EXPERIENCE

This was my first time in my life till today to board a plane for Malaysia. I was so excited on 6th July. My Flight to Malaysia was scheduled at 8.55 PM from Mumbai International Airport. So I reached there by 6' O Clock for check in. As soon as I reached Airport, I was informed that my flight is retimed to 10:50 PM, so I made some necessary calls to my family and friends and then Checked-in at 8' O Clock. After the formalities of Boarding Pass, Emigration, I finally entered inside the Airport.

There I found so many persons waiting for their call to board the plane. It was 10:30 PM, I was informed that my flight has not been reached to the Airport from Malaysia. It was informed to me that, the flight will arrive at 12:40 PM and it will take another 1 hour to reschedule the things and take off. There I found, absolutely Mess at the Airport. There was no proper seats in the waiting area. Everybody was asking each other about the flight, its arrival and departure. There was not a single person from the Airport Authority to solace the people. So I decided to take a ride to food stalls.

AT the food stalls the prices were on the sky. A Pulav costs Rs.175/-, A can of Beer Rs.260/-, Biryani costs Rs.150/-, A water Bottle costs Rs.50/-. It was horrible experience to see these price tags. Forcibly I have to eat Pulav and took a sip of water. Again went to boarding area. It was 12:50 AM, an announcement was made for the passengers flying to Malaysia to board the plane.

When I entered the plane, I saw some typical faces of Air Hostesses Red Dressed. It was a fun for the conversation with them. One of the Air Hostesses helped me to reach my seat, fortunately it was a window seat. Around 1:30 AM, there was an announcement to fasten the seat belt. Thereafter two Air Hostesses performed the practical, for fasten the seat belt, oxygen mask, life jacket in case the plane falls in sea, etc

Exactly at 1:40 AM the plane started. During take off, I saw from the window, and it was so beautiful to see the Mumbai lights. After few minutes our plane was above the cloud. when the plane was in Air Pockets ( I think turbulance) it was moving up and down, so I tightened my hands on the chair and forcibly slept. I was so frightened to unfasten the seatbelt. But my friend helped me out and then I took a walk from front to the back of the plane.

At around 9:10 AM (6:10 IST) the plane landed at Kuala Lumpur Airport. The Green City, with full of Field Squares, Water, Greenery. After completing the formality of emigration, baggage, I came out of the Airport, there I saw, a woman with a plate searching for me and my friends. She immediately took us to our hotel Brisdale in Kuala Lumpur.

In Brisdale Hotel, the receptionist asked me to wait till 2:00 PM, as it is the regular check-in time in Malaysia. So I kept the luggage and went outside, to satisfy the tummy.There I found one Shalimar Restaurant, at the Chow Kit sqaure. The owner of the Restaurant was typical ANNA. While perusing Menu Card, I felt very joyous. I could eat, Rice, Masala Dosa, Wada, Uttapam, Samosa, Jilebi, Gulabjam, Balushahi. Farsan, Misal, Tea, Coffee.

After a typical गयावया to the Receptionist, she gave me room at 12:00 Noon. Where I take the first foreign bath. The ambience of hotel and bathroom is normally seen in pictures. After that, I took a survey of the entire hotel Brisdale, I was accomodated on 14th Floor, Then I went to 17th Floor where the Restaurant is situated.

The first thing I saw in KL, is the discipline. The vehicles specially Buses, Private Cars, Taxis were plying in a very smooth manner, there was no rashness in their driving. There are yellow and black strips at the roads, with a pedestrian signals ( both working) I have not heard a single horn of any vehicle during my 5 days stay in KL. Even if the pedestrian has a red signal and still he attempts to cross the road, the vehicles are automatically stopped allowing him to cross the road. No abuses, no staring towards such a person.

The most important thing I saw is that, all the Signals (Red, Yellow and Green including pedestrian signlas) were working properly throughout a day and night. Four and Two wheelers always accomodates the pedestrian. Inter alia, there were mono rail, and metro rail. Mono rail, Metro Rail, Buses are fully automatic and air conditioned. Similarly parking of vehicles at the road side was really an eyeopener for our indians. Above all, there was no traffic police guarding the roads for hours together.

