Basic HTML Version
B
eing
a product of urbanization of the 90s, it is not
very often that I get the chance to leave my concrete
nest of a jungle to head out and explore the greenery.
Tucked away in the cool, arboraceous enclave
north of central Shah Alam is an eco-adventure park
like no other. Promising fun, thrill and excitement
for participants of all ages, be it children or extreme
adventure seekers, Skytrex-Adventures’ eco-adventure park that’s
located deep in the Shah Alam National Botanical Gardens (Taman
Botani Nasional Shah Alam) offers three different treetop rope trails
differentiated by difficulty.
Established in 2007 and the first of its kind in Malaysia, Skytrex
promises a different kind of forested excitement. Each course sees you
flitting around tree canopies on zip-lines (which we know as flying
foxes), boardwalks and various kinds of imaginative obstacle courses
made of a variety of materials such as PVC pipes and plank wood.
Adventurers have three courses to choose from: Little Adventure – a
course for children or adults who prefer a gentler trail, the intermediate
Big Thrill and the advanced Extreme
Challenge.
Enter the Excitement
When the opportunity arose in the form of
an invite to experience a treetop adventure
trail, I immediately jumped on the chance.
Pumped with utter excitement, I gathered
my friends and we made our way to
Skytrex on a sunny Saturday morning.
Parking, walking, registration and ticket
purchase to the Botanical Gardens of Shah
Alam was efficient, organized and took
about 10 minutes. Most of the time after
28| FireFlyz
arrival was spent waiting for the free open-air
shuttle bus. They arrive in 30-minute intervals
so if you wish to drop by, do try to plan your
trip accordingly.
The five-odd minute bus ride itself was
joy-inducing, seeing that I have a thing for
having the wind blow in my hair. The open-
aired bus cruised leisurely along a 3.5km
trail – a perfect way to start an adventure in
the treetops! It was heartwarming to hear the
tinkling laughs of little children on the bus as
they waved and shouted enthusiastic hellos to
joggers, cyclists and assorted individuals that
we passed by– amused holiday-goers joined in
the fun and waved and greeted along.
Upon arrival on Skytrex’s grounds, the ever
hospitable Azlan Idrus, Managing Director of
Skytrex, was there to greet my friends and
I. We made our way to the SkyDeck where a reserved
table was waiting for us so we could place our food and
cooler box down, take a breather and take in the various
aspects of the park. From the SkyDeck gazebo, we saw
the mini lake with the SkyAqua feature (little duck boats
for the young uns), the SkyLoft, which is a lower-ground
communal area with BBQ facilities nearby, and in the
distance, the exclusive SkyPad that can host large families
or corporate get-togethers.
Skytrex has in place a very strict and organised policy
for all adventurers. We went to a hut where everyone was
briefed on what to expect before signing the indemnity
forms. The hut is also where we got the additional gears
such as gloves, which are very necessary, bottle holders,
snacks and drinks. I found the locker rental feature to
be especially handy because it was important to travel
as lightly as possible when traversing obstacle courses
between trees 15m to 20m high.
Jamilah Lim
jumps at the opportunity to experience a treetop adventure trail and boy
did she have a ball!
Skytrekking Essentials
•
Enoughwater or sports drinks
•
Finger food or snacks
•
Mosquito repellent
•
Sunscreen
•
Wraparound sunglasses
•
Towels
•
Gloves –preferably thosewith rubberized grips
get
away
I m a g e s :
A z l a n I d r u s
Flying High in the Jungle
A precarious walk
THE FIREFLY OPTION:
Firefly flies fromSubang
to various destinations.
Information on routes and
schedules can be found at
www.fireflyz.com.my