Malaysia: Kuala Lumpur. Part 2 – Sunway Lagoon

They left Genting and embarked on a long cab ride with a very friendly driver who kept them engaged with an informative discussion about the intricacies of a non-Muslim marrying a Muslim in the country. The one-hour ride felt quick due to the thought-provoking conversation. Upon reaching the 3-star hotel, they were initially impressed by the lobby, which seemed fantastic. However, they soon learned at reception that this was actually a 3-star hotel, and they had mistakenly been booked at the 5-star hotel instead.
A car from the hotel arrived to take them to the proper location, and as they entered the stunning 5-star hotel, they tried not to gawk too much but couldn’t help but be impressed. The check-in desks were sleek and modern, and there was a Gordon Ramsay restaurant in the lobby—truly 5-star in every way. The decor was gorgeous, with huge Christmas trees and a spectacular lobby that set the tone for a luxurious stay.
After settling in, they made their way straight to the swimming pool, eager to enjoy some time by the water. They ordered cocktails, but the drinks took over 30 minutes to arrive. At one point, the waiter handed the Captain the notepad to write down the order himself. The lifeguard on duty mentioned that the service in Malaysia could sometimes be slow, which was evident in this situation.
While they waited for the drinks, the Cadet happily played in the pool, but unfortunately, like their pool experience in Genting, thundershowers rolled in. They had to retreat back to their room.
Later after changing, showering and drying up they went to the Gordon Ramsay restaurant in hte lobby. The Cadet, having been asked to behave, did so, but he wasn’t thrilled with the food. He ordered mac and cheese, which he spat out—just as he had done a year ago at another Ramsay establishment in Korea, when he’d ordered the same dish. For dessert, they enjoyed a delicious apple tart tatin. However, when they tried to give Rami vanilla ice cream, he loudly declared, “That’s not ice cream!” over and over again, causing a scene that prompted a hasty exit. Despite the incident, the food was incredible: they had turkey wellington, lamb, and some delicious side dishes.
To soothe the Cadet, they headed to the attached shopping mall in search of sushi. The Captain went over to a shop and found some tuna sushi he liked, but the store refused to cut it for him, rather wanted to give him one big log of tuna sushi. After a bit of a disagreement with the staff, the Captain was handed a pair of scissors to cut the sushi himself. This was yet another example of the service issues they had encountered in Malaysia. While their dinner at Gordon Ramsay’s had cost over 1000 ringgit, the Cadet's uncut sushi only set them back 8 ringgit. They then treated him to "real" ice cream from Häagen-Dazs, and Cadet thanked everyone for the treat, returning to the store multiple times to thank the icecream giver.
They returned to the hotel and got ready for sleep. The Cadet and Admiral quickly settled in for the night while the Captain decided to go downstairs to the lobby for a beer. Upon arrival, he was told that the restaurant was closed, but the staff discreetly advised him to go to 7-Eleven to pick up some beers. The Captain followed their suggestion, grabbing two beers and bringing them back to the hotel. Once back at the restaurant, he was allowed to sit down and enjoy his beers without anyone bothering him. He spent some time reading his book until late, before returning to the room to join the Cadet and Admiral, ready for a well-earned rest before the next day's adventure.
The next day, they woke up late to the sweltering heat. After getting ready, they left the hotel to head out on their next adventure to Sunway Lagoon. On the way out, they stopped for coffee downstairs at the hotel lobby and left their bag at the café as they made their way to the theme park. However, the Captain had to go back to the lobby for the bag, while the Admiral and Cadet navigated through a maze of car parks to reach the entrance.
Upon entering the theme park, the heat hit them hard. The Captain sorted out the tickets and went inside first, eager to kick off the day. The first stop was a horror ghost train, which the Cadet seemed very interested in. However, when they tried to board, security pulled them aside and asked for the Cadet's age. The Captain said seven, but the Admiral corrected it, stating four. Unfortunately, the Cadet wasn’t allowed on, as the ride was deemed too scary for someone of his age. Despite the Captain’s attempts to convince them, they were told to wait for a future event where he could possibly be allowed.
The Captain, undeterred by the earlier incident, decided to experience the haunted house ride on his own. It was a walkthrough attraction, much like the zombie experience they had encountered earlier in Genting, where they would move through a dark, eerie house with actors playing the roles of ghoulish figures.
As the Captain made his way through the haunted house, something unexpected happened. He became the unofficial leader of the group, as other visitors, including a child and his mother, clung to his T-shirt and pants. They seemed to find comfort in his presence, grabbing onto him for dear life as they walked through the spooky corridors, the sounds of creaking doors and ghostly moans echoing in the dark.
Sweating profusely, the Captain tried to stay composed as he led the small group, making his way through the haunting scenes. He could feel the grip of the child and mother tightening with every jump scare, but he soldiered on, determined to finish the tour, though the experience left him feeling like he had been in the middle of a dramatic, yet slightly amusing, horror house.
The sweat kept dripping onto the terrified pair clinging to him, but he maintained his role as an unintentional hero, even as he silently prayed for the haunted house to end. The whole experience left him both drained and slightly amused, knowing that, in that moment, he had become the calm in the storm for his fellow "tourists."
They headed into the water park, where the heat made for perfect splashing and cooling off. The Admiral, ever diligent, reapplied sunscreen at every opportunity to make sure everyone stayed protected under the blazing sun. Meanwhile, the Captain decided to take a break from the water fun and ventured off to experience a 5D ride. However, the 5D ride was a letdown. It felt like it came straight from Temu—the 3D goggles didn’t work, and the chair barely moved, leaving the Captain feeling underwhelmed, not even mildly amused.
Afterward, the Captain joined the Admiral and Cadet at the surf pool, where he threw the Cadet around in the water, enjoying some fun splashing. Despite the ride mishaps, the water provided a welcome break from the heat, and the crew was able to soak in the fun of the park together
It was time for lunch, so they grabbed some sushi and Subway—two different tastes to suit everyone’s preferences. After filling up, they went on a wildlife walk to explore more of the park.
The Captain was absolutely fascinated by the animals they encountered, but one stood out above the rest—his spirit animal, the bear. He had a deep admiration for them, and it was a moment of pure excitement when they learned that 10 of the smaller sun bears would make up the size of one polar bear, the largest bear in the world.
Next, they made their way to the lion enclosure. The Mumma lion slept peacefully while the Daddy lion paced back and forth, ever alert. The crew watched in awe as the majestic giants strolled around and fed, the sight of such powerful animals leaving them in silent admiration.