There are cement road cutting across. A proper drainage ( fully covered ) running beneath the roads. Unmanned Public Toilets are situated at every square. Just you have to insert 50 cents and the door is opened automatically. Inside those toilets are well equipped with censors. Water dispensation, hand dryer are well maintained. No taps from the basins were found removed. The people were using the paper roll as per their minimum requirements.

After say every 100 to 200 feet, there was a dustbin. No pieces of any waste products are thrown on the streets, and if anybody throws it, the pure malaysian picked it up and placed in the dustbin. After every 200 to 500 square feet, a persons are deputed to pick up the waste, and wash the road by wet and dry mops. Every taxis, during day or night time scrupoulously plied by a meter. A minimum fare of taxy is 3 Ringgit i.e. Rs.45 INR.

Malaysia was earlier rulled by Britishers. In 1957 Malaysia got the Independence. Since then there are number of fly overs ( almost 10 times what Maharashtra Govt including Gadkari Regime in all these 63 years (if 1947 is taken) and 50 years (if 1960 is taken) constructed by Malaysian Government only. There were no fly overs in the regime of British rule malaysia. All the fly overs are well-planned and properly connecting to the localities, having walkways at necessary points ( to avoid the long U turn for the public and vehicles )

India and Malaysia is having great resemblance in respect of Pre and Post Independence still due to lack of vision of our great leaders we remain in the same old state till we cross 63 years of Independence India. The malaysia is leading in all spheres i.e. Technology, Governance, Road and Transport, Conservancy, Taxes, Facilities to Public, Rail, conveyance, Agriculture, Chemicals, Food Products, Electricity, Petroleum products, Water management. etc etc and so on. We have only beat them in terms of Population.

The best thing I saw is the Rail Ticketing. After you purchase a mono rail ticket, you have to insert it in a check-in box, after you insert it, the screen shows the message, TICKET ACCEPTED, there after from another slot, you receive the ticket. After you board the monorail and get down from it, again you have to insert it in a check-out box, then again same message is displayed and the ticket is deposited in the box, then only the exit gates are opened and you could come out of the railway station. The exit gates are so sealed, that without reading the ticket it won't allow a single person to get out of the station. ( This was also unmanned railway station )

Similar is the case with the lockers. If you desired to put your hand bag, or small luggage, you have to insert three notes of 1 Ringgit in a slot, once you insert, a slip comes out having bar code and at the same time, a locker gets opened. On closing it locked automatically. Once you insert the slip in a bar code reader the locker panel opens waiting for you. This locker system is unmanned. Only enquiry counter is kept in case of emergency. This is what called a Use of Technology. Similar system is available in the Bank Lockers, Clock Rooms, Shop Lockers, etc.

I went to China Town. A grey market specially meant for excessive bargaining. China products are mostly kept for sell. Language is no barrier in Malaysia, there are many hindi knowing persons available there. A separate area is constituted for Food Hub in China town. Indians are also having shops in China town. But with a desent atmosphere, you can purchase in China Town.

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I thought to purchase some T-Shirts for my son, and was searching for 26 to 30 number inside the collar. The shop owner asked me, to go for 14 to 18, which will beffit to my sons.

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Really, we can't purchase cloths, t-shirts or bermudas for kids, as the number which they normally wear in India is used by moms of malaysia, so it is bit difficult to choose the beffiting garments.

The ethnic indian, Ananda Krishnan is the second richest man of Malaysia. He has owned one of the Petronas Twin Tower as it was built in the land owned by him. That building is having a resembling look of American Twin Tower. After the fall of towers on 9/11, these petronas were under close scrutiny and security. But since last two years, the security is cut down to almost 1/80th.

The national flower of malaysia is HIBISCUS i.e. Jaswand. There are number of trees of Hibiscus, on either side of the city roads. Hibiscus is consisting of 5 petals. each represent the policy of malaysia.

1) Unity 2) democracy 3) equal distribution of wealth in society 4) liberal approach and 5) progressive society.

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Every political party is having the great respect of Hibiscus. I did not find any instance from the people hating the national flower just because it is the election symbol of any political party. In india, our lotus is more deepened in the mud, and found in very few parts of the country.

