Malaysia: Genting Highlands.

The ride to the Genting Highlands was smooth, the winding roads offering glimpses of lush greenery as they ascended toward the highlands. The Cadet was mesmerized by the changing scenery, occasionally pressing his nose to the window to take in the view. The Captain and Admiral, still riding the wave of their excellent sleep and festive morning, chatted about the plans for Genting and all the fun they hoped to have.
As they climbed higher, the temperature cooled, a welcome break from the humid heat of Kuala Lumpur. As the Grab wound its way up to Genting Highlands, the crew found themselves surrounded by a thick blanket of clouds, reducing visibility to nearly zero. The Captain kept marveling at how they were "driving into the sky," but the Cadet, unimpressed and cranky, declared that this was "the stupidest idea ever." His mood didn’t improve when they arrived at the hotel lobby—another "stupid" one, in his opinion.
Arriving at Genting Highlands felt like stepping into a different world. The crisp mountain air, the sprawling resorts, and the hint of adventure in the air signaled that this was going to be a whole new chapter of their holiday. They unloaded their bags, ready to explore what the highlands had to offer.
They finally checked into their room on the 33rd floor, which literally felt like being in the clouds. The view was surreal, with mist swirling around their windows, giving the impression of floating above the world. The Admiral, embracing the moment, quickly booked tickets to Genting SkyWorlds for the next day, promising an adventure to cheer up the Cadet.
Their first exploration of the hotel was filled with quirks. A staff member offered to show them around, only to disappear when she took the elevator down, leaving the crew hilariously stranded. They decided to explore on their own, finding a kids' area with actual play equipment—a rare delight for the Cadet, who finally smiled.
Their next discovery was the rooftop pool on the 44th floor, still enveloped in clouds. The Captain decided to take the plunge despite the cold water and kids splashing around. Within minutes, his shorts were soaked, and the Cadet joined in, gleefully splashing everyone within range. Just as they started to enjoy themselves, the clouds darkened, the rain began to fall, and a storm rolled in. Security rushed to clear the area, but the Cadet, ever inquisitive, demanded to know why rain was more dangerous than splashing water.
After drying off and dressing, the crew headed out for dinner. They wandered through the local kopitiam-style eateries, dodging durian stalls and even a durian buffet, much to the Captain's horror. The Cadet spotted a restaurant and confidently requested braised octopus—though they eventually settled on Mee Goreng, butter chicken, and fresh pineapple juice, at a very local looking kopitam
Before heading back to their room, they made a quick supply run at 7-Eleven, grabbing breakfast essentials for the next day. Back in the room, they tackled laundry, hanging clothes to dry wherever they could find space—creating a makeshift drying rack out of the room itself.
As they finally settled in for the night, excitement buzzed in the air. Tomorrow was Genting SkyWorlds day, and the Captain, Admiral, and Cadet couldn’t wait to see what adventures awaited them.
The morning began with a thrifty decision by the Captain, who vetoed the idea of the pricey buffet breakfast downstairs. Instead, they made do with a simple breakfast in their room, clearing up the laundry that had transformed their quarters into an improvised drying room.
Once ready, they headed downstairs to catch the shuttle bus to the theme park. However, after a lengthy wait, it became clear that the bus wasn’t coming. Cutting their losses, they hailed a Grab instead and made their way up the mountain.
The ride was longer than expected, as they realized their hotel was over 20 minutes away from the theme park. Adding to the morning's challenges, both the Captain and Cadet were feeling the aftereffects of yesterday’s meals, resulting in frequent trips to release the "excess water."
Upon arrival, the crew faced another challenge—finding their way to the park entrance. The walk through the sprawling mall was a journey in itself. Over 50 restaurants and countless luxury brands lined the path, a testament to the sheer size of the place. The Cadet scored a pretzel snack along the way, while the Admiral began raising alarms about her urgent need for coffee. The Captain reassured her that they’d find a good brew inside the park, though the Admiral’s expression suggested she was on the verge of mutiny.
Finally, they reached Genting SkyWorlds and dove straight into their first attraction: the Independence Day ride. However, a tense moment arose when the ride attendant's brusque demeanor prompted the Captain to call her out. “Why do you have to be so rude?” he asked. “We’re just asking a question.” To her credit, the attendant softened and took the feedback graciously.
After a relatively short 15-minute wait, they boarded the ride. It turned out to be a lucky choice, as it was the park's most popular attraction. But the thrill quickly turned into a bit of a shock for the Cadet. The ride’s alien invasion storyline, paired with its intense visuals and loud sound effects, left him wide-eyed and shaken by the end.
While the Captain and Cadet were on the ride, the Admiral ventured off to secure the much-needed coffee. However, the brew she returned with was so bad that the Captain, in a dramatic display of disappointment, tossed it straight into the bin. They weaved through the park, hopping on various rides and making friends with fellow visitors while waiting in line. The Cadet, as always, was in his element, chatting animatedly and charming everyone around him.
However, trouble brewed when the Cadet set his sights on a game stall offering giant teddy bear prizes. Despite the Captain’s repeated attempts to explain that such games were "a scam," the Cadet stormed over to the game operator and declared, "You’re stupid!" The operator, taken aback by the unexpected outburst, looked around in confusion, unsure of what had just transpired. The Captain and Admiral quickly intervened, ushering the Cadet away and redirecting his attention to another ride.
They tried a mix of attractions, including the carousel and the "real bird ride," which provided spectacular views of the park. Unfortunately, the Admiral had to sit out most of the rides due to her growing "spawn". Still, she cheered from the sidelines and captured countless photos.
By midday, hunger struck, and the trio stopped for a quick lunch of hot dogs and chips. Fueled up, they embarked on more adventures around the park, though not without minor drama. At one point, the Cadet’s top became slightly wet—a situation he found utterly unacceptable. He adamantly refused the Admiral’s offer to dry it in the restroom, fearing that everyone in the park would see his belly. The Captain and Admiral tried to console him, but the Cadet’s indignation at the wet shirt carried on for quite some time.
The Admiral, determined to make the most of the theme park experience, finally decided to join the Cadet on an easy ride. The Captain, ever resourceful, advised her to simply "pretend she's fat and not pregnant" if anyone questioned her belly. Luckily, no one did.
Meanwhile, the Captain embarked on a solo mission to the Planet of the Apes ride, leaving the Admiral and the sugar-fueled Cadet to explore. The Cadet found his way to the water play area, gleefully splashing about and shamelessly flashing his belly to all who dared look. The duo attempted to regroup with the Captain but were hilariously sidetracked by a tempting "corn in a cup" stand—twice.
As they decided it was time to leave the park, rain started to drizzle, and the Captain realized he hadn’t used the photo package he’d paid for. A frantic hunt for photographers ensued, but they had all wisely retreated from the rain. Disappointed but undeterred, the crew exited the park, only for the Cadet to demand a tattoo. They declined, deeming it too expensive, which led to a cranky meltdown from the young rebel.