Rodeo In Malaysia

Yes, yes, you’ve come to the right place. This is Sleepless In KL, not The Pioneer Woman. And yes, those are genuine cowboys and cowboy clowns you see in the photo.The rodeo has come to town, complete with bronco-busting cowboys. They were flown in all the way from Australia by corporate sponsors, in conjuction with MAHA 2008 (Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Exhibition 2008) which is being held at the 100-hectare Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS), Selangor, Malaysia from 11th to 23rd August. The exhibition is open to the public from 10am to 9pm. Entrance is free and trams are provided at a very minimal fee of RM1 per person per day.

Free shuttle buses — huge and airconditioned, with seats that recline — are also provided to from Kajang to MAEPS and from Bukit Jalil to MAEPS. We took the shuttle bus from Bukit Jalil, which also stopped at Bandar Tasik Selatan LRT station and at Serdang KTM Station. I strongly advise you to take the bus because, if you go by car, the parking lot at MAEPS is crowded and is quite far from the entrance. Buses depart every 30 minutes.

MAHA 2008 is the region’s largest exhibition showcasing the latest Technologies and Innovations in the Agriculture, Agro-Based, Horticulture and Agrotourism Industry, with over 950 local and international exhibitors. Here’s the map of the place (click on the photo to see a larger version):

The Livestock Pavilion (Laman Ternakan) is probably the best place to take the kids. Aside from the rodeo, there are carriage rides, pony rides, elephant rides, camel rides, horseshoe-making demos, rabbit petting and feeding, to name a few of the activities available.

Tree saplings, seedlings, seeds, fertilizers, gardening paraphernalia and farming equipment are for sale at very good prices. There was also an agro bazaar, which we didn’t have time to visit, owing to the fact that we were herding a group of small kids (pun fully intended) hence I didn’t have the chance to see if any farmhouse sinks were available for sale. Other places of interest are the ornamental fish display, a greenhouse for vegetables and an orchid park.

Food and drinks are available everywhere, all at very reasonable prices. Drinks like air kelapa muda (young coconut drink) and air sirap (rose cordial) are only RM1 per cup, while nasi ayam (chicken rice) can be had for RM4. At tram stop no. 6, you can also find Pizza Hut and Kentucky Fried Chicken.

So to all residents of KL and Selangor, make the most of the remaining mid-term school holiday and take your kids to MAHA 2008 today! And make sure you go early, so that you don’t miss the rodeo at the Livestock Pavilion.