My first time in Kuala Lumpur and the story of the exchanged luggage

This day therefore marks a return to Malaysia, already 4 years after our Penang tour, except that this time, I am alone. A stay that is above all in the context of a change of visa, but I made sure to go there on the weekend so as to be able to visit a little while I was at it, in particular by going to take a trip to Melaka (spelled Melaka locally), just over an hour by bus south of the Malaysian capital.

It was early in the morning that I went to Don Muang airport, with a certain "excitement" of a first time because I love the idea of ​​discovering a new city. What's more, since I am alone, and it is also a first, I will have the leisure to explore the city at my own pace.

When you exchange your bag, an unusual story…

An unprecedented mishap will happen to me today... Indeed, when I arrived at the airport, I went to the Tune by Air Asia counter to collect the local SIM card that I had ordered at the same time as booking my ticket, the time to take care of that and the bags had already arrived for a while, I go there, at the time, I don't see it on the conveyor belt, but see a group of bags placed next to it, I spot mine, having a doubt, I open it quickly, see a pair of jeans and say to myself ok it's good.

I join the Skybus bus, also a service of Air Asia and load my bag. The guys don't even check my sheet including the bus ticket (the same as the one for the plane), it will be useful to me...

Arrived at KL Sentral which serves as a bus terminal and a major station from which several trains depart (KTM, LRT, monorail) I grab my bag, look for my way a bit and end up catching the right metro (where the buses arrive is under the station and in the middle of construction, it's a bit of a mess...).

I arrive at my hotel after only 2 metro stations, it is relatively close to the metro exit (Masjid Jamek station, less than 10 min walk). It is rather clean and well decorated, I was on the 2nd floor so right in front of the window is the skytrain line, but as it does not run at night it was not really a problem.

No, the real problem is the main street downstairs which is a bit noisy at night when some people rev their engines and also, and especially those fucking bitches of neighbors who come home at 2am talking super loudly in the hallway while hanging around there, and even in the room that night and the next day, also completely forgetting that this is a hotel and not a youth hostel where they are not even alone, hate this fucking mentality, sorry but it had to come out.

Anyway, that being said, I had just arrived and was starting to get my bearings and catch my breath a little... Not for long. I won't tell you about the moment of anguish when I opened the bag and realized that it wasn't my stuff!! I had the wrong bag! At the time, I don't know if it was when I picked it up at the airport or if the mistake came from getting off the bus (after thinking about it, I think it was when getting off the bus...) but I had to react quickly!

I immediately look on the Air Asia website to see what they say about lost luggage and call a number that basically tells me to go to the airport and go to the lost and found counter. No sooner said than done, I head back to the airport which is quite unpleasant given that it is really out of the way, expect a good hour and a half for this journey!

I was thinking about it since they didn't seem to check that I could take the Skybus for free but in a hurry, I took the first bus that left (it's only 8 RM after all...) I rushed to the counter after showing my passport to the guards (since you have to go to the baggage return area) There I came across a nice young lady, when I saw the pile of luggage I said to her "is it like this every day?", yes indeed...

Between those like me who sometimes bring the wrong luggage (although apparently this is quite rare), those who are turned away for some reason or another at immigration and whose luggage ends up with no one there upon arrival, etc.

For my part, it looks good, with the code present on the luggage (a code that they often stick a copy of on your passport and I didn't think to check that, I think I won't get caught out again...) the girl finds me the owner and good news, it's him who has my bag.

In the end, I don't know if it was him who made a mistake or me, or if, not finding his bag, he had the presence of mind to take mine, thinking that since it looks similar, there could indeed be confusion...

I am given these coordinates and an appointment is made at his hotel a little north of Kuala Lumpur (well if I could have avoided this round trip to the airport that would have been great) I take the skybus this time, free of charge since I have my ticket (which they did not check, but in any case, the date is correct since I arrived that day…).

At KL Sentral, I take a taxi out of laziness to look for the right metro and then the hotel. It's quite expensive (I negotiated at 20 RM) but this one knows the hotel and drops me off there directly. The guy, a young Malaysian about my age, was already waiting for me outside, he brings me my bag (I had nothing important in it), I give him his back and that ends the "nightmare".

Back at my hotel after taking the metro this time, I finally settled down, even though it was quite dark and already 21pm! What a day!