Mines Wonderland
D's birthday was creeping up, and I was trying to think of a place to go, to sort of celebrate it. I had read about this Mines Wonderland, and hadn't yet tried it. But it was a tad far, and some planning was needed.
Mines was situated near the Sg Besi toll, which was the end of the road for the NS expressway. That would put it around 300+km from Singapore. Most of the way there, would then be quite straight forward. I did some reading up on the net, but there wasn't any clear instructions. Mines Wonderland was a previous Mining area, converted to a Theme Park and resort. But Mines wonderland was a waypoint on my GPS, so getting there would not be a problem.
We drove up past the checkpoint early Friday, and I headed up to the expressway via the Skudai direction. From this end, it seemed to save an extra toll of RM2.10, and would join the main stretch of the NSH nearer than the Carrefour direction.
Robot Flagger
Tongkat Ali Teh Tarik
Happy children with chewy gum
The drive was quite straight forward. But the nearest rest point for food was at Pagoh, quite a distance away. Hence, starting from 7am, we were breafastless until about 8.30am. It was the usual fare of Nasi Lemak and Teh Tarik. Interestingly, there was a Tongkat Ali version of the Teh Tarik.
Sg Besi Toll
We reached the Sg Besi Toll at around 10am, paid the RM44.30 fee, and headed up to Mines under the guidance of my GPS. But the traffic there was quite convoluted, with many turnouts to various expressway. To make things worst, there was a short toll of RM1.30 along the way. I had gotten lost a few times, and I think I must had circled the toll about 8 times for the whole trip. Luckily, it was just RM1.30, else it would really have been painful for the pocket.
Spooky parking under the Convention Centre
Main Entrance
Shopping Mall
Overlooking the Canal
We reached there, parked at a deserted convention centre. Rather spooky, because the place was huge, empty and poorly lit. Parking was cheap at RM1. Beside Mines wonderland was a Mines Fair Shopping Centre. We realized that we were too early for the theme park, as it was a night theme park and would only open at 6pm. However, that was good timing, as we still had to settle our accomodations.
Easy Parking
Shopping Mall behind
Nice architecture
Ghostly Linkway to the Spa and Resort
The Shopping Mall was not quite yet open, with only a few shops. We did just a quick tour of the place, and went to ask around for a recommendation for lodging from the information counter. The girl told us that we could try out the Spa and Resort just around the corner. There was supposedly a linkway from the shopping centre to it. However, we found ourselves cutting through the convention building, which was deserted, dark and empty. Quite scary.
Mines Spa and Resort
The Zen pond
Zen Pond
The Spa
MINT hotel
Budget Hotel...but too budget for us
Reaching the resort, I was told that the promotion rates was RM322 for a night. Quite steep. I thanked the recept and decided to drive around the area to look for a cheaper one. However, it seemed that there wasn't that many hotels around that area. Up and down we went along the route (and had to pay toll), but couldn't find any. We saw one budget one, but decided against it as it looked downright cheesy. There was a Mint hotel, looked like 2 star, but I couldn't find the way to drive to it. We explored the famous Palace of the Golden horse, but found that the Grand Palace was no place for poor horses like us. It was a cool RM466++ per night. Ouch! But a very grand place. Might have been meant for rich and famous people to stay while they had fun at the races. It was situated right in the (former?) turf club.
Jusco, somewhere in KL
So, at 2.30pm, all starved and hungry, I decided to heck it, and drove back to the Spa and Resort and was all really to check in. But I was told then that it was full! Argh. It didn't looked full to me, but that was it. Leaving me with no choice, I decided to recce further to look again. However, I ended up in some KL area, and was quite lost. Then we decided that we would not stay, and would head back to Singapore after the show.
Lunch. Finally
So, again, the round loop back to the Mines area. Paid the RM1 parking for the 3rd time, and went in search of food. D wanted to try the Mr Ramen so Mr Ramen it was. However, it was run by 2 or 3 malay staff, and my guess was it it wouldn't be good. Turned out to be true, as the Japanese fare wasn't quite Japanese, with the rice being the normal kind of rice. But overall it was edible for starving people, but the bill turned out to be RM66. Not cheap.
After that, we did some shopping. We splitted and I went in search for a charger for my phone. I was having this problem was not being able to charge my HP in the car. All the car chargers I had, just didn't work. After some reading up, I think the problem was with the current ratings. I would need something to push out at least 1A of current. The ones I had, was just around 800mA. However, the prices were quite expensive. There was an original HTC charger going for RM120. Too much.
Canal leading out from the mall
More view of shopping mall
D having Jackfruits. Her favorite
Mini Melt Icecream
In front of the ticketing billboard
Feeding the fishes
Mines shopping was quite big, and had a decent variety of shops. There was even an IT Fair, and a large area for HP shops and accessories. For food, also a good spread of eateries and restaurants. The special thing about the shopping centre was that a canel cut right through it, and it was possible for folks to reach here from some nearby jetty via boat. In the canal, lots of fishes, and some quite huge ones. But didn't think fishing was allowed. The children bought some scraps of bread for fish feeding. 1 small plastic of scrap roti costed RM1. Quite expensive.
