Langkawi in Malaysia, Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh
Wednesday, 15 August 2007
Abdullah Mohibuddin
WHEN I first went to Kuala Lumpur ( KL ), Malaysia in 1984 for Crew training on BIMAN's DC-10 aircraft, at that time there was not any good hotels to stay at, and restaurants to eat at. But Dr. Mahathir became the Prime Minister of Malaysia in that year and started their rapid growth. From 1984, 1 went to Kuala Lumpur several times as Cockpit crew. My German friend with whom I had studied with in Germany got his new assignment in the Mercedes Car factory in Kuala Lumpur had told me that Malaysia would be the leading country in Asia and the world. It is true that Malaysia has proved that.
Last year, I felt like going to Langkawi, a new resort island of Malaysia. It is in the north of Malaysia and near the border of Thailand. One of the taxi drivers in KL advised me and my family to take a ride by bus from KL to Penang and then catch the ferry to Langkawi from there. It would be a cheaper option he said. I was hesitant to take his advice and thought that it could not be that comfortable. Then I said to myself- why should we not try this trip!
After staying two nights at KL, we went to the KL Bus station leaving our heavy luggage at the hotel (as KL Vistana hotel has arranged our accommodation at Penang Vistana hotel with the same rate). The central bus station is quite big. One can call it an airport terminal using the first floor of the building as offices, ticket counters, sitting rooms, coffee shops and small shops. The ground floor and other floors are entirely for the departure of the buses. There are number of bus companies you can choose from.
I bought three tickets from KL to Penang. Each ticket was costing RM 27 only (in our Tk 500). From KL to Penang it takes almost three and a half hours with a half-an-hour break to get some snacks and use the rest room. It was a very pleasant ride. Seats of this luxury bus were so good, it was like sitting in the business class of an aircraft.
After reaching Penang, I looked for another mode of transportation going to Langkawi. I collected the brochure of Langkawi from the hotel's desk. This brochure is published by Tourism Malaysia, Ministry of Tourism. It had all the necessary information regarding tariff of different hotels, telephone numbers and even the standard of each hotel by marking star. So it is easy for me to call individual hotel and ask their tariff.
The next day morning the taxi took us to the ferry terminal where we bought the ticket. Each ticket costs RM 45 (Tk 850) for an adult and RM 30 for children The ferry journey was again three and a half hours. Once we got out of the ferry terminal, we were approached by taxi drivers. One took us to the hotel; Bella Vista, a four-star hotel with a wonderful view of the Bay. The rate of the hotel was RM 150 (with taxes) including buffet breakfast.
Langkawi has been developed in late 90's and it was created for all classes of tourists. One can stay in hotels of three-star standard next to the beach area paying RM 120 per night and most important is that a tourist can spend seven days there easily. Besides the sun, the sea and shopping, there are many activities that one can enjoy. Most important factors are that it is within one's budget. I would like to inform here a certain experience that a visitor might encounter. Taxi drivers never took extra money from us. I just have to request the hotel reception to get us a taxi. The taxi came to the hotel and took us. But they never charge the trips from a taxi centre to hotel. Then we felt unsafe while passing through a thick forest on the way to the beach. But the taxi driver informed us that if the car is broken down here, then immediately help will come to pick us up and take us to our destination.
The food price is quite reasonable. We could eat lunch with RM 30 (Tk 550) for all three people. Is it not wonderful? In Langkawi, there is a shopping mall where one can buy goods for a very reasonable price. Then one should visit the Oriental Village overlooking the beautiful Burro Bay. It is one of the most unique shopping, culture and culinary destinations, specially designed to provide a new concept in 'Resort Duty-Free shopping'.
After two days stay, we went back to KL via Penang where we stayed the night. Penang is a wonderful city mix blended with east and west tradition. The city is an island which connects by a three km long beautiful Penang bridge. Today, Penang is a resort island in full bloom.
Now, I come back to my country. Way back in l963 when I finished my HSC from Faujdarhat Cadet College, I flew to Cox's Bazar. On the plane, I met two gentlemen from PIA. They were also going there to the longest beach -- Cox's Bazar. After landing at the airport and with the help of PIA ground staff, we got the accommodation at Coxy hotel. I believe at that time, there were hardly any good hotels that we see today. After returning from Germany, I had visited Cox's Bazar several times and wrote a few articles over tourism.
