Rombongan Cik Kiah Naik Genting!!

For the sake of my children, I waived my principle a bit last Saturday. It seems that everyone else's children have been to Genting Theme Park except mine. I've been stalling the idea of bringing them up there simply because I abhor the fact that a big casino is situated in the same vicinity. So when a group from the hospital that iKelah works in, planned on this trip and invited us to join, we agreed. It was a typical 'rombongan' trip, only that our family took the car and the rest went on a bus. We started an hour late as iKelah was on-call the night before. Despite our tardiness, we managed to overtake the bus after Temerloh's toll. Funnily, prior the journey , the group-leader assured us that he'll wait for us as naturally he expected us to be late. "Jangan risau Doktor. Saya akan tunggu doktor. Biarlah mereka naik dulu." When we overtook them, iKelah remarked, "See, I knew we'll reach the place first. I know all the itty-gritty of traveling in a big group. Once you stop at the R and R, everyone will disperse in all directions and it'll be so difficult to group them back together in time!" So finally it was us who had to wait for them instead.

We took the 20 minutes cable car ride up. It wasn't my first cable-car ride. The first time was during my visit up Great Wall of China at Badaling section with my sis OG. The higher we ascended, the colder my feet got and my hands were clammy and sweaty. I told no one of my fear and kept cool back then. This time round, I was visited by the same sensation, all cold and clammy. Worst still, my skeptical eyes caught something that increased my adrenaline rush! And I kept on looking and scrutinizing it from afar, at the next gondola which iKelah occupied (yes, my sweet, caring husband chose to sit in a different car when I am in dire straits!!) I noticed that each car was hanging precariously from the cable line, with only half-feet of metal contraption grasping the line. Imagine! The weight of the whole gondola and 8 passengers were supported only by approximately 6 inch of contact to the cable! Even worse, the car was dangling laterally and downwards. How does it maintain balance? My mind kept on asking this frightening question. No wonder the old Indonesian ladies in iKelah's car were reciting the selawat continuously out loud, providing other passengers free nasyid entertainment!

But my kids remained unperturbed through out and even managed to make jokes and laughed at the statues of orang asli, apes and tigers erected by the hill side. Once we heard the cries/laughters of a monkey (or is it hyena? Do we have hyenas in Malaysian jungle?) as though mocking us and it sounded like the shrilly laughter of a pontianak to my imagination. On several occasions, Luqman stood up to admire the luscious, green foliage of the spectacular tropical forest of giant ferns and huge old trees. Already nerve-wrecked, I told him to sit as I don't want the car which was so precariously attached, get imbalanced! (ada ke??) My mind was already imagining scenes of our car falling and was making fervent prayers that should it fall, please chose a safe height where the big giant ferns and tree canopies would act as effective safety net!

Note the precarious 'joint'

On many instances, the cars slowed down to almost a halt and I felt my adrenaline gushing out each time. And my mind was asking incessantly, "Bila nak sampai ni?' nearing the top, we heard a piped-in recorded voice saying, " Terima kasih kerana manaiki Genting Sky Way, cable-car yang terpantas di dunia dan terpanjang di rantau Asia" To this my children scoffed with amused remarks and giggles.

Upon reaching the top, we saw that the whole place was already swarmed with -bees- holiday-makers of various nationalities besides the locals. Definitely a wrong decision to throng the place on a double holiday (Agong's birthday on top of the school hols) Anyway, another 'rombongan' predicament befell us when the group-leader (GL) found out that the travel's agent failed to turn up with the tickets despite having settled all the payments. We had to wait almost 30-40 minutes at the park's entrance when finally the GL had to do the ultimate i.e. withdraw his own money to pay for everyone's entrance fee! hopefully he gets back his money.

Our ticket covered all out-door games, thus we could enjoy any rides, repeatedly without having to pay extra, if you have the guts and energy, that is! And my 'soggy' guts that day told me to be prudent. I let iKelah and the kids 'test' their nerve whilst I bask in the mist-laden atmosphere and observe the 'interesting' people around. Their first endeavor was the cockscrew roller coaster. The whole ride took hardly a minute with the most intense maneuver lasting just a few seconds. Well, cheap thrill are no longer cheap, nowadays! We had a great laugh when we viewed the Polaroid snaps of the four of them. Luqman looked so terrified. Apparently, according to Aliah, he was saying his prayers throughout!

Aliah and Luqman, all smiles, before the cockscrew thrill. Unfortunately I can't post the after picture or the peak of thrill pic as Luqman is embarrassed by it!

Then it rained, heavily. And we decided that we'd better pray since they've extended our exit time to 6 pm. We had no difficulties performing our solah as there were surau (s) scattered all over (though I find it rather ironic!) The management sure have thought of everything to boost their business, I see. I can't help visualising the old wealthy owner standing by the window at his pent-house suit, looking down, stroking his chin, saying to himself "hmmm come people, come all. Thank you for making me rich"

The next gut-wrenching ride that needed to be added to the "I've taken this ride thus I am fearless" list, was the flying-coaster. Luqman and Aliah decided that it was too much for them and forgo-ed it. So the 2 macho guys, Ikelah and Muhammad, got themselves 'caged' up, initially standing up and later the whole cage rotated and they were facing down, prone. The whole cage was un a hanging position and moved down swiftly a series of twisted rail. So the riders would feel as though they were flying very much ala superman himself!

The flying coaster

After an exorbitantly priced lunch in a curry house restaurant (even though the food was nothing to shout about! Should have just taken the fast-food joints) we sauntered around the grounds to finally reach the 'spinner. It's a giant mushroom-like structure with dozens of swings hanging with long chains from the ceiling. As the mushroom rises, pulling all the swings upwards, it rotates clockwise at high speed, thus causing all the swing to spread outwards. Again, only the 2 macho guys dared to take the challenge. I, initially thought of giving it a try but upon remembering my previous vertigo attacks, chickened out. True enough, even iKelah had problems handling the nauseating impact of the swing after the 3rd round.

The spinner

Muhammad on the spinner

The kids asked me, : Aren't you trying any of the rides, mak?" and I pointed to the slow moving cartoon-shaped yellow colored monorail and told them that I might just try it and act wild and shout out loud as though it was a thrilling coaster ride! We planed to take the milder rides like the vintage cars and the paddle-boats but after walking in circles and failing to locate its entrance we abandoned the idea.

We were already waiting near the exit at 15 minutes to 6 pm but we had to further wait another 15 minutes after 6 as some failed to assemble in time. Marching back to the cable car station, we were all dreary and exhausted. The GL made head-counts and realized that 4 more persons were still not out of the park! Masyallah! The agony of joining a rombongan trip! Told my kids to remind me not to agree on such trips next time! The GL apologised explaining that as it was a group ticket we had to exit together. The waiting line was already terribly long where everyone had to snake through a maze-like path. And my poor feet were killing me!

A truly grueling excursion but worthwhile no doubt, as we had fun time together as a family!