That was the first line of the itinerary for five Pampanga, Philippines-based journalists who have visited the capital city and nearby areas from December 2 to 5 to help promote its tourism industry. An industry that needs no promotion really, given the 10.2 million that visited the country in 2007.
The eight-man delegate led Rubyrose “Bessie” Rustia of the City of San Fernando-based Creative Travel and Tours said she had invited veteran mediaman Bong Lacson of Punto, editor Ashley Manabat of Banner, Eric Jimenez of The Voice and photo-journalist Ric Gonzales of Central Luzon Businessweek and this reporter to ensure the success of a series of group tours from March to May next year in Malaysia via AirAsia airlines, which uses Diosdado Macapagal International Airport for its daily Clark-Kuala Lumpur flights.
“Personally, Malaysia is my favorite destination in Asia, not to mention that it is easy to market because it’s truly beautiful and truly Asian,” said Rustia, quoting the lines used by the Malaysian government in advertising their country with about 26 million population. She was accompanied by her husband Dennis Rustia and their friend Ronnie Galang in the trip.
“Since I saw Malaysia in 1986, I have fallen in love with it because the government and their people give out their most in all to make every place and detail worth experiencing,” said Rustia, who organized the media tour with his Malaysia-based partner Micheal Lim, managing director of the My Axis Travel and Tours in Selangor, here.
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The delegates all arrived on time at the Clark airport and flight AK32 left on schedule at 11:45 a.m. on Tuesday.
As the pilot announced that we were near the airport and was expected to land 15 minutes ahead of schedule after traveling a little over 3 hours, I gazed into the window just beside me.
I noticed that the area is filled with trees and, noticeably, they all look the same as if seeing a vast plantation of similar coconut trees.
Later, I was informed that they were palm and rubber trees which had made the nation become more progressive and helped them survive major global crisis.
The AirAsia and other low-cost airlines and domestic flights use the Low Cost Carrier (LCC) airport in Sepang, which is about 20 kilometers away from this city. The LCC and Kuala Lumpur Interational Airport use the same runway but are quite far from each other.
Intelligent City
At about 5 p.m. and the sun was high outside the busy airport, we were greeted by Lim and Pholen Nathan, who was tasked to be our tour guide and driver for the rest of our four-day stay.
We immediately left the area and proceeded for Putrajaya, the new administrative capital where over 90 percent of the Federal Government Administrative offices have transferred.
Putrajaya, also known as “Garden City, Intelligent City,” is a thoroughly modern 4,932-hectare area that has been constructed with detailed planning and renowned architectural designs – but with utmost preservation for the environment.
Named in honor of Malaysia’s first prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Alhaj, Putrajaya boasts of a 650-hectare man-made river and attractive steel bridge designed by an English architect.
Reportedly costing 10 billion Malaysian Ringgit (1 ringgit:14pesos), it is divided into two major areas. The Core Area which compromises government offices and Periphery Area which has private firms and residences.
I had been to other countries in Asia but I haven’t seen beautiful, clean and breathtaking place in my entire life.
We stopped for some photos in front of the hall of justice building at the heart of the vibrant city. It’s definitely a sight to behold.
First impression lasts. Putrajaya will certainly stay in my mind and heart.
City of Entertainment
We stayed for awhile in Putrajaya to drink some local coffee and tea and taste the common food on the Malaysian table – roti which looks like hotcake but it’s not too sweet and made out of flour.
We were off to a long but worthy two-hour drive to our second destination: Gending Highlands, dubbed as “the City of Entertainment” and perched 1,800 meters above sea level.
The world-famous resort has a indoor and outdoor theme parks and hosts the only casino in the Muslim state.
We were delayed by a traffic just outside this city. We were quite hungry and looking forward to a hearthy meal.
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Han Tian Ding and his Savor Jaya restaurant just below the major resort in Genting had given more than we expected to fill our stomachs. The food was fantastic, to say the least.
We had choice to either ride on Pholan’s van or ride the Genting Skway to make the final push for the resort built by the late Ghotong, regarded as the richest man in Malaysia until he died a few years ago.
I have not read much about Genting and Malaysia but I heard much about its skyway.
Our group was all too lucky – we rode the cable cars at night to go up and went down on it Thursday morning.
The five-kilometer trip for about 15 minutes was one of the best experiences of my life. I rode it with Ashley and Bong.
We were billed at the First World Hotel, one of the seven hotels in Genting. At least five of hotels are interconnected on major facility of the resort.
We had fun on out two-day stay and were treated by Bessie for dinner at Lake View seafood restaurant, a famous facility in Genting.
Bessie sums up what Genting is all about: It’s vacation paradise for dad, mom and the children..jpg)
(to be continued)
