Hitchhiking in Malaysia

"Terima kasih means thank you" Salma taught me while she and her husband where giving me a ride from Tapah to Taiping. We couldn't really have a conversation due to the language barrier, but sometimes there are no words needed to understand each other.

Salma and I

It was my second time hitchhiking in Malaysia, this time I was by myself and on the way from the Cameron Highlands to Penang.

Even though on hitchwiki I read that it would be very easy and in common to hitchhike in Malaysia, it was not always simple to catch a ride. And on the reaction of the people driving past me I could clearly see that they don't see many hitchhikers on the roads in Malaysia.. Most of the time the people stared at me, laughing and waving or giving me thumbs up but hardly anyone stopped. 

My first time hitchhiking in Malaysia was with Laura from Austria. I met her in Kuala Lumpur on a couchsurfing meeting, one of the best things I have done while being in KL. Even though she had never hitchhiked before, she was keen to try it with me and so we hitched from KL to the Cameron Highlands. We cheated a little bit because we took an uber from our hostel to the toll station to get out of the city. We could have taken a train or a bus, it would have been cheaper, but it would have taken over an hour to get to the spot and we had heavy backpacks. 

From the toll station it didn't take long to get a ride. We were busy taking pictures when we got our first ride with AunShin, who took us all the way to Tapah.

"Nobody is hitchhiking in Malaysia" he told us. "It is dangerous, some people are not friendly. Do you want to take a bus? I can drop you somewhere where you can catch the next bus." He was very kind and concerned  but we wanted to try hitchhiking. We had a really great time together. Since his English was very good we were able to have good and interesting conversations, even though my voice was almost gone (because of all the rain in KL I got a cold but I didn't feel bad, my voice was just almost gone - that always happens to me). 

After AunShin had dropped us at the last Petrol Station before Tapah, we had some trouble catching our next ride. The sun came out and so it got really hot and humid but unfortunately no car would stop for us. Everybody was just laughing and waving at us, some people took pictures and others just pretended they wouldn't see us. Then finally two cars stopped, but the first one was a car full of young Malaysian men who didn't even have space for us and our backpacks and in the other car was an Indian family and again, the car was already packed and there was no chance for us to get in. 

Half an hour later we were still melting in the sun when a local stopped for us to give us a ride. He took us only five minutes but to the road towards Cameron Highlands, from where we hitched again, this time in the shade of some trees. The next ride was with two other men who took us all the way up to Tanah Rata. It took us more than 5 hours to manage the 205km from KL to Tanah Rata but the experience was great.

Hitchhiking in Malaysia

I actually love hitchhiking. The feeling when I am standing on the road, with my thumb out and not sure if and when I will arrive at my destination and usually also not sure where I will spend the night or when I will have the next meal... Some people like adrenalin sports like skydiving or bungee jumping - I like hitchhiking. And so I decided to hitchhike again in Malaysia, this time by myself.

Laura and I spent one day and two nights in the Cameron Highlands.

Being famous for their tea plantations, the three little towns in the hills offer quite a lot to see and many locals and tourists travel there to cool down from the hot weather. We rented a scooter and drove from one tea plantation to the next, cruising around all the cars which were stuck in the traffic jam. It always gets really busy in the Cameron Highlands around Chinese New Year. 

The nature was stunning. Green hills as far as we could see, surrounded by native forests and occasionally some flower fields. I really loved it there.

The beautiful BOH Tea plantation

Laura had to leave on the next day to fly back do Austria and I decided to hitchhike to Penang. I was a little bit nervous because I was all alone in a country where I couldn't speak the language and trying to hitchhike. But my tension turned into elation when five travellers came to me, cheering at me and taking pictures and videos. They where from the Ukraine and Russia and it was really good talking to them. They wanted to hitch a ride too but only to the next tea plantation.

My first ride was with Jeff and his girlfriend, who took me to Tapah. The windy road made me feel really sick and my voice was still gone so I spent most of the ride just looking out of the window, trying not to vomit. Finally we made it and I jumped out of the car and walked to the toll station from where the cars would go on the motorway towards KL or Penang. A truck with two Malaysian men stopped, trying to make me jump in with them. I didn't like the thought of being in the truck with those guys so I told them I would catch a ride with a car because a car is faster than a truck. What a lame excuse but it worked and they drove off.

In the next car were Salam and Deen, who took me to Taiping, just 60km away from my destination. They were really lovely and even though we could not really talk I enjoyed being in the car with them. They asked me in broken english if I was married and where my parents are... and of course Salma couldn't believe that I am not afraid to be on the road by myself. All questions which I am already used to.

When they dropped me at the Petrol Station we took a selfie together and Salma gave me some Malaysian apples. What a lovely couple.

