By Doods A. Amora, PEE
THE MORNING AFTER (Friday, Oct 26, 2007)
A clear beautiful Friday morning finally came and we were all ready for the day. We were joined by Noralyn, a Filipina from Manila who was once a TV commercial model and Sharmaine, a beauty from Sri Lanka. Like my daughter Kitty, Noralyn and Sharmaine are now functioning as Cabin Crew of Qatar Airways.
Kitty then announced that she would be treating us to a surprise respite in a cool breezy place called Genting Highlands.
“Highlands…? You mean, bukid, bundok?” I asked because opposite to my intentions, my own map was to go direct to the Petronas Towers and conquer her. But this time it’s not for me to complain. Kitty was the ‘secretary-general’ pre-arranging our itinerary and the ‘finance officer’ paying for the bills in this trip. Besides, the trip package & tickets had already been purchased the day ahead.
(From Left to Right): Sharmaine, Kitty, and Noralyn)
We were seven then, so we needed two teksi’s to bring us to the Central Station.
We hurried as we needed to catch the 9:30 morning bus to the highlands; otherwise, the trip would be ruined. But a second taxi was difficult to find in such peak traffic hours in a financial district, so the four of us, puro bagong salta, went ahead.
The taxi driver, sensing that we were first-timer tourists and knowing that there’s a bus to catch, pulled out his bag of tricks. Acting as a tourist guide, he gave details on what we saw along the way, what the landmarks are all about and the important edifices & personalities in Malaysia.
We realized he did not flag down the meter and when prompted, he said, “Walang problema”, nag Tagalog, pa! When we reached the Central Station, he concluded for RM20 (a favorite figure among taxi drivers in KL). A brief debate ensued but we gave in, anyway. It was not good for our health and the bus on schedule was already beckoning us. The bus, this time was more important than the taxi driver.
Charge to experience… this will never happen again, we promised. Later, we were advised that before taking a free-lance taxi, it should be made clear whether flag-down or un-metered. Para bagang sa Manila, e, “contrata”?
THE BUS RIDE TO THE MOUNTAINS
Starting off from the KL Sentral Station (KLSS), an air-conditioned 44-seater Luxury Coach brought us up to so-called Skyway Station in the mountains of Gohtong Jaya, some 60 kilometers away from the city. We understood that from the Skyway Station, we needed another ride, this time on a Cable Car to reach “Genting Highlands – the City of Entertainment”, our destination for the day.
Malaysian Hi-way Going to the Mountains: Note the Terraces-like Hillsides
The forty-minute all-climb bus ride was a total comfort - no sweat. With no sleep in the previous day, I was tempted to invoke dreamland but not so with the sceneries I feasted along the way.
The Highway: Again, one of the first things I noticed was the road network. On a clear day, I had much better views on them and to think that we were climbing up the mountains, I anticipated the technology of the urbanities to be waning, as we would go deeper into the countryside.
Another Sample of the Malaysian Hi-way Going to the Mountains
But I was wrong. While spreeing up to the mountains, I saw the same quality roads uniformly in asphalt gray until we reached the Gohtong Jaya Skyway Station.
Still bump-less, flawless… and the hillsides ripped-rapped with concrete complete with water flow control to prevent landslides, very much similar to what I found in the outskirts of Hong Kong.
The Typical Malaysian Hi-way
But in Kuala Lumpur, they made it like rice terraces. And they made staircase-like concrete waterways right on the natural concentrated route of sliding waters, in effect as I imagined, making waters from the hills seem to look like miniature cascading waterfalls down to the open storm drain at the sides of the road. And there were several hundreds of them, I thought.
Then the forest…: In Kuala Lumpur, motoring to an authentic forest only takes 10 minutes. In fact, within the urban Kuala Lumpur itself, real centuries-old forests can be found within the city. The Malaysians must have preserved them as integral parks in the metropolis and I realized how high their esteem towards Mother Nature is. Something like harmoniously blending mother earth with man-made frailties, so to speak.
Malaysian Hi-way Going to the Mountains. Note the Real Centuries-Old Forest Being Preserved.
And flower garden parks too, beautiful tropical flowers along the way…, embellishing the sides of the roads.
Look at The Flower Parks at the Sides of the Roads… Pleasantly Amazing!
