Malaysia Theme Parks

[rizalhakim]

Lets discuss about our theme parks...wet or dry, indoor or outdoor theme parks...pics, news or anything....

[rizalhakim]

The lost world of old theme parks
Naveen Mathew Menon


Not a single visitor now passes under the Mimaland archway at the foot of the hill.

KUALA LUMPUR: Theme parks are not new to the Klang Valley. But some of the earliest ones have now faded into oblivion though they once enticed thrill-seekers and tourists by the thousands.


Welcome to Mimaland! Enter at your own risk.


The abandoned Safari Lagoon Water Theme Park on the top floor of Pandan Safari Lagoon Shopping Complex can still be seen from the nearby roads.


Motorists across the road can still see the old Safari Lagoon Water Theme Park.

Long before Sunway Lagoon, Desa Theme Park, Mines Wonderland and Cosmo's World Theme Park became household names, Mimaland was the ideal getaway for harried city dwellers and foreign tourists.

Cradled in the hills of Gombak, engulfed in greenery, it offered a welcome respite from the concrete jungle of Kuala Lumpur even though it was barely 30km from the bustling capital.

But the jungle has reclaimed Mimaland.


In its heyday, the park had dinosaur figures to thrill children who visited with their families. Looking at it now, one almost expects dinosaurs to emerge from the Jurassic Park-like setting it has become.

A long row of ramshackle stalls and an archway weathered by time serve as gentle reminder that one has arrived at the right place, but the wrong time -- 15 years too late.

Going up a winding, narrow road, one comes to a huge barricade. There is not a soul in sight.

Beyond the barricade, ticketing booths that once saw long queues now lie forgotten. A large broken-down van sits rusting under the midday sun.

The remnants of dilapidated buildings peep through the vegetation, having been gobbled up by nature. A trail big enough for vehicles seem to stretch on forever, winding past a large murky lake.

The lake, which was once used for boating, fishing and swimming, was one of the attractions at the park. People in the kampungs nearby said that there used to be chalets, houses on stilts and tall water slides, about three-storeys high, at the park.

Sadly, people can no longer experience the magic of Mimaland because the park was closed in 1993 as the area was prone to landslides.

Mimaland lies on the old road to Bentong from Gombak, lined with fruit stalls selling the freshest durian, mangosteen, rambutan and bananas. They are one more attraction for those wishing to avoid the toll and take the scenic route.

Jaafar Abdul Latiff, 60, a fruit stall owner who has been living in the area since 1975 said in its heyday, there used to be more fruit and food stalls selling a wide variety of food and drinks along the road to Mimaland. Villagers made a decent living at the height of Mimaland's popularity.

Another deserted theme park was certainly unique because it was located on the rooftop of a once popular shopping mall. This was the Safari Lagoon Water Theme Park in Pandan Perdana.

Families could spend a whole day at the Pandan Safari Lagoon mall shopping, eating and enjoying themselves at the water theme park. Children especially were enchanted by the large elephants, giraffes and other statues of animals which lent it a genuine safari feel.

Entire families had a whale of a time there. Its death knell was sounded when the Ampang Jaya Municipal Council closed it down in 2005. It had been operating without a permit for about eight years.

Amazingly, it took the death of a 21-year-old worker for the authorities to realise the park had no permit. The worker was sucked into a high pressure water pump compartment while trying to retrieve something for a customer.

The Safari Lagoon Water Theme Park is still visible to motorists going past Pandan Perdana, bringing to mind memories for those who had once spent a good time there.

[rizalhakim]

List Of Theme Parks in Malaysia

1.Genting Theme Park - Pahang
2.Sunway Lagoon Theme Park - Selangor
3.Wet World Shah Alam - Selangor
4.A’Famosa Resort City - Melacca
5.Bukit Merah Laketown Resort - Perak
6.Lost World of Tambun - Perak
7.Cosmo's World Theme Park - KL
8.Mines Wonderland Theme Park - Selangor
9.Bukit Tinggi Resort - Pahang
10.Desa Water Park - KL
11.Wet World Pedas Hot Springs - Negeri Sembilan
12.Wet World Batu Pahat - Johor
13.Port Dickson Tiara Beach Resort - Negeri Sembilan

anymore??

[daeng_jal]

u forgot taman tamadun islam

[rizalhakim]

Wetlands back in action after three year hiatus
By GEETHA KRISHNAN


THE Paya Indah Wetlands in Dengkil has finally re-opened after it was closed in 2005.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Douglas Uggah Embas re-launched the sanctuary in Kuala Langat, Selangor, on Monday by releasing 53 water birds.

