The Lost World of Tambun is a hot springs cum water theme park (just don't read that sentence wrong ;)) operated by none other than Sunway. I headed down with Suanie and Carol over the long weekend for some R&R (and to soak my poor creaky joints in the hot springs).
There were a couple of false starts - I woke up at 8:30 am when we were due to depart 8 am, said "Shit!" and called Suanie. It turns out that she just woke up as well - Carol was the only one who was on time. Heh! After a quick breakfast of dim sum (where I ordered beer, much to the chagrin of my fellow road trip buddies - apparently dim sum places here don't serve the amber fluid) we were off to Ipoh!
The Lost World of Tambun is in Tambun, Ipoh and it's about a 2 ½ hour drive from KL. It is based on a Mayan (though official brochures calls it Malayana, whatever that means) lost city water theme park concept and built around natural hot springs. There is another public hot spring facility in Tambun about 2 km down from Sunway's empire, but after a quick discussion of whether to go to the public one or the commercial one, we headed down to the latter.
Actually, it was Suanie who made the decree - since she was the one driving; we decided it would be a good idea to listen. ;)
The theme park costs RM 30 per person to enter, which I paid using my credit card since I was short on cash thanks to my spectacular vehicular mishap that set me back 11k (out of pocket, no insurance claims). The girls paid me back with cold, hard paper bills which I desperately needed since this is the precarious Credit Card Month (TM) where I charge everything to plastic.
The RM 30 covers the entrance to the wet park and the dry park. It should be noted right now that the terms are used very liberally here - don't expect a Sunway Lagoon setup coz the Lost World of Tambun is much smaller, with very few rides. Think David and Goliath. Or Lilliputian and Gulliver.
The wet park consists of the standard wading pool with waves, which is pretty relaxing and much larger than your average swimming pool. There are various water slides around the park, which won't exactly give you an adrenaline rush, but is fun for a couple of rides.
It also has a sandy beach where you can play beach volleyball or lounge around.
However, the main attraction at Lost World of Tambun is their natural hot springs. It comes bubbling up from the bottom and the pool is quite hot - my guesstimate is 40+ degrees Celsius.
Not hot enough? I've got great news (and a challenge). The hot springs pool has this rock cover where boiling water dribbles down into blocks of stone where you can sit.
I'm telling you, this water is fucking scalding hot! You can see the steam literally rise off the top and people flinch when they touch the water. Hell, I flinched when I touched the boiling hot water.
However, being a sucker for pain (and also to show the damn inanimate object that I won't let it get the better of me) I sat on the hot stone blocks and let the searing water flow over me while I gasped for breath and my skin turned the proverbial color of red usually reserved for lobsters.
I'll cut off my left testicle if the water isn't at least 80 or 90 degrees Celsius. Int3nse.
Anyway, after showing the hot springs who the boss is and getting it to say "Uncle" (actually it was more like I was red and peeling after Carol dared me to stand under a particularly heavy torrent of skin cooking water), we proceeded to the dry park.
It was quite a disappointment. I counted a grand total of two rides. There is a pirate ship (which doesn't go 360)...
...and a carousel ride where you get spun around.
Suanie discovered her inner child on that ride though.
The Lost World of Tambun is reasonably entertaining if you're from Ipoh but I won't drive all the way down from KL for it.
The primary attraction is their hot springs and the great view of the limestone hills surrounding it, but this is marred by one very significant theme park policy that prevents proper enjoyment of the facilities...
It should be noted that there are no alcoholic beverages sold inside the theme park, unlike its Sunway counterpart. You're not allowed to bring food and water in too. :(
Ooo event the fonts are sunway lagoon style. looks like a pretty decent place.
KY: Yeah, it's operated by the same group of people - there's even a Sunway City in Tambun. :)
You're good lah. I'm from Ipoh and I haven't been there myself!
RM 30 is quite expensive considering the amount of rides and the theme park seems quite small too ? I rem taking the brochure last year and it looks so much nicer. Hahaha
you are one hell of a hoot my friend !!!
be good to meet you one day ..
