Theme parks offer a trip into a world of fantasy, excitement and adventure. This is where senses are stimulated as you are jolted into electrifying entertainment hour after hour. You can live out your fantasies in virtual reality as you bump and twist through the darkness of the galaxy, or fool your senses into believing you are part of a power-charged live action scene. Heroes and villains come alive in thrilling games. Roller-coasters loop and twirl at terrifying speed as thrill-seekers find themselves, for a moment, free from the daily routine of life and be transported into a world of make-believe.

A unique entertainment concept in the leisure and entertainment, theme parks are getting more and more exciting as thrillseekers demand more. Malaysia's range of theme parks generally combine a mixture of water activities, adventure, futuristic experiences, games, rides and sometimes just a place for relaxation and sightseeing. Being fun places they form a lively venue for corporate family days, special events, launches, stage shows and promotional activities. Many tour operators seeking to perk up a tour package include a visit or two to a theme park to enable clients enjoy unrestrained fun activities.

For those feeling uneasy about theme parks' daredevil rides, it may be reassuring to know that theme parks in the Klang Valley have to conform with the requirements stipulated under the Factory and Machinery Act 1967. Operators are expected to keep records on maintenance and inspection of fun ride equipment. They are also required to train operators so that they are skilled in handling the games equipment.

First on the scene in the world of Malaysia theme park entertainment was Genting, a highland resort about 51 km northeast of Kuala Lumpur. Carved out of the Ulu Kali mountain range at 2000 metres above sea level the hill resort soon acquired the tag 'City of Entertainment' with its range of entertainment. Cool mountain air further added to its lure as a place to get away from it all and be transported into a world of excitement.

The Genting Theme Park is divided into indoor and outdoor sections. Indoors, the theme park contains skill games, computerised as well as coin-operated, and an opportunity to go into mysterious landscapes, or experience double action. Space Odyssey 20 zaps you through the darkness of space on a terrifying rollercoaster ride that the theme park has put up health, height, age and other boarding restrictions before boarding this attraction.

Motion Master Simulator enables you to experience action in films such as Smash Factory without leaving your seat.

Introducing the indoor wonderland is the animated Town Crier at Ye Olde Town Square who appears at the window of the clocktower every 15 minutes. The Town Crier tells visitors encounters in the park. Watch his facial expression change as he talks to you about the attractions. You might just believe that he is alive and kicking!

If you want to get a quick of the attractions of the world, take the Around the World Train Ride where animated figures dressed in their national costumes will greet you as you pass each country's landmarks.

Outdoors, the Corkscrew roller-coaster thunders through wildly convoluted tracks while the Runaway Train takes off for an exciting run through the theme park's 'Gold Mine'. Technology sets to work at the 3-D FunHouse when a 3-D camera projects the illusion of objects flying towards the viewers.

For a more leisurely mode, take the giant mechanical caterpillar and tour the outdoor theme park on its elevated track. Or take a bubble car and get a bird's eye view of the sights below.

A showcase of illusions and magnificent animals await at Magic Xscape, a multi-million ringgit production of the resort. The international show takes audience on an incredible journey far beyond the realms of reality with its high technology and special effects.

Genting Highlands operates its own air-conditioned coaches with 18 scheduled services daily from Pudu Raya Bus Terminal in Kuala Lumpur. Genting Highland is also well-served by taxis and limousine service and international -standard accommodation. Genting is also well-known for its casino which offers Blackjack, baccarat, roulette, keno, French bull and Tai Sai among its range of games.

Sunway Lagoon is Malaysia's premier water theme park. Located in Bandar Sunway, just minutes away from the Sultan Abdul Aziz Shah International Airport in Subang, the water theme park is a recreation of a sunken mining wasteland. Spanning some 80 acres, the theme park's emphasis on largely water-based with wild adventure rides and amusement games.

Within the five acre waterpark are water-based attractions. Here you can hurtle down a waterslide, drift by on the Lazy River Ride or Tube Ride, listen to the thundering roar of the man-made waterfall or thrill to the surf of the Surf Pool.

Mid-western frontier fun comes alive at Fort Lagoon Wild, Wild West. You can take a ride on a Grand Canyon River Rapids, go on a Buffalo Bill Coaster ride or go speeding down the Colorado Splash.

Adventure Park takes you on more adventure where you can ride in Apache Pots, test your nerves on the Flying Carpet or ride the skies on a Galleon. Other attractions include runaway train, pedestrian suspension bridge and sky flyer.

A major attraction at The Mines Wonderland is the Snow House. Warm coats are thoughtfully provided for visitors to enable them, especially children, to indulge in a bit of snowball throwing or to slide down a snow slide. Within the setting of a snow wonderland complete with coloured bulbs and falling snow, there are carvings of penguins, snow goose, reindeer and the Arc de Triomphe of Paris. Pathways lead the visitor from one setting to another, delighting and mesmerising those who are seeing snow for the first time!

