Langkawi (II): Day 1

Like a bunch of crazy tourists, the 4 of us started snapping pictures when we boarded and alight from the plane. The minute we got into Langkawi International Airport, Ang Ku Kuih and Irene became the craziest local tourist I've ever seen. They acted as if they've just landed in Phuket, or some exotic country - rushing to the information counter to get brochures and map, snagged up postcards and paper fans... it was crazy.

Rented ourselves a car at the airport, and since 24 is the oldest in our group, he automatically became our designated driver. Navigating ourselves to the hotel, we got lost on the way and found ourselves at Pantai Kok... which is at the opposite end of where our hotel is. Being the crazy tourists that we are, we parked, got down from the car, splashes on our sunblock and went on to the beach, bracing the afternoon sun. (It was exactly 12 noon when we got there!)




After snapping close to 100 pictures under the scorching hot sun, we decided that it's time to get ourselves checked into the hotel and head for lunch.

Bella Vista, the hotel 24 booked together with the air tickets through Air Asia, looked literally like Disneyland! As we drove in, all of us were amazed about how cool the place looked. Feeling all hot and sweaty after hitting the beach, all of us were dying to get into our rooms and hit the shower.

When we got there, the Bella Vista reception was a mess. There were only two staff on duty and there were loads of people there, waiting to be served. There wasn't any queue to be found. All of them were just standing there, waiting. Didn't know where to go to, I went forward to check with one of the hotel staff and I was politely told to wait my turn. BUt the question is: When is my turn? When I saw that those who showed up later than me was served, I was starting to get agitated.

24 and Ang Ku Kuih later shove their way to the front and 24 demanded to be checked in with the reason that we have been waiting for the past 20 minutes and those who came before us was already served. So the complied. Ang Ku Kuih gave her the print out and confirmation of our booking and we waited. She took out a list and crossed checked. The three of us saw it. 24's name was listed there and highlighted. We pointed it out to her. She looked at it and asked us to wait, while she went off to talk to the second girl at the counter. The two of them had a little discussion and the girl came back to us and said: "I'm sorry sir, but your booking has been cancelled."

"You have got to be joking, right?" said 24. That was exactly what came across my mind. We're on some candid camera thingy. The girl proceed to explain to us that our booking was cancelled and our agent -- the agent that Air Asia appointed to book us the hotel -- had cancelled our bookings and had transferred us to another hotel. To which? She did not know.

I was shocked. But 24 was furious. He started shouting at the girl, demanding for an explanation of how could this be happening and wanted her to find out why was our booking cancelled. The girl, I reckon, was shocked to find him screaming at her. She proceeds to tell us that she will call our agent and find out where they transferred us to. As she dialled for the agent, I took the booking prinout from her and read through the thing. On the first sheet of paper, it clearly states there that we have booked a place in Bella Vista, together with our flight number printed on it. Then the second piece of paper was a letter saying that is to RECONFIRM our booking with the hotel. So with all these, how can our bookings be cancelled?!

[Pictures from the trip can be seen at http://gambit3.multiply.com/photos/album/44.]

- jessism © 23122007 -