ATV: ATV Adventure Park Kuala Lumpur

Overview:

Fancy a day riding an ATV through the lush, green forests in the heart of Kuala Lumpur and taking a dip in the cold chilly waterfall? ATV Adventure Park Kuala Lumpur offers these experiences to those craving for a bit of adventure or just wanting a whiff of mother nature away from the stone forest in the city.

After an approximately half an hour's drive from town, we finally arrived at our destination and was greeted with hot scorching mid-day sun and a huge rock spray painted artfully indicating that we've arrived to the correct place.

This place has garnered so much attention that even celebrities the likes of Josh Hartnett and Owen Wilson have grazed this place with their presence. 

After all ten of us have gathered and picked out our helmets and mentally prepped ourselves for the ride, we were given a short briefing session by one of the instructors. Working the ATV is pretty much similar to driving a car-motorcycle hybrid vehicle, equipped with a forward, neutral and reverse gear as well as front and back brake handles. It MAY sound intimidating at first if you're a freshie at riding one of these, but you'll get the hang of it after few test rounds around the block before going into the off-road track.

The off-road trail was filled with uphill and downhill slopes and muddy potholes. Nothing too difficult for the ATV to handle. All it takes is some maneuvering skills and if you come across a difficult trail, just follow the person in front of you (hopefully this person does not get stuck too). An instructor will be right at the front leading each group which is split into two groups of five. 

Our instructor was not very friendly and were constantly equipped with a sour face. He was also increasingly annoyed when one of my friend was stuck several times in the ditch and he had to help get him back on track. Service could definitely be improved.

Alas, after the rough ride but enjoyable ride, we finally reached the waterfall with the cold, icy water in all its glory soothing our aching forearms from all the braking and maneuvering through the rough terrains.

After dipping in the waterfall and quenching our thirst with water (which was provided), it was another hour back the same route to the starting point.

Me and mah ride.

These are the available packages according to level of difficulty and length of trail. The one we chose was Package C, good enough for beginners and first-timers. If you're more experienced you can go for Package D or E, heard from one of the instructors that the trail on Package E is challenging even for the seasoned ATV riders. 

Overall, tiring but was a great experience, one worth trying for sure. Enough of shopping malls during weekends already Malaysians!

Nitty-gritty details:
Name: ATV Adventure Park Kuala Lumpur
E-mail: miza1010@advadventurepark.com
Website: www.atvadventurepark.com

Place: Kg. Kemensah, Hulu Kelang, Kuala Lumpur

Opening hours: Monday to Sunday (9.00am to 6.00pm); Closed from 11.00am to 3.00pm on Fridays

Contact: +6019 244 8544 (Mazlin)

Directions:

Tandem Paramotoring

For weeks, I've been on a hunt for the perfect gift for someone who values life experiences more than material items. That's when I stumbled upon tandem paramotoring. For those who are unfamiliar on what paramotoring is, as I was before this, it's basically flying on a powered paraglider powered by a motor made of a basic metal frame with a propeller, harness with a seat and a parachute and looks like this.

I find paramotoring more thrilling (and cheaper too) than buying an experience of flying a plane for half an hour, which I have also bought before this, as there's no glass barrier between you and the view from above. You could basically see 360 degrees and feel the wind in your face.

Air Venture Sports Aviation seems to focus mainly on garnering students interested in their training programs to ultimately achieving the PPG1 license enabling them to fly solo.

Trying my luck, I called and sent an email request to James Gibbs, the Head Instructor of Air Venture and I was ecstatic when he told me that it would only cost me RM150 for a session of tandem paramotoring for 30 minutes flight time. I didn't even need to purchase any coupon, it's all on a cash basis. I just had to call/email him when I'm dropping by and just be there.

 So on one fateful Saturday afternoon, we set off to Pulau Indah, West Port, Klang, which is normally the training ground used for paramotoring in the Klang Valley. With heightened confidence, as we had the GPS coordinates, we ended up getting lost for an hour, circling around the west port in Klang, driving into small single-lane Kampung roads, and meeting many dead-ends. I must warn you, that this place is not easy to find. Don't trust the GPS coordinates as the roads may have changed and may lead you to a dead-end.

Almost giving up searching for this place, we called James as a last resort and with his guidance and the map he sent us (which we should've used earlier rather than relying on GPS coordinates), we reached our destination, after what seemed like eternity. The dirt road leading to the place is bumpy and may seem dodgy, but just keep driving and you'll see a wide space of land with a big tree in the middle and soaring paramotors in the sky.

Experienced paramotor-ers chilling under the tree

As soon as we parked, we met James himself and was introduced to Awang, his assistant that day. Awang was a local staying nearby who was a student of James and has worked with James for quite a while now.  James has a warm and friendly personality and was very welcoming.

Awang, briefing us on the basics while James was occupied in the background teaching two students 

Awang working the parachutes before bringing the boy up, up above

Initially I did not plan on experiencing tandem paramotoring as it was a gift for the Boy, and to be honest, I have a fear of heights, my legs get wobbly and my vision gets woozy just from standing from a 55th floor building balcony, looking downwards . But after much convincing from him that the view was spectacular and that James, the Head Instructor himself would personally bring me up, in no time, I was also strapped in.

Getting ready to fly 

Strapped in and ready to go with James by my side

As soon he started the motor and the fan started running, we took off for the horizon and flew towards the setting sun.

In no time, we were just a speck of dust in the evening sky.

Up there, we were even allowed to steer the direction of the paramotor. We ventured so far off till we were  above the sea and all that we could see was the setting sun. It is definitely an experience I would never forget. 

Nitty-gritty details:
Name: Air Venture Sdn Bhd
E-mail: james@airventure.biz
Website: www.airventure.biz

Place: Pulau Indah, West Port, Klang (map below)

Opening hours: Contact Air Venture for available hours

Contact: +6012 290 8358

Directions: