{"id":6410,"date":"2015-11-28T20:01:32","date_gmt":"2015-11-28T12:01:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mysabah.com\/wordpress\/?p=6410"},"modified":"2015-11-29T00:14:39","modified_gmt":"2015-11-28T16:14:39","slug":"highest-post-box-of-malaysia","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mysabah.com\/wordpress\/highest-post-box-of-malaysia\/","title":{"rendered":"Highest Post Box of Malaysia"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to the digital era, now we can write an e-mail to reach anyone within seconds. Social media even allows us to chat in real time. Handwritten letter is dying. Decades ago, it was exciting to see postman dropped something in our mailbox because there could be a letter from our loved one. Nowadays? What we see in mailbox are just ugly white envelopes containing bank statements and bills. <\/p>\n

\"write<\/a>
It’s a great feeling to write postcards above the cloud<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Anyway, people still appreciate handwritten notes today. However, your friends may not get the point if you suddenly send them a snail mail. To make it special and exciting, you can send them a postcard from the highest post box of Malaysia, which is located on Mt. Kinabalu<\/a>, the highest mountain of Malaysia<\/strong>. <\/p>\n

\"Pendant<\/a>
Pendant Hut on Mt. Kinabalu<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To reach this post box is no easy task though. You need to hike 6 KM to 3,289 Meters above sea level<\/strong>, but this effort adds more sentimental value to your postcard. Once you arrive Laban Rata Resthouse, the main accommodation for climbers of Mt. Kinabalu, you still need to climb 100 Meters of staircase behind the resthouse to Pendant Hut, where the post box sitting next to.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Highest Post Box of Malaysia is just next to Pendant Hut<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pendant Hut is the training center and accommodation operated by Mountain TORQ<\/a> for Via Ferrata and alpine sport climbing<\/a> courses. They are also appointed by POS Malaysia as its licensed agent to handle its post box.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The Highest Post Box of Malaysia (and South East Asia)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Record<\/a>
The record is certified by Malaysia Book of Records<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This post box is installed next to Pendant Hut on 14 Feb 2015, and certified as the Highest Post Box of Malaysia (and probably Southeast Asia too) by Malaysia Book of Records<\/a>. You can buy postcard and postal stamps from the office of Mountain TORQ in Pendant Hut.<\/strong> If you have prepared your postcard with stamp, do not drop it to this post box before you get the special Mt. Kinabalu post office ink-stamp (chop) from the same office.<\/p>\n

\"Postcards<\/a>
Postcards of Pendant Hut<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There are a few special postcards printed with message “Sent from Pendant Hut”, which are ONLY available at Pendant Hut. Their postcards come with big (6.85 x 4.85 inches or 17.5 x 12.3 cm) and small (5.8 x 4.1 inches or 14.7 x 10.5 cm) sizes. Both cost the same (RM2.00 or USD0.60) so I recommend you to buy the big one.<\/p>\n

\"Special<\/a>
Special postcards of Pendant Hut<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

To be honest, personally I think their postcards look a bit boring. Hope they will have better design and more variety of postcards in future. You can use other postcards you buy somewhere else too (Laban Rata Resthouse have some standard Sabah postcards for sale).<\/p>\n

\"Special<\/a>
Special postcards collection (only available at Pendant Hut)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Different<\/a>
Different kind of self ink stamps that can be used for stamping your postcard<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The reason to use the bigger postcard is to get more space for other ink stamps (see photo above). The Mt. Kinabalu official stamp by POS Malaysia should be your first choice.<\/strong> You can add other stamps just for fun (no extra fee). If you use small postcard, there isn’t much room for more than two stamps.<\/p>\n

\"Writing<\/a>
Writing postcards in Pendant Hut<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It’s the coldest month (usually Nov – Dec) during my visit, the temperature at Laban Rata was only 10°C, so freezing cold that my fingers turned stiff and unable to write the words beautifully. Anyway, I enjoyed visualizing the happy faces of my friends who received my special postcards. It brought back my memory and feeling of writing a letter in the past.<\/p>\n

\"Correct<\/a>
Correct way of writing postcard (Click to Enlarge)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It’s very important that you write the postcard in proper layout<\/strong> (see picture above). You should leave two inches (5 cm) of space on top of postcard. It’s a post office requirement to stamp the official Mt. Kinabalu ink stamp on top. If you start writing on top, this stamp will be pressed over your writing and that doesn’t look so good. Another reason to use bigger postcard if you need a lot of space for your message.<\/p>\n

\"Postal<\/a>
Postal fee rate of Malaysia (as of Nov 2015)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

After writing your postcard, you need to buy postal stamp (RM0.60-RM2.00, depending on destination country). The staff of Mt. TORQ will add the Mt. Kinabalu ink stamp (and other stamps of your choice) on your postcard, then they will seal your postcard(s) in a clear plastic bag, to protect them from moisture of rain and fog on Mt. Kinabalu. <\/p>\n

\"Sending<\/a>
Sending postcards from the Highest Post Box of Malaysia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The last step is to drop your postcard into the post box. The photo above is just a demo. The postcards will be stored inside a plastic bag. Do prepare some cash for buying postcard and postal stamp. It already costs you at least RM26 by sending 10 postcards. They accept no credit card.<\/p>\n

\"Highest<\/a>
The Highest Post Box of Malaysia<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There is a postman to pick up the postcards and letters from this post box at 11:30am during weekdays (Mon-Fri, except Public Holiday). The postcards will be sent to Ranau Post Office first, before they are delivered to their destinations.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
The label says the pick-up time is 11:30am from Mon to Fri (except Public Holiday)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The delivery is not fast. It took a week or more for my postcards to reach different locations near Kota Kinabalu City (KK)<\/strong>, one of the addresses is only 200 Meters away from KK Post Office. It’ll definitely take longer time to reach destinations outside KK and Sabah.<\/p>\n

\"Sending<\/a>
Holding the postcards to be sent to my friends<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Besides postcard, you also can send letter. The Mountain TORQ office in Pendant Hut closes at 5pm, so it’s better that you prepare the written letter in advance instead of writing it on the mountain. I also sent myself a postcard. Below is the photo of the postcard after delivery by post office. Note the cancellation mark (on the stamps) has the mailing date, name, icon and height of Mt. Kinabalu.<\/p>\n

\"Postcard<\/a>
Postcard after delivery by post office<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

POS Malaysia has installed the deepest post box (40 Meters) at Layang-Layang Island. In future, they would install post boxes in other popular tourist destinations such as Sipadan Island<\/a> and Tip of Borneo<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"You<\/a>
You also can buy and send postcards from Laban Rata Resthouse<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

“I’ve always thought that receiving a handwritten letter is like getting a hug in the mail.” -Christine French Cully (Huffington Post)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Message sent from keyboard, no matter how well-written, still can’t replace the personal touch of a handwritten message. A postcard will be a delightful surprise to the people you care. I may forget 1,000 messages that you sent to me by smartphone, but I’ll never forget the single postcard that you write for me.<\/p>\n

Here is a video to see the launching of this post box:<\/p>\n