Malaysia

day 0:

Got the visa at 11 in the morning, had not packed or even thought about the trip, in fear of jinxing it somehow (the visa was touch and go) We decided on the place on wednesday, realised thursday was a holiday for the consulate and had to apply for an emergency visa on friday to leave on saturday. As is with every other event in my life, it was badly planned, done at the last moment and left everybody's nerves raw. So on saturday at 11, i was on my way to the travel agent to pick up my visa. Then we realised we needed money exchanged so picked up visa, gathered around some money and went to the exchange. They asked for everything other than my undergarment size before converting the money. How we have managed to create a world that is so distrustful always mystifies me. We hear about millions and trillions of money being laundered (this has always conjured up images of fresh green dollars being ironed by huge hairy thugs wearing aprons - dont ask me why) but nobody can catch them, and poor me has to wait for hours just to get a measly amount. Anyways that done, brought some sunscreen and dashed home to pack.

Threw in some clothes randomly and then realised that i hadnt had anything since morning (the fact that i forgot to eat itself shows the seriousness of my last minute scampering) gobbled down some food while my other half kept up a constant flow of how i should have learnt from past experience and how thickheaded i was to keep doing the same last minute scampering routines again and again. Got into the car and we were off. The flight was on time and surprisingly the food was edible. The empty stomach's filled, hubby and I reconciled differences and realised it was empty stomach and nerves doing the talking.

day 1
Arrived with the sun in KL, one of the few airports I liked one of the major factors contributing to this was the wide chairs that dont have dividers so you can sleep comfortably while waiting. (if you can put up with glaring fluorescent lamps that is) Soon our connecting flight came and we jumped on to the island of legends. The airport was cute and you got down on the runway and walked to the terminal, exactly how i pictured a seaside resorty island should be (heavily influenced by agatha christie and the likes) The view from above had been extremely welcoming and i got into the holiday spirit with an enthusiasm that even surprised me. Little was i to know how soon that was going to be dampened.


There was a friendly guy waiting for us at the airport who took us to the hotel. The island wasnt exactly green and lush but the driver told us this was because it was almost the dry season. Atlast we reached our hotel, The Sheraton Langkawi. It was beautiful, calm and laid back. You should have seen the smiles on our faces. But lady fortune wasnt going to make our life so easy. After paying the deposit and signing for the room, we were told that the official check in time was 3 pm!!!! it was 10 in the morning!! what were we going to do? Muttering, grumbling and cursing our tour operator for not telling us this we took a taxi to town. (you cannot get angry with malay girls, they can charm you into stupidness) Plus it was the chinese new year, no other rooms available anywhere. If the largest group of people on earth decide to take a holiday, you can guess what the results are.

There were a few sad shopping malls and the sun beat down on us mercilessly as we plodded in search of something to kill time. Soon hunger overtook and we settled on an partially open air thai restaurant. The type your mom probably warned you against. The owner was a red, disheveled looking guy with a ratty mustache under which dangled a cigerette. His (i guess) wife and sons ran the open kitchen where the food was prepared after you ordered it. He started cutting the spring onions only after we had ordered our noodle soup! cold beer cans and chilled glasses were served in a plastic bowl with ice cubes at the bottom. Heavenly is an understatement. And just when you had relaxed with a few gulps of tiger beer and the stomach was ready to receive some sustenance, out comes steaming spicy bowls of soup. A meal in itself. One of the tastiest i have ever had. We ordered squid on the side and told him we liked spicy. His dangerous grin should have been warning enough, beer was consumed in vast proportions as the pore opening, gland shrinking, stomach burning dish was consumed. Having made up for the bad evening with the great lunch, we went on to our hotel for the official checking in.

The charm your room off girls at the reception were waiting with very big smiles and i knew something was amiss. As the single king size cot rooms were for some reason not available, a double room with twin cots was being provided. If you havent realised by now we were on our honeymoon, so my immediate response was to state so......especially since the twin cots were separated by an immovable piece of malaysian wood with a phone, a lamp, an alarm, a kettle and a few other odds and ends. The lady atleast had the courtesy to blush before rectifying the mistake. by providing bigger twin cots, but a twin cot room all the same. Just wishing for a bath and some clean sheets we agreed.

Fiasco after fiasco followed as room numbers were confused, bell boys were called back and at last we got our room - a very beautifull room facing the beach. I fell in love, forgot the bad day and crashed into the twin bed and oblivion.


Woke up confused and bleary, then realised i was in paradise and woke up realising it wasnt the next day but around 9pm and my reliable tummy had notified dinner time. Not wanting to spend any of our hard earned money (wedding gifts) we decided to walk out and see what options were available. Only two restaurants, both Chinese. We walked into the farthest one. It was on the side of the road and lit with every possible neon color in the history of mankind. The most amazing feature apart from the food was two mango trees loaded with mangoes, and when i say loaded, i mean huge green bursting with flesh mangoes a dozen to a single stem. They swayed in the pleasant sea breeze and not even one fell :(

The waiter spoke fluent Tamil and recommended a few dishes and we ordered those with the ever popular squid and an omelet. The only complaint was the sticky rice. The fish was so tender it melted as soon as it got into contact with my rapturous tongue. It was cooked without much of spice but the hotness came from ground pepper. Bean curd, beans, spring onions, lemon grass and a few other vegetables in a clear sauce that complement the fish perfectly. D was astonished that anything without the usual turmeric, red chilli, garlic combo could taste so good. So very satisfied with life and the world in general we took the breezy walk back to the hotel looking forward to the island tour the next day.