On my last day in Malaysia, after leaving the Petronas Twin Towers with a pack of coconut rice that I bought at the station, I returned to Merdeka Square, where I had first arrived after getting off the plane. I still remember the scene when I arrived. Back then, the sky was covered with dark clouds, and my mood was also overshadowed by a layer of gloom. I had to remind myself that it was the rainy season, so avoiding heavy rain would be lucky. Surprisingly, during those nine days, I only experienced rain twice, and both times were when I was already back at the hotel.
Before November of last year, I never thought I would be in Malaysia now. I used to frequently fly with AirAsia, and besides Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur was the city where I had the most layovers. However, I never had the motivation to visit the country and explore.
Compared to other distinctly unique countries in Southeast Asia, Malaysia left me with a vague impression. It felt like it had a bit of everything, and it seemed like every place was influenced by other countries. There didn't seem to be any place that I truly wanted to visit, except for Malacca. It wasn't until November that AirAsia finally resumed flights to Kaohsiung.
However, this time was different. I didn't rush through like before. Instead, I observed the way the locals lived and prayed, savored flavors that were difficult to find in Kaohsiung, and experienced the foreign atmosphere that had seamlessly integrated into a distinct cultural landscape, despite its Chinese cultural roots.
Malaysia pleasantly surprised me. Until next time!