Movie Animation Park Studios(MAPS) @ Ipoh, Perak: Live Your Dreams on the 1st Day (26th June 2017) of Soft-Opening

Last Monday was the country's festive public holiday, Hari Raya (Eid for the Muslims). 

So, da boyz suggested to visit this theme park a week earlier and to my surprised, he pre-purchased the tickets (costed RM131/person at promo price for this soft-opening week that comes with free 1 day visit/person for the next visit that has a due date by 30 Sept 2017) almost immediately! :D 

Then only he decided to inform me on that~ Yayy~ My mixed reactions were half excited, half disbelieved and feeling cool. LOL~

This is Asia's First Animation Theme Park which costed around RM520 million for the construction of the theme park in Ipoh (capital city of Perak) to attract tourists and locals to it. It was supposedly scheduled to open in 2016, however there was a delay and had to postpone to 26 June 2017. 

Anyway, here it is, the much anticipated theme park has opened its door. :)

All pictures are without filters. The weather was so fuming hot and sunny, so, there isn't a need for a filter ;)

On the day itself, we decided to drive down early in the morning at 7-ish from Penang to Ipoh! Luckily there wasn't any traffic :)
We reached there around 9am. The journey took us around 2 hours by driving with an average speed limit.

Here we are! We've reached MAPS @ Meru, Ipoh!
Upon exit the Ipoh toll, drive around the bends for 2min before reaching. It's really at nearby the highway.

The sign says it all! ;)

The queue before the counter opens.

Literally with the map about the MAPS and the Smurf entrance ticket!

After entering into the theme park, one needs to go through bag checking point. I usually just equiped myself with a pouch, my identity card, some money, a pack of tissue papers and my mobile phone. I'm there to enjoy and play not to go for some shopping! :P 

If you would to bring a big bag, it would cause you a lot of hassle as the staff may need to check your belongings thoroughly.

Next, exit checking point and you would walk past a bridge surrounded by an artificial lake before reaching the Animation Square Zone.

You can see the centre stage once you stepped into the Animation Square Zone.

Another view of the Animation Square Zone.
As it was a soft-opening, the operation of the theme park wasn't 100%.

First we tried this 4D Adventure Theatre. It's a motion theatre with D-box seatings whereby when the animation comes to live, your seat will move according to the animated movie, they featured #Boboiboy , a local kid's cartoon..
One needs to wear their 3D glasses too which will enhance 3D film effect while watching the screen with physical effects such as water splurting at your face when the spaceship immersed into the water, wind blowing and something sweeping or hitting your legs. :D

Do you have a need for stunt? Something interesting and extraordinary whereby legal mat rempits will be showing off their moves: cars screeching and motorcyclist doing stunts professionally at Stunt Legends, Live Action Zone.

Mini Coliseum Water Play at Fantasy Forest Zone.
Picture effect was perfecto with its sunny bright day without any filter! ;)

Overlooking the artificial man-made lake from the tree house at Fantasy Forest Zone.

A painting of the Pharoah at the Upside Down Pyramid(Fantasy Forest Zone).

Teamwork table board game whereby we need to team up with 4 people and then try to roll the metal ball from the starting point into the centre hole with teamwork along the maze @ Upside Down Pyramid.

A kiddy and adult ride. Zugo's Crystal Quest @ Fantasy Forest Zone.
We even spotted a senior citizen lady and uncle sitting on this roller coaster. 

Variety of animals carousel @ Fantasy Carousel, Fantasy Forest Zone.

Red Baron @ Fantasy Forest Zone.
Looks like a kiddy plane ride but it was pretty fun as you get to choose when to fly higher, above the ground or lower by pressing the yellow button. You could get to honk like a kid too. ;)

The Frog Prince & I :)

Had our late lunch at Coral Kingdom.

Late lunch: Blueberry Velvet.
Remember to request for discount if you happened to go during this time. The guy forgotten to give us a 20% discount.

Sea-like decorations on the ceiling.

A huge Starship! It's actually a restaurant but yet to open.