Nice plants outside the entrance
Getting the tickets
Starry walkway in
Nice fountain
Map of the theme park
Nice dragon at the Dragon Park
Another Dragon
Rare pic of me with the children at the Coin Garden
Where the tigers?
Tigers
Nice parrots made of flowers
Real parrots
Landscape view of the park
Terracota soldiers
Nice statue of something I like!
Around 5.30pm, the ticketing counter for the theme park opened. We got our tickets and entered the place at 6pm. Since it was still bright, the park looked pretty run down. The thing about Mines was that, I couldn't quite pin point what was the theme. At the end of it, it was a little bit of zoo, a little bit of chinese garden a little bit of snow world and a little bit of musical fountain. Quite a rojak place. However, when it became dark, the park literally lit up, and it was quite beautiful. For a start, we did mainly a walk about amongst all the gardens as well as the tiger zoo. Apparently, a baby tiger cub was quite the celebrity during its hay days. Now, I think it had all grown up and not as cutesy anymore
I discovered how to control my camera aperture!!
Motion shot #2
Trying her luck at the Fun Fair
Row of Fun Fair Games
The auditorium
Muscial Fountain
Musical Fountain
The children tried out all the games and rides available. There was an inflatable park, just what D loved. There was also some Fun Fair stalls. Although, it wasn't very well visited. We went for the musical fountain at 8pm. It was pretty, but kind of short. Within 10 mins, it was over.
Entrance to Ice Factory
Ice Factory
The children loved this special slide
Sabanese Dancing
Burst this balloon?
The Boat Ride
The children had fun, especially at the Ice Factory. They went in, had fun at the slides, and asked to go again. There was also some live entertaining by a Sabah dancing troupe, and it was quite fun to see them teasing the audiences with their funny antics. To wrap up the trip, we took a boat ride around the huge lake. Water was very calm and the ride was breezy. In the night, the view was very nice indeed.
Leaving the Theme Park
Shopping Mall
Subway
Around 9.30pm, we left the place and went for some food at the shopping centre before it close. We tried the Subway, as we hadn't quite got the chance to eat it in Singapore. Not too bad, I would say. I got a Red Bull in case I would need it driving back. We stock up on water, and made our way back home.
The home back, was quite tiring, due to all the road constructions from the Seremban and Tangkat area. But after clearing that stretch, the traffic became lesser, and the drive was easier. We filtering at JB to skudai, and attempted to come back via woodlands causeway. Surprisingly, we joined into JB near the Southern City. From there, it was straight forward drive down to the checkpoint. Traffic was quite clear, although there were quite a few cars. We touched down home at 2am. Not bad
Mines was situated near the Sg Besi toll, which was the end of the road for the NS expressway. That would put it around 300+km from Singapore. Most of the way there, would then be quite straight forward. I did some reading up on the net, but there wasn't any clear instructions. Mines Wonderland was a previous Mining area, converted to a Theme Park and resort. But Mines wonderland was a waypoint on my GPS, so getting there would not be a problem.
We drove up past the checkpoint early Friday, and I headed up to the expressway via the Skudai direction. From this end, it seemed to save an extra toll of RM2.10, and would join the main stretch of the NSH nearer than the Carrefour direction.
Robot Flagger
Tongkat Ali Teh Tarik
Happy children with chewy gum
The drive was quite straight forward. But the nearest rest point for food was at Pagoh, quite a distance away. Hence, starting from 7am, we were breafastless until about 8.30am. It was the usual fare of Nasi Lemak and Teh Tarik. Interestingly, there was a Tongkat Ali version of the Teh Tarik.
Sg Besi Toll
We reached the Sg Besi Toll at around 10am, paid the RM44.30 fee, and headed up to Mines under the guidance of my GPS. But the traffic there was quite convoluted, with many turnouts to various expressway. To make things worst, there was a short toll of RM1.30 along the way. I had gotten lost a few times, and I think I must had circled the toll about 8 times for the whole trip. Luckily, it was just RM1.30, else it would really have been painful for the pocket.
Spooky parking under the Convention Centre
Main Entrance
Shopping Mall
Overlooking the Canal
We reached there, parked at a deserted convention centre. Rather spooky, because the place was huge, empty and poorly lit. Parking was cheap at RM1. Beside Mines wonderland was a Mines Fair Shopping Centre. We realized that we were too early for the theme park, as it was a night theme park and would only open at 6pm. However, that was good timing, as we still had to settle our accomodations.
Easy Parking
Shopping Mall behind
Nice architecture
Ghostly Linkway to the Spa and Resort
The Shopping Mall was not quite yet open, with only a few shops. We did just a quick tour of the place, and went to ask around for a recommendation for lodging from the information counter. The girl told us that we could try out the Spa and Resort just around the corner. There was supposedly a linkway from the shopping centre to it. However, we found ourselves cutting through the convention building, which was deserted, dark and empty. Quite scary.