But this time, I was amazed to see the development of Cox's Bazar. I had the opportunity to stay at the luxurious hotel- Hotel Sea Palace with foreign friends. I was further surprised to observe the flood of our people- almost over 100,000 roaming on the beach to see the sunset. That was Friday. But we need to gear up efforts in order to boost the local tourism as well as economic activities of the local people. It will give the job opportunities of the local people.
The Hotel Sea Palace is a friendly five-star hotel, but it does not fulfil all the necessary services that a five-star has. In fact a few people know about star and meaning of the star. Just a little experience one can get while sitting at the restaurant.
The simple buffet breakfast does not mean a Continental or American breakfast. I asked a waiter whether they serve American breakfast: he nodded. But when I requested for cereal- corn flakes, he started to call his colleague.
Again, the hotel has a nice swimming pool, better than that of any other hotel and Parjatan corporation. But the hotel should arrange a pool umbrella and above all -- a pool restaurant to serve the guests -- they don't come here only to dip, some times they enjoy sun bathing and light snacks and drinks. The hotel does not have any entertainment after sunset. They have a very big Lobby. This can be used for evening entertainment ( like that we saw in Bella Vista hotel in Langkawi). A beautiful girl can sing and the waiter can serve tea, coffee cake and soft drinks. It can be restricted to hotel guests only if there is a security hazard. Please do not ask how much the hotel tariff was and what a cup of coffee cost (Tk 60 per cup of coffee ).
There were two restaurants on the beach front. We thought of eating there. We looked through the menu and ordered food. But the owner told us that they did not have certain items. We pleaded to him to provide us with Nan and chicken tikka and his wife from another corner flatly refused to cook further. It was very embarrassing and they do not know that they will lose the market soon. The price of the food is quite high in comparison to that in Langkawi and that too in quality and quantity.
By the way, we actually fought with rickshaw puller and bus driver to walk from Sea Palace hotel to beach. There is hardly any walkway. It reminds me when I went to a beach resort in Holland where I found a 30 ft walkway, besides the road. If we have that, then probably for a short distance one does not require transportation -- it will be healthy to walk.
Now, I feel I have a few suggestions to make here - what we have and what we can improve upon. Since, government does not have that much money to build the necessary tourist infrastructure, therefore:
a) All hotelier, should gather together and form a committee to look after the improvement of the hotel standard and beach area. This committee shall monitor and check the standard food of individual restaurants on the beach too,
b) This committee shall bring out various information which are valuable to tourists, such as printing brochure where location of each hotel, restaurants, beach area and sight-seeing packages; above all, telephone and mobile numbers of security agency, taxi and hospital service etc.
c) This committee should, in cooperation with local government set up a hospital where the tourist can be treated.
d) With the help of local government, a tourist police should be set up for security of the tourist ( like in Greece).
e) Shopping mall and trade centre should be set up where tourists can buy. Garments manufacturer can have showrooms in that area.
f) Sight-seeing and day-spending could be arranged and it should be booked through the hotels so that the tourists are sure of safety. The trips could be to an ideal village, shrimp processing plant, sea aquarium (setting up this for children's entertainment is necessary), Safari Park by hotel transport, Buddha temples at Ramu.
g) As I have seen more than a hundred thousand people on the beach to see the sunset, it could be a good place to create more job opportunities for Cox's Bazar locals. It is good to see Grameen phone and Bangla Link together kept the beach clean. It needs the training and habit change to keep the beach clean. The plain clothes tourist police could be enough to control this. I have seen in Italy where imaginary is earmarked for individual hotelier. This helps to attend the hotel guest by their services as well as safeguard their guests.
h) Service charge and government taxes should be reduced in order to cater at lower tariff to the tourists, whether local or foreigner.
i) The package in travel is a recent marketing concept and has become popular all over the world. These packages can be sold over the website. A lot of German wish to visit Bangladesh while talking to me on board of BIMAN flights. But they want to be sure of safety.
To conclude, I would like to say here that I should not be attracted to go to Langkawi rather than visiting Cox's Bazar in future!
