Driving up to Malaysia (Genting Highlands)

(Genting Highlands ~ snapshot taken from the lift landing of the 23rd floor of the First World Hotel)

We took a short road trip up North (Malaysia lah, where else) during the National Day weekend! It felt weird going away on our nation's 43rd birthday. Had like a lurking, guilty feeling; a betrayal of sorts. But we've been in town for many of her other birthdays. That must count for something, right? Besides, I believe there's no point in lavishing your beloved with super attention and gifts on Valentine's Day but ignoring her/him the rest of the year. Constant love and care is harder to get 365 days a year.

We just needed a break and leaving her meant nothing more, nothing less. Just a long weekend for me.

If it counts for anything, at 7.00 am in the morning, while stuck at the Woodlands Checkpoint, the opportunity came up and Mike and I talked to our kids about how Minister Mentor LKY and his gang built up our nation from scratch; how it must have been such a great burden for him in the beginning and how grateful we must be for all we have today. All this, we talked about in the car. Family bonding / nation building (grin), no? We didn't force the subject, it just came naturally.

We've been driving to Malaysia since our kids were toddlers and almost always, our trips are a last minute thing (as in the decision to go is made the day before or on the very same day). We're no experts but we've become pretty ok at packing our usual luggage in double quick time and we more or less know how to get to Malacca / KL / Genting and back by road.

With kids in tow, it doesn't matter if you're going away for just a day or a week ~ there's a whole lot of barang barang to bring along. Nearly anything you need or have forgotten to bring, can probably be bought in Malaysia. That to me, is the beauty of driving there. No, correction ~ the beauty is in the exchange rate and bargains galore!

Seriously, for the uninitiated, driving into Malaysia may seem 'scary', what with all the horror stories you hear all the time. We're willing to take the risk because seriously, there is much to enjoy and appreciate in terms of the scenery and culture. We do face our fair share of frustrations on these road trips but for the most part, they can be very enjoyable if you're careful and don't bring your typical Singapore complain-mode along. Leave any political agendas or inhibitions at home if you're driving up North. When in Rome, you're expected to do as the Romans do, no? When in Malaysia, then try (TRY lah) to think 'Malaysia Bagus'. Think of it as a hinterland you can escape to for the weekend.

We do understand that some Singaporeans may be very adventurous elsewhere around the globe but are hesitant to travel across the causeway. Remember, we're no experts but we've nothing to lose, sharing some survival tips for the uninitiated.

Packing

Buy large 'zip-loc' bags. They're not expensive. The textbook sized ones cost about over $3 for 25 pieces. I can never find a toiletry bag big enough for the contact lens bottle, the face wash cleanser, the tiny shampoo and conditioner bottles, the combs etc. So I just dump those likely to leak into a single bag and the dry stuff into another bag. I also have one for the medications.

You reach the hotel, just pull out all the different bags and dump them beside the bathroom sink. When you're leaving for home, just dump everything back into the bags, zip them up and Voila! (I even have a zip-loc for my passports just in case I fall into water!)

Ladies, suggest you use a handbag you can strap diagonally across your shoulders and keep your gold at home. White gold is ok apparently as the snatch thieves do not find value in them. Might also want to bring an extra wallet to separate the ringgit from the SGDs.

Car

Ensuring our car is in OK condition for the long drive is a no brainer. Consolation is there are mechanics aplenty in Malaysia lah. Car breaking down while there? Express ship car spare part from KL to Malacca? Flat tyre on a Sunday? Eh...been there, done that.

Here are things you might need in the car:

~ Bottled water (For the humans and for the car! However, water is easily available at Malaysian petrol stations too).

~ Munchies (also available everywhere and sometimes cheaper there too), healthy or otherwise. Chuck the celery sticks, man. This is a holiday! I want my 'Double-decker' prawn crackers and bubble gum!

~ CDs with LOUD UPBEAT music to keep the driver awake. Keep your classical or jazzy, soothing stuff at home! Even with a good night's sleep, it's easy to feel sleepy when the bright sun shines in your eyes.

~ Cushions, thin wraps (for when the car aircon gets too cold). Actually, as long as the kids wear socks, they'll be fine even with thin T-shirts.

~ Story books, MP3/ MP4 players, portable DVD player (to keep the kids occupied).

~ Plastic bags to contain the food wrappers in (to keep Mummy or Daddy occupied).

~ Baby wipes / tissue paper (bring lots because nearly all the restrooms along the way do not have toilet paper)

~ Sometimes, we bring along a small icebox with a homemade block of ice wrapped in plastic. We put our packet or canned drinks inside and they keep cool till we reach our destination.

