Ice skating for the first time

Over the weekend, we were out at IOI City Mall, Putrajaya. My cousin had joined us. Mostly, we did activities in favour of rap when we happened to walk pass the ice skating ring. A lot of people were ice skating. I had this sudden plan for all of us to try it. None of us have ice skated before. It's sometimes exciting to try something new. This was one of them. We bought tickets and rented boots, bought gloves and socks as they were compulsory. We also rented a penguin which helps newbies to learn skating. It was meant for rap as he was the child there while we adults thought we could manage somehow in there.

Each ticket costs RM30 for both adults and children. This was a weekend price. The ticket price includes the skating boots rental. They had sizes for children from age 3. Well, you don't need to remember your feet size. They had a measurement place mat at the boot rental place. We just had to place our foot on the measurement mat and the person in charge would bring you the right boot size. They have so many boots, all hung up like in a closet. The penguin rental was another RM30. We had to purchase gloves and socks too since we were not prepared. Otherwise, you could just bring your own to use. 

Getting into our skating boots

We got into our gears and walked around the carpeted floor. Though it restricts normal walking movements, it was not too hard to balance. Rap was excited with his strawberry designed gloves and was ready to walk around by himself on the carpeted floor. He even refused me holding his hands for balance. So I let it go and he manages to walk freely and falls. I help him up and he is not hurt. But his excitement did not fade. If given the opportunity, he would have walked off by himself without being bothered about falling. Maybe even roll on the ice. Rap had strawberries on his gloves and a small sized boots just right for him. He looked all set for ice skating. 

The horror started when I stepped onto the ice skating ring. It was not possible to walk like on the carpet. It was slippery and balancing was difficult. We had to hold on to the sides and make our way slowly, further into the ring. Rap was with his daddy just in front of me. My cousin was calling out to me every few seconds. We laughed and laughed because it was so hard to move. We were stuck near the entrance with many other newbies. Slowly, we progressed. We were just afraid to fall and embarrass ourselves. Rap had the penguin to hold and I can see him making funny moves so he can fall onto the ice. Daddy was sweating in attempt to hold him up. 

My tummy was aching from laughing so hard. I tried to skate but the sides where we hold on for balance was not supportive. It did not have a bar. It was just a glass wall with a small step like design to place our hands. It was so hard. Then slowly, I tried to balance myself with the wall support and move a little bit more. My cousin is still shouting for me. "Don't go so far. Wait for me". I am actually only a meter away. Along the way, we had to pass many people leaning against the glass wall for support. 

Suddenly, my cousin looses balance and falls. We were laughing. She kept saying it is cold. Definitely it is cold if you sit on ice, isn't it? I reach out to her to lift her up but not successful. How can we do this while still laughing? Shortly, she realized she have to go on her knees to stand again. I was able to pull her up at this point. And we continued laughing. Rap got this idea of falling. He was making funky moves to fall. hahahah. rap oh rap. Is it really nice to fall on ice? I believe it will hurt.

We managed to go half way through the skating ring. Suddenly, rap has a bleeding lower lip. How did that happen? He did not fall. Maybe struggling with daddy to free himself and his teeth might have hit on his lips. I had to put some pressure on his lips to stop the bleeding but he was alright. Then rap wanted to go fast, then slow and fast again. It's not like we can go fast, we all can go really slow, rap. Don't you realize how slowly we made our way to only halfway through the skating ring?

Then, he did not want to hold the penguin anymore, so I had a chance to use it. Oh my, my skating is improving with the little penguin helper. I have more balance and can skate a little. Then I hear someone shouting for me. Guess who? So I go back and my cousin holds on to me and we try to skate together for a very short distance. My confidence too increased with the little penguin. I managed to skate a bit to and fro. Then made a whole round again by myself. Luckily I did not fall. Earlier, daddy and rap had a fall. I was shocked. I could not even reach out to hold them from falling, as I'm also loosing balance and we may all fall in a heap. I check on rap and he is not even bothered about the fall. I hold him while daddy tries to get up. The experienced cousin who had a fall before that told daddy to go on his knees. Yes, we learnt.

Almost at the end of our round, rap decided to sit on the ice and collect chunks of ice. He wanted to do snowball. He enjoyed some time on the ice. It must have been cold for him but he did not show any sign of discomfort. I collected some ice for him too. He asked if he could bring it with him. Well rap, you can take them but they are going to melt away just like in the Timmy Time cartoon. He could relate when I mentioned about the cartoon. Yet he took it with him and kept looking at the ice in his gloved hand. 

It was such a new experience. It's not like roller skating on the ground. I used to roller skate before. The concept may be the same but the ice is slippery, making it more challenging. My cousin and I would love to try again some day and learn to ice skate. Hopefully, rap will learn too.

A photo in the ice skating ring