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Of amazing encounters while traveling I have had many, but never as many as in one day in Malaysia that I call a trip to Kuala Lumpur. In general among the good things about solo travel is just that, at least until a few years ago and at least in Asia.
But it really is a small world if, as soon as you arrive and for the first time in your life in Kuala Lumpur, you are realizing how different the piece of the world is where you were just 12 hours earlier and outside the subway someone is calling your name.
This article is the beginning of those about my trip to Australia and Malaysia, although it was actually at the end of the trip. It’s a complicated choice to explain, blame the algorithm anyway!
Tactical stopovers at tactical airports
The first time in Malaysia, but I will come back, lasted a very short time. It was at the stopover when I came back from Australia in July 2016.
I like to fly, but somewhat as in all things I am a stew. To spend a whole day on a tin box in the clouds, I didn’t feel like it.
Also, by making stopovers and with flights on paper inconvenient, I really saved a lot. I spent at the time 700 euros. While a colleague of mine, who went to an agency, spent 2,500 for a son to experience life in Australia.
Both outward and return I flew, stopping over at Emirates, with a scheduled airline, to Malaysia. From there, on the outbound to Sydney and on the return from Melbourne, I flew with an Asian low-cost carrier. On the outbound I had just enough time to get from one airport to another, but it was useful for a change of air and to stretch my legs. On the return, however, I spent an intense 24 hours in Kuala Lumpur.
From the series surprising encounters on the road: the healthy one
The Malaysian capital is a chaotic metropolis like all Asian cities and always quite hot and humid being practically on the equator. It was a remarkable jolt from the cool Australian tranquility.
My phone also had a shock and I was insulting it because it wouldn’t turn on. I was on the stairs, at the exit of the metro station near my hostel, when from behind I heard Fabio calling.
At first I thought it curious that there were two Fabio’s in the midst of that multitude of Asians (my hostel, of course, was a bit outside the more touristy center). A hand on my shoulder revealed that there was probably only me of Fabio’s. Sure enough, the voice with slight Milanese accent was addressed to me.
She was my friend from Milan whom I had met the previous year in Bangkok, who was still touring Asia and who, in addition to also being in Kuala Lumpur those days, was also sleeping in the same hostel as me! To me, this was a sign of who knows what astral conjuncture; instead, we just made a lot of small talk about Asia and travel, well into the night.
This is the article in which I recount our first meeting: Solo trip to Thailand and the solo
Trip to Kuala Lumpur intense, but must return
The next day I saw the most famous places in the city, which is a mix of hyper-modern buildings to other English colonials. I was struck by the fact that there were long corridors or basements connecting many of the main places, all of which were air-conditioned. Symbolic of the city are the Petronas Towers, where a movie starring Sean Connery and Caterina Zeta Jones was set.
Certainly Malaysia is one of those places where I need to go back and learn more.
From the series surprising encounters on the road: the unhealthy one
Disappointed that I had not met Caterine Zeta, in the subway I felt myself being scrutinized by a Malaysian girl: young, slim but pretty. Her gaze went from shy to bold; evidently I had made an impression. As we exited the train she dismissed the friend who was with her, and after a few pleasantries asked if I wanted to see the more authentic, non-touristy part of the city, I followed her.
After a few subway stops we came out into a poor and unkempt suburban neighborhood. Among the modest houses there were also a few tin hovels. We walked into one; at the entrance was a guy lying on a couch, moaning. I asked my friend who he was and if he was sick.
He is my brother, don’t worry he is dying.
He unceremoniously took me to the bedroom, where I discovered, however, that it was a boy.
I walked away undecided whether to recriminate about the lost time of the little I had before the return flight, or simply to laugh in delight at my encounter. On the very occasion of this trip to Kuala Lumpur I realized that sooner or later all these things that happen to me would have to be written down.
Next stop (Australia) Visiting Sydney where you get fake married
Trips taken, travel stories divided by continent
Countries visited in my travel stories
Anecdotes, divided by type in travel narratives
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