Malaysia is a memorable country for me because it was where I took my first international trip—and my first airplane flight. Yes, I was a late bloomer in terms of air travel, only able to afford it after entering the corporate world.
Genting Highlands More than a Decade Later | Malaysia
Imagine my amazement upon stepping foot on foreign soil for the first time. Kuala Lumpur was the destination for my older brother and me. Even though I was already fond of traveling, having been a member of the UST Mountaineering Club in college and an avid beachgoer, this trip to Malaysia was what I could point out as the catalyst for kickstarting my wanderlust.
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 felt sore. Tired yet fulfilled, we would set out the next day to satisfy our curiosity by walking miles between bus and train rides.
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. That trip back in 2007 was a series of firsts for me; thus, when I was given another chance to visit Genting Highlands a decade and a half later, it felt like a "winning in life" kind of special moment.
From 2007 to 2022
Fifteen 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.
If I had to write a book about a traveler's life, the chapter on Malaysia and the Genting Highlands would definitely make the first few pages.
The Return to Genting Highlands
Almost a couple of hours after leaving the Ibis Hotel in Kuala Lumpur, we finally made our way along a snaking, ascending road toward the peak of Mount Ulu Kali in the Titiwangsa Mountains, where the hilltop resort town of Genting Highlands is perched.
I began to feel the cool weather as I touched the glass of our bus; outside, I could make out the formation of thickening fog over the verdant forest on the mountainside. A wave of anticipation similar to the one I remembered experiencing fifteen years prior started to wash over me.
“What does it look like now?” I pondered. As one of Malaysia's most popular tourist destinations, the Genting Highlands was likely much more developed than it had been a decade prior, so I was prepared to either see familiar sights or be amazed by the changes.
It was silly of me to expect to see the same things I did back in 2007. As soon as we stepped into our separate gondolas, I couldn't help but note the breathtaking expansion of Genting Highlands.
While I quickly noticed the familiar giant malls and the 7,351-room First World Hotel, I was stunned to see a variety of other outdoor attractions spread out across the hilltop.
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 and inspired by its movies—the project's licensing agreement was canceled before it was 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.
Adjacent to SkyWorlds is Malaysia's highest shopping mall, the appropriately named SkyAvenue, situated 1,800 meters above sea level. Visitors can find a variety of retail and dining options here, including a mock Malaysian Food Street lined with hawker stalls serving local cuisine, and the Skytropolis Funland indoor theme park, where children can choose from over twenty fun rides.
The whole morning, lasting into the early afternoon, not only helped me quickly reach my 10,000-step quota, but I also had a blast on the only amusement park ride we took: the 4D Independence Day Defiance. It reminded me of the equally fun Harry Potter 4D ride at Universal Studios Japan in Osaka, which I experienced in 2016.
On our cable car ride back, we passed by the Chin Swee Caves Temple. The late Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong, founder of the Genting Group, donated a twenty-eight-acre parcel of rocky, wooded land for the construction of this Taoist temple, which sits in the most scenic area of the Genting Highlands. It was built in memory of Reverend Master Chin Swee, a Buddhist monk from Fujian Province known for his prodigious powers to fend off evil spirits and summon rain.
As we boarded our tour bus to return to Kuala Lumpur, I took one more look at the Genting Highlands, which remained visible from the other side of the mountain. Despite the fog gradually concealing its peak, I could see the lights shining clearly against the gloomy sky. I remembered that day back in 2007, when I told my older brother, “I want to do this again”—not literally referring to visiting mountaintop theme parks, but rather to the act of traveling over and over again.
In a full-circle moment, I returned to the Genting Highlands, able to do exactly that. I am not done yet. The wanderlust continues.