Selfie time with Deen and Salma

I think Petrol stations are in general not very good for hitchhiking in Malaysia. Again, I had to wait quite a while until a bus stopped. I was not sure if I could come for free, but the driver, Farid, a young Malaysian man, told me to jump in and so I grabbed my backpack and jumped in. There were two other guys in the front and the bus was packed with people. I got to sit on the front seat next to Farid, while the other two guys climbed into the sleeping area behind the front seats. They found it really funny to pick up a hitchhiker and so they where taking pictures all the time and Farid started a video call to another bus driver while he was driving. Even though I couldn't understand a word, I could guess that they where talking about how funny it was to pick me up on the side of the road. Hitching a bus is more fun than paying for it because you get to sit in the front with the best view and it is for free. 

The bus stopped at the ferry terminal to Georgetown, from where I took the ferry for 1,20 Ringit (25 cent) to Georgetown. I made it!

Hitchhiking a bus

I have realized that hitchhiking in Malaysia is actually not that different from New Zealand or Australia. It might be not the most popular way to get around, since buses are cheap as well, but there are friendly people in any country and even the language barrier is not a big problem.

Beautiful Georgetown, Penang

Couchsurfing in Singapore

It was hot and humid when Sean and I stepped out of the airplane. The weatherforecast said thunderstorms and rain but instead it was just very tropical and the rain had stopped just before our scoot aircraft finally touched the ground of Singapore. I was fairly tired after the seven hour long flight from Sydney but I was in great company.

I met Sean on the plane, he was sitting next to me. He is an ozzie guy who comes to Thailand and Nepal as often as he can to do volunteer work. At the moment they are building a school in a very small village near Pai in Thailand.
He invited me to come and help, of course I will join the group in March after I finished the muay thai kickboxing camp in Phuket.
His grilfriend also works in Nepal in earthquake regions to help the people rebuilding there life. After exchanging contact details with Sean to make sure I will be able to join the group in Thailand, I went to the bus station to catch a ride from the airport to my couchsurfing host in Singapore. I have done couchsurfing before but it is always very exciting since you never know who the person is and how it will be.
I got very lucky! Charmeh was a great host. She picked me up from the bus station and we had delicious singaporean food with her family. Everybody was really nice to me and I felt very welcomed. After dinner Char took me out into the city to explore a little bit. We were friends from the very beginning and I really enjoy spending time with her! Couchsurfing is such a great thing.

The couchsurfing place

Charmaine and I

Before I came to Singapore I assumed it is just another big city, not worth it spending more than three days there. But I was wrong. Singapore is not just another big city, the vibe and the life in this city is completely different. Coming from New Zealand and Australia, countries full of natural beauty and wildlife, this man made city gave me the feeling I would be travelling into the future. Skyscrapers everywhere, fancy buildings and huge shopping malls with stores of Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Prada. Everything is decorated for the upcoming Chinese New Year colourful and kitschy, just like Asian people love it!
Singapore is not very big. Actually, it is very tiny but still, more than 5 million people are living there and the final aim is 7 million. Since there is not much space, most of the people live in apartment blocks, some of them public some of them private.
Education is a very imprtant thing in the singaporean culture. If you want to be successful, you need to study. This is why parents are happy to send their children overseas to study if they can afford it.

Singapore is also a very multicultural city. In little India you can find Hindu temples, Indian shops and restaurants everywhere and it feels like how I imagine India to be. Not far from little India there is the Arab Street, the ara/muslim centre of Singapore. There are some beautiful Mosques and some pretty unique shops selling Arab fabrics and souverniers. And then there is China Town. Crowded, cheap and full of people, this amazing place has lots to offer. From food to clothes to electronics- everything you need.

Getting ready for Chinese New Year

I spent three nights at Chars place before I headed further to Malaysia. I really loved Singapore and I had some very special experiences.
Somehow it happened that I had to visit a dentist in Singapore. After getting lost multiple times we finally found the right dentist that I had called an hour before. At first I was a little nervous but when I entered the patient room there was a ~60year old woman smiling at me and telling me to take a seat. She was so happy and friendly to me and very concerned if my insurance would cover. After getting my tooth fixed on Singaporean way and $140 less in my pocket I went into the city centre to explore little India.
Little India is full of colour, people and shops. It is possible to get everyhinges there – from indian cuisine to clothes to jewelry and mobile phones. When I was taking a picture of some street art a woman told me about the artwalk festival and invited me to come later and watch the dance show and get a free henna tattoo. Unfortunately Char and I missed the dance show because we went into one of the Hindu temples but we got to make some sand arts and got a free henna tattoo each.