Tiger is the National Animal of Malaysia. Again there is a resemblance. But only for the namesake. The way of protecting them is simply marvelous. There is no hunting of Tigers (legally or illegally). The number of tigers of Malaysia is around 769.

The most humble, sophisticated and submissive person you will get in Malaysia is the POLICE. You can have a chat with him, can take snaps with him. You can ask n number of questions to him, he is always ready to provide you every details and get the best deal of conveyance. He is the true caretaker of public maintaining law and order in the most suitable manner. I haven't heard of any road accident from him since last 16 months in KL city.

Malaysia is self sufficient and independent for petroleum products, hence petrol price there in Malaysia is Rs.26 per litre. Similarly they prepared one typical type of rustless metal which has a regular demand in all over the globe. There is a free economy. Genuinely a freedom of thoughts, profession, worship can be experienced in Malaysia. There is no pseudo type politics or red tapism adopted in Malaysia.

It is the Government, who has initially given some facility to the public at large and in turn expecting self imposed discipline from the people. The people are also supporting the country in all respect very respectably. Government has given the facilities more than the expectations of the public, the people has to only maintain it and they are maintaining it quite nicely.

In Malaysia, I found number of shops of SPA or Massage Centre after every 100 to 200 feet. The charts are displayed on the roads detailing the types of massage, including medicure, pedicure, body massage, fish massage, etc etc. The people over there are very much health conscious. Unlike our Yoga Taparis, every government office has motivated the ppl for maintaining peaceful mind, healthy body, and balance activities.

There are some big SPA providing Jakuzi, Sauna, Steam in just RM 85 i.e. about Rs.1,000/- Every SPA shop has a polite instructor, who helps us maintaining the time slots in Sauna and Steam Rooms. A cold drink or a coffee as per the taste is also provided.

There are no Taparis, for Pawn and Gutkha, though there is no restriction over it, still in very few places, I saw Beetel Leaves. Cigaratte stalls are in ample number. Normally Dunhill and Marlborou Cigarattes are famous in KL. Some shops provides Zurkas or Chilims in a Gudgudi.

Though there are no written rules for the Do's and Don't, still the ppl are following some unwritten convention as far as cleanliness, traffic rules, paying of taxes, use of facilities, hospitality, hygenic conditions in hotels, shops and eating houses. Every individual is working in the growth of the country.

Malaysia is a city of Malls. Big Malls. You can invariably see the big Escalators. Ofcourse there are stairs but they are only 10% of the escalators. The most important thing is that, all the escalators are in working condition. I had an opportunity to take 13 escalators in a row to reach on the 24th level of a mall. The maintenance of the escalators is simply marvellous and flawless. There is no single instance that I have seen the escalator not working.

I also went to Genting Highland. This Genting Highland is privately owned by a Chinese person. The hotels in Genting is world class. Out of that, I stayed in Hotel First World. This is the biggest Hotel in the World. It is a Guiness Record Holder. This hotel has 6118 Rooms. Genting Highlands experienced IIFA Awards in 2002. There are two towers of First World, I stayed in Tower 2 at 27th Floor. The technology is used at its maximum. You have express check-in and check-out box here. The waiting hall is a huge one. Casino at the Level 1 is the biggest Casino after Vegas. It takes about 2 to 3 hours to check-in the First World Hotel. Normal check-in time is 2'O Clock.

It was a matter of pleasure and privilege to see the electronic lockers. The casino in Hotel Genting is even bigger than the casino of First World. The Indoor Theme Part of First World is class of its own. Full of lights. You can enjoy Roller Coasters, Car, Electronic Water Boat, Casino, Jackpot, Three Dice, Poker, Three Card Poker, Rud Gullette, Wheel of Fortune. Anybody will just fall in love with such a place. I think Heaven will be the proper word.

On 8th Level, there is a Continental Cafe, where you can get, Thai, Chinese, Continental, Indian food as well. A typical Dahi-Bhaat, Tandoori roti, Biryani, is the best dish one can have in the Shop of Mr.Shaiful on 8th Level. At least once, we shud experience the cleanliness, hygenic condition there in First World.

As far as Non-vegetarian, there is a very bad news, except Chicken Curry and Masala, nothing is available which can be consumed. There is no Mutton served in First World. The Beef Meat and Australian Lamb is served in the category of Mutton.