Out of the frypan into the fire

by Jaleel Rathor (Pakistan)

A leap into the unknown Malaysia

It was a very pleasant day on August 2, 2019. Because I was very excited to travel to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. My flight timing was 9:15 p.m. I left my home for Allama Iqbal International Airport Lahore at 5 p.m. I walked towards the check-in counter at 6 p.m. He asked me passport, visa, and hostel booking. He holds my documents and verified all, stamped on my visa with “VERIFIED” and hand over my documents without issuing my boarding pass and without knowing me any dispute. And said that we will treat you later. Even they have verified my all documents. I was first in the queue of the check-in counter. I was waiting for any response. It’s about 1:30 hours have passed there. I asked them again about my boarding pass. But they said that we are treated to those who have a work permit, so we will treat to visitors at the end. Almost more than 1 hour has been passed there and a person (who was an employee of this airline) comes to me, and asked that what the matter is? I said that “I have there since 2:30 hours, but they have not been issued my boarding pass, so I am waiting for that”. He replied to me “How much do you have Pakistani Rupees?” I said almost 4000/-PKR. He said, “If you gave me all your Pakistani currency than I will issue to you your boarding pass” I refused to pay him and said that “Your Airline has verified my all documents; I will never pay you to even a single penny I will nor to be going to Malaysia but I will make your complaint to Civil Aviation Authority”. He apologized to me and said that please don’t be done it. And issued the boarding pass. And I have to fly to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It was my first experience to face the bribe and obvious leaped into the unknown incident. Anyway, I reached at Kuala Lumpur at 6:25 a.m. Again, immigration asked and verified my all documents and told me “WELCOME TO KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA”. I came out of the airport and buy a Sim card. Whenever you travel abroad, the first and very important thing is to contact your family members, so I do it the same and informed that I reached safely at my destination. I take a bus from KLIA1 to KL Sentral and from KL Sentral to Bukit Bintang. Because my hostel was reserved on Bukit Bintang. My trip planned for 8 days. The first day I didn’t go anywhere. Because I was unknown there, so the first day I met “Bassem”, who was Egyptian and then “Marwan”, he was Libyan. And I spend my whole day at the hostel with them. The second day I wake up early morning, take a bath and get breakfast with Bread & Jam with Tea. So, the same day I go out and explore the Bukit Bintang, it’s a beautiful place. I don’t know others, but it’s resembling like a NEW YORK. I have explored too many places such as Batu Cave, Menara KL, Petronas Twin Towers, China Town, KL Art Gallery, Central Market, and National Mosque of Malaysia. And meet with the local community. So, from 3rd-Aug to 6th-Aug, I have visited all the places. On 6th Aug-19 I watched on Twitter, regarding conflict and tension between Pakistan & India on Kashmir issue. And Pakistan may be going close the airspace from the eastern side border. I was worried about that, May I blocked here. I kept out from one problem and now entered into a new one. It was also my first experience to face this kind of matter. So, I had an alternative option that if the airspace has closed till my return date then I should be purchased a ticket from another airline, which leads from Kuala Lumpur to Dubai and from Dubai to Lahore. And it was about 914$, which was costly. But thanks to God Almighty that, Foreign Minister of Pakistan has announced on 8th Aug-219 that airspace has not been closed and finally on 10th-Aug-19, I take a flight from Kuala Lampur and back to homeland safely.