The Power Grid Towers: As we climbed the hills, so with the high voltage towers at both sides of the highway. Striking was that, while in the Philippines we have single or double circuit lines on the towers, what I saw in Kuala Lumpur were two-double circuit (4–circuits) transmission systems side by side with another set of transmission lines in separate towers. Malaysia has 132, 275 and 500 kilo-volt transmission systems criss-crossing the countryside. As I learned later, the 500kV transmission system is the single largest transmission system to be ever developed in Malaysia. Valued at RM1.6 billion (PhP 20 billion), the system forms the new backbone of the National Grid.
Gardens at the Sides of the Roads…
As a sidelight, the increasing demand of power in Malaysia had been forecast at 7.8% per year and is expected to reach 20,087 MW in 2010 (compared to the Philippines’ 15,350 MW by 2010).
Malaysia is set to expand the country’s generating capacity to 27,111 MW by 2010 (that is to include the Sabah Territory), from the recent 20,244 MW (compared to the Philippines’ recent of only 12,910 MW). Malaysia’s power generation in 2004 reached 78.24 billion kW-hr while in comparison, only 56.57 billion kW-hr for the Philippines.
The Two-Double Circuit Transmission Tower
Considering the population of Malaysia at only 24.8 million as against the Philippines’ 91.5 million in land areas of almost the same, power demand in the Philippines could have been much greater than Malaysia should the population consumption alone be made as basis. The large discrepancy in power generation could thus be attributed to the much greater per capita power consumption (indicative of the economic well-being of the common citizen) and the industries in Malaysia which must be in much staggering proportions compared to the Philippines.
Typical Malaysian Transmission System
Malaysia’s Power Grid today is interconnected with Singapore Power at a capacity of 200 MW through 230 kV submarine cables and 80 MW capacity at 132 kV with Thailand’s Electricity Generation Authority (EGAT) transmission network. A second interconnection with Thailand at 300 kV DC, 300 MW capacity is now said under way to completion.
Distribution lines are of 36 kV, 22 kV, 11kv, 6.9 kV and 415/240 volt in the Malaysia distribution network.
That’s for the engineers to think of.
A SKYHIGH EXPERIENCE
Anyway, after forty minutes of uphill ride, we finally arrived at the Skyway Station. Linking from its Main Station to Highlands Hotel, the Genting Skyway Cable Car System offers a very convenient and high tech, super smooth ride up to the resort city at the mountain peak.
Then I remembered the cable cars in Tagaytay Highlands.
What would it be like in Genting? As the hype flies, “the Genting Skyway does not only enhance the international fame of Genting Highlands Resort but also places Malaysia as a famous location for one of the most modern cable car system, making Genting Highlands Resort a more attractive holiday destination”.
Scaling the Heights on the Cable Car: Note on the Untouched Forests & the Angles of Descents & AscentsWhen we rode on the thrilling Genting Skyway cable car, scaling the steep heights made our senses come alive! The loftiness was ten or twenty times than that of Tagaytay Highlands and the angle of ascent to the hills - 30 degrees, 40 degrees sometimes 45 degrees, or even more! And the distance traveled was 3.5 kilometers!
No wonder why it has been said that the Skyway is a tourist attraction in its own right. In a journey back to nature, this ‘Skyway’ provides incredible breathtaking views of the 100 million years untouched rainforest up and below our eyes. The ride to the peak treated us the spectacle of the lush surrounding mountains at a comfortable speed that got us to the top in perfect moods.
The Eight-Seater Gondola
Officially opened a decade ago in 1997, the RM128 million (PhP 1.6 billion) Genting Skyway had become the busiest skyway in the world with a capacity to ferry 2,000 people per hour each way with 8 passengers per gondola. “At the maximum speed of 360 meters per minute, the 3.5 kilometers journey up the mountain peak takes only 12 minutes. Recognized as the “World’s Fastest Mono Cable Car System” and the “Longest Cable Car in Southeast Asia”, lately, some 22 million passengers have since experienced a ride on this state-of-the-art cable car”, the literature reads.
The LEITNER Cable Car System
“State-of-the art… huh?” I asked loudly enough to be heard by the seven of us in the gondola. Being a maintenance manager & lecturer myself, I speculated (forgive me) how maintenance is operating in this system and how skillful the technicians are. “What if this thing trips off and we are here, up in the air, helpless? How would they rescue us? And there are thousands of us hanging in the air. How soon should our time come?” Everybody then kept their mouths shut. I felt guilty & responsible; I sensed Noralyn closing her lovely eyes and started uttering some prayers.
