Escape Theme Park: Learn To Be. Dauntless.

Note: Many pictures posted in this post. You might need faster Internet to see all. 

Accompanied friends to Escape Theme Park, Teluk Bahang, Penang today. It's a new theme park that was officially opened at the end of last year in Penang, a first in the island.

Finally! Now we don't have to travel all the way to Lost World in Perak or Sunway Lagoon in KL to enjoy being at a theme park! Plus, the water version of the park, Waterplay is supposed to be done next year. So it's gonna be a full-fledged park by then!

The part that we went is called Adventureplay, a place I imagined Divergent's Dauntless faction's playground. (It's a novel series) Fyi, the Dauntless members values bravery and courage extremely. So this would be their kind of playground, you know for new members' initiation.

There were eight of us, me, JM, JY, YY, SH, ZG, JY's sister and her friend. Despite news about the potential danger especially the flying fox (some people got hurt), we went anyway. (really dauntless at this). At first I didn't want to go, but in the end I couldn't stand boredom so I went with them.

We rode Rapid 501 to Escape. SH left his motorcycle at my house and accompanied me to wait at the road in front of my house (his house is nearer to mine than the bus terminal). Joined the rest of them at around 9 and talked all the way to Escape. Reached Escape around 9 something (didn't keep track) and started to shoot photos, starting with the entrance.

Purchased tickets! Tickets are priced at RM48 per adult (13-60 years old) for Malaysian citizens. It is expensive. But it's a theme park, and theme parks are never cheap. So~ that's that.

But the thing that makes us frustrated was the fact that we have to put all our foods and drinks in a large box at the entrance. Not allowed to bring outside food and drinks, including mineral water. If they allow, we would never have bought any food from the park. They charged their food and drinks at exorbitant prices.

I'm not really bravery material (so I would never be able to choose Dauntless as my faction), so it was a bit of a difficult task to brave the activities I saw on my way in. >.< Here's how it looks like after the entrance.

I just noticed that except for JM, we all wear white without planning! Haha~ LOL.

This is how it looks like...

A little bit worrying how am I going to survive through this. LOL. I am not a fan of extreme sports and activities. But I've entered the park. No way I can back out right?
We rented two lockers to stuff our bags in. A locker costs RM5 but we have to pay RM15, RM10 as deposit until we return the locker key.

Okay...deep breath. We tried the Monkey Business first, since it's closest to us. It's sort of an obstacle course but above the ground. You can see all its obstacles in the above photos. The first level is not that high. Second level is higher and third is the highest. Third would also be the scariest.

We tried Level 1 first. There were no one there yet, so we didn't have to queue at all. (Later in the day, the queue for it is crazy long!) I don't remember all of the obstacles. It's a short course. The first obstacle consists of three thin ropes, one for each hand to grip and the third one for feet. It's like walking along a tightrope, only with two other ropes for holding on. It was sort of scary looking, but interesting really. Wasn't that scared because I could hold on, but hated it when it started to swing a bit in the middle. =.=

I gave up on the Monkey Business after completing the last obstacle. It's like a lot of separate U-shaped ropes tied in a line, with two other ropes for holding on. You have to cross to the other side by putting a foot on each U shaped rope. I wasn't that worried....until I tried and realized I couldn't reach the second U rope. Zzz. The feeling was horrible. I had to jump back with the help of friends and try again. It was the hardest among all the obstacles. >.< Was worried enough not to go on to Level 2. I know, I know. I'm a coward. =.= But I rather be a coward on the ground than a coward hanging at an obstacle. That would be worse, everyone would have seen it =.=

All of them wanted to go on to Level 2 and no one wanted to try the second Level 1 route, so I left to find a camera and took photos of them. Heh, lucky them. If everyone continued, there would be no photos. So I think I'm still really useful. :P Here are some photos of them, all on Level 2. I couldn't find good photos of JY because she's moving TOO FAST! The monkey leader is too much in her own monkey heaven! She's the most excited of us all on this trip.

See the white shirts people on the right platform? Left: ZG, Right: YY. And the white shirt guy on the left platform is SH.

SH being monkey! =D

ZG is a monkey~ :P

YY is another monkey! =)

Monkey friends conquering THE NET.

YY monkeying with the obstacle!

SH the monkey trying to overcome this obstacle.

SK and YY on a platform waiting for their turn.

JM and SH before going on Level 2.

JM the monkey posing a sexy strong pose wahaha. The obstacle looks tough!

SK the pink monkey grinning at the camera from two storeys high up

ZG grinning at the camera as well...

