We're back from Langkawi. It was my virgin visit there while it's the 3rd time for the boyfriend. I have only 1 word for it - overrated.
I have not downloaded most of pics yet but allow me to rant a bit about my experience there. It involved David and Andy being threatened with a big-sized bald guy swinging a baton around.
On Day 2, seeing that the wedding reception and dinner weren't to start till about 5pm, so we took off after breakfast to get on the cable car ride. The so-called main attraction of Langkawi. We = David, myself, Andy and wifey Sue. We had adjoining rooms! 
On the way to the cable car, we met with an accident. David got a bit shaken since he was the driver and the hit was at the front bumper and lights of the driver seat. It happened because the bus was coming at full speed while David was doing a U-turn. (Pics of the damage later)
The car that we were on was a rented car from
Gemilang Holidays that came with our hotel package. So rightfully, David called up the agency to inform them of the accident. The guy said he will come over later at our hotel to check out the damage. By right, we were supposed to be covered by the insurance right? Means to say, whatever damages that was incurred, we don't need to pay because the agency should have insurance coverage to claim the cost of fixing the damages and whatnot.
Well, that was not the case. The travel agency was operating illegally, so there was no insurance coverage whatsoever. So, we need to pay them which David agreed, as long as it's below RM500. Looking at the damages, it shouldn't even touch RM500. The guy came to our hotel to inspect the damages. He asked David to follow him to his regular workshop to quote a price. Andy asked him, "Ini workshop, kawan awak ke?" He replied, "Biasanya, kalau ada accident, kita bawak kereta pergi workshop ni."
So, off those boys went while us girls went back to our rooms to catch a movie. See how boring Langkawi is?
Those guys left around 2pm and by 4.45pm I felt something wasn't right, so I made a call to David to check what was taking so long. He immediately told me that he will call me back. The wedding reception was to start at 5pm so naturally I was agitated. By 5.15pm, the boys came back and David said, "It was bad. I almost got killed."
At the workshop, David got billed RM1,200. Itemized bill that was broken down to Headlights = RM340 (???), Bumper (RM400), Paintjob and etc which totalled up to RM1,200. When I show you the pic of the damages later, YOU TELL ME WHETHER IT NEEDS RM1,200 TO FIX IT. So David knew, they already jacked up the price so, he tried negotiating with owner of the workshop who was a CHINESE. The holiday agency guys were all Malays. You would think a Chinese would somehow help out a fellow Chinese, but no. Apparently not in Langkawi. Everyone is in for the kill.
That wasn't the worst part yet. When they got fed up of David negotiating the price, the Malay fucker took his mobile out to call someone over. And within 5 min, a malay big-sized bald guy came over with a baton, locked up the workshop and said these:
"You come to MY island, rent my car for what... RM100 per day? And when you damaged it now, you refused to pay???! I tell you, I went to jail for 5 years, so I am not afraid of going back there ok?"
THIS HAPPENED IN LANGKAWI OK. IN OUR VERY OWN COUNTRY. I AM SHOCKED BEYOND WORDS AT HOW SOME PEOPLE CAN DO THIS FOR THEIR OWN PERSONAL GAINS. IS THIS HOW YOU WANT TO PORTRAY LANGKAWI TO TOURISTS WHO COME TO VISIT? VISIT LANGKAWI 2008 MY ASS. I FUCKING HATE THOSE PEOPLE THERE. EVEN THEIR HOTEL SERVICES WAS BAD.
And honestly, I am NOT basing this claim just because of some greedy malay fuckers but that was the case with the bus driver as well. Because really, most of the people there are like that! There was a pakcik who was walking around the accident area, probably thought we killed his chicken, was WALKING AROUND WITH A PARANG.
The bus driver. Hah... another story. He was operating illegally as well. He was using his SCHOOL BUS to fetch tourists to the cable car. The damage on his bus was just a dent which I will also show you the picture later. It could easily be fixed below RM100.
HE DEMANDED RM300 FROM US. I AM LIVID! ABSOLUTELY LIVID BEYOND WORDS! I AM EVEN PISSED WHILE TYPING THIS. Even, when David relayed his story to him, that he was held up by guys with baton, extorting him of RM1,200, the bus driver could not even care less!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To cut long story short, at the workshop, before the big guy came over, David and Andy were frantically looking for a cab because he sensed something was not right. The bastard Chinese owner wasn't even helpful when David asked for a cab service number. ANOTHER FUCKED UP FACT ABOUT LANGKAWI IS THAT THERE IS NO CABS IN SIGHT. YOU ONLY SEE THEM AT THE AIRPORT.
So, in the end, the malay fucker drove David to the ATM machine and David withdrew out RM800. Said that's all he had. Then, he 'nicely' drove David and Andy to the airport to rent ANOTHER car. See initially, we paid for 3 days to use his car but only because of what happened, we only used it for 2 days, but NO refund. See how fucked up that is?
When David related the whole story to me, I WAS ABSOLUTELY BLOWING MY TOP OFF! SO PISSED THAT IT TOTALLY DESTROYED MY MOOD FOR THE ENTIRE EVENING. If I was with David, I will give those bastards a piece of my mind! Which David, said, thank god, I wasn't with him because he knows I WILL. I have yelled and screamed at the fucker at the police station who banged my car but changed his statement to say that I reversed my car and banged him instead, if you recall my post last time. So, clearly I don't give a flying fuck and I am not scared.
But I guess David was right. They know which hotel we are staying. So it was best not to mess around and just pay up. It was Yvonne's wedding so we did not want to spoil it for the friends at our table, because everyone was asking why were we late, etc. We just told the story and everyone said we should lodge a police report. Not for the accident, as really, we didn't really care much about it. It was more of the thugs that threatened David and Andy at the workshop.
However, we did not go to the police station, not even the day after. Because you know why? Everyone agreed that the policemen would also be a part of it since I'm sure we were definitely not the first victims.
AUTO LIM WORKSHOP and GEMILANG HOLIDAYS.
Avoid them at all cost the next time you are in Langkawi. Or better still don't rent a car. But there aren't many cabs around, so really, how does one travel around Langkawi?
I was actually looking forward to the cable car ride but you know what, I am never stepping back into Langkawi again.
Ever.
I may sound bitter although it's over but you would be too, if you were there and having to fork out additional RM1000+ that was so uncalled for. And besides, Redang has way better beaches than Langkawi and for Langkawi to even try to become the next Bali, it has a lot more to learn. Shops were spaced out so far from each other that it doesn't entice you to shop. I don't even want to talk about the things that they sell there because there isn't much to see. Don't get me wrong, I do think Langkawi can become the next Bali, looking at the amount of space they have but when you have 3rd world mentality people operating the island, tourists just ain't coming back after the first visit. A Mat Salleh, hopping over from Bali to Langkawi, hoping it will provide the same if not better entertainment and beaches than Bali, will be greatly disappointed. I know, because I certainly am.
No wonder David said that there really isn't much in Langkawi when few months ago, I squeled with delight at the prospect of having to attend a wedding there.
The wedding was lovely though.
