Short holiday to Lost World of Tambun, Ipoh

Despite 爸爸's busy work schedule, he still bring us for short holiday. This time we try to explore more of Perak, well, the Lost World of Tambun at Ipoh, Perak :) We set off pretty early at 7am and reached Ipoh for quick breakfast. Lost World of Tambun is just 5 minutes from the breakfast place, so we reached about 9:30am :P And the Lost World Hotel is right opposite from Lost World of Tambun themepark, so convenient. Since it's school holidays, we're not the only ones. There's already a queue waiting to go in after we got our tickets. This is the first time we are so early that have to wait for the themepark opening hours.

Lost World Hotel and Lost World of Tambun entrance

First we walk around the place. The plan is to go for the "dry" activities before going for the "wet" water park. Adventure Express, the train ride that the children wanted to go on, only operates from 12pm and no visitors doing Amusement Park rides yet so we went to explore the grounds first. There are a couple of tigers at Tiger Valley but can't really see from photo, they were hiding in the shades. Amazing human eyes vs camera zoom right?

Adventure Express, Tiger Valley and Swan Lake. 

 Visited some wild cats. The African Serval Cat is quite new Lost World of Tambun.

We heard the new roller coaster Lupe's Adventure in operation so we went for it. As it's family-style ride, the children say it's too slow (showing off to me, ya). They say it went into a cave and went around twice. I didn't notice anything since I had my eyes shut :P

Lupe's Adventure is a new attraction. It's a family-style roller coaster.

After the heart-racing stuf, it's milder activity next. We went into Tin Valley. There's a gallery showing tin mining tools and gadgets in a real limestone cave! In fact, the air at Tin Valley is really cool even though it's a hot morning, as it's nestled among the limestone hills. We met a friendly guide and he brought us around the place and explained many tin mining history and stories to us. He even showed the children dulang washing and the children had fun trying their hands at it. There are some stone elephants to show that in olden times, elephants were used to transport tin ores. The children climbed onto the biggest one where we can take photos.

Tin Valley. The children had a fun experience dulang washing.

By now the Amusement Park rides have started so we went for Perak Parade (the children's merry-go-round), Giddy Galleon and Dragon Flight (like swing chair).

Amusement Park rides - Perak Parade, Giddy Galleon and Dragon Flight

Near to 12pm, we went around to the train station to wait for Adventure Express. People just hopped onto the train to wait so we did the same :) We're early so we get to sit on the red locomotive as there are some other types running too. It went around all the places at the themepark and back to the station in about 20 minutes.

It's off to the Lost World Petting Zoo after the train ride. The staff had completed feeding activity so we missed that (they started it early when visitors streamed in). The children tried their hands at longkang fishing but the fishes were too clever to be caught :) They also enjoyed feeding the friendly raccoons (RM1 per pack for the feed). The children tried to pet a parrot but the caretaker didn't allow it (hm, I thought it's a petting zoo?). So some we get to touch and most we didn't (smell ah...). There's disinfectant for visitors to clean their hands before leaving the place.

While feeding the raccoons, since there are two coming to us, 姐姐 feed one which climbed on a high bar to reach us and 弟弟 feed the other which is hanging on the ground. 姐姐 tried to give some to the smaller one which didn't climb up, and the one she was initially feeding gave a friendly scratch on her hair to tell her to feed it :) She is ecstatic of its friendliness and the soft touch it gave her (like it's petting her back haha).

Around Lost World Petting Zoo

Feeding raccoon. This animal is really smart and friendly.

We would have stayed longer at the Petting Zoo but didn't want to miss out the fun at the Water Park. We had quick lunch at the hawker stalls before going for the Water Park. The children were so excited to play in the water. The water at Kids Explorabay is slightly warm (did they channel some water from the hot spring?) so it's pretty comfortable for the children. Some area are shaded from the hot sun by canopy too. There's a lifeguard on duty (well at least it makes me feel more comfortable). The lifeguard blew his whistle every time someone brought the tube float to the Kids Explorabay :)

Kids Explorabay is fun for kids :)

They enjoyed the Jungle Wave Pool as well, even though they tell us the water is not as warm as the Kids Explorabay. We only allow them on the shallow parts as they don't swim.

Jungle Wave Pool

Fortunately I slather them with sunblock before they go to play at Water Park. 爸爸 who didn't want any ended up sunburnt. Even though I put some on, I still get a little sunburnt too. We should have got some after-sun lotion in case of sunburnt. I think all of us got at least 2 shades darker. As for swimming suit, we got them new ones as the old one didn't fit anymore. It's not easy to find 姐姐's size as she is now considered a tween, but with kid's preference for style (of course we only went to Aeon and not the specialty stores, no time to shop around anymore). Some salesgirl even recommended teenager style to us, but it's not suitable with removable paddings (I was like, what?? at her age of not even 9??). It's off-putting to know they just want to make a sale even though they know their stuff is not suitable.

Around 3pm, we went for tiger feeding show at Tiger Valley, it's the most interesting animal show here according to the MC. It's totally full at the audience podium and we squeezed at the back standing. Even though it's called tiger feeding show, the trainers showed us tricks done by a dear raccoon, parrots, and a funny show by the chickens they rear. The trainer blew his whistle in rhythm and the chicks ran out in time and hop into a box, so funny as totally not expected. Finally only tiger feeding show started, where Putra and Jazz entertained us and got fed with chicken pieces.

Tiger feeding show at Tiger Valley, Lost World of Tambun

After that, the children requested to go back to the Water Park. We had such a hard time trying to get them to go to the hotel to take a short rest before dinner. By the time we're ready to leave, there's such a long queue in the changing room that we only changed the children into dry clothes to go back to the Lost World Hotel. After clean-up and shower, the children watched cartoon on the available Channel Four. Since everyone's tired, we only had a quick dinner at Pappa Rich which is directly at the hotel.

When it got dark, it's time to go back for the Lost World Hot Springs and Spa. They labelled the hot spring pools so you'd know what temperatures they are. There's a 37 degree C pool suitable for children called Saphira's Lair. Foot Spa is with reflexology pebbles which we stayed for a while. We also spent a few minutes at Crystal Pool. We skipped some of the pools like Top of The World Pool (too hot at 43 degree C) and Steam Cave which are not suitable for children. 姐姐 enjoyed most of it but 弟弟 was not so enthusiatic especially later at the 40 degree C area of Saphira's Lair. He said he felt uncomfortable so we went back to the hotel only after about 1 hour there. Hehe, actually I didn't enjoy it too as it's not my thing, they play very loud disco-type music at Saphira's Lair making me get a headache after a hot day in the sun. 

Lost World Hot Springs and Spa

Fortunately 弟弟 was ok after we got back especially with cartoons to watch. Maybe he ate too much for dinner and it makes him uncomfortable dipping in the hot springs.

The next morning, we had breakfast served at the themepark restaurant. As long as the children get eggs (at the egg station) and toast, they are good. That's not the only spread, as there's local cuisine like nasi lemak and fried koay teow, juices, coffee/tea, western style like sausages, meat slices, wedges, cereal, fruits. Not over-the-top but sufficient.

We bought the 1-night hotel stay including breakfast, themepark and hot springs for 2 adults and 2 children as part of a package which costs about RM353 (if 爸爸 remember correctly).

Now, after the Lost World of Tambun, the next day is exploring Gua Tempurung and Teluk Intan.