Unexpected experience conquering Mount Fuji / Mount Fuji experience
We planned this trip to Mount Fuji a year ago, in fact, made the payment to the travel agency (Lifetime Adventure Holidays Sdn Bhd)as well. Along the way, more than 50 people joined this trip, mostly from Kuala Lumpur and Penang.
Most of the hikers were not satisfied with the so-called expert agent on the arrangements for this adventurous trip. On the other hand, the agent couldn't be bothered by our unhappiness. Instead, he gave us sarcastic replies. Those who have paid were left with no choice other than to continue the trip.
We started our journey on 31st August to Japan. We reached Taenada airport around 7 pm. Mr.Ganesan, our agent who has arranged and ascended Mount Fuji 7 times, picked us up at the airport. We were told to bring small luggage bags as it was a rule for the transportation in Japan. To our surprise, there was no such requirement, and the bus could accommodate any size of bags.
Many of us were very disappointed with the misinformation.
As we reached the hotel, we were faced with more disappointment as the rooms had only queen beds instead of twin sharing. There was no effort from our agent to rectify it despite multiple complaints by the hikers.
The itinerary for the next day was not up even late at night. There was a big commotion going on between the agent Ganesan and the hikers due to his poor organisation and putting the hikers at risk as many of them are not seasoned hikers with no experience of high altitude mountains like Mt Fuji.
They were in the hope that an experienced hiker like Mr.Ganesan would be a good guide. Unfortunately, he dashed their hopes by his pre- trip promises. The hikers instead combined and arranged the necessary safety requirements needed to hike the mountain.
We anticipated for him to arrange the hut for a night stay on the
7 or 8th station as the trip was booked a year ago, but he didn't do it with an excuse that we were expected to make arrangements during the climb as it was unavailable at the time of our initial booking.
During our hike, he didn't arrange any lead hiker, middle hiker, or sweeper and didn't even book the huts. Luckily, most of us were lucky to get a hut on a first come, first serve basis after a tiring walk in the rain.
Since the agent Ganesan or his team was not there to guide the trip, there were three incidents that took place.
One hiker developed extreme exhaustion, and I had to walk with him up to station 8 and ask him to stop and descend as it would be life endangering to continue further.
The other incident happened to three hikers who had no huts to take respite and had to sleep outside in the cold weather. One of them developed hypothermia and anxiety due to the extreme weather and pitch darkness that we had to desperately look for a hut to bring the person in.
Lastly, a few of the experienced hikers had to walk up and descend on the same day in the cold, dark night due to no place to take respite.
It was such a sad and depressing atmosphere for the hikers as this could have been avoided if our agent had made proper arrangements in advance.
After completing our hike, we hoped that he would at least arrange a sightseeing trip of Fuji and Tokyo, but it was worse than our hiking experience. The charges for the tour were exorbitant. He only made arrangements for shuttle and accommodation. The rest we had to do it ourselves.He persistently kept reminding us that this was a budget tour and needed to do things on our own.
Although we were able to complete this hike and tour by our own effort, we felt cheated and let down by our tour agent and the agency for their shoddy arrangements. We later found out from others who followed him in previous trips that he has done similarly to many other tour groups.
Basically, he takes the innocent and trusting hikers for the trip and reaps them of their money to a maximum profit with minimum arrangements for the customers.
After going through this sad affair, I learnt that we shouldn't simply trust anyone for their surface promises. Instead, do proper research on their credibility and others' experience with the agency and the agents provided. I hope and pray others won't fall into the same trap as well.
Yes Kanika,
ReplyDeleteWe feel it is important to share our unfortunate experience with con-man Ganesan and his travelling company (Lifetime Adventures Holidays Sdn Bhd). We were left stranded in dangerous conditions at Mt. Fuji and felt our safety was compromised.
Thank you so much for sharing. Indeed being in a foreign country and having placed hopes on a suppose-to-be guide, it can be a torment. I am utterly disappointed at the guide and the company he represents. I can only say KARMA is hunting him down right this minute too. May he prosper as he reaps from innocent people who trusted him. God is great. God has his way in dealing with unscrupulous people. And God is just.
ReplyDeleteIn addition, it was an incredibly disappointing experience with Ganesan's travel agency for a 10-day Japan-Mount Fuji hiking trip. Despite paying over RM6000 as quoted by Ganesan, I was shocked to discover that checked-in luggage and the Mount Fuji hiking permit weren't included. We were only informed about this two weeks after making the initial payment, it was such a scam! For certain issues, instead of rectifying the situation, Ganesan insisted that we all carry small cabin bags, claiming it was due to Japanese law—an outright lie!
ReplyDeleteHe also failed to book accommodations for the hikers during the overnight hike he organized, putting us in a dangerous situation amid a typhoon and thunderstorm, all to save on lodging costs. He showed no regard for the health and safety of the hikers. When confronted, he suggested we should just claim insurance if something happened. This travel agent is both irresponsible and disgraceful, and he reflects poorly on the entire community.
Ganesan was consistently rude, showing no respect towards his paid customers. He frequently humiliated, scolded, and cursed in the group chat as if he were the one financing the trip. To make matters worse, we never received a receipt or trip details even after making full payment. It was only two weeks before the trip that he started booking accommodations and transportation, despite the trip being announced 8-9 months in advance.
This isn't an isolated incident, it’s a recurring issue with every trip he organises. He and his travel agency are incredibly problematic, do yourself a favour and stay far away from Ganesan and his travel agency - Lifetime Adventure Holidays!
another successful write up, sometimes not only the nature teach us lesson, the one we trust do as well.
ReplyDeletewhen we entrust the tour guide to lead us, expecting him to bring us to the comfort zone, passing through the darkest night, fighting against the terrible climate, and they left us no clue, stood there in a lonely night, shocked and saddened. it's like anesthesia gas discontinued, and reversal of sedation given without prompting the surgeon while he is all on his own, finding a bleeder in a pool of blood, OT lights shut down like our light of hope is gone.
I pray to god and thank him for blessing you are safe, and come back in a piece. next time, remember to find a trusted "anesthetist"
The agent has a group *Happy Hikers Kuala Lumpur" https://www.meetup.com/HAPPY-Hikers-Kuala-Lumpur on the Meetup app. Hope more people read about this blog and avoid him.
ReplyDeleteMust make a police report and also report to tourism board of malaysia.no mercy for such guys.
ReplyDeleten addition, it was an incredibly disappointing experience with Ganesan's travel agency for a 10-day Japan-Mount Fuji hiking trip. Despite paying over RM6000 as quoted by Ganesan, I was shocked to discover that checked-in luggage and the Mount Fuji hiking permit weren't included.fitness
ReplyDelete