The Landing at Genting City Station: Note of the Angle of Approach
THE CABLE CAR SYSTEM
While busy feasting on new things, I took time in looking for a nameplate. I found one that says, “Leitner”. It must have been Swiss made. Of course, remember the Alps - the Swiss engineers must have been the trusted experts for this kind of technology. Subsequent research on the technical aspects of this wonder, finds me the following:
My daughter Kitty; and my two 'Adopted Daughters': Noralyn & Sharmaine… on the Gondola
Manufactured by Leitner of Switzerland, the two - 850 horsepower main drives and the 2.15 inch cable wire made it one of the most powerful and strongest mono-cable gondola installations in the world. The entire system with high-tech electronic equipment was built in accordance with stringent Swiss regulations & standards and it has a double safety circuit completely independent and absolutely fault safe.
Ah, nothing to worry…
The 100 Million Years Old Untouched Woodlands
According to its technical bulletin, “the foundation used for the pylons is of the "Hang-Dug Caisson" type. Each pylon is founded on four Caissons measuring 1.2 meters in diameter, which are socketed down to the bedrocks. The average depth of the Caissons is about 40 m (135 feet) and each group of four Caissons piles can take a vertical load of 4,000 tons against the maximum vertical load of 150 tons from the cable car system. The Caissons method is about the safest and strongest foundation in existence, designed specifically for hilly terrain. Each pylon is accessible via rescue tracks on the ground, while each gondola is equipped with radio communication equipment from the stations.”
A Partial Glimpse of the Genting Highlands Outdoor Theme Park, Malaysia’s Premier Resort
THE GENTING HIGHLANDS
Then we set foot at the “Genting Highlands or The City of Entertainment”, the magnificent city on the mountaintop is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Malaysia.
On top of Titiwangsa Mountain Range in the border between the states of Pahang and Selangor; Genting is a mountain peak and is home to the famous mountain resort by the same name. Genting Highlands Resort offers the bountiful harvest of nature together with a surprising potpourri of international standard facilities.
Another Partial Glimpse of the GentingHighlands Outdoor Theme Park.
Sprawling at an altitude of 2,000 meters above sea level (500 meters higher than Baguio City, and 950 meters short of Mt. Apo of the Philippines), Genting Highlands enjoys a cool climate, with temperatures generally staying in the 14-25 deg C range yearly. The crisp invigorating mountain atmosphere complemented by majestic scenery satiates one’s souls & eyes. Lush green tropical rainforest shrouded in a veil of perpetual mist, fog and clouds makes it hard to believe that we were just minutes away from the sweltering equatorial heat of the city. On a clear day, there are stunning views down into the valley — but when it's raining, Genting City would be swathed in rolling clouds and visibility dropping to zero.
That’s me and my Wife, in the Genting Highlands Outdoor Theme Park 
The Flying Coaster Ride – the First in Asia
To my observation, there are only two kinds of people in Genting Highlands – the tourists and the Genting employees. Genting Highlands was founded in the 1960’s by Tan Sri Lim Goh Tong, one of the richest men in Asia who at 93 just passed away three days before we came to Kuala Lumpur. Genting Group of Companies employ over 36,000 globally and have 11,000 acres (44 square kilometers) of prime resort land and 175,000 acres (708 square kilometers) of land for plantation. The group combined market capitalization is US $11 billion. Wow!
My Family in the Roller Coaster Ride
The resort includes two theme parks (the outdoor & the indoor), both with dozens of amusement rides and attractions suitable for the entire family - making it a blend of the charms of Disneyland and the thrills of Las Vegas. Other facilities in this resort include Hotels, Shopping Malls, Sky Diving Simulator, Space Shot, Corkscrew, Snow World, Concert Halls, Equestrian Facilities, a challenging 18-Hole, Par-71 Golf Course and many more. It is also home to a 100-million-year-old forest that one can see on its surroundings.
That’s Me, my Wife and my Son Boboy
Genting is Malaysia's family-friendly, sanitized attempt at Las Vegas, as it is the only legal land-based casino in the country. Genting Highlands Resort also features many hotels owned by Genting Group of Companies including Genting Highlands Hotel, Resort Hotel, First World Hotel, Theme Park Hotel and Awana Genting. Except Awana, all hotels in Genting are connected by sheltered walkways and escalators, so we never actually need to go outside. The entire complex is, theoretically, wheelchair accessible.
