Bringing Media Members Closer Via Team Building

From jungle trekking to caving, water sports, climbing the Via Ferrata to abseiling, these were some of the challenges that Perak media members were put through in a 2D/1N team building programme hosted by the Lost World of Tambun in Ipoh.

Gua Datok
The first activity that the 22 media practitioners were put through was Gua Datok Trail, starting with a climb of 630 steps. This gigantic magical cave of initiation ceremony is said to be more than 400 millions years old.

The first cave chamber is known as keyhole chamber. After a short trail, we reached the Secret Chamber, which has a skull of a tapir, believed to be used in a sacrificial ritual a long time ago.

Walking ahead, descending a steep flight of stairs, we reached the “sinki hole”, which was filled with many crystallites or similar formations on the cave walls. The highlight of this trail was certainly Gua Datok at a height of 515 feet above sea level, at the end of the course.

Also known as Picasso Cave, it is believed that Dato’ Panglima Kinta Ngah Abdul Jaafar went into hiding here, hence the name of the cave, Gua Datok.

Remains of human presence in Gua Datok included a large wooden chair, which still faces the direction of prayer for Muslims (arah kiblat).

Triple X Challenge
From the cave, into the water, as Triple X Challenge is a water activity conducted at the disused mining pond. Anyone with a mining background would know how deep these pools can get, but worry not as all participants are required to wear a life jacket, irrespective of one’s ability to swim.

The X in the name of this activity means a challenge, so there are actually three challenges. First of all, participants form two groups. Each member has to cross the pond to collect ropes, which would then be joined together to form a longer one.

The second X means transfer of members across the pond using a float, pulled by the long rope that was made in the first hurdle of the challenge.

And the third X, well it wasn’t much of a challenge as participators had to enter a tent to collect water. However, this task isn’t as easy as it sounds. I’m just not sharing the real challenge here as this is an experience you have to discover for yourself.

Sleeping under the stars
After two strenuous activities, a scrumptious meal and a dip in the theme park’s famed hot springs, it was time to call it a day. No, we did not spend the night in a fancy hotel, but under the stars in a tent that has been furnished with hotel-grade beds and bedding, as well as simple luxuries of a hotel room.

Glamorous camping, it is called, or in short, Glamping. While this is not a new experience, Lost World of Tambun is the only theme park in Malaysia that offers glamping. I think that anyone who wishes to spend time with Mother Nature, yet unwilling to go back to basics, should try glamping at Lost World of Tambun for this different experience of family vacation, with modern bathroom facilities.

6th Mile Tunnel
The day started early for us as it was time for another wet activity. This time, it was the 6th Mile Tunnel. No, not its length, but the name of the place along Tanjung Rambutan Road!

Be prepared to get wet and dirty as you will have to overcome stretches of the trail that have mud that goes up to your knees, water that is as high as your chest, narrow cave pathways that can only fit one slim person through, in pitch-black darkness.

While the 6th Mile Tunnel may not seem like a great challenge to most people, it could pose a huge problem to those who suffer from claustrophobia, which is why, it is an awesome activity to be included in a team building programme.

Via Farreta & Abseiling
Ground games weren’t enough as Via Farreta and abseiling awaited us. It wasn’t that high of a climb along the iron path.

The trickiness was that there was no iron in some parts of the wall! Argh, how could this be? But of course, this was all part of the challenge. We were in safe hands of the experts, anyway, so we just went ahead, climbed and abseilled! Bravo!

Super Adventure Race
To wrap up our two days of activities was Super Adventure Race, inspired by The Amazing Race and Running Man. Gosh, did they make us run all over the park from north to south, north again to west and beyond.

This two-hour race was definitely a huge test on our fitness level, particularly after going through all the earlier challenges. But as usual, our competitive streak emerged and my team was declared winners for this segment. Woohoo!

Forging friendship & building mental strength
Needless to say, participating in a team building programme is not about winning or losing. It’s about forging closer friendship and building our personal mental strength in the face of adversities.

It teaches us that although we may not be able to do much as an individual, in a group, we can overcome whatever challenges that come our way.

Personally, I am slightly aquaphobic but with the support and encouragement from my team mates, I managed to complete all the courses that were arranged for us, including water activities.

Last but not least, don’t we all need a good excuse to get out from the office?

Thank you Kelab Sukan & Kebajikan Media Perak (KSKMP) for organising Perak Media Fun Day and also Lost World of Tambun for hosting us at LWOT Adventure Park.

Event: Perak Media Fun Day
Venue: Lost World of Tambun, Ipoh
Date: 18th & 19th Sept, 2019

Image credit: Kelab Sukan dan Kebajikan Media Perak where applicable.

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