The kids haven't seen a wax model before, so on to Madame Tussauds we go.
This time, to the Peak, we took the 3-in-1 combo. In this PT/ST/MT package, we get the tickets to go up via the Peak Tram, as well as access to the Sky Terrace 428 (it stands at 428 metres above sea level) and Madame Tussauds.
The Peak Tram is, unfortunately, known to have a perpetually long queue, and even once inside the tram itself, it really packs a crowd. The last ones in often get to stand. A car would really be a more serene way up, but there is always a reason why something is in popular demand. In this instance, the hassle quotient gets appeased once you're settled in the squeezy bench-like seats, and watch the scenic wonders unfold as the tram trots gently uphill, pulled by heavy steel cables. Savour the experience because this exhilarating ride doesn't last long - a mere ten minutes or slightly more, and it's over. Oh, mama!
Once pass the exit, we were right inside the Peak Tower, wondering if we should do the Sky Terrace first or Madame Tussauds. The weather was unpredictable. Dark clouds were ready to pour its load. We stood outside Madame Tussauds, and because it was quite empty of visitors, we forgot that there is another more ominous load to fear than the rain.
Having already experience the "***** Swarm" (let's not state the nationality here) whereby a place almost gets overtaken whenever busloads of these tourists arrive, we should have known better.
Instead, we got sidetracked by some shops, and then by hungry stomachs, and then got distracted by the misty views of the fog-laden valleys outside the Burger King balcony passage.
By the time we had our fill and was all ready to make the rounds, lo and behold! Madame Tussauds was swarmed with all creatures big and small, of the 2-legged kind.
You can hardly get any decent amount of photo opportunity with the more popular wax figures, since these were now totally surrounded. Andy Lau is an epitome of popularity with his model of likeness being the most caressed by strangers, male and female alike. Yes, even the guys didn't spare him. You could walk up and down the hall countless times hoping for a photo opportunity break only to find his wax figure almost permanently intertwined with someone's arms or legs, and often with lips of his fans adjoined to his cheek.
In contrast, Amitabh Bachchan appears neglected. I almost feel sorry for him.
The interesting bit about being in a Madame Tussauds wax museum is that you get to see physical characteristics up close. One of which is the height. Many public figures have been known to be inclined towards exaggeration when it comes to their height. Ethics-wise, Madame Tussauds should have captured the copy as close as possible to the real subjects they portray, although a two percentage allowance had to be rendered because wax shrinks.
We were surprised to see MM Lee Kuan Yew (the Madame Tussauds version) there, standing tall.
Another figure we didn't realise would be there was HXM (Huang Xiao Ming). Apparently, the attraction had chosen him to be its first male Mainland Chinese celebrity in November 2012. His wax likeness stands in the inner chamber. It was thankfully less jam-packed there than the zones we had just toured, so we took a breather there. I found myself touching the chin of this wax figure before realising it was HXM, the Condor Hero. This time, he was dressed as a shepherd, his role in "The Guillotines".
The wax and the man. Almost like twin brothers.
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| Photo Credits: mtime.com |
Each figure takes 4-6 months to create.
It costs approximately US$125,000 and more to make.
