THE only way to know if you are good at something is to be given the chance to try. So we do our best to expose our children to a variety of activities whenever possible or affordable.
The latest for Zenchai was rock-climbing, something that I, for years, have wanted to have a go at but, for various reasons, haven't.
As we are staying in Subang Jaya, though, we paid a visit to the Camp 5 Climbing Gym in neighbouring Petaling Jaya, where Zenchai could pretend to be Spiderman for the day.
It's an impressive set-up to say the least - all inside a massive shopping centre on the fifth floor. It's the biggest facility of its kind in Asia with walls of varying difficulty and heights.
Children under the age of seven usually have to climb alongside a parent (or adult) - and I was prepared to have a go - but when we arrived the staff said Zenchai was fine to go by himself (although he did have an older cousin for company), so we let him.
There are even some tiny climbs for very small children (as young as two), so this really is a place for the family.
We opted for the "try climbing" package - the ideal way to start - which costs R48 (about £9) and lasts an hour. That's ample time for a youngster on their first attempt.
Zenchai was first kitted out in climbing shoes and a safety harness and then taken to some small walls for basic instruction.
Then he had a crack at some of the more adventurous and challenging climbs and, to begin with, raced his way up before suddenly realising how high he was and, on the verge of tears when facing his fears, begging to come down.
But his confidence wasn't entirely dented. I could see he wanted to test his own limits at his speed. He jumped straight back in the saddle, so to speak. The staff were good and patient. Zenchai bounded up the next wall, going a bit further, and back down again.
Although he lost concentration a few times (looking at other kids) and panicked a little when his feet couldn't find a ledge to push off of, Zenchai did remarkably well, much better than I had anticipated he would. And it was all very safe.
In fact, when he'd finished his final climb, on a section where the rope tugs you up as you climb and you can almost float back down to the ground when you are finished, Zenchai was disappointed to leave.
"I love it," he said. "I didn't think I'd like it, but I really did. I want to come again."
We'll try to make that happen - if not in Kuala Lumpur, then in another location we decide to visit.
Camp 5 is inside the One Utama Shopping Centre. Tel: 03 7726 0420. It is open from 2-11pm on weekdays and 10am-8pm on weekends. There is also a cafe in the climbing area serving fairly healthy (and vegetarian) food - at least when compared to the rest of the shopping centre. One Utama has just about everything you can think of from those who want to leave their kids and wonder off. There are batting cages for baseball enthusiasts, a diving centre in the basement, karaoke bar, bowling alley and hundreds of shops and eating places. It seems like it never ends.
Recent Comments