SANGKURIANG, DAYANG SUMBI AND DAYANG SUMBU (DAYANG SUMBI'S HALF SISTER)

Lets lighten up a bit. Today I want to write about travelling. My friends like to post me this question - why I like to go abroad for holiday? Isn't it expensive? How about food? Halal or not? Sometime I feel guilty for not supporting tourism in my own country but don't blame me as many time I find that it is not worth spending money to travel in Malaysia.

Then, I thought I should give it a try once and for all. So, during the last school holidays, I brought my whole family member consists of 17 peoples - my parents, Ogy and her 2 daughters, Rasid & Ana and their 7 childrens and 2 childrens of my youngest sister, Non to Langkawi, Pulau Lagenda. Non and her husband, Fadhil is in Holy Land to perform their Umrah. Chaos, havoc but fun as most of the children in my family are below 10 years old and the youngest is 10 months.

This is my 4th trip to Langkawi. My first was in 1996 and my last was 2000. I only can say 1 thing about this so called Legend Island of Langkawi - the island is not worth visiting. The trip cost me about 6.5K (air fare - Air Asia, Accomodation, Car Rental and Food). I find the place I visited during my last 3 trips to the Island in a very deporable state. The water at the Air Panas hot spring is dirty and not even warm. Even my nephew and nieces refused to wash their feet with the "cure almost all skin desease" water. The waterfall at the Telaga Tujuh is murky and dirty. In fact, a lot of places of interest is runned down. The only new attraction is the cable car in Gunung Mat Cincang. But looking around the complexes at the mountain hill, it is a matter of time before the "virus" spread. The deadly virus that transform the "places of interest" into the "places of no interest. You may mark my word.

I wonder if I am working for Tourism Development Corporation, how on earth I am going to promote Langkawi. I hope it is not too much if I say the Ministry and its staff involve in promoting tourism in our country are not doing a good job. Is it too much to do or just being lazy? 2007 is Visit Malaysia Year but I doubt we are really a country to visit. Many time I discourage my relatives and friends from visiting me in Kuala Lumpur or even shoot down their idea to visit any other states in Malaysia. It sounded so unpatriotic but that is my only choice. I would rather spend money and visit them in their country. Sincerely, I feel sorry to talk bad about my own country but it is me. I want to practise "without fear or favour". Hope they "repent" and buck up.

It is really a waste of money. I thought it was my worst investment ever. I should have brought them to some neighbouring country like Indonesia or Thailand. With the same amount of money, my family would be able to experience an overseas holiday. They would have more new things to see, more fun, more things to talk about when they come home. In short, more memorable.

Now we leave Langkawi and her 99 islands behind. Frustrated, I plan a holiday trip to Bandung in August. I managed to "conned" 2 pretty but not so young secretaries to join me. I keep on painting nice perfect picture about Bandung. The wheater, the mountains, the volcanoes, the fairer and better looking Indonesian and most importantly, THE SHOPPING! Yes, Bandung is 'D' place for factory outlets shopping. Being Malaysian and being Malaysian women, shopping is a sacred ritual. Shopping is also therapy. Shopping is like paracetemol for headache (any dosage is good!). So, in principal they have agreed to join me. At the same breath they ask how much money should they bring. I told them to wait for their bonus payment this Friday. In a meanwhile, they have applied for "leaving husband and children at home to go with other man visa" from their respective husbands. Only 5 days 4 nites visa granted (but I am confident the 2 husbands glad I am taking their wife away from them for that period of time, what a relief! Any possibility of extending stay? Miss the flight home?).

In fact, one of them has also done her packing. We plan to shop, eat, shop, eat, shop, eat and sleep (not to forget shower and toilet).

So, we start the count down...