MANILA, Philippines -- MALAYSIA IS A LAND OF CONTRASTS -- sleek skyscrapers and antebellum houses, futuristic themes and traditional customs, cosmopolitan cities and quaint towns.

There is also a blend of old and new in the things to be enjoyed -- and learned. On a recent trip to the capital city Kuala Lumpur and neighboring areas, my husband and I, with our 10-year-old son Scott, not only learned about the culture, but also had fun.
Archery

Archery is one of the oldest sports. In ancient times, archers could determine the fate of nations. Attila the Hun and the Mongols conquered much of Asia, and the Turks turned back the Crusaders time and again -- all through the skills of their archers, who often fired backwards on horseback.

Today, archers shoot to bring honor to their country in the Olympic Games. But archery is also for amateurs, as our visits to two Stars Archery centers, in Sunrise Pyramid Mall and Genting Highlands Theme Park, revealed.

We wore gloves (to protect against the friction of the string), and arm braces (to keep our elbows steady). Then, on separate lanes, we were coached by professional archers on how to use the re-curve bow, with a carbon-fiber elastic part and a cast iron frame.

Our bows had no scopes, so we had to take aim with our eyes. Our coach said, “It’s better to get the correct technique rather than rely on scopes at once.”

Indoor archery -- at least at Stars Archery -- is pretty safe. The tips of the arrows are blunt, hard enough to pierce Styrofoam targets 10 meters away, but not so sharp as to injure a person.

At first, after shooting a dozen arrows, our arms started to ache. But we soon got used to the weight, and our aim improved.

Archery teaches discipline and concentration. To hit the target constantly, the mind has to focus. Remarkably, archery is also relaxing -- and addictive.

Scott said, “When you hear the arrow go thwack against the target, I guarantee that you will feel like Robin Hood hitting a bulls-eye on the sheriff of Nottingham’s behind!”

Pottery

A soft silvery metal that conforms easily to the touch, pewter has dominated Malaysian culture for centuries. Since 1885, the Royal Selangor Pewter Factory has been producing pewter for the king, and its products are known throughout the world.

Now technology has invaded this age-old craft, with streamlined production areas and factory belts, but the best pieces still require painstaking work by hand.

At the factory, we saw the old and the new, and learned about the origins and science of pewter. We struck different materials to hear the distinct sound of each piece and touched the various textures. We saw antique pewter pieces, alongside modern figures, including a two-story replica of the Petronas Towers, the tallest twin towers on earth.

In a workshop called School of Hard Knocks, we became modern-day pewtersmiths. Armed with hammer and mallet, we scraped and shaped our own pewter dish. Under the watchful guidance of a master, we hammered away, taking care not to destroy the precious metal.

We also received apprentice smith aprons and certificates to attest to our skills. Scott said, “When you listen to the thwack of the hammer, I guarantee that you will feel like Hephaestus, the God of the Forges, who can bend metals to his will!”

Skydiving

Weightlessness used to be the domain of astronauts or professional skydivers in free fall. But Sky Venture in Genting Highlands Theme Park gives everyone a chance to feel the sensation of jumping out of an airplane and falling through the sky. At the state-of-the-art steel enclosed wind tunnel, winds can blow up to 200 kilometers per hour.

To prepare for the experience, we removed everything that dangled from our bodies -- watches, necklaces, eyeglasses. Then we donned bright orange flight suits. The instructor gave a lecture on the proper form (prone but flexible) and signals to control altitude, direction, speed (up or down, left or right, faster or slower). We entered the tunnel and were immediately swept up by the winds.

How safe is the wind tunnel? If not done well, participants can slam against the walls, causing bruises, dislocations and other injuries.
But the safety record is very good -- no one has been seriously injured in the 20 years of its operation. However, parents should ensure that children listen to instructions and follow the guide carefully, otherwise they should not be allowed to try this.

But flying is great exercise. Aerobic and low impact, it induces relaxation and calm. Best of all, we flew with the instructor, who hoisted us effortlessly and turned us around, performing stunts.

Oh yes, the tunnel was transparent, so part of the thrill was to see laughing faces outside. At the end, we decided to splurge and bought the video. After all, for once in our lives, we were truly flying!

E-mail the author at blessbook@yahoo.com.