white rope & laid our footsteps carefully in the dark as we don’t want to have the slightest idea of how far the ravine besides us falls. Our headlights were only focusing on where our foot is to be placed.
The journey of pulling ourselves up ended as we reached Sayat Sayat. A ranger recorded our climbing tag numbers. We continued on walking up the rock surface, struggling to move ourselves within the constraint of the mountain’s altitude. The moon was full & the beauty of the terrain’s geography was lit by it’s infinite brightness. A shadow of South Peak guided us through the alienated topo.
We reached the 8.5km signboard, which means anothe 500 meters to go. Surprisingly, our pace were so slow. Getting the 2.5km from Laban Rata took about 2 hours. The last 500 meters squeezed our last juice of the energy. Suddenly the terrain became steeper, the rope stopped & we had to climb with our hands and legs for the last 100 meters. Everything went so fast. Within the shortest time, we were already placing ourselves on the highest point in South East Asia. Ooooo…man!!! I don’t know how to put the words for the feeling I felt at the moment. The best desciption would be…WOOOHOOO!!! I was the third person to reach the peak that morning sharp at 4.30 a.m. A feeling of gratefulness and thankful touched my innerselves.
A few quick snapshots were taken, waited for Waklah to arrive. Along with him were the whole 190 other climbers non-stop line. In a blink, the peak was congested. We had to make way for them. We decided to descend. Upon our way back, reaching the vast rock plain, sunrised. The first orange stream cut through the darkness of the peaceful sky. We stopped for a few more shots before the camera gone dead.
We headed down towards Sayat Sayat again passing more climbers who were walking like half asleep. 
After checking out at the ranger post, and quick stop at the loo, we picked a nice spot to witness the sea of clowds approaching the land below blanketing villages, forest and mountain ranges. The moment and the sight was extrodinaire.
We slithered ourselves down the slippery wet steps back to Laban Rata before I hit the bed in an attempt to recover from the drained energy & lack of rest. It was already 7.30 a.m.