Later in the evening we went to watch the lightshow at the super trees in the Gardens by the Bay. The Gardens are righ next to ther Marina Bay Sands – the most famous building and most expensive hotel in Singapore. I definitely recommend the lightshow, it is really beautiful and it is free. There are always two shows per night, I recommend the second one because it is completely dark by that time and the trees look more magical. The super trees are powered by solar panels which sit on top of the super trees and make it possible to enjoy the lights every night without wasting too much power.
After the lightshow we had dinner and went to the rooftop bar of the Marina Bay Sands. This is what I love about Singapore. Even though everything is very fancy and luxury, it is open for everybody and most of the attractions are for free. Obviously I didn’t have any nice clothes since I am a backpacker and so we went on top of the most luxurious building in Singapore in flip flops – for free. On top we had a very beautiful panoramic view over the whole city.

On my second day in Singapore I went to explore Chinatown. Funny enough, the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore is right in the middle of Chinatown. It is a very crowded and interesting place. It smells like food everywhere and all the shops sell Chinese things. After I visited the second temple, it started pouring down with rain all of a sudden and a thunderstorm was about to turn up – completely normal at this time of the year. Do you know those Chinese tourists in Europe who always wear those funny plastic raincovers? Well, now I was one the weird European tourist with the funny raincoat!

When I was walking through the streets and trying some chinese food, a guy offered me to try a peach jelly sort of thing. I didn't like it and when I told him that he looked at me, shocked about my honesty. I started laughing and offered him some of the pineapple tart cookies which I had just bought. He started laughing and we had some cookies together before I left to go back to little India.
In little India I met a guy from Pakistan who wanted me to take a picture of him. And then he wanted to take a selfie with me. I don't get why so many people want to take selfie with me but why not!
I really loved my stay in Singapore. Especially meeting Char and spending time with her was really fun. She was my best couchsurfing host so far :)

Malaysia and the creepy doctor

Melaka, Malaysia

I am in Melaka at the moment. I don't know how much longer I will stay here and I am not sure where I will go next but that doesn't really worry me, everything will fall into place at the right time - as always.
Melaka is a small town located on the west coast of Malaysia, about half way between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Being an Unesco World Heritage city, Melaka has quite a lot to offer - from Mosques, Temples and Churches over Chinatown and Little India to the Dutch Square and the Portugiese Porta de Santiago. Not to forget all the food places and the night market during the weekends.

The original idea was to hitchhike from Johor Bahru (the first town in Malaysia)  to Melaka and then further to Kuala Lumpur and the Cameron Highlands. I took a bus to Malaysia ($2,50 from Singapore) because it is not allowed to walk across the border.

The border crossing was easy, everybody had to jump out of the bus, walk through the border, get the stamp and jump back in.
“Why you travel alone?” the officer on the border asked me in broken english, he literally couldn’t believe that a girl would travel by herself. He checked twice behind me if there really was nobody with me. “Why don’t bring friend, you don’t have friend?” he joked. I am already used to these questions so I just smiled and got my stamps.

The border to Malaysia

When we arrived in Johor Bahru I couldn't find a good hitchhiking spot so I decided to take the bus to Melaka. The buses are quite comfortable and not crowded at all, they are just slow and noisy ;)

There was a foodcourt where I had some rice and curry which sadly made me feel a little sick afterwards. Of course everybody was surprised that I was by myself and the guy I bought the curry from insisted on taking a selfie with me.

First meal in Malaysia

Selfie time 

Three hours later I was sitting at the bus stop outside of Melaka and I had no idea where to stay and how to get into the city centre. I tried to arrange a couchsurfing spot but I got kicked out of the WiFi all the time so I gave up and tried to find the bus into the city centre.

Suddenly this man came to me holding a flyer of his guest house in his hand and offered me a lift to the city. Usually I would have said no, but I don’t know why, I didn’t have a bad feeling in my gut so I went with him.
He introduced himself as doctor Sunil, he spoke good English but with a strong indian accent and he had lived in London for quite a while. He talked a lot. Nott a bad thing because he explained all the buildings and places in Melaka to me and so I had my first tour through the city.
The guesthouse was a very Malaysian style place, where the toilet and shower is sort of one thing and everything is very basic and a little bit run down. The doctor took me for another ride to the floating mosque and showed me around until his car suddenly broke down. Actually, the car was fine, just no lights and the horn wasn’t working. I didn’t want to be mean and just leave so I waited for him when he tried to fix the car.

The doctor tried to fix the car

I just wanted to be nice since he was driving me around but he thought now I would like him.

He started buying me beers and wanted to show me his “favourite spots” in the city.  We went to the river and sat down right on the opposite site of the Dutch square. He kept talking and talking about his life, how much I would remind him on his German friend, Simone, and he thanked me all the time for keeping him company and what a positive spirit I apparently am. It started to get very annoying and I just wanted to get away from him.

I excused myself to go to the bathroom where I found a beautiful reggae bar. When I told him that I want to sit there and have some beers with the guys, he was really disappointed but tried to hide it. I tried to be as nice as possible because all my stuff was in his guest house and I didn't want to get in trouble.

