Ups and downs of a visit to the Genting Highlands

Ups and downs of a visit to the Genting Highlands

Hera Diani, The Jakarta Post, Genting Highlands, Malaysia

The crisp, invigorating air welcomed me as I arrived at Genting
Highlands Resort, perched atop a hilltop just 50 kilometers
northeast of Kuala Lumpur, or about a two-hour drive from the
capital.

But I gasped for more oxygen as I saw hundreds of people with
their luggage swarming the lobby of First World Hotel.

There were probably 10 counters and several signs stating
"this group check in here". A few blank moments later, my eyes
caught a sign on the pole right in the middle of the lobby,
telling me to "get a number to check in".

I joined a snaking queue with a few dozen other tourists. An
elderly Singaporean man behind me grumbled, "There is nowhere in
the world where we'd have to be like this. I'd rather pay more
than having to queue like this".

It was Sunday afternoon, perhaps a perfect time to gamble at
the country's one and only casino that draws tourists from all
over the world. But there were also families milling around,
ready to try out the theme park and family entertainment center.

Neither a gambler nor with any dependents on hand, I came at
local newspaper The Star's invitation to see the gala performance
of the Dances of the Dynasties, an internationally acclaimed
Chinese musical and cultural extravaganza.

When my turn came, the hotel staff could not find my name on
the booking list. A couple of agonizing phone calls later, I
found out that I had been transferred to nearby Genting Hotel.

A bit exhausted, I was finally able to check into my room at
the less modern designed five-star Genting Hotel, but the plus
was that it was far less crowded.

The room was pretty decent, as opposed to a colleague's
description of the standard hotel rooms at the aforementioned
resort, with shocking pink curtains and corny interior design,
allegedly aimed at getting people out of their rooms to keep
rolling the dice.

My room seemed OK, until I found nothing inside the minibar
but a solitary pot of water. Fine, I thought: I'll head outside.

Nestled 2,000 meters above sea level, Genting Highlands is the
most developed hill resort in Malaysia, offering a cool respite
from steamy Kuala Lumpur, with consistent temperatures between 16
and 23 Celsius degrees.

It was unusually cold when I was there, with the temperature
below 16 degrees and mist shrouding the area.

Many Malaysians (Muslim Malaysian citizens are prohibited from
visiting the casinos) head for the Genting Highlands for its
nightlife like discos, indoor and outdoor theme parks, as well as
a concert hall seating 6,000.

Lovers of the links can enjoy an 18-hole golf course amid a
rain forest, while the eco-minded should visit the Awana Eco Park
at the bottom of the mountain range, offering a variety of
adventures.

Unfortunately, the chilly weather and mist prevented me from
going outside, although I really would have like to have plunged
along the Corkscrew, or to try the boat ride, monorail and the
skyway. The latter is the tallest and longest cable car system in
Southeast Asia.

Instead, I wandered around the place.

Genting Hotel is connected with other four establishments:
Highlands, Resort, Theme Park and First World, as well as the
indoor theme park. No wonder the taxi driver smirked when I asked
him to drive me from First World to Genting.

Guests ranging from black burqa-clad Arabian women, Indians in
saris and kurta, to chic Chinese decked out in leather, patronize
its restaurants, shops and swimming pools.

In welcoming the Chinese New Year, the resort was decorated
with Chinese ornaments and several artists exhibited traditional
artworks, from paintings to dough toys.

I had the Malay cuisine nasi lemak (rice cooked in coconut
milk with side dishes of chicken and salted fish) for lunch,
feasting on the delicious meal in the middle of the indoor theme
park. Afterwards, I strolled by the row upon row of slot
machines.

Again, with no interest in gambling, I went back to my room to
prepare for the gala performance of the Chinese troupe.

Comprising 80 members, the group showcases the culture,
traditions and way of life of the middle kingdom, spanning 5,000
years and highlighting the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing
dynasties.

Unfortunately, aside from the impressive 1,000 sets of
costumes and accessories, the dance itself was nothing to write
home about, except for a brief acrobatic show by a young boy and
a couple of men, which was very attractive and daring.

The dance, in all its over-the-top extravagance, reminded me
of the drag show in Phuket, Thailand, only the latter is funnier
and livelier.

I left the next morning by taxi to Kuala Lumpur. The mist was
drifting away to reveal the lush green of the tropical rain
forest. I only wished that I had had more time to see more and
try the outdoor activities.

It is amazing that our neighboring country has been able to
devise a one-stop resort for family and gamblers alike that
attracts international visitors. An artificial world amid natural
surroundings, it's an odd match, although the place is nowhere
near as plastic as Singapore's Sentosa Island.

I may go back one day. Next time, I would bring more money to
try out some slot machines and table games and, of course, some
more company along for the ride.