Mines Spa and Resort
The Zen pond
Zen Pond
The Spa
MINT hotel
Budget Hotel...but too budget for us
Reaching the resort, I was told that the promotion rates was RM322 for a night. Quite steep. I thanked the recept and decided to drive around the area to look for a cheaper one. However, it seemed that there wasn't that many hotels around that area. Up and down we went along the route (and had to pay toll), but couldn't find any. We saw one budget one, but decided against it as it looked downright cheesy. There was a Mint hotel, looked like 2 star, but I couldn't find the way to drive to it. We explored the famous Palace of the Golden horse, but found that the Grand Palace was no place for poor horses like us. It was a cool RM466++ per night. Ouch! But a very grand place. Might have been meant for rich and famous people to stay while they had fun at the races. It was situated right in the (former?) turf club.
Jusco, somewhere in KL
So, at 2.30pm, all starved and hungry, I decided to heck it, and drove back to the Spa and Resort and was all really to check in. But I was told then that it was full! Argh. It didn't looked full to me, but that was it. Leaving me with no choice, I decided to recce further to look again. However, I ended up in some KL area, and was quite lost. Then we decided that we would not stay, and would head back to Singapore after the show.
Lunch. Finally
So, again, the round loop back to the Mines area. Paid the RM1 parking for the 3rd time, and went in search of food. D wanted to try the Mr Ramen so Mr Ramen it was. However, it was run by 2 or 3 malay staff, and my guess was it it wouldn't be good. Turned out to be true, as the Japanese fare wasn't quite Japanese, with the rice being the normal kind of rice. But overall it was edible for starving people, but the bill turned out to be RM66. Not cheap.
After that, we did some shopping. We splitted and I went in search for a charger for my phone. I was having this problem was not being able to charge my HP in the car. All the car chargers I had, just didn't work. After some reading up, I think the problem was with the current ratings. I would need something to push out at least 1A of current. The ones I had, was just around 800mA. However, the prices were quite expensive. There was an original HTC charger going for RM120. Too much.
Canal leading out from the mall
More view of shopping mall
D having Jackfruits. Her favorite
Mini Melt Icecream
In front of the ticketing billboard
Feeding the fishes
Mines shopping was quite big, and had a decent variety of shops. There was even an IT Fair, and a large area for HP shops and accessories. For food, also a good spread of eateries and restaurants. The special thing about the shopping centre was that a canel cut right through it, and it was possible for folks to reach here from some nearby jetty via boat. In the canal, lots of fishes, and some quite huge ones. But didn't think fishing was allowed. The children bought some scraps of bread for fish feeding. 1 small plastic of scrap roti costed RM1. Quite expensive.
Nice plants outside the entrance
Getting the tickets
Starry walkway in
Nice fountain
Map of the theme park
Nice dragon at the Dragon Park
Another Dragon
Rare pic of me with the children at the Coin Garden
Where the tigers?
Tigers
Nice parrots made of flowers
Real parrots
Landscape view of the park
Terracota soldiers
Nice statue of something I like!
Around 5.30pm, the ticketing counter for the theme park opened. We got our tickets and entered the place at 6pm. Since it was still bright, the park looked pretty run down. The thing about Mines was that, I couldn't quite pin point what was the theme. At the end of it, it was a little bit of zoo, a little bit of chinese garden a little bit of snow world and a little bit of musical fountain. Quite a rojak place. However, when it became dark, the park literally lit up, and it was quite beautiful. For a start, we did mainly a walk about amongst all the gardens as well as the tiger zoo. Apparently, a baby tiger cub was quite the celebrity during its hay days. Now, I think it had all grown up and not as cutesy anymore
I discovered how to control my camera aperture!!
Motion shot #2
Trying her luck at the Fun Fair
Row of Fun Fair Games
The auditorium
Muscial Fountain
Musical Fountain
The children tried out all the games and rides available. There was an inflatable park, just what D loved. There was also some Fun Fair stalls. Although, it wasn't very well visited. We went for the musical fountain at 8pm. It was pretty, but kind of short. Within 10 mins, it was over.
Entrance to Ice Factory
Ice Factory
The children loved this special slide
Sabanese Dancing
Burst this balloon?
The Boat Ride
The children had fun, especially at the Ice Factory. They went in, had fun at the slides, and asked to go again. There was also some live entertaining by a Sabah dancing troupe, and it was quite fun to see them teasing the audiences with their funny antics. To wrap up the trip, we took a boat ride around the huge lake. Water was very calm and the ride was breezy. In the night, the view was very nice indeed.
Leaving the Theme Park
Shopping Mall
Subway
Around 9.30pm, we left the place and went for some food at the shopping centre before it close. We tried the Subway, as we hadn't quite got the chance to eat it in Singapore. Not too bad, I would say. I got a Red Bull in case I would need it driving back. We stock up on water, and made our way back home.
The home back, was quite tiring, due to all the road constructions from the Seremban and Tangkat area. But after clearing that stretch, the traffic became lesser, and the drive was easier. We filtering at JB to skudai, and attempted to come back via woodlands causeway. Surprisingly, we joined into JB near the Southern City. From there, it was straight forward drive down to the checkpoint. Traffic was quite clear, although there were quite a few cars. We touched down home at 2am. Not bad
Comments
Thanks for your infomation trip. We plan to go there this December 2008.
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