K
http://preciousdragon.blogspot.com/
hahhaa everyone goes, "i don't mind either way, anything is fine with me..." SO I BECOME DICTATOR LA... so easy :P
i go there for the clubs! :P the ones on the left if lost world of tambun is facing u. u shud go there one nite huaibinnnnnnnnnn if u havent alrdy been
Heyyy Huai Bin! Thanks for dropping by my blog :) Was at TLWOT awhile back too (Pics here! http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=97080&id=670329765&l=e3d6e94812). And the hot springs did WONDERS for my eczema. I'm such a hot springs buff after that experience. :P It's supposedly good for the body as a whole as well.
eiling: It's good in some ways - I love the architecture and the limestone hills surrounding it. It's very relaxing to soak in the hot springs and look at the limestone hills. :)
chefmel: Yeah, it's very small compared to Sunway. There are not a lot of dry park rides either, but there's two main water slides, one with several tunnels. I'll go for the hot springs, that's pretty nice, but too bad you can't cook eggs or drink inside. :)
kevin lim: Heh! Yeah, it'll be fun to meet up someday buddy! :)
suanie: Haha! Yeah, I don't mind either way since we (or rather I) lack alcoholic beverages I thought Tambun would be more positive, since they sell beer in Sunway. ;)
Alas, the same is not true of Tambun. :S
Jess: Yeah, we saw the clubs! rum jungle and all that...but it only opens at night though, so it wasn't open when we were there. We headed down to the other Tambun (in Penang) straight after this. :)
Crystal Cha: Hello Crystal! :)
Yeah, I love hot springs too - there are several in Sarawak, where you can basically do anything you like. I'm planning to go to the public one in Tambun and the one in Sungai Klah (sp?).
It's not that far from KL, 2 1/2 hours drive, so it'll be pretty convenient. ;)
what happened to the petting zoo that was supposed to have been shifted from sunway to tambun??
aiyo, atrocious.
i myself felt like Lost World's not worth the fee paid.
went there once, and only once.
and they even closed 2 rides on a weekend morning. imagine that.
Why do you always intent to put your left testicle on the line? ;)
HB, this place is indeed lot of fun. The gals are not too happy of the other places. Hate to rough it up. This water world is like Great America in Calif. I like White Water Rapid down the river which is very popular in Northern Calif.
imantulen: It's still there - in BOTH Sunways. There's a petting zoo in Tambun, and another in Sunway. :)
J2Kfm: Yeah, we went there for the hot springs...that's worth the RM 30 admission price although I wasn't too happy that they don't sell beer inside.
They do in Sunway (PJ). It's a loss I tell you, some patrons like to drink while soaking. ;)
Cheers: Haha! Coz we only need one testicle to function reproductively. ;)
I put my left testicle on the line for this and for opium in Malaysia (as in commercial, not self grown). :)
I just don't believe it makes financial sense to sell that shit when there's less bulkier and stronger alternatives e.g. heroin, Rx opiates like oxycodone.
Michael (Mike): Yup, it's a nice place if you're into hot springs. The hot spring waterfall is damn intense though. :S
By the way, information from my colleague said if we get the ticket at Sunway Lagoon for Lost World, only RM20 cost per adult! Damn, we pay RM10 extra!!! sien :P
sotong: Haha! But if Suan has to drive to Sunway Lagoon before going to Tambun I think she will mogok dy. ;)
looks so like sunway lo...haha, i confused and when i looked again, the picture is slightly clearer
hitomi: It is operated by the Sunway group and the surf beach and water slides are pretty much similar. The only USP in Tambun is the hot springs! :)
wow!! it really look like a LOST WORLD!
Inside wad also have.. huhu! where is tambun ah?! near penang or near ipoh?
Cool let me know how the Sungai KLah and Tambun ones are ;) Might wanna check it out for myself...!
yienyien: This is the Tambun in Ipoh. Strangely enough, there's TWO Tambuns over here - seperated by a 2 1/2 hour drive. One is in Ipoh, and the other in Penang. The hot springs in Tambun is just before you turn into Ipoh. :)
Crystal Cha: Yup, I'm going to go to the Sg Klah one too, hopefully one weekend when there's nothing going on. It's just a quick drive north, just be careful not to hit public holidays or it'll be packed, or so I hear. :)