This is the second day of our Malaysia vacation and already we are having a ball of a time. We spent last night in the KL hotel, Hotel Capitol Kuala Lumpur. Today, after lunch comprising dim sum food and not forgetting the dim sum pictures, we would be heading from our Kuala Lumpur accommodation up to one of the most popular Malaysia resorts, Genting Highlands, 6000 feet above sea level, where we would be staying at the Highlands Hotel. At the same time, as Christmas is just around the corner, we could admire the beautifully decorated artificial Christmas trees as well as the Christmas decor.
A leisurely day for us, we started with Bebe’s Kitchen on the Mezzanine Floor of Hotel Capital for breakfast. Although the hotel was full, it was not crowded at breakfast. Or maybe it was because we were there at almost 0900 hrs. Breakfast food comprised a variety of Western and local Malaysian dishes including your choice of eggs cooked on the spot.Buffet Breakfast food
Nonya kuihJuice corner
SaladVariety of breakfast food selection
PorridgeCroissant with peanut butter & kaya (egg jam)
Ever popular eggs 
Local roti canai (Indian bread) and curryColourful nonya cakes
Christmas decorBebe's
Our group at breakfastTIPS FOR TRAVEL:-
If you like staying in the heart of the shopping district and enjoy some great travel deals, you can sign up for the FHI Privilege Club. For RM448 (USD132), the valued member can look forward to complimentary dining in any of the FHI Hotels which include Federal Hotel and Capitol Hotel when accompanied by at least one guest.
Other bonuses include:-
• 2x Complimentary Night Stay
• 5x Complimentary Room Upgrade
• 10x Complimentary Visits at The Federal KL’s Swimming Pool
• 2x Complimentary Welcome Drinks (alcoholic or non-alcoholic)
• 1x 50% Discount for Special Occasion
• 1x Complimentary Bottle of House Wine / Appetizer / Dessert
• 1x Complimentary One-kilogram Cake for Member’s Birthday
• 1x Complimentary Set Lunch or 1 hi tea for 2 persons
• 1x RM20 (USD5.90) Cash Voucher
• 1x RM30 (USD8.85) Cash Voucher
• 1x Birthday/Anniversary Benefit of 1 Complimentary Bottle of House Wine or 2 dessert
Since we have two FHI Privilege cards, we used up one complimentary voucher per card. This gave us a total of two complimentary rooms and we just needed to pay for another two rooms @ RM170 (USD 49.90) ++ per night.
Hotel Capitol artificial Christmas treeEach room is entitled to one breakfast. So since we have 4 rooms, that meant 4 complimentary breakfasts. Thus we have another 4 persons in our group of 8 who would need to pay for breakfast @ RM28 (USD 8.20) ++. However since the FHI Privilege card allows 1 complimentary meal when dining with 1 or more guests, we made full use of the privilege by using the 2 cards for 2 complimentary breakfasts and only needed to pay for 2 breakfasts.
In addition, we also utilized the RM20 certificate for both cards to redeem for breakfast, thus ending up paying only RM32.80. A great deal indeed!
The only challenge that we faced was that our rooms were overlooking an area where there was some construction works going on all through the night. That caused one of our group members to lose sleep as he was a light sleeper.
After a slow breakfast, we made our way to Sungei Wang Plaza, less than a minute’s walk away.
Hanging Christmas decor
As it was still before 1000 hrs, most of the shops were still closed. Whilst lingering around and waiting for the shops to open, we came across the atrium of Sungei Wang Plaza where they had the Christmas decoration which was really beautiful. It was amazingly simple and nothing elaborate, yet so lovely to behold.
The lovely Christmas decor in Sungei Wang PlazaA joy to admire
As the shops started to open, we began our shopping spree, buying clothes and even an Olympus camera for RM550 (USD 161.35). It was fun shopping in a group and seeing what bargains each managed to find.
Need a WC?Shopping in a supermarket
Looking for a camera
Christmas decor in front of Bukit Bintang PlazaReturning to Hotel Capitol Kuala Lumpur before 1200 hrs to check out, we then left our luggage at the hotel before walking a short distance away to Federal Hotel, another hotel in the FHI group, to have lunch at the Chinese Restaurant Mandarin Palace on Level 2.
