BY JENNEE GRACE U. RUBRICO
Riding high in Malaysia
In a mountain in Malaysia, approximately an hour away from the capital state of Kuala Lumpur, is ensconced an integrated resort that caters to people of all ages. Rising 2,000 meters above sea level, Genting Highlands, at the outskirts of the state of Selangor, is a favorite destination for tourists and locals.
Photo By Jonathan Mark U. Rubrico
For good reason -- the resort looks like it’s been carved out of a forest. It is surrounded on all sides by lush vegetation, and because of its elevation, guests almost literally ride high on the clouds. The nippy weather is also a relief from the tropical heat of Malaysia, earning the resort a reputation of being a honeymoon place.
Perhaps another reason for Genting’s popularity is that it offers all kinds of exhilaration and entertainment in one destination. To get to the resort, one must take the Genting Skyway, a 20-minute cable car ride -- which is not as easy as it sounds, particularly when one reaches a point that is so steep, the cable car in front is no longer within the line of sight. At this point, the only view ahead is the mountain wall, looking massive, hard -- and quite capable of smashing a cable car to smithereens. And if it is particularly quiet, one can hear the creaking of the wires on which the car is suspended as it navigates the sharp angle.
Genting is also popular for its casino, being the only licensed gaming operation in the moderate Islamic country. Also tucked in crannies are bars and discos, rarities in the country where alcohol drinking and excessive show of skin are prohibited for Muslims.
For those who seek more wholesome activities, a different kind of thrill is offered by the resort -- the indoor and outdoor theme park, where the rides take center stage. The rides -- which are divided into children’s, family, and thrill rides -- range from child’s play to the night-marish.
The merry-go-round, located on the left side of the entrance, could be the most boring carousel that I’ve ever tried -- it went for two rounds, and my camel didn’t even gallop. On the same side of the spectrum excitement-wise side is the Crazy Space Lab, which showed a movie about aliens that didn’t really have a storyline. The movie felt like it was just an excuse to shake people around and cause them to vomit.
The Rolling Thunder Mine Train was much better, being a mini-roller coaster with no loops but with a sudden drop. Adding to its sense of danger is the fact that a portion of its tracks -- where the drop is executed -- hugs a "cliff."
Other benign rides include the Antique Car, bumper boats, the mini train and the monorail (though given its age and state of dilapidation, it might not be so benign after all).
The park also hosts moderately thrilling rides like the Spinner (a ride that has swing seats that are flung around following a rotating motion), Pirate Ship (the ship swings to and fro) and the Flying Dragon, (a roller coaster that follows a narrow track suspended high above the park). The Sungai Rejang flume ride has a much shorter drop than Enchanted Kingdom’s Log Jam (not to mention Ocean Park’s version), but splashes the riders just the same. Genting claims that among its most popular rides are the ones that churn one’s guts the most. The Flying Coaster is a flight simulator that places people in pods and scrambles them (like the eggs) while following a track similar to a roller coaster’s. Both revolving and forward motions are done in fast forward -- to no one’s surprise, everyone who comes down from the ride looks like he’s gone through a blender.
Also among the highly rated rides are the Corkscrew, a roller coaster with a couple of drops and a section that turns the car upside down; the Space Shot (a tube drop); Euro Express (a high-speed elevated roller coaster); and the Cyclone, Malaysia’s first roller coaster which has a single car and out-of-the-body experience-inducing drops.
The best ride I took was the Grand Prix Fun Kart, which in this theme park doesn’t require a separate entrance fee but has a minimum height re-quirement. After waiting 40 minutes to get on one of the karts, I almost didn’t make it -- the people super-vising the ride would not believe that I cleared the height requirement and measured me again, peeking at my feet to make sure I wasn’t standing on tiptoes.
The Super Toboggan, another interesting ride which runs on the principle of potential and kinetic energy (the car is pulled up, and is released when it reaches the peak so that gravity takes over as it coasts to the finish line), has a weight limit of 70kg.
Like other theme parks, Genting’s outdoor park also has activities in different locations. They are announced on posters, but these are not of much help, as they do not indicate the time or the venue for such activities. Don’t bother asking the lady at the ticket booth either -- you’ll only get answers like, "I don’t know," or, "I’ve no idea." At least those were the answers we got, when we asked where the Merdeka Parade was going to be held.
But missing these shows is not such a big deal. There are other offerings that can make one forget the sorry state of Malaysia’s service industry. Beryl’s Chocolate World, for instance, is a chocolate museum with a lot of photo opportunities for kids. One also gets to sample, and buy, Beryl’s Chocolates -- a Malaysian brand -- inside. Try the Tiramisu line, there’s a good reason they’re the best sellers.
Another highlight is the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum, located in the indoor theme park. The museum, which requires a separate entrance fee (RM18, around P250), has a collection of mostly quirky, always interesting pieces. Just before going in, a glass case containing six orbs that are said to be dinosaur eggs can be seen, while greeting guests by the entrance are a pair of African fertility statues believed to have caused the pregnancy of dozens of women who touched them.
For those who fear the ladies and gentlemen from Transylvania but need to go out at night, the museum has on display a vampire killing kit, containing: holy water, an ivory crucifix, a gun, silver bullets, garlic and a wooden stake.
Meanwhile, those who fancy driving a gold car can try their luck with the gold coin-covered Austin Mini, also showcased at the museum.
Also in the museum are a totem pole from Alaska; a mummified cat from Egypt; a camera that doubles as a flask which was used to stash away liquor when it was banned in the US,; a replica of St. Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow, made from matchsticks; and the hood worn by murderer Charles Birger when he was executed by hanging.
A chastity belt; a torture chair; Tibetan daggers that drive away evil spirits; stuffed mutated animals; a mold of the head of a man who had two pupils each in his eyes; a life-size wax statue of Robert Wadlow, the world’s tallest man; and several other interesting pieces are also part of the collection.
To get the most out of the museum visit, it is advisable to allocate at least an hour for it, though the people manning it say that it would only take 30 minutes to go through the collection.
Another attraction in Genting is Snowworld, a room that simulates winter. This also requires a separate entrance fee, and cameras are prohibited -- photos can only be taken by official photographers and can be bought on the way out.
For those who are up to it, there are three camera-loving pythons in the complex that are just waiting to have their photos taken with guests. They have handlers, of course -- and being camwhores notwithstanding, they require a talent fee for the privilege of having them draped on guests’ shoulders. Those who want to be star struck, meanwhile, can visit the Arena of Stars, a hall that offers a wide range of concerts staged by international superstars.
Perhaps the best thing about Genting is its spectacular sunset. Riding back to the foot of the mountain in a cable car at 7:30 p.m., we saw the red sun bidding good night to the purple sky: it was a breathtaking view that would make any acrophobic person forget his fear of heights.
Then, as darkness started to enshroud the skies, we heard the creak of the cables, reminding us of the steep drop ahead. It was time to close my eyes and distract myself by reminiscing about the action-packed day in Malaysia’s elevated resort, the ultimate leisure park for kids of all ages.
Genting is accessible by cable car from Gombak. Buses to Gombak can be taken from KL Sentral, where Genting packages are also being sold. For RM35 (RM39 during holidays), the package covers bus transport to and from Gombak, the cable car rides to and from the integrated resort,two vouchers, and access to the outdoor theme park or a buffet lunch. Hotels are strategically located in and around the resort, for those who want to stay a night or two to try out everything that Genting has to offer.
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