It coincided with the opening of the National Environment Week from Oct 21 to 27.

There was much hype about Paya Indah when it opened in 2001. But the 3,100ha eco-tourism park abruptly closed in 2005 after the Malaysian Wetlands Foundation said it was too costly to maintain.


Beauties in flight: A Paya Indah Wetlands enforcement officer (left) watching water birds released to signify the the wetland’s re-launch.

Douglas Uggah told the media later that RM9mil had been allocated under the Ninth Malaysia Plan for the park, now under the management of the Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan).

The sanctuary is home to 229 bird species, 63 mammal species, 20 species each of reptiles and fish and 10 species of amphibians. Hippos, deers, horses and crocodiles are among its inhabitants.

On whether more species would be brought in, Douglas said: “It is not our intention to turn Paya Indah into a zoo. We want to preserve the natural habitat and let the wildlife here thrive in their natural surroundings”.

Tree-planting activities were carried out for the launch of the Environment Awareness campaign - themed Environmental Conservation, Our Shared Responsibility - for the National Environment Week.

Schoolchildren from 26 schools in Dengkil, Cyberjaya, Putrajaya, Sepang, Kajang and Banting participated in the exercise.

The ministry will embark on its Friends of the Environment programme soon at all parliamentary levels to strengthen environment awareness activities.

Recyclable shopping bags were distributed to guests at the event to encourage everyone not to rely on plastic bags.

[rizalhakim]

http://www.rainforest-tamannegara.com

[rizalhakim]

More fun with Adventure Zone


PENANG’S Golden Sands Resort is determined to become the island’s top lodging choice for family holidays.


One of the highly decorated rooms

Its newly-opened activity centre, Adventure Zone, is said to be the first such facility in the country and probably in the region too.

Built at a cost of RM3.2 million, the centre is located on the beachfront between the resort and the adjacent sister property, Shangri-La’s Rasa Sayang Resort and Spa.

Adventure Zone houses UK-based Taylor Made Play equipment. The 10,000 sq ft facility has three categories of drop slides and multiple sections of modular play equipment. Highlights are the drop slides which include the toddler-friendly Hyperglide Astra Slide, Double Drop Slide for children and young teenagers and the eight metre vertical Demon Drop Slide for both kids and adults.

Adventure Zone will include a multi-use reception, retail and snack counter, an arcade-style Game Zone, a Toddler Zone, specific purpose rooms and child-friendly restrooms.

“The resort has won many awards for its family-friendly facilities. I am confident that the Adventure Zone will add further value for families who choose to stay with us,” says general manager Arbind K. Shrestha. Share

[rizalhakim]

http://www.shangri-la.com/en/propert.../adventurezone

http://www.adventurezone.com.my

[rizalhakim]

All is quiet at regenerated Paya Indah Wetlands
Story and photos by CHARLES FERNANDEZ


Although the Paya Indah Wetlands in Dengkil has been relaunched recently following a massive regeneration exercise, there is uncertainty on whether the place could regain its former glory as a tourist destination.

It is feared that the revived wetland park would not have what it takes to attract foreign tourists and local visitors, notably the nature lovers.

The wetland park was closed in February 2005 due to financial constraints faced by the Malaysian Wetlands Foundation which was then managing it.

The Wildlife and National Parks Department then took over its management and proceeded to rejuvenate it.


So still: The Paya Indah Wetlands in Dengkil.

The sanctuary was re-opened to the public on Oct 20 this year by Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Douglas Unggah Embas.

After the three-year hiatus, much has been expected of the place but what is still missing is the euphoria and the accompanying enthusiasm experienced during its initial opening in 2001 by former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

It has been three weeks since its re-opening, but the 3,100ha eco-tourism park looks and feels like it is still closed as refurbishment work is still on and, worse still, no visitor has been sighted at the place.

When opening the park seven years ago, Dr Mahathir had said that the wetlands had enormous tourism potential as there was an increasing number of visitors, both local and foreign, who appreciated nature.

The park had then been touted as an ideal place for family outings where activities such as horse-riding, roving, canoeing, biking, cycling, sailing and fishing are available.

Despite millions of ringgit spent on resuscitating and regenerating the wetland park, the place remains quiet, even during weekends and holidays.

Officers at the wetlands refused to comment when asked about the number of visitors during the last three weeks.

“I am in no position to comment. You must get the statistics from the Wildlife Department,’’ one officer said.