Father Christmas at Federal Hotel
Simply decorated Christmas treeKoi pond with waterfall in Federal Hotel
As we were not that hungry and since we were also using our Special Occasion certificate where we are entitled to 50% discount on the total food bill when dining at a table of 8 – 12 persons, we had to order from the a la carte menu and could not partake in the promotional dim sum food buffet.
The trolley for the dim sum buffet promotionThe Chinese word is 'fu' meaning good luck & prosperity
Nicely decorated and not too crowded being a Monday, we enjoyed our lunch of dim sum food. Some of the dishes that we ordered included egg tarts, char siew bao (BBQ pork bun), char siew shou (BBQ pork pastry), chee cheong fun (rice noodle roll), carrot cake, siew mai (traditional Chinese dumpling) and har kao (another traditional Chinese dumpling also known as shrimp bonnet). Check out the various dim sum pictures. Oooooh! They were just yummilicious! We enjoyed our meal and must admit that the dim sum food was of a high standard.
Mandarin Palace
Lovely egg tartsChar Siew Shou
Prawn chee cheong funChar Siew Bao
Siew MaiChar Siew (BBQ Pork) Chee Cheong Fun
Har KaoCarrot cake
Sculptures 
We also made use of the FHI Privilege Birthday/Wedding Anniversary benefit to get a 1 kg cake and the complimentary bottle of House Wine certificate.
The cakeAfter deducting the 50% discount, the cost for the dim sum lunch came up to a mere RM85.50 (USD 25.05). That was indeed a great deal!
Jade sculpture
Before going back to Hotel Capitol to retrieve our luggage, we made a stop at Low Yat Plaza, a place for IT fanatics. Here, you can find lots of the latest up-to-date electronics and IT related products. Low Yat Plaza is one of the well known and established IT related product shopping centre located in Kuala Lumpur. Each floor within the complex has its own speciality shops specializing in laptops, mobile phones, etc… After your shopping is done, you can grab a bite at the eateries on the lower ground floor of the complex.
Christmas tree in front of Low Yat PlazaChristmas goodies
Our van driver with whom we had arranged to pick us up from Hotel Capitol to bring us up to Genting Highlands, also known as the City of Entertainment, or Resorts World Genting, arrived at 1430 hrs with the family van. It took us an hour to reach Highlands Hotel, our accommodation in Genting Highlands, Malaysia.
The road up to Genting Highlands was not as winding as what we remember as they have been widened, thus reducing the incidence of motion sickness and allows for a more pleasant travel up to Genting.
Genting Highlands is an integrated resort comprising 6 hotels with 10,000 rooms, casinos, theme parks with more than 50 fun rides, retail shopping outlets, Food & Beverage outlets, mega shows, business convention facilities and endless entertainment – all at one location. The 6 hotels at Genting Highlands Resort are Genting Hotel, Highlands Hotel, Theme Park Hotel, Resort Hotel, Awana Genting Highlands, Golf & Country Resort and First World Hotel, the world’s largest hotel with 6,118 rooms as acknowledged by the Guinness World Records and Ripley’s Believe It or Not in 2006.
Genting Highlands Resort was voted the World’s Leading Casino Resort (2005, 2007 and 2008) and Asia’s Leading Casino Resort from 2005 to 2008 by World Travel Awards.
On the way up to Genting HighlandsChin Swee Temple
Upon reaching Highlands Hotel which is above the other hotels, the lobby was crowded and there was a long queue to check in as the check in time is at 1500 hrs. We had managed to book 2 premier rooms using the Genting Worldcard points.
Queuing at the lobby to check in
Christmas decor in Highlands HotelHighlands Hotel
After going up to our rooms, we discovered the spacious room with 2 queen beds which exuded a luxurious feel. The bathroom was large and has a toilet cubicle, a bathtub as well as a separate shower room. You could access the bedroom from the bathtub via the sliding windows.