I waited for them at the Tattoo stall. The woman there was quite kind enough to let me took shelter there. As Level 2 is a longer route, I ended up having an airbrush temporary tattoo. Costs RM5. It's just a chinese word, 爱, in the traditional chinese writing. Meaning "Love", and is also the last chinese character in my name. Chose it because I wanted to have something meaningful, and it has a double role, as my name and as "love" on its own. Had it on my inner wrist because there is a pulse there and it feels closer to heart. =)

JY's sister, SK came to find me for water after she finished Level 2. The rest of them still wanted to go on to the next Level 2 route (three of them in all). A big bottle of mineral water and a small can of 100 Plus both cost RM4. Of course, I bought the big bottle of water because then can share with everyone. (We ended up buying three big bottles of water)

There are even chickens walking freely there!

Discovery Dig place. Why do I look weird?

SK and me decided to ride the Tubby Racer after waiting forever for them. In this activity we have to lug the tub all the way up a hill to ride it down. Super tiring because the hill is quite steep! We tied our tubs together and rode down the straight route. And screamed all the way. Funny thing is when we stopped, we realized it was fun and not scary and there was no reason to scream at all. Haha.

Met up with the rest of them near the food court, and had a rest. We refused to buy any food because it was too expensive and we already have bags of food at the entrance anyway. So we just bought bottles of water to share with each other and took lots of photos.

First photo!

Second one!

Third one! Still cannot fit everyone in. Give up!!!

Money Card for Escape! Used this to pay for anything in the park. It should feature monkeys instead. LOL

I'm tired! :P

Soooooo tired! >.<

On the swing!

Like this pic! Including the background! With JY the monkey leader. :P

Afterward we went to play Tubby Racer again. First time we took the curve route, which was super super bumpy and made me worried I would be thrown out of the tub. Being in a single tub also means the tub twisted and rotated at its own free will. Zzz. I was too busy making sure I didn't fall out to scream. The second time (third for me and last! Too tiring to lug the tub all the way up!) we took the straight way down. I went with JM. It was fun and we screamed for fun too. Hahaha.
But it's not really worth it to play too many times because we had to lug it up for 10 minutes and rode it down in 10 seconds. Zzz.

The tracks!

We take group photos at every possible moment LOL.

Later we had an ice-cream so that having some sugar in the blood would be better. Then we went to the Go Ape activity to witness JY be a monkey (or an ape). She is really like one LOL. I took the photos for her. She managed to climb all the way up the first tree, and halfway up the second tree.

Look at the monkey! :P

Admittedly she's good at climbing stuff..LOL

I've never laid inside a hammock before! It super super super rocks! I feel like a baby again! I could've dozed off if only this hammock is at my house. *sighs* I think I want a hammock instead of bed for sleeping. LOL it's really comfortable and environmentally friendly, only a piece of fabric needed, no plastic or wood whatsoever.

Look how sleepy my expression is.

The rest of them were too tired and rested at the children's playground LOL. On my way to find them I had a few photos taken of myself and the green, green surroundings.

JM and I! BFFs ya~ =) We look so nice unedited. :P

Mermaid? LOL like this pic <3 ^.^

I wanted to play Tarzan (the swing thing) but there were too many people queueing. >.< So we went to the Gecko Tower for a last activity before going to wait for the bus. It's a tall square building made to look like a house with four sides of different scenes to climb up to the top. Each side has two ways up. So a person could climb eight times up if they want. It was different from rock climbing and really more fun, because we could actually climb up by using window bars, air-conditioner units, pipes, nets, wooden bars and so on. It's very interesting. We can also record the time spent to climb to the top with a timer.

Putting helmets on~

Waiting in line!

Our last stop is the Gift Shop, where we browsed through the horribly expensive things and redeemed our money that was left in the Money Card. Took a photo with JY and the hats! :P I don't think it's allowed though.

We waited for the bus for more than an hour..>.< but we had a good time catching up and talking as well as eating our food on a grassy patch by the roadside. :D Was super tired and surprisingly extremely dizzy on the way back. I'm not dizzy along hill roads, am used to them already for many years. I guessed I must be too tired. Kept praying for the bus to be faster. SH and I alighted near my house. Finally!

Very, very tiring, but quite fun really. Best part was being able to spend the day with friends. =) Best for thrill-seekers and fans of extreme physical activities. There is also a bungee jump but extra payment of RM20 needed, so we didn't go. If you decide to go, here are some tips for you:

• Bring gloves! Especially if you're planning to conquer all levels of Monkey Business. Gloves are for sale at RM5 at Escape.
• Bring lots of food and water, then put half into the box at the entrance. If the guard sees you have already put something in, chances are he won't check your bag. Then you can save on the food and especially water.
• Go early in the day. Best to go a little after 9am, just after it's opened. Then you can play a few of the activities without needing to queue like crazy and waste time. 
• You pay for extras in the park with a Money Card, which can be topped up at RM30, 50 or 100. So bring more than RM48 of entrance ticket!
• Oh and by the way, bring your stamina!

More information on the theme park HERE.

And here's a last photo to wrap up this post. I absolutely love the significance of this photo. It was taken before we exited Escape. Friends forever, guys!

Happy playing! 

Till then,