Very Insane Personas

 

It's my first bus ride up to Genting. All motion sickness aside, I saw things that I will most likely never get to spot while in the car. Usually I'll tag along with the rest of the Lotus Club members for a drive up, zigzagging along the sharp corners and bents. One time it spun on wet tarmac up on a hill there somewhere. That was some kind of insanity.

This time, MySelangorStory journey to Genting Highlands may not be as exhilarating with the engines roaring away behind my ears but I assure you, this ride is just as mind-altering. No money in the world can buy this experience. So seat back and enjoy the show I mean entry ;).

Let the spectacular story begin, part deux.

 

The moment we arrived at Genting Highlands First World Hotel, we were welcomed like Very Important Personnels. But I like to think it as Very Insane Personas (What? It's true!). Every Senior Management from Resorts World Genting made effort to be there with us at the entrance. We were all aware about their tight schedules but to know that the Senior Management actually took the time for us made the trip even sweeter than ice cream. Even Tabby and Allie walked with us!

Ok I know, why is a 25 year old getting excited over two oversized mascots? To be honest, I've watched game show hosted by Genting every Saturday on TV3 more than a decade ago and the closest I've seen them (if it weren't for television), it would be the statues placed in front of Wisma Genting at Jalan Sultan Ismail. So it's been, you can say a childhood dream of mine to see them. Being able to take photos with them was enough to fuel me to jump over the moon I tell you! 

I must admit, I have a 200 year soul in a 25 year old body with a 5 year old heart. Err.. does that make more sense? Nevermind.

Oh did I mentioned YB Elizabeth Wong was also there to have lunch with us? :)

We were then ushered over to Maxim's Club for our much awaited luncheon. Boy were we glad to see the food... the desserts were so appetizing, it's a sin.

  

Don't you just feel the love we were embraced by Resorts World Genting? Sigh. Never in a million years did I saw this coming..ever. Seriously.

 

Both Dato' Anthony Yeo, Senior Vice President of PR & Communications and YB Elizabeth Wong gave a speech each, telling us how Genting first started off as a dream that came to the late Tan Sri Dato Seri Dr. Lim Goh Tong. 

See, every place we go, everyone we know will somehow have a story to tell; whether it's about themselves or the events they've seen. Everyone has a story worth listening to.

By a stroke of luck, 7 of us were picked to dine with Dato' Anthony Yeo and YB Elizabeth Wong. Lady luck must be in a good mood as of late.

Oh. And each of us were given an all day pass to outdoor/indoor theme park,  10k worth of WorldCard points (RM100), RM100 worth of Holiday Card, One night stay at Superior Deluxe with View in First World Hotel, VIP Access to Dazzle and breakfast buffet at World Club Lounge. Indeed we were spoiled rotten. My jaw literally dropped when Mr. Philip announced it to us. Resorts World Genting, you sure know how to welcome your guests. Hands freaking down baby!

Back in the 90's when Genting wasn't what it is today, things were much simpler. There'll be butterflies hanging on the wall of the souvenir shops but today, they have Galleria where guests can learn the history behind Tan Sri Dato' Seri Lim Goh Tong's vision. A remarkable visit.

Sooooooo.....with RM200 in our pocket and a pass to make use of, there's only one place we planned to go. That's right. Theme park!

After 5 years, I have finally come to terms that as much fun and exciting theme parks are, I am just not really a big fan of them. I love theme parks but not so much when it comes to extreme rides. How did I know this? It went all the way back in London when a friend told me upfront that it's not worth it for me to spend money to any theme park since I don't go to all the rides. 

Perhaps it's the society we are brought up in, everyone loves theme parks. Everyone enjoys the fun feeling that comes with it. In away theme parks are usually associated with letting loose and to some it goes as far as freedom. And as we grow up, some of us would love to be part of that society rather than being different.

Being a non-conformist, I therefore will have to bare the consequences of missing out some of the happiness that theme parks bring. 

I do however enjoy bumper cars :) Just anything not scary basically. Haha.

True, you can throw me into the track doing stunts with a car or a muddy slope with an ATV, heck throw in some dangerous waves for white water rafting - I am scared to death about roller coasters (and horror rides). I'm totally cool being hit hundred of times with a paintball rifle but I can't for the life of me bungee jump.

I did reverse bungee and paragliding tho :)

Indeed, I am a weirdo and I'm proud of it!

  

This ride caught my eyes for it's very colourful ceiling :) not brave enough to go on the ride.

 

TV Selangor also joined our crazy journey and recorded many events we weren't sure if it's a good thing for others to watch. Afzal makes half of TV Selangor, the other is Imran. They're always there wherever we turned our heads :P

I like to observe. Participating in this feels like my heart is being snatched with bare hand. Ouch. When the theme park closed at 7pm, we went to the top of the hill and took scenic photos of this wild resort. I don't remember it being this colourful at first. I must have not been here for the longest time.

The schedule for the night was for us to meet up at The Pavilion by 8.45pm for the Dazzle show. It has the circus feel from outside looking in. In reality, it's like an auditorium.. sort of.

 

There we were briefed regarding this VIP access we were given. Never before had they granted any special pass to guests for their shows yet we managed to get this one time only opportunity to take photos during the Dazzle show. At first we were allowed 15 minutes to snap but Mr. Philip then allowed us to take throughout the show except for a few shows like Statue of Jerome Murat, The Invincible Man & Hand Shadow. 

Apa lagi (Malay for what else)..we took our cameras and snap snap snap snap snap like there's no tomorrow.

What's Dazzle! about? It's a 60 minute show with several different segments to entertain us including the Statue of Jerome Murat from France, award-winning magician Ernesto Planas, Sonny Fontana the hand shadow master and Duo Presto, the quick change illusion act. We were given front row seats and Spectre, who sat beside me was picked by Ernesto to take part in his magic show. Hehe, dude looked clueless but everyone had fun! 

When we had to sit in front, my heart was beating so fast, it felt like it was about to jump out of my body because I knew one of us will be invited to be part of the show. As much as I love the unknown, I am just as nervous about it. 

All this could not have been possible if it weren't for Resorts World Genting support as well as Tourism Selangor, MySelangorStory and Amelia. 

We even got the chance to meet Charles Gluck who was the mime behind Statue of Jerome Murat, even if it were for a brief moment. French really trademarked the art of miming.

After full day of doing all kinds of activities, we finally head back to our own rooms. You read that right. All 26 of us were given individual rooms to stay. Madness!

Excuse the mess in the photo below but among the many hotels I've stayed, this is one room I really felt like home. Maybe it's the warm lit room, perhaps the mustard colour featured wall (which many pointed out when they visited my room). I dunno. All I know was that, I was really really reaaaalllllly enjoying this room all to myself. It's cooler with the view of the theme park outside too. And all this for free. Oh wow.

Even Sheepy loved it :P

So how shall I sum my day in Genting? Only one photo can speak for me.

:) That's it folks. That's Day 2 Part 2. If you like this post, head over to MySelangorStory and vote it. 

What could possibly be better than this on our Day 3? That's for me to know and for all of you to find out!