The park also offers another snow entertainment with its recently opened Ice Skating Rink. Here you can hire a pair of skates and pretend to be Tara Lipinski while gliding through the icy surface, chilly air, pine trees and all!

Kiddy rides are, plentiful but there are also several leisure rides for the older groups. Among them are tram rides, vintage car rides, and the Spin Boat Ride which takes one through a waterway flanked by colourful blooms, verdant foliage and majestic trees in a dreamy kind of manner.

There are also water taxis which ply between the theme park and the Mines shopping complex. The Mines Wonderland is at its best in the evening when creative lighting transforms the park into something of a magical land. Light Fantasy on Water is a lakesite display of brightly-lit motorised creatures that glide on water in a spectacular procession.

At 7.30pm, a well-choreographed local cultural show is held at the open-air amphitheatre before the Musical Fountain does its breathtaking water screen laser show to music.

The theme park is equipped with good visitor facilities including restaurants, shopping complexes and good transportation from Kuala Lumpur city centre while for overnight visitors there is the Mines Resort Beach Hotel and the Palace of the Golden Horses Hotel.
 

Wet World in Shah Alam is established as a neighbourhood waterpark. It is targeted for families who just want to have a splashing good time without the stunts. There are, however, recreational rides like the Monsoon Buster - the world's longest uphill watercoaster that rises and dips for 222 metres. Facilities include a fast food centre, gift shops and changing areas.

A 'Famosa Water World is the southern region's playground for water lovers. Designed for families it offers water-based attractions with safe bathing and water activities for children. Among its novelty rides are high speed slides, body slides and jet skis which enable older children to enjoy action-based thrills on water.

For the younger ones, there is the 'Arabian Village', a brightly-coloured playground structure inspired by Moorish architecture. Topped by onion-shaped domes and minarets, the Arabian Village offers unlimited fun for younger children as they climb the steps, go through water tunnels or slide down water tubes and slides.

The Lazy River, 504m long and 3 - 9m wide is the longest and widest theme park river in the country and here families can enjoy a leisure ride together aboard a family raft. If you think there is no fun without waves, just head towards the Wave Pool where swelling waves are simulated artificially and recreate the 'seaside atmosphere'. You can experience getting splashed about by waves - but without fear of getting into the 'deep end'.

Bukit Merah Laketown Resort, is the premier waterfront resort for the Northern Region of Peninsular Malaysia. It is located at the Bukit Merah Laketown, at the Bukit Merah Interchange along the North-South Highway. All that you need for a refreshing stay can be found at the resort - the Bukit Merah Laketown Inn, Bukit Merah Laketown Marina Village, and Bukit Merah Laketown Waterpark. Surrounded by lush tropical greenery and natural lake, the resort makes a suitable getaway for the whole family.

The Bukit Merah Laketown Inn is a 3-star affordable hotel with 174 spacious family rooms that can accommodate up to 5 people. There is a full range of facilities and services. Encompassing the Bukit Merah Lake are activities you can indulge in such as golf, fishing, lakeside cruises and boat rides.

The Bukit Merah Laketown Marina Village is a tourist festival shopping village where you can find a wide variety of shops offering items such as crafts, swimwear and suntan lotions. Its restaurant Cafe Le Lac offers local and international cuisine's while its bakery offers a variety of pastries and cakes. Its four function rooms are available for seminars, exhibitions and events such as wedding dinners or annual get-togethers. For family entertainment, visitors can head towards kids amusement rides and also interactive fountain.

The Bukit Merah Laketown Waterpark comprises 8 water attractions, among them a Giant Wave Pool with simulated waves, Slow River Ride, and Raft Tube Slides. The Giant Wave Pool creates waves up to a metre high. For kiddies there is a Kiddie Bay. A 300m long Slow River cruise on floating tubes is available for adults as well as a specially-designed one for children. The Kid's Water Playground is a unique 'obstacle' playground with big buckets of pouring water and waterjet-guns to spray. The Giant Bubble, a first in Southeast Asia, is a Swedish-made inflated bubble for visitors to climb, bounce, slip and slide. Three Giant Water Flume Slides are provided where you can ride through a 'Midstation' pool or race down the 100m slide directly to the bottom pool. Facilities here include the Bubbles Restaurant, a fast food themed restaurant that serves western and local delights.

Bukit Merah Laketown Resort offers special packages including Seminar Packages and Golf Packages. One may be just right for you!

For further information, please contact:

Bukit Merah Laketown Resort
Jalan Bukit Merah
34400 Semanggol, Perak
Tel: 05-897-8888
Fax: 05-897-8000