Last weekend, my buddies and me went to Bagan Lalang for an all girls night. The 12 of us cramped up in a 2-storey teepee-like bungalow that says ‘maximum 5 people’ – a close to shabby one. It has only one bathroom. The TV was not working. The air-con upstairs was just breezily-cold. The wall fan downstairs couldn’t oscillate. The door knob was broken. The staircase is at a scary 90 degree angle.
However, the bungalow wasn’t the problem – we managed really well arranging who sleeps where, taking turns using the bathroom etc. The memorable pain came that night when we had dinner at one of the seafood restaurant. Arriving there at 8pm – it was a full house. We lingered a while and was lucky to get a place. After few minutes, I asked to order, the waiter said “Kena beratur kat sana kak”, showing me to the direction of a snake-like que. Oh? So two friends were nominated to the job. At the table, I wanted to order drinks but couldn’t get hold of any waiter. 15 mins later, finally a waiter passed by just to tell me that I have to que up to order drinks! Oh God! I searched in my handbag for a pen and a peace of paper. I found the pen but settled with a napkin to write the order. Then I gave it to my 2 friends who are still in the line.
30 mins passed by and no drinks came, what more food. We all got thirsty and started to feel hungry. I went to to the nearby store and got several can drinks and snacks to buy time.
After lining up for 45 mins, the two friends finally came back to the table and joined us snacking.
Another 30 mins passed, nothing arrived. I thought, if I am alone, I would have just walk-off. But being with friends and plus nothing to eat at the teepee bungalow, I stayed.
Another 15 mins – the drinks finally came! Up until that time – we were all getting really sleepy and tired. Not to mention the stress – trying to keep the anger down.
Finally at 10.00 pm – the food came! But because of the snacking, 2 cans of drink, tired, sleepy and angry – and the fact that it was 2 hours before midnight – I wasn’t really that hungry anymore.
Later I heard, the restaurant has been operating like such. People have to wait for hours to get food. To make it worst, the food wasn’t that out-of-the-world awesome. It was a so-so taste. The service was terrible. What to like about it? I just don’t understand.
I don’t think the owner ever think about improvement – cut the waiting hours shorter perhaps? or making the customer happy or something that worth waiting for.
That will be my first and the last dining at that restaurant – I can bet on it.
