Malaysia Truly Asia

Ah..Malaysia! The land of sun, beaches, and endless rain; as someone who has rarely ventured further than Thokar Niaz Beg in Lahore alone, going abroad completely on my own was an adventure like no other. With bags full of unnecessary clothing, a bottle of sunscreen, and unbridled enthusiasm, I ventured forth into my initiation into adult life. My anxious parents repeatedly kept calling me while I was at the airport, and I demurely informed them that I was an adult, and perfectly capable of taking care of my own self. Of course this might have had rung true to me as well, if I hadn’t just spilt half my coffee down my t shirt at that very moment. After waiting for three hours, I immediately jumped up when my flight was announced, and made my way to the gate (after of course doing a double take and going back for my laptop which I had left behind). Once I had boarded, I excitedly looked around, in hopes of seeing exotic and foreign looking people. Much to my disappointment, everyone was desi, looked very much like me, and spoke Urdu. The only exotic ones on the planes were the airhostesses, who looked like they would rather be somewhere, especially after they realized they would have to spend most of the flight picking up smatterings of Biryani from the ground. After making myself comfortable, I covered myself with a blanket and promptly fell asleep.

I woke up to the announcement that we were about to land. A sudden thrill of excitement ran through me, and I passed through the whole customs and luggage carousel routine without a hitch.  My travel itinerary included three cities; Penang, Langkawi and Kuala Lumpur. The moment I stepped out of plane, I was surrounded by the chatter of a foreign language. This might have made me feel lonesome, but it was counteracted by the brilliant, smiling faces. Whoever I stopped to ask for help would always give me a big grin, regardless of whether they understood me or not. This positive, open attitude helped me throughout the trip. Once I’d checked into where I would be staying, I set out to explore. Penang is basically two islands linked together with a bridge. Although teeming with people, and big buildings, the place is serene and quiet. Except for a few malls and the main business center of Georgetown, most of the beauty is natural, and well worth visiting. My favorite was the Batu Feringghi beach, where there was abundant Pakistani food, as well as good Malaysian food to be had. I found one favorite haunt, where the friendly Indian barman would make me cups of chai, PAKISTANI CHAI, and regale me with tales of movie stars who visited the place. An added bonus was of course, his opinion of me looking like Anushka Sharma. Another brilliant attraction was the Monkey Beach. Although it can be reached by boat, I chose to hike the hour and fifteen minutes hike there, and it was well worth effort. One Polish gentleman was attacked by a monkey he chose to provoke, making me feel like we Pakistani’s aren’t the only ones who enjoy such foolish notions. Other than that, the train ride up to Penang Hill is also something one should definitely experience. The view from the top makes the waiting in line worth it!

The second place I chose to go to was Langkawi. After assessing my dire financial straits, I meekly booked a single bed in a shared dorm, in a far off guesthouse. Independence apparently also means, you are accountable for your own expenditure. Langkawi was completely provincial, extremely peaceful and the weather would make you feel like you were constantly on Cloud 9. Contrary to my expectations, the place I had booked had the loveliest and homeliest environment imaginable. Famed for their hospitality, the Malaysians certainly lived up to my expectations. The guesthouse had two friendly dogs who would lay their heads on my lap, while I sat down to read in the common room. The place had tourist and travelers from all over the world and at night the place would feel like a haven for people escaping from the bustle of the everyday world. The time spent in Langkawi helped clear my mind like an aphrodisiac; however, being a born and bred Lahori, I was starting to yearn for the city lights. Kuala Lumpur was the perfect answer to that. No less than the Big Apple; KL is Malaysia’s most upbeat, cosmopolitan city. It was 2 a.m when I reached there, and it was every bit as alive as if it were the 6 p.m rush hour. Jam packed with night clubs, malls and people, it was like coming home after a long interval. Kuala Lumpur has everything; from high end brands and shopping malls, to roadside vendors touting fake Nikes and Prada’s. Lost in a vortex of activity, I tried to fit in as much as I could into my two day stay there. The highlight was visiting the top of the Petronas Twin Towers, which is houses a shopping mall, and offers an exquisite view of the city. The revolving tower is also a must see sight.