Trip of faith

I've been wondering what to put as the title for some time now. But its not getting to me. "Back from genting" maybe?? Grrr... so BORING!! Shall just type something here first and fill in the title later...

Okay. I did just come back from a KL-Genting trip. Went with some YEP frens - KL, JW, May, Jorin, ZH and Jace. I dunno what to make of this trip, but am actually quite relieved that it is over. And weijie, i am back in Singapore... thankfully still sane!! *laffs*

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The KL jam is absolutely madness. Our coach was crawling along the congested roads of KL and it was almost 3pm by the time we alighted and checked into our hotel - Swiss Inn, located at the heart of chinatown. I guess u usually pay for what u get. For starters, the hotel was this miniature building comprised of a front lobby that looked outwards to Jalan Sultan, and with its back facing Petaling Street. The hotel's efficiency was or rather lack of it was immediately apparent when only 0ne out of our 3 rooms were cleaned and ready. Without much of a choice, we deposited all our stuff in one room and headed out, in 2 separate cabs, for a super late lunch - famous Bah Kut Teh along Jalan Imbi.

It is always hard to get the taxi drivers to charge-by-meter in KL. May, ZH, KL and Jorin went off 1st in one cab while JW, Jace and me, later in another. Claiming to want to beat the jam, this GLK driver ran the outskirts of Jalan Imbi, and when he couldn't find the place, simply dropped us off. After realising that we were way off our destination, we had to take another cab. Reminds me of what JW said earlier "A little trust goes a long way". Indeed.

However we did arrive earlier than the pple in the 1st cab, as they were caught in the jam, albeit at a slightly higher cost. Glad that everyone enjoyed the Bah Kut Teh. Phew. A pity they didn't have the you tiao to dip inside the soup.

KL was basically spent shopping. Berjaya Times Square, Sungei Wang and after dinner, Chinatown itself. Then Jace, ZH, JW and I scooted off to Zouk@KL as the rest retreated to their rooms. Trance music (it's a Sat!) and a disappointing crowd summed up my experience there. Perhaps what was different from the S'pore one was that they had professional dancers performing on the platforms. They probably needed that to draw in the crowds.

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Okay. So we checked out promptly at 11.30am the next day. The transfer coach to genting was supposed to come at 12 noon, but they were late. According to the hotel desk, these pple are always late...

The coach ferried us to the cable car station, and from there all 7 of us (max. capacity of a cable car is 8) hopped onto one cable car. The radio in the cabin announced "Welcome aboard Southeast Asia's longest and fastest cable car system..." Wow. Big deal.

So they managed to set up a separate check-in counter for tour agencies from Singapore, located in some holding area near the First World bus terminus. My guess is that this is supposed to alleviate the crowds and facilitate faster check-ins for the overwhelming S'porean guests. Well, it didn't. In fact, the queue is even longer than at the main hotel lobby. What the hell are they thinking? I suppose they should rather improve their processing efficiency. But hey, I did get to spend a longer time with her alone in the queue. Perhaps i should thank them instead.

It was ard 3.30pm by the time all the administrative work was done, and we were now ready to explore Genting. Eager to play the rides, we quickly went to check out the timings as well as cost of a day-pass for the amusement park. At an extra cost of RM12 for the all-park admission, some felt that the indoor one wasn't really worth it. Not thrilling enough. And so we settled on only the outdoor pass at RM30. Forgot we haven't had lunch yet. But the outdoor theme park closes at 8pm. We grabbed a bite at the fast food restaurants (KFC) and began our fun.

Many rides were closed for maintenace, including Cyclone, Tea Cups and the Go-Kart. Damn. I'd wanted to play Go-Karting most of all, a ride I enjoyed in my previous trip to Genting. In life... we don't always get wat we want. We took most of the rides we could, like Spinner, Mine Train, Flume Ride, Cockscrew, Space Shot, and even the carousel.

I must say i was rather surprised with myself to have found the courage to take the vertical drop ride (space shot). It was a ride i have always feared and shunned. Peer pressure didn't work on me in the past, yet this time round, even though there wasn't much of it, i took it willingly. Probably didn't want to lose out. But it was a good experience. At least now i know it isn't as scary as i have imagined it out to be. Thank heavens!

We didn't try the new Flying Coaster ride as it meant paying an additional RM10 for it. And well... the space adventure was totally crap and a waste of time. Made us all giddy. After getting ourselves wet in the flume ride, we finally exited the outdoor park and headed back to our rooms to freshen up for dinner. It was already 8pm.

Dinner was done at Kenny Rogers. Though not entirely delicious, it was an affordable (RM12.90 for a quarter chicken meal and comes with 3 side dishes as well as a muffin) and satisfying meal. Post-dinner activity was shopping and we even caught a movie "The Island". After that we "chilled" at starbucks coffee until 2am and the 3 gals went back to their rooms whilst the guys together with the more adventurous Jace trotted down to the casino. Jace was refused entry though, cos she was underaged (too bad) and ZH had to change into a pair of jeans to enter. We'd hoped to make a killing.

Maybe its the wee hours. Everyone in the casino was unsmiling and focused on what they had come here to do - win money. Just like us. The place was generally quiet other than the rattling sound of chips on soft carpet, the cheerful tune of a jackpot and sometimes spirited shouts of "Picture!" at the Bacaarat tables.

And so we stayed till 6am. The result: ZH broke even, JW lost RM20 and me RM40. So wat happened to the theory of 情场失意，赌场得意？(There goes our dreams of Ah Yat Abalone for breakfast)

The next day we checked out at noon and had lunch at Pizza Hut. Last-min shopping for some and then we were out of genting...

I peeped at them from time to time
It feels so wrong and yet so right
The innocent touches and playful nudges
Built on a friendship I cannot comprehend
Each time I look and turn away
And try not to think too much
But the crazy thoughts just keep comin'

O' what should I do

I ask myself
There's nothing I can do now

Except to pray to Him

And keep prayin'