~Baby seats for the babies of course.

~ Can't stress enough. Always, always, put on your seat belts (BTW, did you buy your travel insurance? We always do, even if it's just a road trip).

OK, now that your car looks like a play centre, you're ready to go.

(Road leading to Woodlands Checkpoint ~ 9.8.08 @ 6.30 am)

We set off from our house at 6.00 am on 8.8.08. Stopped to fill up the petrol tank and realised, many others at our neighbourhood petrol kiosk were all dressed for a eh.....their road trip too!
So very quickly and 'kiasully' (trying to beat them!), we headed for the SLE and reached Woodlands about 6.30am. Very bad traffic jam for another 1 and 1/2 hours just to get pass the Woodlands Checkpoint. Saw 2 cars jostling for a space and ending up knocking each other. One (not Singaporean) driver got out and started scolding the other party. His actions were very arrogant and fierce. The Singapore driver sat still in his seat and listened quietly.
This to us, is normal fare. Part of the fun, guys!

Sailed through JB Checkpoint (Asked the immigration officer in Singapore if White cards were required in JB, he said YES. Asked the immigration office in Malaysia if White cards were required, he said NO. Huh???)

Toll

With our 'Touch n Go' cards (cashcards used in Malaysia), we managed to bypass any queues at the different tolls. These cards can be purchased at the JB Checkpoint. Much like our cashcards, they require a deposit. Buy only if you intend to drive up more than once.

To top-up the cards, you'll have to look out for the designated 'Tambah' counters. My tip to you is to put in lots of Ringgit in your card or face being stuck at a toll with not enough money and no 'Tambah' counter in sight! Although they do have a list of petrol stations which allow the 'Tambah', I've yet to see any petrol station LIST their petrol station name! How the heck would I know which is Lim Ah Kow Petrol Station?

As an estimate, for a trip to Genting Highlands and back to Singapore, you should put at least RM250 into the card. Do note that even with a card, it may sometimes be more prudent to use the pay lanes when the 'Touch n Go' lanes are crowded.

Stopping enroute:

(Not meant to insult anyone but we think taking some precautions are called for.)

~ This is important. Stop only at crowded rest points. There are a few big makan (food) centres between JB and KL which are usually very crowded (with Singapore cars too). There are a few rest points (no Makan stalls) which we avoid because they look quiet and deserted. Our Malaysian relatives have indeed witnessed, a parang wielding car robbery at one of such stops.

~ Do NOT forget to bring along that steering wheel lock AND your keys to that steering wheel lock!!! Although it might be of little use, we still think it's a deterrent for any car thief who's trying to open it the traditional way (as opposed to the high tech code scanner thieves). I always insist that we have to put on the steering wheel lock EVEN if it's for a pee break.

~ Most of the petrol kioks expect you to pay before pumping. Pay at the cashier's inside the air-conditioned office. While the driver goes to the counter to pay for the petrol, the rest of you sitting in the car, keep your car doors locked!

~ If no one is watching your car while you take a leak or eat, park head first into a lot. It makes towing a little less easy (or so they say) for the car thief. Needless to say, park at a very busy area.

We were headed to Genting Highlands but decided to stop at KL to do some quickie shopping. There was some congestion along the way so we decided to skip our favourite place in KL ~ Chinatown. With only an hour to spare, we headed for BB Plaza instead; a relatively rundown place but filled with little shops selling shoes and clothes. It's also surrounded by hip pubs and coffee haunts. I know how to get to BB Plaza but I can't describe it to you. Suffice to say it's somewhere near Berjaya Times Square and not too far from Chinatown either.

(I liked the quaint architecture of these buildings in KL)

Worried that we might get stuck in a jam, we left for Genting soon after the kids got their fill of goodies.

(Enroute to Genting Highlands. Heading towards Batu Caves)

(Above - Just passed Batu Caves)

(The drive up from the base of Genting is a breeze. No vomit bags required.)

(And we're there!)

(Indoor Amusement Centre cum Shopping Centre ~ yes, more shopping)

We have still alot to learn about driving across the causeway. Along the way, especially if you take the old routes as opposed to the highway, you will get to see the slow and idyllic kampong way of life. We've stopped for fresh durians before. It was quite an experience.

Really, if you're going to be squeamish about how dirty or how everything is 'not like Singapore', then there's no point leaving our country at all.

Hey, I'm not simply promoting Malaysia. But since it's near us, it makes for a great simple family getaway! September holidays, here we come!

(view from our hotel room)

Enjoy your road trip! (Oh by the way, did we mention the 4 hour jam at the Tuas Checkpoint on the return trip?)