On Oct 9, StarMetro reported that the wetlands was reopening on Oct 20 in conjunction with the launching of the Environment Week.

At the ceremony, students from 26 schools in the state participated in a tree-planting and other green activities. Present were many special guests, government officers and members of the media.

Following that rousing programme, the park has since stopped pulling in the crowd.

The reason, perhaps, is that only the first phase of the three-phase regeneration of the park is opened to the public and even then there is not much that nature lovers can look forward too.

The place is home to numerous species of birds, fishes and mammals, reptiles and species of aquatic and terrestrial plants.

When it is fully operational it would offer various exciting attractions and outdoor activities for people of all ages, including nature camps for students during the school holidays.

Nature lovers would then be obviously excited about the park when everything is in place - when all three phases are completed.

It has taken 30 months and RM10mil to resuscitate and revive the Paya Indah Wetlands and to reopen it.

The Wildlife Department is confident of giving a new lease of life to the eco-resort, billed as the country’s model park for nature regeneration, environmental rehabilitation and conservation.

[rizalhakim]

Islamic theme park attracted 1.9m visitors



SINCE it opened its doors to tourists in February, the Islamic Civilisation Theme Park has attracted 1.9 million visitors.

State Tourism, Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Datuk Za'abar Mohd Adib said all 21 replicas of monuments had been completed.

He was replying to a question by Muhammad Ramli Nuh (BN-Tepoh) on the number of visitors to the park and the state of completion of its monuments. Za'abar also said the river cruise package needed to be upgraded to attract more people to the park apart from continuous promotions.

State Rural Development, Entrepreneur and Cooperative Committee chairman Datuk Mohamed Awang Tera promised to check on cyber cafes which allowed gambling and surfing of pornography, as well as operating beyond the permitted time.

He was replying to a question by Dr Syed Azman Syed Ahmad Nawawi (Pas-Batu Burok) who said he had received many complaints by parents about cyber cafes.

[aniqasyranie]

Originally Posted by rizalhakim

List Of Theme Parks in Malaysia

1.Genting Theme Park - Pahang
2.Sunway Lagoon Theme Park - Selangor
3.Wet World Shah Alam - Selangor
4.A’Famosa Resort City - Melacca
5.Bukit Merah Laketown Resort - Perak
6.Lost World of Tambun - Perak
7.Cosmo's World Theme Park - KL
8.Mines Wonderland Theme Park - Selangor
9.Bukit Tinggi Resort - Pahang
10.Desa Water Park - KL
11.Wet World Pedas Hot Springs - Negeri Sembilan
12.Wet World Batu Pahat - Johor
13.Port Dickson Tiara Beach Resort - Negeri Sembilan

anymore??

are tiara consider as theme park?
not for me..
very small lah..

[zawae87]

Originally Posted by rizalhakim

List Of Theme Parks in Malaysia

1.Genting Theme Park - Pahang
2.Sunway Lagoon Theme Park - Selangor
3.Wet World Shah Alam - Selangor
4.A’Famosa Resort City - Melacca
5.Bukit Merah Laketown Resort - Perak
6.Lost World of Tambun - Perak
7.Cosmo's World Theme Park - KL
8.Mines Wonderland Theme Park - Selangor
9.Bukit Tinggi Resort - Pahang
10.Desa Water Park - KL
11.Wet World Pedas Hot Springs - Negeri Sembilan
12.Wet World Batu Pahat - Johor
13.Port Dickson Tiara Beach Resort - Negeri Sembilan

anymore??

14. Sungai Klah Hotspring - Perak

[zawae87]

Sungai Klah Hotspring, Sungkai Perak

[rizalhakim]

Lost World of Tambun jadi tumpuan
IPOH 28 Jan. - Bercuti merehatkan minda sambil melakukan pelbagai aktiviti menarik bersama keluarga, sememangnya menjadi impian semua orang.

Sempena sambutan Tahun Baru Cina, antara pusat percutian yang menjadi tumpuan ramai ialah taman tema Lost World of Tambun, yang terletak tidak jauh dari sini.

Pengurus Besarnya, Calvin Ho berkata, lebih 5,000 pengunjung telah mengunjungi taman tema itu.

''Selain menikmati keseronokan bermain di taman tema, pengunjung juga disajikan dengan persembahan tarian singa yang diiringi paluan gong dan gendang.

''Kami turut menampilkan watak Kukuntalu Leih yang membawa bakul berisi limau mandarin untuk diberikan kepada kanak-kanak," katanya di sini hari ini.

