Wanderlust Diary – Page 31 – Peter Tan

First Step To Japan

Photo : The Penang Immigration Department at Beach Street.

The Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia has become very efficient as compared to the last time when I renewed my passport in 1995. I applied to renew that long expired passport yesterday and was told to go back today to collect the new one. The Jabatan Imigresen at Beach Street was a hive of activity on both days I was there. Although there were many people, application forms were processed quickly and waiting time was approximately 30 minutes. Perhaps that was due to the fact that there was a counter specially for people with disabilities, the elderly and children.

Photo : My passport.

The passport is for my two-week trip to Tokyo for training on Independent Living in January next year. This training is funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) as a follow up to the Independent Living Workshop that I attended in September. Two others were selected along with me for this trip. Two Personal Assistants (PAs) will be accompanying us. Wuan was supposed to be my PA but she had to pull out because of work commitments.

To renew the passport, I had to pay RM1 for the form, fill it up, provide 2 copies of colour photographs, a photocopy of my identity card and the old passport. As a person with disability holding the Kad Kenal Diri Orang Kurang Upaya, I was exempted from paying the RM300 fee. I got a Welfare Officer from the Head Office of the Jabatan Kebajikan Masyarakat Malaysia to provide me with a letter for good measure for the RM300 exemption when I attended the Disability Equality Training in Kuala Lumpur recently.

Photo : The back entrance with a ramp at the Penang Immigration Department at Beach Street.

While I was impressed by the efficiency of the Jabatan Imigresen, its accessibility for wheelchairs is sorely lacking. The front entrance was totally inaccessible. The ramp at the back was too steep and dangerous. Peter was supposed to work today but took leave to accompany me to collect the passport as he was worried that Elaine would not be able to push me up that ramp. Although the building is old, a little more effort in designing a proper ramp would have made a difference not only to people on wheelchairs but the elderly and people with mobility problems too.

With great friends nothing is impossible

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.

Day Trip To Genting Highlands Resorts

Last Saturday, William, Cynthia, Wuan and I went on a day trip to Genting Highlands Resorts. The sky was ominously dark, threatening to pour down on us at any moment. Not one to be deterred, William suggested we go eat the famous Ampang yong tau foo before making our way up to the highlands. Ampang yong tau foo are available in many places in Penang and Kuala Lumpur but none tasted as good as the ones I had that morning.

Genting Highlands was chilly and foggy. My ears were ice cold. William led us to the Starworld Casino at the First World Hotel. What I dislike about the casinos is the perennial stench of cigarette fumes that clung on to hair and clothes and everything else. And one casino is no different from the other – people milling around tables, the frequent holler for a “picture” and gaudy decors everywhere. Wuan and I played the slot machines for a while but we quickly got bored.

Photo by Cynthia.

Next in William’s itinerary was the mushroom farm a short distance from the resort. Memories of the mushroom farm that I have been to several times in Penang was enough to make me cringe in disgust. Chicken droppings were used together with straw to cultivate button mushrooms. I was already smelling of cigarette fumes and I did not fancy reeking of chicken manure too. Surprisingly, there was no unpleasant odour at the farm this time.

After Wuan had satiated her shutterbug cravings, we stopped over at the Chin Swee Caves Temple where a majestic nine-tiered pagoda stood. While sitting in the car with William and waiting for Cynthia and Wuan to take yet more photos, I wished I could climb up to the top of the pagoda. I could imagine a most breathtaking panorama as far as my eyes could see. Clouds that were constantly caressing the peaks of the Titiwangsa Range would have made it an incredibly awesome sight.

Photo by William.

We went back up to the summit and stopped at the garden and observation platform just beside the Theme Park Hotel. The sun was setting. The chilly wind blew intermittently. I shivered in the cold. A large beetle fascinated William and Cynthia. The view from there was no less fascinating. I have been to the resort with Peter many times but have never once enjoyed such spectacular sights. I could hang around there all day if not for the darkening sky and the extremely uncomfortable wind.

After a quick dinner at Genting Hotel, I needed to use the toilet. While I was catheterizing, William and Cynthia scouted for ways to get me into the Monte Carlo Casino. Having found it, we played the slot machines to while some time away before leaving. Wuan and I won a little and then lost it all back to the machines. As we were making our way back to the car park, someone walking from the opposite direction called out my name. I was surprised to meet another blogger at the resort. Hey Din, nice meeting you! It is difficult not to bump into another blogger whenever I go out nowadays. Several days before that, I met Joanne at Low Yat Plaza.

Photo by William.

On the way down, the flickering lights of distant Kuala Lumpur captivated us. When we found a nice spot to take in the spectacle and snap some photographs, William took out the tripod and started snapping away. I could not believe he could tolerate the chilly temperature for thirty minutes playing with the camera and trying to get a good shot. We reached home tired but happy for an absolutely interesting day. William is already planning another trip up, this time going up on the Genting Skyway. He wanted me to enjoy the incredible view along the ride. I am still wondering how I can get into the small enclosure of the gondola

Related entry:
Another blogger saw me at Genting Highlands Resorts too! Here is the link:
Oh A Kiss Is Still A Kiss In Casablanca.