Formula One, food, and fun: the 2014 Tourism Malaysia GP Tour
The Malaysian Tourism Promotions Board Manila office invited our group to experience all that Malaysia has to offer, this being Visit Malaysia Year 2014. The trip highlighted the culture and history of Malaysia, as well as the fantastic nightlife and the sales from the various shopping malls. Most importantly, we got to watch the “hottest race on the planet,” the 2014 Formula 1 Malaysian GP, held annually at the Sepang International Circuit in Selangor.
The group, led by the marketing manager of Tourism Malaysia, Ms. Bianca Tamayo, met up on the 26th of March for the flight to Kuala Lumpur (KL), on board the national flag carrier Malaysia Airlines.
Upon arrival at KL, the group was shuttled direct to the first event for the night, dinner at Bijan Bar. When everyone had their fill, our hotel room at the Grand Millennium beckoned. Some guests gamely made their way to the Bukit Bintang area, where commerce abounds 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Jalan Alor, noted for their reasonably priced street food (your table and chairs are literally on the street and cars pass by slowly) was the first stop for a few members of the group. They were excited to see and taste various Malay, Indian, and Chinese cuisine, and the dish that made the street famous, the succulent grilled chicken wings.
The days that followed were filled with various trips and in true Malaysian hospitality, a lot of food was served (dieters beware!). Kuala Lumpur city tours, a visit to the King’s palace, Beryl’s Chocolate factory, and the Central Market were some of the stops worth noting. A must for every traveller to KL, the Petronas twin towers is a must see. Not only are they the tallest twin towers in the world but also within the KLCC mall complex. One can spend a day shopping and not even see all it has to offer.
After most of the tours were over, the group, who would later be known as the “Jump Shot Gang (JSG),” were shuttled to the Sepang International Circuit (SIC) for the F1 qualifying session on Saturday and the race proper on Sunday. Composed of mostly first-timers, the JSG were all in awe of the vast expanse of the track and the huge number of attendees. Atoy Llave, noted custom-car creator and entrepreneur, and renowned racer Gaby Dela Merced, both of whom had attended the GP in SIC before, took it upon themselves to educate those in the group who were at a loss at the goings on. The “education” included the new rules, new drivers and various personalities involved in F1.
Asked why Tourism Malaysia invited Llave and Dela Merced, both of whom were handpicked by their office to be the Malaysian Motorsports Spokespersons for the Philippines, Bianca Tamayo of Tourism Malaysia said, “In all their interviews and media vehicles, we wanted (Llave and Dela Merced) to express their personal experiences about their trip to Malaysia. They have a lot of followers especially within the industry who they can inspire and share their experiences with.”
This is true not only for F1 but for the MotoGP race in October and the new addition to the roster of SIC events the Superbike Malaysia (SBK), which is slated to run in June. The concept of bringing people over to experience everything first hand and then share them is a brilliant concept by Tourism Malaysia.
Gaby Dela Merced said, “The first time I heard about it, it was really humbling and a great honor to be presented such an important role. It comes with a certain amount of responsibility that I hope I get to accomplish.” Atoy Llave added, “I felt blessed that with all the local motorsports people in the Philippines, they chose me. What I will do in my capacity as spokesperson is my hobby and is something I love to do, so for me it’s a compliment.”
Asked about what they enjoyed during the trip, Llave mentioned, ”For me the number one highlight is the food. Everything tastes great, and while dining, you won’t worry about the cost because everything is affordable.” Llave added that, “Watching F1 was a dream come true. I have always been a fan and Sepang ranks high as my dream destination for motorsports.”
Gaby Dela Merced offered this insight about watching in Sepang: “We learned a lot, especially the whole experience with F1. Sepang…is a purpose built track, one of my favorite tracks in Asia. (The racing) is something else—it is breathtaking. The circuit is not just for spectators but they made it specifically for the drivers to enjoy.”
Atoy Llave also added his plans to entice our countrymen to fly over to Malaysia: “I will post on my Instagram and Facebook accounts to show friends and fans alike everything I have experienced. Even the humidity does not and should not affect any motorsports fan from watching live. The thrill and adrenaline rush of seeing a live race is exceptional.”
The next international event scheduled for Sepang was the SBK race slated on June 6-8. If the MotoGP is more to your liking, then head over in October 24-26 for the Shell Advance Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix.
GP Tickets and travel packages are available from the various International Authorized Agents for Sepang, add to that the convenience of flying via their flag carrier, Malaysia Airlines. This makes Malaysia as your next travel destination all the more enticing.
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