Kehadiran tahun lembu pula jelas Calvin, diharap dapat memberikan keharmonian dan kegembiraan kepada seluruh masyarakat Malaysia.

''Kami amat bertuah kerana berpeluang merayakan Tahun Baru Cina bersama-sama masyarakat berbilang kaum yang hadir pada hari ini," katanya.

Lost World of Tambun dibuka pada pukul 11 pagi hingga 6 petang pada hari Isnin, Rabu, Khamis dan Jumaat manakala pada hari Sabtu dan Ahad serta cuti umum, dibuka pada pukul 10 pagi hingga 6 petang.

Harga tiket masuk ke taman tema itu ialah RM25 untuk dewasa dan RM19 untuk kanak-kanak di bawah 12 tahun.

Manakala kanak-kanak yang ketinggian di bawah 90 sentimeter, tidak dikenakan bayaran.

[rizalhakim]

From wartime mine to fun park
Rizalman Hammim
THE Batu Pahat Wet World water recreation park in Jalan Bukit Pasir is a hit with visitors.


The Batu Pahat Wet World was at one time a bauxite mining pool.


The remnants of the processing plant at the recreation park. — Pictures by Mustapha Ismail


Families having a whale of a time at the Batu Pahat Wet World recreation park.
But not many people are aware that the lake was formerly a bauxite mine, which was closed soon after the end of World War Two. Bauxite is the most important of aluminium ores.

The mine opened in 1936 near Kampung Jorak Elahi. It was operated by a Japanese company in collaboration with the then village head Mohd Taki Janghir Khan.

Taki's son Mohd Abas, 83, once worked at the mine as an electrical technician. He said representatives of the Japanese company had initially approached Kadir Rahmat, the penghulu of Batu Pahat at the time, to open the mine.


"However, Penghulu Kadir told the representatives, led by a Japanese manager named Yamasaki, to meet with my father as the area they wanted to open the mine falls under my father's jurisdiction.

"The Japanese were a smart lot. There was a strong anti-Japanese sentiment among the Chinese at the time, so they made my father a partner.

"The venture was important to them because they knew it would be difficult to conduct business on their own since the Chinese would not sell anything to them," said Abas.

He said prior to the opening of the bauxite mine, the Japanese had already been operating an iron ore mine in Sri Medan for several years.

"After the bauxite mine was opened, the Japanese built a railroad track from the mine to the banks of Sungai Simpang Kanan to transport the bauxite.

"They asked my father to help them buy the land to build the track as some of them were owned by the Chinese," said Mohd Abas, who started working at the mine when he was 18.

When the mine's operations started, engineers from the US and Britain conducted tests on the bauxite that was mined, and found it to be of good quality.

Abas said about 1,000 people worked at the mine and it became the main source of employment in the village.

"The Japanese were tough but caring. They expected the workers to perform their best and paid the workers well."

At the start of World War Two, the mine had to be temporarily closed as all the Japanese managers had returned to Japan. However, before they left, they gathered the workers for a feast and gave them one month's bonus.

"They also told the workers that the mine would re-open when Japan won the war."

He said the mine continued its operation during the Japanese occupation and remained open until the end of the war when the Japanese was defeated.

"The mine closed permanently in 1950 and the mining lake became an attraction for Batu Pahat folk," said Abas.

[rizalhakim]

image hosted on flickr

image hosted on flickr

[rizalhakim]

image hosted on flickr


image hosted on flickr

[rizalhakim]

Bungy jumping to feature as new attraction at theme park
By JADE CHAN
Photos by SAM THAM


ADRENALINE junkies and extreme sports enthusiasts will have an added thrill to look forward to soon, when bungy jumping makes its home here with Malaysia’s first permanent bungy jump attraction at Sunway Lagoon.

The attraction is a collaboration between Sunway Lagoon and world-renowned operator of gravity defying activities, the AJ Hackett International Group.

Jumpers will get to experience the thrilling free-fall from a towering 22m above the water, which is equivalent to the height of an eight- to nine-storey building.


Ready, set, go!: 8TV Quickie host Prem Shanker (centre) getting ready to leap off Sunway Lagoon’s pedestrian suspension bridge.

They will have the option of a “water touch”, whereby they can touch the surface of the man-made lake below before they are recovered via an inflatable raft.

The bungy jump platform will be set on the world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge, near Sunway Lagoon’s Extreme Park.

Sunway Lagoon CEO Aaron Soo was among the first jumpers during a recent trial bungy jumping session.

