Malaysia is a
memorable country for me because it was where I took my first international
trip—and my foremost airplane flight. Yes, I was a late bloomer in terms of air
travel, only able to afford it after entering the corporate world.
The scenic cable car ride to Genting Highlands
Imagine my
amazement at stepping foot on foreign soil for the first time. Kuala Lumpur was
my destination along with my older brother. Even though I was already fond of
traveling having been a member of the UST Mountaineering Club in college and an
avid beach goer, this trip to Malaysia was what I could point out as the
catalyst for kickstarting my wanderlust.
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| With fellow members of the media invited by Cebu Pacific and Tourism Malaysia |
I have fond
memories of exploring every nook and cranny of Kuala Lumpur, to the point that
when we returned to our hotel, my feet would almost feel sore. Tired and
fulfilled, we’d go over the next day to satisfy our curiosities by walking
miles and miles between buses and train rides.
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| Another group photo |
One of the bus
rides we took was to this hilltop attraction called
Genting Highlands. It was also where I had my first cable car ride. See,
that trip back in 2007 was a series of firsts for myself; thus, when I was given
another chance to visit Genting Highlands a decade and a half later, it falls
into that winning in life kind of special moment.
From 2007 to 2022
15 years is a long
time, and much has changed in my life on the road since my first journey to
Malaysia. The experience stoked my wanderlust, and I have since traveled
throughout Asia to places like India, Sri Lanka, Japan, Israel, Jordan, Egypt,
Taiwan, and nearly every Southeast Asian country. I also became a travel
journalist, publishing over a hundred and fifty stories in print while
maintaining this travel blog.
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| And another one |
If I had to write a
book about traveling life, the chapter about Malaysia and Genting Highlands
would definitely make the first few pages.
The Return to
Genting Highlands
Almost couple of
hours after leaving Ibis Hotel in KL, we finally made our way along a snaking,
ascending road towards the peak of Mount Ulu Kali in the Titiwangsa Mountains,
where the hilltop resort town of Genting Highlands is perched.
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| One of the many thrilling rides at Genting Highlands |
I began to feel the
cool weather as I touched the glass of our bus, and outside, I could make out
the formation of a thickening fog over the verdant forest on the mountainside.
A wave of anticipation similar to the one I remember experiencing fifteen years
ago started to wash over me.
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| There are hundreds of dining options including popular ones like Din Tai Fung |
“What does it look
like now?” I pondered. Being one of Malaysia's most popular tourist
destinations, Genting Highlands is likely much more developed now than it was a
decade ago, so I was prepared to either see familiar sights or be amazed by the
changes.
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| Group lunch |
Silly me to even
expect to see almost the same things as I did back in 2007. As soon as we
walked onto our separate gondolas, I couldn't help but note the breathtaking
expansion of the Genting Highlands.
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| Aside from rides, there are also interactive museums and themed attractions from Hollywood films |
While I quickly
noticed the familiar giant malls and the 7,351-room First World Hotel, I was stunned
to see a bunch of other outdoor attractions spread out on the hilltop.
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| On specific spots, a live performance is held at certain times of the day |
We hastily strolled
into Genting SkyWorlds as soon as we reached the main gondola station. Once known as 20th Century Fox World
Malaysia, a theme park planned by 20th Century Fox inspired by movies, it
canceled its license agreement. It was then renamed Genting SkyWorlds. There
are nine different themed worlds, including Andromeda Base, Rio, Robots Rivet
Town, Central Park, Eagle Mountain, Epic, Ice Age, Liberty Lane, and Studio
Plaza.
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| You would need a day or two to try out all the rides |
Adjacent to the
SkyWorlds is Malaysia's highest shopping mall, the appropriately called
SkyAvenue, which is 1,800 meters above sea level. You may find a variety of
retail and dining options here, including a mock Malaysian Food Street lined
with hawker stalls serving local cuisines and the Skytropolis Funland's Indoor
Theme Park, where kids can choose from over 20 fun rides.
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| 4D Independence Day Defiance |
The whole morning
lasting to early afternoon not only made me quickly reach my 10,000 step-quota,
I also had a blast on the only amusement park ride we took, the 4D
Independence Day Defiance, which reminded me of the equally fun Harry
Potter 4D ride at Universal
Studios in Osaka, Japan, that I took in 2016.
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| Chin Swee Cave Temple |
On our skycable
ride back, we passed by the Chin Swee Cave Temple. The late Tan Sri Lim Goh
Tong, the founder of the Genting Group, donated a 28-acre parcel of rocky
wooded land for the construction of this Taoist temple, which is in the most
scenic area in the Genting Highlands. It was built in memory of Reverend Master
Chin Swee, a Buddhist monk from the Fujian province known for his prodigious
powers to fend off bad spirits and call down rain.
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| Covered with fog, it appears like a scene from a dream |
As we got to our
tour bus to take us back to Kuala Lumpur,
I took one more look at the Genting Highlands, which remains visible
from the other side of the mountain. Despite the fog gradually concealing its
tip, I could see the lights shining clearly against the gloomy sky. I remember
that day back in 2007, when I told my older brother, “I wanted to do this
again," not literally referring to
visiting mountaintop theme parks but rather the act of traveling over and over
again.
In a full circle, I
returned to the Genting Highlands, able to do exactly that. I'm not done yet.
The wanderlust continues.
