I’m off to Metro Town and as I pass the front desk of the hotel I enquire what the fare will be – RM 30. Taxi rides in Kota Kinabalu are charged at “fixed” rates based on “zones” – a rather nebulous concept in practice, as there is no indication of where one ends, where the other begins or what the “fixed” price is to start with. They vary from cabbie to cabbie and from passenger to passenger (local/Semenanjung/foreigner) and so, putting on my best Semenanjung stride forward, I walk onto Gaya Street to look for my ride.
Cabbie 1 says RM 40 ikut zon.
Cabbie 2 says you dari Semenanjung kan? RM 35 Special price!
Cabbie 3 agrees to match the hotel’s fare of RM 30 (they have their own taxi service) and I guess we’re getting somewhere.
I start circling back to a group of cabbies on the opposite side of the street and Cabbies 1-3, sensing an opportunity missed are quite keen to offer me their “best price”. I cut a deal with Cabbie 3, who has Lee on his name card and who goes by Ramlee; RM 50 for a ride both ways and we’re set.
Ramlee is as chatty as cabbies go. I explain the purpose of my trip and why I need to get to Metro Town. He has some knowledge of the major races, is immensely proud of the local Sabahan athletes and insists that foreign participants only win because we let them (when Saffrey Sumping et al decide not to participate in an event).
Ramlee has also climbed Mount Kinabalu 8 times and offers me a special Ramlee all-in package for RM 480/pax (certificate, lodging and guide included!). His brother-in-law works at a tour company and can sort me out. I thank him and tell him that I’ll consider it as I do intend to summit Mount Kinabalu in 2017. His package though, attractive as it is, sounds a little too good to be true.
As we drive past the intersection (or possibly a roundabout) that leads to Likas Stadium, we talk about the Sabah football team of the early 90s. I was a boyhood Sabah fan (for some peculiar reason) and at this point, we’re cool, bro. I’d like to think that I will receive Ramlee’s best Semenanjung price ikut zon now and always.
We arrive at Metro Town after 20 minutes or so. It’s an upscale commercial area with restaurants, shops, offices, hotels and a medical centre. We circle Block F several times in an attempt to locate Borneo Ultra Trails and eventually find it at the corner to the “left” of Secret Recipe (from one’s POV). Ramlee says that he’ll wait at the shop where he’s dropped me off; I tell him that I’ll be as quick as I can.
The office is on the 2nd floor and as I enter it, I spot several familiar faces – Kheng Loh, Malissa and Sow Mun! They do not notice me coming in as they are happily snapping photos so I register myself and go through the mandatory kit check which takes all of 2 seconds (HMM …). I collect my race pack and walk over to say Hi.
It’s been quite a while since I last saw them and we chat for a bit. Kheng Loh is doing the 50K while Malissa, Sow Mun and their friend, Sen Leong are all attempting the 30. I ask Kheng Loh if she has any other companions running the race (she doesn’t), so we agree to look out for each other on the day. I excuse myself shortly after as I do not wish to keep Ramlee waiting.
When I get outside, however, Ramlee is gone!
I look around and walk up and down the street but he is nowhere in sight.
I call both numbers on his name card but get his voice mail.
I feel almost betrayed. I thought we had … an understanding. I don’t see any other cabbies so I head back up to the office.
“Guys, my cabbie ditched me.”
I figure I’ll hitch a ride with them when they leave. For now though, Etienne Rodriguez, poster boy on the wall (and winner of the 50K in 2014) is the man of the hour. Nobody can get enough photos with him and in all honesty – the surrounding scenery makes for a lovely backdrop. I join in too!
It’s time to go and Sen Leong gets us a ride via Uber. It’s a bit of a squeeze but all 5 of us manage to fit in the MPV. The driver pulls over after about 50m or so (to pay for his parking ticket, maybe?) and I see a taxi pull up ahead of him.
Lo and behold, it’s Ramlee marching towards us looking rather befuddled.
“Guys, it’s my cabbie! He came back for me!”
I exchange goodbyes with the group and we wish each other well.
(Translated from Bahasa.)
“I walked all over looking for you!”
“I was at the tayar shop!”
I step in the vehicle.
“I called you 4 times!”
I pull out my phone and show him my call history. He pulls out his phone, looks at it, at promptly begins charging it.
“I told the shopkeeper that I’m going to the tayar shop. I said look out for the tall Indian fella and tell him I’ll be back!”
“But just now we saw you stepping into the white MPV and the shopkeeper said … THAT GUY AH?!”
Maybe I'm not tall enough ...
But we’re cool. Ramlee gets me back to my hotel and I agree to contact him on Monday to arrange our pick-up to the airport.
We’re off to dinner now and since my race pack came with a 10% voucher for a meal at Little Italy, that is where we go. Can’t go wrong with pizza and thankfully, the food is good.
We return to our hotel and I prep for bed. I’m hoping for a good night’s rest as I know I’ll sleep poorly tomorrow, if all my previous out-of-town race experiences are anything to go by …
Part Four: The Day Before The Race
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