2019: Cromwell Dealers Meet – KL & Langkawi

From Bangalore to Langkawi: A Hectic Start

My journey began with a late-night departure from Bangalore, followed by a dinner stop with friends. The drive to the airport was a tense affair due to heavy traffic, but thankfully, I made it on time. The flight itself was smooth, and upon arrival in Kuala Lumpur (KL), I was informed that my luggage would be checked through to Langkawi.

KL Airport Chaos and A Sweet Surprise

Kuala Lumpur International Airport proved to be a chaotic experience. After navigating the crowds and immigration, I indulged in a delicious Godiva shake, my first taste of Malaysian food. Soon after, the rest of the travel group arrived, and we embarked on our journey to Langkawi.

 Langkawi offered a unique blend of beauty and disorganization. While the tiny airport provided a charming throwback, our initial itinerary changes were a bit frustrating.

Got out of the Airport and post a long wait for baggage claim, we headed out to meet our tour guide. On the way, I dashed into the Duty-Free shop and picked up “Jack Daniels Tennessee Fire” for the trip. I could only pick up 1 bottle as Malaysia has a strict 1 ltr only policy, and that limit was taken by the bottle of Old monk I was carrying for my friend Prem Joseph whom i was to meet in KL later in the trip.

According to the itinerary, the first stop would be the Cable car and sky bridge with a stopover at the 3D trick eye museum. The cable car was under maintenance, so the tour changed to the very disappointing and boring “Crocodile Adventure Land” and “Langkawi Underwater world“.

One of the most boring exhibits the world has seen!

Crocodiles are not very different from each other, and if you’ve seen one, you’ve really seen them all. All they do is sit with their mouths open, or closed and lay still for eternity. 

We finally headed out for lunch at “Colonial India” for an Indian Food buffet. No Amount of protesting helped as the itinerary was set and the tour guide was strict on no deviations. 

A horrible Indian lunch later, we were shunted to a chocolate shop for “authentic” Langkawi made chocolates. We tasted quite a few varieties, and I ended up buying some really good chocolates.

We proceeded next to the Langkawi Eagle Square, for photos and some 30 mins later we were back on the bus

We were then taken a very large “Duty-free” mall for more shopping. 

I bought some much-needed sunblock for the next days snorkelling plan and checked out a mall next door which had some cars on display.

7:30 pm, the tour had organised dinner at a rundown random hotel called Frangipani Resort and Spa, near the sea. The food was a set “Indian” style menu. The food was inedible, and most of us had plain rice mainly. I paid for a plate of bad chicken rendang and passable chicken satay!

Finally, we checked-in by 10:30 pm at the Berjaya Spa resort, a superb property, with a private beach and all the trappings of comfort! Lights out at 11 pm, only to be woken by the 6 am phone call reminding us to be ready for snorkelling post sumptuous breakfast at the lobby by 8 am

Snorkelling Setbacks and Breathtaking Views

The next day’s snorkelling expedition turned out to be a crowded, underwhelming affair. It was a package deal sort of thing. We were lumped along with 200 largely Chinese, Malay, crowd in a catamaran. The camera could only see a few fish, a few corals and a great many legs!

Lunch was on the boat platform, as part of the package. Food was simple, delicious, hot, local food. Post lunch it started pouring heavily and we were more or less marooned on the platform. 

We requested the tour guide to drop us off at the cable car and skywalk bridge, which was the highlight of the day.Breathtaking vistas, some harmless fun and banter and a peaceful walk back to the hotel capped off a day that began with disappointment.

Dinner at the Beach Bar

The tour guide had arranged for more Indian food at the other end of the island.

I opted out, wanting to spend some time at the Berjaya only and not wanting more “Indian” food and I decided to just chill at the resort’s Beach Bar

3 tiger beers, staring at the beautiful ocean, some good live music, and late dinner of yummy chicken rice at the 24hrs cafe. Bliss.

I was joined for dessert by Ajay Khasu, Hemant and Mr Manish, of Felix Agencies. We head to our rooms by 12:30 am!

The next day, we checked out of the resort after another heavy and sumptuous breakfast, proceeded to KL by Air, and we were soon boarding another bus to the next nightmare destination.

Raub: A Disappointing Stay

The tour continued to Raub, a distant suburb near the Elephant Sanctuary known for its durian orchards. On the way to this little town, we stopped the bus for a taste of the ghastly Durian at a roadside stall.

Unfortunately, the sanctuary was closed on that day, throwing another wrench into the itinerary. Our accommodation at Laman Pesona Resort & Spa was far from ideal, with poorly maintained rooms and limited amenities. The only saving grace was the view from the room.

A Broken Bed, Local Food, and an Early Checkout

The night took a turn for the worse when, in an unpleasant surprise – my bottle of Jack Daniels Tennessee Fire turned out to be alcoholic honey, while we drank this abomination together in a fellow dealers room. We called it a night, around 11pm, and just as my head touched the bed, it literally broke! Too late and too tired to complain or fight, after a restless sleep and a quick breakfast the next day, we escaped this unpleasant stay.

Batu Caves, Royal Selangor Pewter Factory, and City Lights

The journey continued with a stop at a roadside restaurant for a rather early lunch. Thankfully, we convinced the guide to skip lunch and head straight to the Batu Caves, a crowded but interesting Hindu cave temple complex. We also stopped at the Royal Selangor Pewter Factory for a fascinating glimpse into pewter craftsmanship and the majestic Istana Negara, the official residence of the Malaysian King.

A Welcoming Stay at IBIS Kuala Lumpur and a Local Haircut

Finally, we reached our accommodation in Kuala Lumpur, the IBIS Kuala Lumpur. This hotel offered a welcome change with its comfortable rooms and central location. After a much-needed haircut at a local motorcycle-themed barbershop, I went for a lone walk close to the market, and met up with the rest of the group for dinner close to the Petronas Twin Towers.

The next day marked the departure of the group, while I embarked on a separate adventure to Penang with a close friend.

A Few pictures, from my phone and my camera of this epic trip.