I woke up really early to savor the nature-driven elegance of Genting. I strolled at the hallways of First World, regarded as the hotel with the most number of rooms in the world with 6,000.
I borrowed the laptop of photojournalist Ric Gonzales and used the wi-fi service of Starbucks coffee shop near the front desk. I sent a few photos of the group and wrote a few notes to our editors through an e-mail – oh, it cost P25 to send one text message back home.
Malaysian tourist guide-driver Pholan arrived on time. Our Filipina sponsor, Creative Travel and Tours top honcho Bessie Rustia, had asked him if the Genting Skway (cable cars) would not be too crowded which might delay our trip back to this city. We wanted to ride again the Skway because we had ridden it at night going up – it cost 5 Malaysian ringgit per person one-way.
And the rest was history as we experienced the some 20-minute breathtaking cable ride going down from Genting.
“They were all laughing,” chorused Pampanga veteran mediamen Bong Lacson and Ashley Manabat, determining what could be the possible content of the news story should our cable drop somewhere in the thick jungle of the world-famous highland perched 1,800 feet above sea level.
Droplets from Batu
Malaysia is truly blessed with natural attractions which its people capitalize on.
Before reaching this city from Genting, you will pass by a large limestone rock formation nestling the Batu Caves.
Discovered by European mountain climbers, the cave is about 350 million years old. It takes 272 steps to reach the main cavern where Hindu temples stand side by side souvenirs shops. Then – as counted by Ashley and Bong – you have to make a final push of 67 steps to reach the upper cave where you can see the sky through a huge hole.
“There’s a drizzle,” said Ashley.
“No, those are droplets of water from the roof of the cave. Those are considered as blessings,” said Bong.
Pholan said quarry operations were so rampant around Batu Caves in the ‘80s that environmentalists strongly lobbied the government for a total ban on the activity to preserve the natural formation. And they prevailed.
Batu, by the way, is a haven for friendly monkeys regarded as holy by Hindus.
Sunway, baby
The Philippines, as per official record, had some 2.2 million tourists last year.
A theme park-hotel resort in Selangor recorded some one to two million average number of visitors yearly since its opening in 1992.
The Sunway Lagoon Theme Park is truly one of a kind as its owners had infused some 10 billion ringgit on its 88-acre facility. It boasts of the world’s largest man-made sandy surf beach, world’s longest suspension pedestrian bridge and different themed lands with 30 water and amusement parks.
Within 15 minutes reach from the capital city, Sunway Lagoon is divided into seven segments: Wild Wild West; World of Adventure; Waters of Africa; Sunway Surf Beach; Extreme Park; Sunway Wildlife Interactive Zoo; and Lynton V Harris Scream Park.
I am no longer a child or a teenager but I was totally taken in by the place – to think that we only visited some of the segments of Sunway.
Loke Kah Peng, Sunway senior executive for public relations, showed some of the most preferred sights and rides at the theme park. They are the Surf Beach, Interactive Zoo and Pirate’s Revenge boat ride, imported from Australia which turns 360 degrees and the only one in Malaysia.
At the zoo, the eight-man Pampanga delegate with five journalists experienced touching and feeding rare and colorful birds and animals.
We barely put our fingers on the waters at Surf Beach and nearby pools because we were pressed for time. But I could see from the smiles and eyes of the people from all walks of life the joy of basking on the gorgeous facilities of Surf Beach.
Just how popular is Sunway in Malaysia and the rest of the world? It has hosted major music concerts and events such as the live performances of Backstreet Boys, Pussycat Dolls and Quick Silver. The ESPN extreme sports was held in Sunway attracting 40,000 visitors at one time.
No need to travel far to rest after enjoying a full day at Sunway. It has two hotels included among its facility – the five-star Sunway Resorts and Spa and the four-star Sunway Pyramid complete with skating rink and shopping mall.
Be sure to visit Sunway if you are in Malaysia, according to Bessie whose travel agency offers group tours beginning March next year at reasonable prices.
(Experience a wonderful Malaysia trip through Rubyrose “Bessie” Rustia and her Creative Travel and Tours at Unit 3 Calsa Arcade, Olongapo Rd., City of San Fernando, Pampanga. Tel. Nos: (045) 963-1348, 966-0240, 963-2286 (fax) and 0921-851-1973).