It a sunny day! #nofilter
This Asteroid Attack is a thrilling ride where it could turn 360 degrees. We were supposed to try it out before we were stopped by the staff as he was concerned on our spectacles and belongings. For safety reason, you're not supposed to bring them along. Luckily he stopped us. Otherwise, we would have peed in our pants during the turning. LOL~

So real yet so unreal with the hugeeee Starship! #nofilter

Hyperspin! My kinda relaxing swinging coaster. #nofilter

Smurf Theatre.
A very much kiddy theatre for interacting with the kids. Apart than that, i love singing the Smurf song, "La la ....la la la la...la la la la la...la la..la la la la...la la la...la la.".

The Adventurous Bumper Blast @ Blast Zone. I love this although had to queue for like 1 hour.  The legal hit & run! hahaha~ The only time you could hit and then run without being committed of any offences.:P
They closed a few rides especially the Wormholes and Dream Zone. Thus, the crowd mainly will focus at certain rides at certain zones.

Our teabreak before leaving the place. With burning Hotdog and Coke Zero @ Pit Stop Cafe.
Inside here, the lady told us that we got to enjoy a 20% off because of our day pass ticket.

Before driving back at 8pm, we went to have our dinner, steamed chicken rice, beansprouts and fishballs and porkballs soup at Lou Wong, Ipoh! It is about equivalent with HotBowl's steamed chicken rice too, located in Penang. I approve of this. ;)

I journey back took additional 1hr 30min on top of our 2 hours drive. >.<

Live your dreams with Asia's 1st Animation Theme Park~

Verdict: It was a bright, sunny hot day at the first day of the soft-opening! Wish that there was a cold windy weather just like in Hong Kong and Britain during summer. hehe~ 

I would say that it was better than the Lost World of Tambun, Perak. Quite comparable to other international themeparks (of course, it is franchised from international la) but on a smaller scale. However, I still do prefer the large Alton Towers in Britain and Disneyland Hong Kong. However, maybe after all of the zones and rides have been fully operational, then we could review on it again. 

We didn't expect to have a delay at the ticketing counter when we presented our print out receipt as we pre-purchased out tickets from the online website. Anyway, the staffs seemed clueless to whether to let us pass the counter and they did discuss among themselves what to do next. Probably, as the day goes by, after this first few days incidences, they did realise and improve on this. Expect some technical errors happening to the rides and my Dream Zone that has more interesting thang inside was close on the first day (Casperrrr....where are you friendly ghost) T.T

Anyway, I felt awesome to be one of the first few thousands to get to enjoy the soft-opening of this theme park although not all zones are fully operational! 

I hope by the time when I'm back again, all other rides and zone that weren't operational have begun operating~

All in all, this theme park creates jobs opportunity for the locals, increases tourists visit to Perak state and also allows families and friends to live up to their dreams of having fun in here! Killing all 3 birds with 1 stone. ;D

How to get here:

MAPS 

@ Persiaran Meru Raya 3,

Bandar Meru Raya 3,

30020 Ipoh, Perak,

Malaysia.

Opening hours:

10:00 - 18:00 (Mondays to Fridays)

10:00 - 22:00 (Saturdays, Sundays, Public Holidays & School Holidays)

2014: Taiwan (Day 03): Fo Guang Shan and E-Da Themepark @ Kaohsiung and Taitung County

Good morning, Koahsiung (but without the view of Kaohsiung. hehe)!

1.  We had our breakfast at ground floor of the hotel's restaurant, which was provided by the Garden Villa Hotel, Kaohsiung.

There were a variety of decent spread for breakkie with Dumplings, fried rice, herbal egg, bread, sausage, ham, yogurt drinks and many more. The dining area was very spacious.

Ginger bread deco at the hotel

The porch area of the hotel entrance before we departed for Fo Guang Shan monastery.

2.  We reached Fo Guang Shan before noon (known as Light of Buddha Mountain, one of the largest temple complexes which looks like a mall: consisting of a food court area, shrines for the deities, memorial hall) located at the mountain area in Dashu District, Kaohsiung which is also known as the largest Buddhist monastery in Taiwan.

The entrance area to the temple complexes.

Our shadows :D

Our local Taiwan guide explaining to us about the map of the location.

Inside the temple complexes. We had to pass through the food court area before getting outside of it and reaching the memorial hall/ monastery area. If I were not mistaken, Starbucks is inside the complexes as well. ;)

The scenery area at the Fo Guang Shan, overlooking the huge Buddha statue.

