The Genting Highlands in the outskirts of the city of Kuala Lumpur is a perfect gateway to escape the sweltering heat of the city. The journey up to the highlands is as exotic as the final destination. Just an hour drive from the city the hill top has two ways of reaching-By road or by a cable car.
On the way to Genting you can take a small detour and cover Batu caves. Then turn for the curvaceous roads and see the landscape changing and mercury spiralling down. The well done roads and the green vegetation is just the perfect start for a refreshing day. Close to the cable car base you would find few good restaurants for a quick grab. Sea foods are something that should be a natural choice. The next destination is the cable car which is quiet cheap at 12 Ringets for a two ride lasting for some 20 minutes each way.
Cosily we sat inside the cable car and as the car moved up the natural beauty of Genting welcomed us with arms wide open. Vegetative habitat untouched as far as eyes could go. As the car moved up cloud formations mesmerised us as I cuddled to my small bag tighter. Glued to my seat and eyes fixed outside the car was slow enough to allow its first time visitor savour its beauty to the zenith.
As we moved out of the cable car on the hill top we saw very aptly located Star bucks. Filled with goose bumps a hot cup of chocolate was all that was needed to enliven our freezing body.
We headed for the Chinese temple. Overlooking the valley the colourful exotic Chinese architecture was a contrast well taken. The multi storey temples with its dragon design looked like wall hangings in the cloudy surrounding. The place has a wish tree to write down your prayers on a piece of paper and hang it on to the tree. The depiction of the various levels of sins and the corresponding punished was a thought provocating.
If you like getting lost you can easily spend 2 to 3 hours just exploring around this tiny cordoned off area. Nest destination was the Casino up the hill. From Temple to Casino this place can’t leave you earning for more. The first time visitor to a casino I was introduced to this habituating gambling time pass. As time flew buy all of us saw money draining down our pockets. Few lucky ones made money before they lost it again. The various games and the over growing desire to win huge can erode your pockets. With great restraint I watched as people won and lost.
We had planned a just a day escapade so we headed quickly for Mc Donalds for snacks before heading back to Kuala Lumpur.
In the hindsight I believe in my next visit to this place I would prefer to take a night halt. This place is perfectly located for healing your spirits for next onslaught of the city chores.