Wednesday, April 06, 2005
When we heard about the Metro Genting trip a month ago, most of us jumped into it. It's afterall a much needed break to loosen up our stiffening bones and an ideal way to end our financial year with, rather than with an ever boring annual dinner. So here we are. Closely assembled at Golden Mile Tower in the darkest hour of Sunday morning. Excitement is in the air, with more than 70 of us waiting to embark one of the trio highly accommodated air-con coaches. Half an hour later, we found ourselves already on the way to Genting via the Tuas Second Link.

We reached Yong Peng, a much needed stop before Genting, as early as 9am for a relatively hasty breakfast. We're famished! One could get almost anything here, be it in terms of food, you'll be simply spoilt for choice, having more than a dozen stalls to chose from. And inventory wise, one could always get their last minute essentials or necessities here, like toothbrushes, pain relievals and chewing gums too! But in my opinion, you would easily give this stop a miss if you could not stand the flies attacking you and/or your meals. As a matter of fact, I'm actually fending away the flies with my left hand while feeding myself with my right. Trust me. It's probably that bad ;)

We're being dispersed after a cordial welcome address by Mr Edward Tan after reaching at First World Hotel at around 2pm. We're supposed to check in our rooms and rest, but who actually practises that, I don't know. Checking into our rooms seems to be the last thing on our minds with most of us flocking eagerly to the casinos and checking out the Theme Park instead. Afterall it's gonna be Free and Easy for the next 40 hours at least so there's absolutely not a minute to be waste! :)

Genting, the City of Entertainment among the clouds. How true is that! Eating out has never being made easier. Genting Highlands offers a choice of over 35 different restaurants, from its plush restaurant, Genting Palace, to cozy food courts. Local dishes as well as international cuisine and fast food are all available here.

The Genting Theme Park comprises of both indoor and outdoor attractions.Attractions at the Indoor Theme Park includes skill games, as well as coin operated arcade machines. Space Odyssey 2020! Which is definitely not for the faint-hearted, as this unnerving ride takes one on a voyage of discovery in space. There are health, height, age and other boarding restrictions. There's also a Motion Master Simulator enables you to experience action in films, Snow World(much better than our Snow City) and an around the World Train Ride where visitors get to see major landmarks of the world as well as animated figurines dressed in their national costumes.

On a non rainy day, the Outdoor Theme Park is so much better as it offers a range of exciting rides such as the Corkscrew and Cyclone Roller Coasters and the Flying Coaster(and no, I couldn't try this as it's under maintainence). For the faint hearted or non thrill seekers, they get to ride on a Giant Mechanical Caterpillar through the outdoor theme park on an elevated track, Fun Carts, Bum Boats or Ferris Wheel and a Cable Car Ride, joy rides which offers a bird's eye view of the theme park attractions below.

An alternative to get to the summit of Genting Highlands apart from taking the bus or driving all the way up is to take the Skyway cable car at its station located a short distance before the Awana Golf and Country Resort. The 20-minutes, non-stop cable car ride, ascending from 914 metres to 1768 metres, provide sweeping views. Bound to sweep the feet off your loved ones if you take it at night too :) Trust me on this that it'll be an experience I'll never forget ;)

Evenings bring out the best in entertainment at Genting Highlands Resort with high energy performances, and international shows at Genting International Showroom. There are also cinemas, karaoke lounges, discotheques and other entertainment centers. Genting is also well-known for it's two casinos, the Casino de Genting and STARWORLD, which offers Blackjack, Baccarat, Roulette, Pontoon, and over a thousand JackPot machines, combined. You name it, they'll have it.

At last, all good times must come to an end. And before we even know it, we are on our way back to Singapore. Most of us managed to enquire the local goodies at the foothill. As for those who didn't or missed out by overslept on the bus(like me), we get to shop for three whole hours at the Mid Valley Megamall, which is undisputably the biggest shopping mall I've shopped to date. It hosts more than a few hundred outlets featuring international and local brands alike and prices aside, you could lay your hands on almost everything you've ever dreamt here. Dinner is at at Yong Peng at our own expenses but personally I've given my dinner a miss as I'm too tired to fend off the flies.

On behalf of all Metro staff who went for the Genting trips, I would like to thank Mr Edward Tan and the HR group for making all these possible! I'm anticipating and looking forward to the next company trip already ;)