Short Road Trip Up North

Just returned from a short road trip to Malaysia. As the kids had activities waiting back home, we spent fewer days there than I would have liked. But I was glad for whatever little time we had together as a family. It gets harder to go away together as the kids grow older. They're so busy with their own activities and all important appointments with friends! Also, we can't really spend too much time away from home. I was told that our dog waited by the main door mat every day that we were away. How do you tell a dog a date that his or her owner is returning on? They just wait in hope. Thinking about this brings a lump to my throat.

I'm not going to detail what we did. But we did have a blast at Sunway Lagoon in Kuala Lumpur. The theme park has been around for a long time but we've never had the time nor inclination to visit it.

Sunway Lagoon, Kuala Lumpur

We went there expecting to be able to buy tickets for only one or two of their several 'parks' however, the ticketing booth informed us that that option was no longer available and we had to pay a standard price for 'all parks' instead. Realised that Malaysians paid a cheaper price. That's make a whole lot more heart sense than what I can say about some Singapore tourist attractions!

Anyhow, we skipped the water park and decided to explore the rides instead. I don't know if it was because I was lugging a silly big bag (as usual, the Mummy is the one carrying all the passports, hotel check in documents, local and foreign currencies, camera, water bottle) or if it was because I didn't feel like getting dizzy or whiplash but I declined riding any of the crazy rides.

Mike was different.

360 degree swinging Viking!!! Yikes!!!

A picture paints a thousand words. Need I say more? Mike was the only one amongst us 4 who was on the 360 degree swinging Viking! Even the kids politely declined. We stood below sucking on our lime green popsicles instead, watching in awe at how brave (or crazy) Daddy was.

Thereafter, we spent some time at their Wildlife Park (it's tiny) and not really a park but a walk-in enclosure with caged up animals. Rode several other rides.

This River raft thingy ride -- I didn't bother to find out the name of this ride but it was soooooo awesome and soooooo much more fun than the one at Universal Studios Singapore (which was sooooo boring). We got off and wanted to ride it again but it 'broke' right after we got off. The kids declared triumphantly that 'it was Mum who broke the ride'! Gee, thanks. Despite it being a water ride, we managed to stay relatively dry.

We ended the day getting SOAKED because we tried out this 4D simulator. You get into a room and the it's a simulated ride where the chairs move too and you actually get wet when you're in or on water. Anyway, it was really fun. Pretty cold thereafter when we emerged from the air-conditioned room all soaked. We walked past the kids water park with all the slides and fountains and I thought that would have been really fun (except that we were rushing to leave by 6pm). We had on these hand tags and if we were to get our RM10 per person deposit back, we had to return them by a certain time.

All in all, it was a pretty fun time we had. Was it value for money. I don't know. Several of the rides are closed, some were cordoned off. A gigantic slide was being built. As with all Malaysian theme parks, they build it nice but don't care to maintain. It is, as it was. The park is huge so get ready to walk and climb. Good family fun. Not sure if we'll ever go back though.

Anyhow, we spent the rest of the trip eating, shopping, shopping, eating. He he.

Meanwhile, back to the grind and also back to Christmas preparations. Here's wishing all my Catholic and Christian friends, a very Blessed and Merry Christmas and remember, Jesus is the reason for the season!