The queen bedsNotice the bed from the window by the tub
Artificial Christmas tree in Highlands Hotel lift lobbyHaving freshened up, the group then made their way to their various places of interest, namely the casino and the theme park. We brought the kids to the outdoor theme park. The various hotels in Genting World Resort are all inter-connected and you do not have to worry even if it rains. Neither do you need to worry about being out in the cold.
We could admire the beautiful Christmas decor along the way...
A golden Christmas treeMore Christmas decor
Santa in a spaceship?Santa's helper, the reindeer
Snow flakesYet another Christmas tree and Snowman
SculptureMusical band
Entrance fee to the outdoor theme park was RM44 (USD 12.90) per adult (> 12 years of age). If you possess the World Card, you can earn 5x the amount in World Points.
The outdoor theme parkChristmas tree at the outdoor theme park
The bridge near the outdoor theme parkSome of the rides
Once we had settled the kids in the outdoor theme park, we took a walk around the Genting complex and explored the surroundings and enjoyed the freshness of the cool and crisp mountain air.
The colourful First World Hotel partly shrouded by the cloudsBeautiful flowers
There are numerous recreational facilities at the indoor and outdoor theme park. If you are adventurous, you can try the one and only sky diving simulator in Asia. Or you can enjoy great food at any of the eateries but prices are a little on the higher end as compared to other places in Malaysia. Or if you feel that Lady Luck is with you, you can try your hand at Blackjack, Roulette or a host of other casino games.
Indoor theme parkEiffel tower a la Genting
There were also some pretty interesting kiosks including the following:-
Have your name cut out & framedChinese musical instruments
Lucky stone name engraving
Artist at work
Magic store
Make your very own hand cast
Interesting things to do:-
Some of the indoor rides
Bowling
Rock climbing
Take a slow boat ride
Shop for some country stuff
Admire the sculptures
Statue of Liberty
Play in SnowWorldOf course, not forgetting food!
Malaysian snacks
Chinese restaurant
RichDad Malaysian snacks
Lollipops and sweets
Enjoy the 1 meter teh tarik (pulling of tea)
Try the Fried banana
Eat all you can Steamboat promotionGood Friends Restaurant
Christmas decor
The Flying Coaster
@ RM10 (USD 2.95) per rideChristmas decor at the lobby of Highlands Hotel
We had dinner at The Eatery, one of the hundreds of dining establishments located in the resort complex. The BBQ pork rice set @ RM12.90 (USD 3.80) came with a bowl of soup and was quite tasty although the pork was quite ‘fatty’. The belacan (shrimp paste) petai (stink bean) fried rice was a good choice with lots of flavour. However, it was not as spicy as expected.The BBQ pork rice set
The belacan petai fried rice
Following dinner, we chilled off with a Starbucks coffee. Here again you can accumulate WorldCard points and enjoy the natural cool and fresh air from the open windows. If you are up in Genting Highlands just to enjoy the cool air and relax, the Starbucks coffeeshop offering free wifi is a great place to soak in the cool and crisp mountain air.The oh-so-familiar Starbucks drink
Starbucks X'mas mugs 
After Starbucks, we decided to try our hand in the Hollywood casino which is just above Highlands Hotel. The casino is huge and there are hundreds of jackpot machines you can choose from or if you prefer the table games, there is also a wide choice of casino games. Believe it or not, lady luck was shining upon us and we ended the night with more than what we had invested in. Thank you! At the same time, we managed to also earn Genting points on our WorldCard.
Highlands Hotel, our accommodation in Genting Highlands ResortHollywood Casino
A very Chinese looking Santa
18,000 free rooms being given awayBox office hit!
The CasinoWOW! What a day! We thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful day. Up here in Genting Highlands, we can at least enjoy the cool weather which is not possible in Singapore, being a tropical country. We were also feeling quite euphoric about our win in the casino although it was a small amount. It was a most beautiful and lucky start to our Malaysia vacation in Genting Highlands casino resort. Coupled with the great value that we received for our dim sum food lunch, this is a holiday that we will not forget for a long time.
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