He revealed that he had already psyched himself up before his jump, and had no phobia whatsoever due to his platform diving experience during his schooldays.

“There was some initial anxiety and concern, considering that this was my first time bungy jumping.


I’m flying!: 8TV Quickie host Prem Shanker diving towards the lake during his bungy jump.

“However, the AJ Hackett personnel were very professional and thorough, and with my safety assured, I felt comfortable jumping off,” Soo said, adding that he felt no jerks or pain during the jump.

While acknowledging a bungy jump accident that happened in Sunway Lagoon sometime back, Soo stressed that his biggest concern was the visitors’ safety.

“That is why we’re working with AJ Hackett International, the original bungy jumping company that has recorded over two million jumps worldwide without any major incidents,” he said.

AJ Hackett International business development manager Graham Whorskey said the purpose of his visit was to test the jump and sort out the necessary mechanics.

“We need to work out a platform to jump off from and the dinghy for the rescue (after the jump is completed.

“Jumpers will have the option of doing it the traditional way (using ankle attachment, with body harness as backup) or the alternative (with body harness strapped around the waist).”

He explained that there were different cords used in bungy jumping with different amounts of rubber.


Scary yet exciting: Star reporter Jade Chan leaping off Sunway Lagoon’s pedestrian suspension bridge!

“The cord with a stronger rubber can accommodate a heavier weight. We can build cords that can accommodate up to 200kg!” said Whorskey, who has been in the business for more than 20 years and has bungy jumped more than 3,000 times.

Also present was Bungy Malaysia Sdn Bhd managing director Richard Tankersley, whose company handles the Malaysian operations of the AJ Hackett International Group.

The staff of Bungy Malaysia will undergo rigorous training at AJ Hackett International’s premises in Bali on all aspects of safety and operations before running the attraction at Sunway Lagoon.

Soo said bungy jumping would be open to the public when all the necessary tests were completed and relevant permits acquired, which he estimated to be in three to six months’ time.

Though the average market price is US$100 (about RM350) for a jump about 40m high, Soo gave an assurance that a market test would be done and the attraction would be offered at a price that visitors could afford.

Although there is no minimum age, Whorskey said children under 10 years were generally not allowed to bungy jump.

“We will most likely open it to visitors aged 11 years and above. People with a heart condition, fear of heights, or are pregnant are not advised to try it,” Soo said.

“All the rules and regulations will be clearly marked through signages once everything is ready.”

[nazrey]

Khazanah: KidZania to be opened by 2012
Published: 2009/06/23

KHAZANAH Nasional Bhd and its partner, Boustead Holdings Bhd, expect the indoor educational theme park, KidZania Kuala Lumpur, to be opened by 2012.

Khazanah managing director, Tan Sri Azman Mokhtar, said the RM50 million theme park would occupy about 60,000 sq ft at the new building in Mutiara Damansara.

"About 500,000 visitors are expected per annum," he told reporters after the signing of licensing agreement between Rakan Riang Sdn Bhd and KidZania SA de CV today.

Rakan Riang is a joint-venture company between Khazanah and Boustead.

Azman said the theme park was expected to create 400 jobs.

He said the company would announce the entrance fees soon.
Founder/chief executive officer of KidZania SA de CV, Xavier Lopex Ancona, said it cost between US$12 and US$13 to visit KidZania in Jakarta.

KidZania is a family entertainment centre where children play adult roles in a child-sized replica of an actual city with streets, buildings, shops as well as vehicles moving along its streets.

The first KidZania was opened in 1999 in the Santa Fe Shopping Mall of Mexico City. The others are in Japan, Indonesia and Portugal. - Bernama

[nazrey]

Boustead, Khazanah to bring Kidzania to Malaysia

The Boustead Group and Khazanah Nasional Bhd will be bringing the increasingly famous Kidzania theme park to Malaysia.

The two parties are expected to sign an agreement next week to build the indoor theme park in Mutiara Damansara, Petaling Jaya.

Kidzania is a family entertainment centre, typically comprising a child-sized replica of a real city.

The city is managed by children and has buildings, shops, streets and vehicles.

The park is to allow children to learn about the adult world by actually engaging themselves in various professions within the 'city'.

The theme park was first created by theme park innovator, Luis Javier Laresgoiti and is the idea of Mexican businessman Xavier Lopez Ancona.

There are now an increasing number of Kidzania parks around the world, including in Mexico City, Monterrey, Tokyo, Jakarta while others are being planned for Dubai, Lisbon, Barcelona, Santiago and Seoul.