Naughty Liberty Woman at First World Plaza

Genting Highlands, where the most popular gambling resorts was perched, required no introduction. On 6th Nov 2005, The morning coach bus brought me via Second Link beyond the Kuala Lumpar of West Malaysia. I stayed in Resort Hotel which interlinked via passages to other hotels of the same organisation. Tourists were packed, so much so that I had to get a queue number to register and check in. The afternoon was misty with heavy rain, not a good idea to venture outdoor. Therefore, after a bargained buffet hi-tea, I performed a window-shopping at First World Plaza. A amazingly wide array of shopping, food and theme entertainments was housed all within the only shopping mall. So while I was tasting peacefully at a food count, a train of sharp screams along the indoor roller coaster track just sped past me overhead.

The Casino

This was my first experience inside the casino. I was occasionally rejected from entering by hostile bouncer guards for wearing sport shoes; but most of time, I simply pulled down long pants to cover them and sneaked through among the crowd of gamblers. Knowing the difference between rare possibilities and calculative probabilities, I was no fan of gambling when I knew the winning side would always be the banker ultimately (though I was interested in social mahjong). Observing those gamblers concentrating silently in front of jackpots and decker tables, I was bewildered at their fluctuating expressions. Within the walled space polluted with cigarette smokes as well as vice of greed, I was uneasily exposed to the degradation of the mature adulthood. Definitely not my cup of tea, sorry...

The Lift

I was more interested in the theme entertainments which was economically born from the casino buildup. The must-try item was the Sky Venture where common folks could experience the sky-diving thrill mocked up by a big indoor wind tunnel. Before entering the tunnel tube, I was briefed by a helpful instructor and then dressed on a winged suit and a helmet. Initially I was slightly daunted when I witnessed a few persons before me tumbling over in mid-air awkwardly. However when it was my turn, I had no fear but sheer fun. On the contrary to normal skydiving where one slowed down the fall by creating more surface area to increase drag, the tunnel acted in reverse aerodynamic effect by exerting more thrust from below once I spread out my 'wings'. The astonishment over the air power was appreciated as by simply lifting up my chin, I was shot up to one story high! For those who were illiterate over engineering, all you had to know that it was simple thrill-spilling. I was rewarded gratefully with a certificate!

Chin Swee Caves Temple

The Drop

It was drizzling when entering the outdoor theme park, but my joy of thrill was never washed away. I was somehow tricked into accompanying a cheerful young local Chinese (thanks to Cheng), into taking the most thrilling Space Shot experiencing the free-fall drop. The moment I was strapped on the seat facing outward from the tall tube and was lifted up slowly, my inner soul cried out of deep regret. Oh no, what am I doing?! There was an abrupt jerk with hissing sound from the pneumatic machine releasing air. I was stuck in mid-air and the wait was horrendously eternal. Hardly opening my eyes, I saw glimpse of orange sun just above the cloud level and realised how high 185 feet was. It was my virgin experience of a free fall, I started to make intermediate cry to gut my soul out. Then, all of the sudden, I found myself leaving my heart above me, my butt was away from my seat. I screamed out and initially dared not to open my eyes. In the last few seconds, the thrill spiked up every of my nerves and I saw the falling scene in front. Wow, it was scary first but then it was joy! I was not sure I spoke on behalf of pregnant lady delivering. I was really grateful of Cheng to lure me into such wonderful ride. To reward her good intention as well as making payback, I tempted her into taking the Flying Coaster, the first roller coaster with whole body lying flat. It was less thrilling but the ride were unprecedent. I enjoyed it too but Cheng had a mild headache after the twist and zoom.

The Others

For those who sought low pacing in Gentings, there were Chin Swee Cave Temple, a Chinese taoist site built around and within a cave, Mushroom Farm along the way to the temple, and the Genting Skyway which provided not only access to the resorts and bus terminal but also overview of canopy mountains one over another. Oh yes, like most of the visitors, I lost my gambling money to the jackpots.