Mt. KINABULU, SABAH -- Alim Biun spends much of his time working below East Asia's highest mountain, but he loves nothing more than to climb its 4,101 metres.

He's conquered it more than 100 times and once held the record for the fastest ascent and descent - 2 hrs. 55 minutes.

Biun, 42, recently lost that title to an Englishman, who shaved 13 minutes of the Malaysian's time. Biun doesn't think he can top that mark at his age.

"I love this mountain," says Biun, a guide at Mt Kinabalu Park, a protected area and World Heritage listed site.

"To us the mountain is sacred, a resting place for the spirits of the dead," he said.

The peak is the most famous landmark in Sabah, one of two Malaysian territories on the fabled, jungle island of Borneo, the other being Sarawak.

Most of the remainder of Borneo belongs to Indonesia, except for the small kingdom of Brunei, the Sultan of which swaps the title of world's richest man with Bill Gates, depending on how the Microsoft magnate's stocks are doing at any given moment.

Mt Kinabalu is not a technically difficult climb and it can be tackled by anyone who is reasonably fit. It's like clambering up a seemingly endless, uneven staircase. In short, a tough, uphill slog.

I first climbed it 12 years ago, taking five hours to reach a hostel which sits a few hours below the peak.

The idea is to eat, drink and sleep at the hostel, and then get up around 2 a.m. to climb the rest of the way, the final part of which requires guide ropes.

"I was sitting quietly on a path one day when one ofthe birds came out into the open," recalls Biun. "I could not believe my eyes and I was fortunate enough to have a camera with me."

Biun has also discovered a new plant, a regular scientific achievement in these parts, but it was named after his boss instead of him.

One plant that draws constant attention from onlookers is the Pitcher Plant. Not surprising, as it eats meat. Guides, says Biun, sometimes find small rodents inside some large Pitcher Plants.

The plant's usual victims are insects, drawn to it to taste its elixir. It's a kiss of death. They get stuck and the plant slowly sucks the life out of its prey for its own sustenance.

While the mountain stands tall in Sabah, tourists share its magnetism with the fabulous beaches, many of which are around the city of Kota Kinabalu.

A perfect example is the Nexus resort, a sprawling haven of wooden chalets and luxury rooms, houses and apartments.

Fronting on to a superb beach, it has all the facilities, including a golf course, any discerning sun worshipper could need.

The pool is so huge young kids could be forgiven for thinking it was the ocean itself.

The largest numbers of tourists so far, says guide Rebecca Kotter Anak Dominic, are from Australia, only a four-hour flight away.