Slides at the swimming pool is not just for kids but adults, too.
Recently, my family and I took a trip to Ulu Yam in Selangor, as well as to the highlands in Pahang for a short break away from our busy Klang Valley life.
We started our journey at 11am, since it only takes a little over an hour to get to Ulu Yam by car. We used the Ulu Yam Baru trunk road, passing through a small town and an industrial estate before the concrete jungle transformed into rolling hills and verdant greens on both sides of the road.
Along the way, we passed by a few privately-owned resorts, as well as the Batu Dam, and the Ulu Yam waterfalls.
We stopped at a famous seafood restaurant for lunch. Restoran Aik Khoon is known for its seafood dishes, though it is actually pretty far from the sea. Their tom yam soup served in the shell of a young coconut with its pulp still intact was really delicious.
After lunch, we drove on the Batang Kali trunk road to get to Resorts World Awana in Genting Highlands, Pahang which is 28km away through a stretch of uphill and downhill slopes flanked by unspoilt greenery. The road is well maintained and not dangerous to drive on.
We spent the night at Awana. The original resort which opened many years ago was more like a country club with a beautiful golf course, low-rise private apartments and a grand ballroom for functions and meetings.
Today, it is a proper holiday resort with a swimming pool and more guest rooms.
The writer (far left) and his family on their way up to Resorts World Genting. — Photos: PAO FOOK SEONG
A rather inviting slide pool awaits the more adventurous kids, and those who are young at heart. Sliding down and then hitting your body against the warm water may not sound like a fun activity for adults but in reality it is exactly what you need to bring out your inner child! The cool temperatures, fresh air and beautiful views made our time pass by too quickly. But still, we made time to check out the rest of Resorts World Genting all the way up in the clouds as it was only about a five-minute drive away from Awana.
We had dinner at another seafood restaurant called Mie Grand Seafood, which was formerly a mushroom farm. It is tucked behind a petrol station just five minutes from the resort. For our meal, we had “Seremban-style omelette”, sweet-and-sour pork and Szechuan mapo tofu, as well as a steaming pot of Pu’er tea.
This no-frills eatery has a captivating view of the horizon. Patronage is mostly by word-of-mouth and for your convenience they provide a shuttle transportation between their restaurant and nearby hotels.
It’s actually a great alternative for holidaymakers who are not too keen to eat at the resort.
The following day, while on our way home, we stopped at Bukit Tinggi, which is about 28km from Genting. We stopped for lunch at Garden View Restaurant, a spacious and rustic place that is popular with road-tripping travellers like us. Their ginger chicken noodle soup is apparently a crowd favourite.
An adjoining shed sells fresh highland ginger, malabar spinach, red and berangan bananas and other produce.
The views expressed are entirely the reader’s own.
