I'll take the destination over the journey.....

Oh the memories from Palau Pangkor....such a beautiful island and my most recent travel destination.  I already wrote about my Pangkor paradise , so now - I am going to tell you how I got back to K.L – 3 days and 6 hours later than originally planned.

Journey: from Pangkor Island, Malaysia.    Destination: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

You see, I had already been 'stranded' for two additional days on the Island of Pangkor because my flight was cancelled. Or rather, the only flight going in & out of the island (once daily) was cancelled for 2 consecutive days because of weather.  Fair enough, the storm early Friday morning was a doozy – fierce lightning strikes and crashing thunder that literally shook the hotel room windows – it was both exhilarating and freaky.  The storms here are spectacular and earth shaking- I love them though and find it part of the appeal of being in this hot exotic country. We don’t get crazy ass storms like these in North America.   Anyway – the storm ran itself out by late morning and all that was left was hazy overcast sky.  Flying out didn’t appear to be a concern at all – however- when I arrived at the airport I was informed by the airport staff (of which there were 2) that all flights were cancelled for the next couple of days.  Hmmm, ok.  How shitty is that? Another 2 nights in Paradise...

Day 3 – time to fly out. I enquire at the hotel desk about my flight. They don’t know – nobody is answering the phone at the airport. Hmmm, "when will you know"?    "We're not sure when we'll know, hopefully in time for the flight? Or maybe when the 'staffs' answer the phone"?    Sounds fairly reasonable to me.  You see – what one really learns here in Malaysia is PATIENCE.  Arguing, fretting, freaking out – doesn’t do a damm thing here but get you strange look (ending with you standing alone because the person walks away – not to return)    

 Loooooong story short – arrive at airport and checked my 1 bag with the 1 airport staff (only 1 staff today) flight appears to be 20 minutes late (whatever) – 10 minutes after that – staff member informs us that actually, the flight has been cancelled.  Yup, CANCELLED.  Now my little open air airport actually had about 8 people waiting when I arrived – apparently they had been waiting for about 2hrs already. See, I had observed 2 days prior – that you really only need to be there about 15 minutes before the flight – after all – there is only 1 staff and 1 plane AND nothing in Malaysia is ever on time anyway.

Ok, so people are confused. There is an Indian family of about 6, and another couple, whom I discovered were from London and on their honeymoon. 

Now here is the short version of events:
 

·         No flight. Don't know if there will be a flight tomorrow –or next day – or ever.

·         New plan (as explained by airport 'staffs' – 2 now- second guy arrived during crisis) Take commuter van to island Jetty (passenger ferry).  Arrive on mainland & take taxi to Kuala Lumpur.  Estimated drive time to K.L. = 3 to 4 hours, traffic dependant- possibly longer- accident dependant.

·         I explain to the others – who are a bit confused, what the new plan is. You see, I am calm, cool and collected, and surprisingly -slightly amused.   

·         Make friends with Alfred & Charlotte (honeymooners). They only have 1 night to spend in Kuala Lumpur and are visibly upset as they have booked tours, sightseeing, fun stuff, etc., for their one & only final day in the city.

·         I remind airport 'staffs' (I love the word 'staffs' – all the locals say it) that the jetty actually leaves in 20 minutes and perhaps we should hit the road.

·         Race through windy treacherous jungle road in packed commuter van (they stuffed 9 of us in + luggage) definitely unsafe driving, and death possible. Charlotte looks scared.

·         Make it to jetty. Aggressive Chinese woman yells at us (but we don’t understand what she's going on about) and stops us right before boarding...airport 'staffs'(who are now accompanying us and obviously left airport to fend on its own) inform us the jetty is full. No room for us.

·         20 minutes later – another jetty arrives. Too full. No room for us.

·         10 minutes later – another. Chinese woman screams at us again and we are allowed on. So are many more people, boxes, suitcases, and motorbikes.

·         I inform Alfred and Charlotte that NOW they are truly experiencing Asia. Fancy resorts aren’t considered the real deal...

·         Jetty arrives at Mainland.  Airport 'staffs' get us sorted out and hooked up with the taxis. Obviously they had pre-booked for us (and they were actually there!) Me, Alfred and Charlotte shake hands and say our goodbyes. We exchange emails (the journey has bonded us).

·         I like my taxi. It's a Mercedes.

·         Less than 5 minutes down the road my driver pulls over and says we have to switch cars. Somebody is refusing to take their taxi and want this one.  I say "no way – keep driving". He does.

·         An hour and a half later, driver informs me he is hungry and wants to stop and eat.  "Whatever." I've learned that taxi drivers do what they want/when they want anyway – so I roll with it.

·         Pull over at roadside Chinese food stall. Driver and I have noodles. 5 minutes later Alfred and Charlotte arrive!  They look confused & tired, but perk up when they see me. We have a good laugh and everyone shares a table.  It's obvious the drivers had coordinated this food stop.

·         I learn it was Alfred and Charlotte who wouldn’t get in the taxi back at the jetty. The car was in rough shape & didn’t have seatbelts (poor Charlotte is already terrified of Asian roads & drivers – NO SHIT! Who isn’t?)  Alfred found out that my driver was going to switch cars – realized it was ME – and demanded a different car – which they ended up getting. Good job Alfred.

·         Looking around at the place they decline food, but to their objections - the driver orders for them.  I inform Alfred and Charlotte that truly NOW they are experiencing the real Asia. Dirty roadside food stall and all. They are surprised to find the food delicious. 

·         Charlotte suddenly seems happier knowing she is having the 'real Asia' experience...

·         Drivers decide its time. And hey, why not? I've only been travelling now for a little over 3 hours, and poor Alfred & Charlotte have 7 hours under their belt (guess who arrived 2 hours early at the airport?)

·         I will just say here that this entire journey from start to finish (by air-which I booked) is really only supposed to take less than 90 minutes.

·         Me, Alfred & Charlotte hug, kiss cheeks, get sentimental, and again- say our goodbye's (the unexpected meeting at the food stall has bonded us even further)

·         Somewhere along the road I fall asleep.

·         I wake to the sound of the driver laughing. I was doing the jerky' head bob'. ..My neck is killing me.

·         I see Kuala Lumpur!

·         Shortly after, the driver delivers me to my doorstep. I am home – safe and sound.

·         I have reached my destination.

·         Six and half hours later.

·         I got off lucky. Alfred and Charlotte doubled my time.

Moral of the story:

   Sometimes the destination beats the hell out of the journey!
 

Whoever made the original saying up in the first place – wasn’t a traveller.