Inside the Genting Skyway gondola.
Photo by Wuan.

During the previous trip to Genting Highlands Resorts, William had suggested that we take a ride on the Genting Skyway. He said that the view would be exceptional. And I wonder how I was going to get into the small gondola. Incidentally, on that same day, we met fellow blogger Din who is one of the executives with the Skyway. Din assured us that it had been done before and invited us for a ride the next time we are there.

The view from above.
Photo by Wuan.

We went to Genting Highlands Resorts again last Saturday. The weather was not as cold or a foggy as the previous time. We met Din at the Skyway Station at Highlands Hotel. I still had reservations on how I was going to get into the gondola. There was not a long queue but with Din around, I do not think we needed to wait in line anyway.

On the way down from inside the gondola.
Photo by Wuan.

When it was time for us to board, the Skyway was briefly stopped to allow Din and William to carry me into the cabin. It was a struggle initially when Wuan’s backpack that William was carrying got caught in the doorway. Din got one of his staff to take over and before long, I was inside the cabin. The seat, being a hard bench, was not the most comfortable one for me to be sitting on. We left my wheelchair at the station as we did not plan to get off at the Main Station at Gohtong Jaya.

Main Station at Gohtong Jaya.
Photo by Wuan.

After that first hurdle of getting me into the cabin, my next anxiety was whether I would slip off the seat as the gondola made it way down the mountain. I hung on to dear life on the support pole inside the cabin. After those few harrowing seconds when the gondola left the station and there was nothing below us except trees many hundred feet below us, I began to enjoy the breathtaking scenery. Din began to explain to us about the technical aspects of the Skyway system and the various sights along the way.

The gondola moving in the other direction.
Photo by Wuan.

What I liked most about the ride is the flora all along the way. It was all green as far as the eyes could see. The sights were great from up there. The silence was tranquil, except for the intermittent mechanical squeaks of the moving gondolas and our own chattering. The temperature in the cabin was not as cold as I had anticipated. In fact, I was warmed up from the exertion of holding on to the seat for the entire ride.

Moving away from Highlands Hotel Station.
Photo by Wuan.

When we reached Main Station at Gohtong Jaya, Din explained about the workings of the flywheel and the counterweight. This guy is a veritable tome of all the technical details of the entire Skyway. Ask him anything and he could go on without even pausing for thought. According the Din, the maximum speed for the Skyway is 6 meters/second makes it the fastest cable car system in the world but it usually runs at 4.8 meters/second. The surroundings were undisturbed as much as possible in the process of constructing the Skyway in order to preserve the natural environment. He also briefed us on the safety and maintenance of the entire system and the pylons.

Din and I.
Photo by Wuan.

The ride back up was even more spectacular. The view up, although similar was different. Perhaps that was from the opposite perspective. Wuan and Cynthia took most of the photos. I had my digicam with me but had both my hands firmly on the seat and the pole and did not get to take any. Before long, we reached Highlands Hotel Station again. The clouds that partly obscured the complex made is such a divine sight. That was another experience that I will not forget for a long time. This is one of the things that I had wanted to do and thanks to William and Din, I got to fulfill it. This goes on to prove that with great friends nothing is impossible, almost.

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Here is another good cause to support with the festive season just around the corner. My good friend and mentor on disability issues, Tan Kuan Aw, Deputy President of the Society of Disabled Persons Penang (SDPP), informed me about the blood donation campaign that his society is organising in conjunction with the International Day of Disabled Persons on December 3. This is a gift of love. This is a gift of life. Who knows? You may save someone’s life with this little sacrifice.

BLOOD DONATION CAMPAIGN

Please be informed that in conjunction with International Day of Disabled Persons celebration on 3rd December, The Society of Disabled Persons Penang (SDPP), Buddhist Light International Association (BLIA) and Un Khuay Hoay Kuan are jointly organizing the 7th Blood Donation campaign on the following date and time :

Date : 4 December 2005 (Sunday)
Time : 9.30am – 1.30pm
Venue : Seminar Room 1 & 2 in Caring Complex, Jalan Utama, Pulau Pinang

Persons to Contact:
Ms.Teh(013-4337442) Mr.Tan(012-4840584)
Mr.Wong(012-4556921) Ms.Loo(016-4563315)

Please come forward to support this activity and encourage your friends or family to join this campaign and to help those in need of blood. The act of donating blood not only can save lives, but also helps to promote blood circulation and improve our health. This good deed not only benefits those in need but also ourselves, So come and register!

Those are interested please bring along the donor record booklet on the above mentioned date. The donated blood will be given to the General Hospital. Those interested please contact the above persons.

Every donor will be given an umbrella each and donors who have donated more then 15 times will be given a gift hamper.

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December 3 is the International Day of Disabled Persons. As I will be away for a conference on that day, I am posting this earlier. The theme for 2005 is “Rights of Persons with Disabilities: Action in Development”. Disabled people, just like everyone else, do not want to feel that we are special in any way. We are who we are. We try to lead a life as regular and normal as any other person as possible. However, because we are differently abled, many aspects of our lives are affected by an environment that has been unsuitably built and does not take into account our needs. Add that to a generally skewed perception of our ability to determine the direction of our own lives, we have, a lot of times, been reduced to a group of people who need welfare.

What we want are opportunities to be included into society’s activities, not sympathies that are given as an afterthought. We, the disabled people, deserve to lead a fulfilling life. People with impairments can be as productive as anybody else if given the opportunity to do so on a level playing field. Our impairments do not disable us. It is the disenabling factors such as environmental barriers, prejudices and discrimination that limit our abilities and makes us what we are now commonly known as – disabled persons. Removing all those factors will be the first step towards giving us our rights, enabling us in many ways and allow equal participation and opportunities.

Below is the blurb from United Nations Enable on the International Day of Disabled Persons 2005:

The annual observance of the International Day of Disabled Persons, 3 December, aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life. The theme of the Day is based on the goal of full and equal enjoyment of human rights and participation in society by persons with disabilities, established by the World Programme of Action concerning Disabled Persons, adopted by the General Assembly in 1982.

How the Day may be observed
Involve: Observance of the Day provides opportunities for participation by all interested communities – governmental, non-governmental and the private sector – to focus upon catalytic and innovative measures to further implement international norms and standards related to persons with disabilities. Schools, universities and similar institutions can make particular contributions with regard to promoting greater interest and awareness among interested parties of the social, cultural, economic, civil and political rights of persons with disabilities.

Organize: Hold forums, public discussions and information campaigns in support of the Day focusing on disability issues and trends and ways and means by which persons with disabilities and their families are pursuing independent life styles, sustainable livelihoods and financial security.

Celebrate: Plan and organize performances everywhere to showcase – and celebrate – the contributions by persons with disabilities to the societies in which they live and convene exchanges and dialogues focusing on the rich and varied skills, interests and aspirations of persons with disabilities.

Take Action: A major focus of the Day is practical action to further implement international norms and standards concerning persons with disabilities and to further their participation in social life and development on the basis of equality. The media have especially important contributions to make in support of the observance of the Day – and throughout the year – regarding appropriate presentation of progress and obstacles implementing disability-sensitive policies, programmes and projects and to promote public awareness of the contributions by persons with disabilities.

Source: United Nations Enable – International Day of Disabled Persons – December 3, 2005

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