That’s the Group in Awe – Witnessing the Space Shot!!!!
There used to be band concerts scheduled during the nights, and the mainstays usually are Filipino performers. But Beer Drinking as a nightlife in Genting is very limited. There were a few bars in the entire complex, but expect to pay north of RM20 (PhP 240) for a single drink. Even the convenience stores are charging RM12 (PhP 144) for a single can of beer! There are several cafes such as Starbucks Coffee and Coffee Beans & Tea Leaf available in Genting Highlands.
Better drink the coffee to the brink, they cost much less than the beer!
THE GENTING CITY HOTELS
With 10,000 hotel rooms to choose from, there are usually plenty of beds at Genting.
The Thrill in the Spinner…!First World Hotel: This two tower three-star monolith with stylish exterior paint used to be the largest in the entire world, with 6,118 rooms. The main selling point of this hotel is the price: while tagged rate is RM240 during peak seasons of November and December, advance booking weekday off-season promotions go for as little as RM20.
The Most Challenging Ride, The Flying Coaster: The first in Asia that Hurls Oneself Through the Air at Zero Gravity…
First World Hotel surpassed MGM LAS VEGAS, the former largest hotel in the world with 5,690 rooms. However, as of December of 2006, when the MGM Grand opened a number of new rooms in its Signature towers, the First World Hotel lost the title as MGM Las Vegas grabbed it again.
First World Plaza inside the First World Hotel is Malaysia's self-proclaimed highest shopping mall. The Plaza is a mix of indoor theme park and shopping malls with replicas of random landmarks from around the world.
Inside The First World Plaza Indoor Theme Park
Genting Hotel: This 5-star hotel offers a wide range of entertainment and recreational facilities such as heated indoor swimming pool, 10 restaurants (including the award-winning The Olive), and a large karaoke center. This exclusive hotel is open only to invited high rollers and Genting WorldCard Silver cardholders and their invited guests, similar to Tagaytay Highlands’ VIP cards.
The Resort Hotel: That’s Where We Took Our Lunch…!
Resort Hotel: Resort Hotel is a four-star hotel adjacent to the Genting Hotel with its own section of the Casino and three F&B outlets.
Then there’s the ‘Theme Park Hotel’, a French-themed castle-village-hotel notionally modeled on the 16th-century village of Colmar in Alsace, France, complete with drawbridge. It ranks as a 3 star hotel, with affordable yet comfortable rooms.
The Lobby of the 5-Star Resort HotelTHE WAY BACK TO GOHTONG JAYA
Exhausted from sight seeing, dining, shopping, wandering kilometers around and a dozen rides; it’s now time to go back to the city.
Already in late afternoon, the sun seemed to shy away ahead and must have retired early such that the clouds, the mist and fog took over. As the showers fell, visibility was almost zero! We could no longer see what’s below and above us.
The French – Inspired Theme Park HotelOf course the gondola ride downstream via the Skyway was supposed to be very smooth as expected. Fine…
But then halfway, the cable car system tripped off! The sudden stop made the gondola swinging freely and to think that we were over hundreds of meters from the floor of the valley below us. Then, everybody in the gondola must have recalled my comments earlier in the day.
The USA inside the First World Plaza…“No problem my dear ladies, drive motors do trip, it’s always normal in operations like this.” In a reassuring tone, I meant it, no more, no less. It could be part of the thrill. And the cable car started again. Somebody must have reset the controls. From the feel of it, the drive must have been a variable frequency one. Fine…
But then, it tripped again, Four times more! Ha!
I noticed my wife clinging to a bar of the gondola, least of breaking it, and close to emitting tears while praying. And, Noralyn, yes, more silent but more purposive… Haha! I needed to be perceived as unconcerned, at least.
The First World Hotel in Two Imposing Monoliths:
Once the Largest Hotel in the World…!
Then at last, we arrived back to the Gohtong Jaya station. To our relief, everything’s well, that ends well. Somebody out there must have jumpered a relay contact.
Riding on the bus back to Kuala Lumpur made me ponder again, Malaysia, Truly Asia, a destination indeed.
Back to the hotel, I found myself drained and dead-tired. Before I knew it, faster than Muhammad Ali’s jab, I fell asleep before my back touched my bed…
But then, PETRONAS, tomorrow I’ll conquer your splendor, I dreamed…
Bitin? Abangan ang susunod na kabanata…
(To be continued…)
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