The reggae bar was amazing, I met five locals and one Dutch guy and we just had a good time together. I was really happy that I took the opportunity to get away from the Indian doctor.

When I came back to the guest house at three in the night, the doctor and another friend were sitting in the kitchen and disscusing life. Malcom, from New Zealand, has been traveling more than a decade and he had met the doctor the night before. I was glad that I wasn't the only one in the guesthouse and so I ended up sitting with them and we had some Indian food and some more beers together.

Everything was fine until I decided to go to sleep. It was already half past five in the morning so Malcom left as well. I had just laid down when someone suddenly knocked on my door.

Knock knock knock "Maria!". Knock knock knock "Maria!" and so on. He wouldn't stop knocking on my door and calling my name. Obviously, it was Sunil, the doctor. I have nerver been more afraid in my life before. With my heart pounding like crazy I was laying in the bed, not able to move and pretending to be asleep. Luckily I had locked my room from the inside so that he could not enter. I was the only person in the guesthouse and I didnt know what to do. After a while, at least five minutes, he gave up. I could still hear him walking around until it was quiet in the house. Still, I was too afraid to fall asleep and so I tried very hard to stay awake. The beers I had didn't make it easier to stay awake.

Suddenly a really loud noise made me sit upright in my bed. After the first shock I realized that it sounded like a waterpump or something similar. And there was it again. The knocking on the door. Annoyed I stood up and opened.

"What do you want?" I tried to hide my fear behind my anger.

"I don't want anything, I just want to apologize" Sunil tried to apologize for something I didn't even realize. Apparently he had ignored me when we were sitting in the kitchen together and now he felt bad.
I made a big mistake when I waited for him as the car broke down. He actually thought he could expect more from me.

Because he wouldn't stop annoying me and tried to discuss with me why he felt sorry, I got really angry and told him he should keep his private life more to himself. Then I locked the door and he left. I still didn't know if he would come back, break the door open or whatever but I guess the fact that I told him I would be a professional muay thai fighter am definitely him stay away from me for the night.
On the next morning I left the guest house and found another hostel where I could stay.

I have learned my lesson now. It was just the cultural diversity and nothing really bad happend. But I will be more careful now and go into official hostels instead of some dodgy private guesthouses...

#itsallpartoftheexperience

The nightmarket

Things to do in Melaka:

The Dutch Square in Melaka - influenced by the Dutch this place in the heart of Melaka is a famous tourist attraction. Every house is coloured in the same red as the Christ Church and the place is always full of people, hawkers and buskers.

Don't miss out on the nightmarket! Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday evening from 6pm the streets in Chinatown fill up with people, and you can get anything you want - from jewelery over shower heads to clothes and of course loads of street food! 

There are loads of bars and cafes n the Riverside, my favourite is Reggae by the River.

There is a Mosque which is half floating on the sea, sunsets at this place are stunning.

How to get around: hire a bike or walking. 

Where to stay: I recommend Victors Guest House for cheap accommodation 

Welcome to my blog! :)

"And at the end of the day,

your feet should be dirty, 

your hair messy 

and your eyes sparkling."

On the way to Ben Lomond summit
 New Zealand

Sometimes I walk around in a city somewhere on this planet and I look at all the people rushing past me and I ask myself how many of all those people are truly happy with their lifes? How many of all those people can appreciate what they have, that they are alive, that they are healthy? And then I look at myself and I ask myself am I happy? Do I appreciate enough, am I grateful enough? Is there a reason for what I am doing or am I just running away from something? 

To be honest, I haven't found an answer yet. Will I ever find the answer?

I know that for me happiness is not being rich, it is not having a stable life and I don't want to be part of a system.

For me, happiness is equal with freedom. When I am on top of a mountain, sweating and exhausted after climbing all the way up - and I look around at all the other Peaks, at the nature, there is no stress, no pressure, just peace - this is the moment when I feel free and when I am happy.

I have learned that freedom does not particularly mean being able to go wherever I want and doing whatever I want. Because it does not matter wherever I go, I always take myself with me. So if I am not free in my mind, if I always worry about what is going to happen next, if I am not able to adjust myself to any situation - then I can never be free. And freedom is what I want.

The Grampians National Park in Victoria, Australia

I have been travelling more than fourteen months now and I am still going. I have walked over a thousand kilometers by foot in two months, I hitchhiked all around New Zealand and parts of Australia and I couchsurfed on strangers couches. I climbed mountains, I jumped off from waterfalls and I got lost many times during hiking trips. Usually I don't really have a plan where to go, I follow my instinct and I do crazy things. :)
This blog is all about my travels around the globe and all the pictures and texts are mine. I hope you will enjoy joining me virtually on my adventures and if you have any questions or recommendations, feel free to leave comments!