The writer is a retired DC 10 Flt Engineer of BIMAN-Bangladesh Airlines and former President of Fit Engrs & Navigators Association
WHEN I first went to Kuala Lumpur ( KL ), Malaysia in 1984 for Crew training on BIMAN's DC-10 aircraft, at that time there was not any good hotels to stay at, and restaurants to eat at. But Dr. Mahathir became the Prime Minister of Malaysia in that year and started their rapid growth. From 1984, 1 went to Kuala Lumpur several times as Cockpit crew. My German friend with whom I had studied with in Germany got his new assignment in the Mercedes Car factory in Kuala Lumpur had told me that Malaysia would be the leading country in Asia and the world. It is true that Malaysia has proved that.
Last year, I felt like going to Langkawi, a new resort island of Malaysia. It is in the north of Malaysia and near the border of Thailand. One of the taxi drivers in KL advised me and my family to take a ride by bus from KL to Penang and then catch the ferry to Langkawi from there. It would be a cheaper option he said. I was hesitant to take his advice and thought that it could not be that comfortable. Then I said to myself- why should we not try this trip!
After staying two nights at KL, we went to the KL Bus station leaving our heavy luggage at the hotel (as KL Vistana hotel has arranged our accommodation at Penang Vistana hotel with the same rate). The central bus station is quite big. One can call it an airport terminal using the first floor of the building as offices, ticket counters, sitting rooms, coffee shops and small shops. The ground floor and other floors are entirely for the departure of the buses. There are number of bus companies you can choose from.
I bought three tickets from KL to Penang. Each ticket was costing RM 27 only (in our Tk 500). From KL to Penang it takes almost three and a half hours with a half-an-hour break to get some snacks and use the rest room. It was a very pleasant ride. Seats of this luxury bus were so good, it was like sitting in the business class of an aircraft.
After reaching Penang, I looked for another mode of transportation going to Langkawi. I collected the brochure of Langkawi from the hotel's desk. This brochure is published by Tourism Malaysia, Ministry of Tourism. It had all the necessary information regarding tariff of different hotels, telephone numbers and even the standard of each hotel by marking star. So it is easy for me to call individual hotel and ask their tariff.
The next day morning the taxi took us to the ferry terminal where we bought the ticket. Each ticket costs RM 45 (Tk 850) for an adult and RM 30 for children The ferry journey was again three and a half hours. Once we got out of the ferry terminal, we were approached by taxi drivers. One took us to the hotel; Bella Vista, a four-star hotel with a wonderful view of the Bay. The rate of the hotel was RM 150 (with taxes) including buffet breakfast.
Langkawi has been developed in late 90's and it was created for all classes of tourists. One can stay in hotels of three-star standard next to the beach area paying RM 120 per night and most important is that a tourist can spend seven days there easily. Besides the sun, the sea and shopping, there are many activities that one can enjoy. Most important factors are that it is within one's budget. I would like to inform here a certain experience that a visitor might encounter. Taxi drivers never took extra money from us. I just have to request the hotel reception to get us a taxi. The taxi came to the hotel and took us. But they never charge the trips from a taxi centre to hotel. Then we felt unsafe while passing through a thick forest on the way to the beach. But the taxi driver informed us that if the car is broken down here, then immediately help will come to pick us up and take us to our destination.
The food price is quite reasonable. We could eat lunch with RM 30 (Tk 550) for all three people. Is it not wonderful? In Langkawi, there is a shopping mall where one can buy goods for a very reasonable price. Then one should visit the Oriental Village overlooking the beautiful Burro Bay. It is one of the most unique shopping, culture and culinary destinations, specially designed to provide a new concept in 'Resort Duty-Free shopping'.
After two days stay, we went back to KL via Penang where we stayed the night. Penang is a wonderful city mix blended with east and west tradition. The city is an island which connects by a three km long beautiful Penang bridge. Today, Penang is a resort island in full bloom.
Now, I come back to my country. Way back in l963 when I finished my HSC from Faujdarhat Cadet College, I flew to Cox's Bazar. On the plane, I met two gentlemen from PIA. They were also going there to the longest beach -- Cox's Bazar. After landing at the airport and with the help of PIA ground staff, we got the accommodation at Coxy hotel. I believe at that time, there were hardly any good hotels that we see today. After returning from Germany, I had visited Cox's Bazar several times and wrote a few articles over tourism.