The Light of the Buddha statue. Amitabha.

Climbed up to get an exclusive view of the huge statue.

Nature and its deco.

Statues of lion.

3.  Then we went for our lunch @ a Taiwanese or Chinese styled restaurant at nearby the temple area (around 10- 15 min drive) with a pot of Tang Yuen (glutinous rice flour balls in sweet soup) served to mark the Winter Solstice celebration (which is also celebrated across the world by the Chinese communities) on that day itself. Dongzhi (冬至) is pronounced in Mandarin language. It is the day when everyone in the family will get together to eat this glutinous rice flour balls which are round in shape and sweet in sugary soup (sweetness= represents happiness in life). It also marks that the Chinese communities who consumed this will be one year older and wiser. I read from one site that back in those traditional days, Winter Solctice marks the arrival of winter for the farmers and that they would celebrate their harvesting by going back home to their families. 

Tang Yuen or Dongzhi sweet soup. Yayyy, I'm one year older and wiser now! :D

Boiled chicken and fried fish.

Stir fry cut tofu and stir fry kailan. 

I would like to conclude that actually, after eating in a few of the Taiwanese restaurants, their cooking style are usually non-spicy. ;)

4.  E-Da World Themepark connected to an outlet mall (we were left for ~2 hrs to play at the themepark) which is located at Dashu District, Kaohsiung. It was just a decent themepark, not too much of a variety of rides at there, as compared to HK's Disneyland and England's Alton Tower. 

The exterior look of the themepark.

The themepark's map

Not sure what is it named but I tried that. It was going for a 360 degrees spin and on top of it, it has a mini 360 degrees within its carriage. My head was spinning as well. LOL~

But the view was simply amazing, overlooking Kaohsiung. ;)

The exterior look from the carpark.

The panorama view.

5.  Next, we left for Taitung County before evening. On our way, we stopped by Pintung County (Southern Taiwan) rest area for a toilet break. There, we were told by the M'sian tour guide that the ice-cream was so good and so tried it. They have a couple of stalls selling fruits as well. I also bought their seaweed snacks to try. I did see similar kind of crispy seaweed with sesame seeds and etc. selling at our local Tesco now too, but with local brands of course. 

Overlooking the local Kaohsiung bridge from the highway, when we were on our way to Taitung Country. Drought was spotted at almost everywhere in Taiwan. Supposed to be flooded with river water or sea water on the ground.

Seaside view of the Pacific Ocean. *almost sunset*

The fruit ice cream recommended by our local tour leader. The price was equivalent to a Grande ice blended from Starbucks. I felt cheated and it wasn't worth the money I spent.

It had mango cubes (bottom), cuts of dragonfruits, papaya, cornflakes and a scoop of ordinary vanilla ice cream>.<

TWD150 for the fruit ice cream.

Pintung County rest area.

Sunset overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It gives me hope in life :)

BBQ Taiwan sausage at TWD30/each bought at along our way at one of the rest house. *yum yum*

My main intention when traveling to Taiwan is to try their sausages as much as possible! 

I love it!!! It is different than our normal (local or European sausages). 

6.  Alas, we've reached Taitung County area. The road trip to this hotel was dark, dangerous up on a mountainous area. On our way here, we opted to watch a ghost movie which was quite funny and scary at the same, accompanied with the total darkness environment on our way up had just blended into it. 
    Dinner at Zhiben Hotspring Rainbow Hotel's restaurant (Taiwanese style food again) =.=" haha

Our view during dinner. Hotspring!!

Some spread of the food on our table of 10 ppl.

Exterior of Rainbow Hotel, Taitung County.

The map of the hotel area.

Surfing at the lobby area for free internet. haha 

Table design.

Toy soldier!

Real bloody red flowers ;)

7.   Overnight @ Zhiben Hot Springs Rainbow Hotel, Taitung County

Our decent room.

With the sofa chair.

The shower and toilet area. From far, it looks decent. However, their steel/ metal stuffs were mostly rusty and was told that it was due to the hotspring mineral water.

The water had this sulphur smell or also known as albumin eggy smell.

It is believed that soaking your body into this hotspring water is good, therefore I played inside the longtub for like a 10 min. :D

The amenities provided.

Good night Taitung and Hotspring!