Waking up at 6am on a Sunday, our 2nd and last day to Malaysia, we vowed to make the most out of it. We all took turns in flooding the very, very cramped rest room when taking our showers and quickly feasted on our breakfast buffet at the hotel café before heading out to the famed Petronas Towers. As it is, the Towers are a major tourist attraction and therefore one would have to be early just to get in. Our tour guide mentioned that the entrance was free. But getting there after having been separated in two taxi cab rides and got the round around from a crafty taxi driver who charged us double, we found out just how much people wanted to go in that morning and that it wasn’t free anymore.
Lining up to get tickets just to get in, we all took 10 minute shifts in standing in line while the rest stayed along the stair steps and chatted. Finally after about an hour and a half, the lines stirred because an attendant started counting and asking how many people per party are with the ones lining up. Now, not everyone was required to fall in line. Only 1 can line up while the rest waited it out. So it was evident that they were doing a head count. Thinking that it was for those going in within the hour, we were hopeful. But finally the screen at the counter flashed and it said that Tickets available were now for Batch 2 at 1pm. That just pushed us back and threw our schedule out of whack because our tour guide Mr. Bell was slated to pick us up that morning so we could go to Genting Island.
After much debate, we decided to fold and not go up the Towers and instead did lots of photo ops outside, hamming it up and posing by the fountain. Badet, who with her SLR Camera, was the consummate photographer getting shot after shot and directing us individually and as a group. So Badet, when do you open your studio? J
After much posing, it was around 10am and the Tower Mall was open. We walked around and checked the stores. Baby got a cool hoodie and then we got nice shirts at Uni-Qlo and even were rewarded with a nice sturdy tote bag for our purchases. Charm and Jun followed suit and got their own after we combined receipts. Badet and Meanne indulged themselves and each got a bag from ZARA. Next, we indulged ourselves just before lunch with cookies from Famous Amos and later some souvenir items before meeting Mr. Bell outside.
Following that it was division of duties as we had to go back to the hotel to check out. Badet, Charm and Meanne lined up to get lunch while I along with Baby and Jun went back to check out and bring down the luggage but not before I had to pass by the moneychanger for some more Ringgit. Lesson learnt. Have some currency of the country you’re visiting before leaving.
Soon an hour after, and much trek along circuitous roads going up the mountain, we reached Genting Island; a tourist destination which we felt was the equivalent of Baguio, our own summer capital here in Manila, with much fog and cold winds blowing in our faces. With the darkening of the skies and imminent rain, the temperature significantly dropped and Baby with the new hoodie and others strapped in, were very much equipped to deal with it. Expecting a sunny day, 5 of us were actually in shorts so the jackets that we had were a much needed buffer against the cold. We had two options to choose from upon getting there, deal with the cold with the outdoor theme park or be safe inside the hotel beside it as it also houses another theme park. As per the ticket office, we had no guarantee with the weather outside and should the rain come down on us, the outdoor park would be closed and we wouldn’t have a refund. So going inside was the obvious choice.
It turned out to be the better choice actually, as it finally rained when we were getting in through the walkway and the indoor park resembled our very own Star City. Quickly we all took to shopping instead of going on the rides with Baby and I each getting big colourful watches in Padini Authentics; a Malaysian clothing line. Charm also got a shiny metal watch for herself and flashed it around. In between shop hopping, we sat down for coffee and banana muffin as well as two members of the Kurimaw group posing on a vacated stage after an afternoon show; clearly the picture of happy shoppers. Now, would the mall get them as models for their posters? Yes, they should. Wish!
Finally it was time to go and we met Mr. Bell at the bottom of the hill after a much excited and anticipated cable car ride. Riding in the “caboose” we all marvelled at the expanse of the ride’s construction as we glided down from one hill to another, seeing much fog and greenery. The next stop just before getting dropped at the airport was the area of Putrajaya, where most of the government buildings were housed. Passing by the famed bridge, we all took shots while the ever changing shades of the spotlight lighting the bridge served as the perfect colourful backdrop amidst the night sky.
Back in the van, we took shots of the Parliament house, another Grand Mosque and the huge metal archway leading up to it. The area was clean, and a lot of tiled and cemented areas for people to just hang around. I was told by Mr. Bell too that this was the case as people on religious holidays would gather outside the Mosque to observe it, so much consideration for parked cars and assemblage was put into the mapping and landscaping of this clean and efficient area.
Soon with pictures stored, camera batteries drained, we were left at the airport with much time to spare before our return flight to Manila at 1:20am. All of us were down for the count by the time we got to our seats and didn’t even feel the rumble of the plane as we took off. It was 5am when we got back to Manila. We were all tired but happy and looking forward to the next flight when the Kurimaws would be complete and set to conquer another country. Ah it’s Hong Kong next year right guys? J
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