But this time, I was amazed to see the development of Cox's Bazar. I had the opportunity to stay at the luxurious hotel- Hotel Sea Palace with foreign friends. I was further surprised to observe the flood of our people- almost over 100,000 roaming on the beach to see the sunset. That was Friday. But we need to gear up efforts in order to boost the local tourism as well as economic activities of the local people. It will give the job opportunities of the local people.
The Hotel Sea Palace is a friendly five-star hotel, but it does not fulfil all the necessary services that a five-star has. In fact a few people know about star and meaning of the star. Just a little experience one can get while sitting at the restaurant.
The simple buffet breakfast does not mean a Continental or American breakfast. I asked a waiter whether they serve American breakfast: he nodded. But when I requested for cereal- corn flakes, he started to call his colleague.
Again, the hotel has a nice swimming pool, better than that of any other hotel and Parjatan corporation. But the hotel should arrange a pool umbrella and above all -- a pool restaurant to serve the guests -- they don't come here only to dip, some times they enjoy sun bathing and light snacks and drinks. The hotel does not have any entertainment after sunset. They have a very big Lobby. This can be used for evening entertainment ( like that we saw in Bella Vista hotel in Langkawi). A beautiful girl can sing and the waiter can serve tea, coffee cake and soft drinks. It can be restricted to hotel guests only if there is a security hazard. Please do not ask how much the hotel tariff was and what a cup of coffee cost (Tk 60 per cup of coffee ).
There were two restaurants on the beach front. We thought of eating there. We looked through the menu and ordered food. But the owner told us that they did not have certain items. We pleaded to him to provide us with Nan and chicken tikka and his wife from another corner flatly refused to cook further. It was very embarrassing and they do not know that they will lose the market soon. The price of the food is quite high in comparison to that in Langkawi and that too in quality and quantity.
By the way, we actually fought with rickshaw puller and bus driver to walk from Sea Palace hotel to beach. There is hardly any walkway. It reminds me when I went to a beach resort in Holland where I found a 30 ft walkway, besides the road. If we have that, then probably for a short distance one does not require transportation -- it will be healthy to walk.
Now, I feel I have a few suggestions to make here - what we have and what we can improve upon. Since, government does not have that much money to build the necessary tourist infrastructure, therefore:
a) All hotelier, should gather together and form a committee to look after the improvement of the hotel standard and beach area. This committee shall monitor and check the standard food of individual restaurants on the beach too,
b) This committee shall bring out various information which are valuable to tourists, such as printing brochure where location of each hotel, restaurants, beach area and sight-seeing packages; above all, telephone and mobile numbers of security agency, taxi and hospital service etc.
c) This committee should, in cooperation with local government set up a hospital where the tourist can be treated.
d) With the help of local government, a tourist police should be set up for security of the tourist ( like in Greece).
e) Shopping mall and trade centre should be set up where tourists can buy. Garments manufacturer can have showrooms in that area.
f) Sight-seeing and day-spending could be arranged and it should be booked through the hotels so that the tourists are sure of safety. The trips could be to an ideal village, shrimp processing plant, sea aquarium (setting up this for children's entertainment is necessary), Safari Park by hotel transport, Buddha temples at Ramu.
g) As I have seen more than a hundred thousand people on the beach to see the sunset, it could be a good place to create more job opportunities for Cox's Bazar locals. It is good to see Grameen phone and Bangla Link together kept the beach clean. It needs the training and habit change to keep the beach clean. The plain clothes tourist police could be enough to control this. I have seen in Italy where imaginary is earmarked for individual hotelier. This helps to attend the hotel guest by their services as well as safeguard their guests.
h) Service charge and government taxes should be reduced in order to cater at lower tariff to the tourists, whether local or foreigner.
i) The package in travel is a recent marketing concept and has become popular all over the world. These packages can be sold over the website. A lot of German wish to visit Bangladesh while talking to me on board of BIMAN flights. But they want to be sure of safety.
To conclude, I would like to say here that I should not be attracted to go to Langkawi rather than visiting Cox's Bazar in future!
The writer is a retired DC 10 Flt Engineer of BIMAN-Bangladesh Airlines and former President of Fit Engrs & Navigators Association