I don’t want to talk KL down. It’s a nice city and the people I met were warm and friendly. The hotels were decent, the food was good.
But it’s a city. People are busy. There’s a hustle and bustle associated with any city.
My vehicle took longer to arrive than planned. It was great to head to London, and to do the yoga retreat. That said, each time I flew required hubbing through Singapore, long transits and busy aircraft. It is never easy. We all know how wonderful it sounds to say I hopped on a flight to Koh Samui… We all know the frustration, boredom and exhaustion that you need to deal with when you fly.
KL was never easy for me. I was on my own all the time, but was always happy and positive. No bad experiences or troughs. I stayed in hotels that averaged A$40/night. These rooms were fine, decent and clean, with mostly hot water. But they were tiny and they had no windows. I stayed in non-touristy parts of town, so English speakers were rare, the food was an experience (mostly good) but no one made a good coffee.
I am making it sound bad – It wasn’t. At all. That said, I was itching, desperate, to get my truck and get out of there.
I’d been in Indonesia and Malaysia for 8 months. They are effectively the same country. Now, your average Malaysian may take exception to the broad statement. Indonesia is a little ‘second world’, while Malaysia is modern, clean, safe and wonderful.
But I was done. I needed to get out – I needed a change, really badly.
So change I did. I picked up the truck on Monday morning and drove 5 hours north to Ipoh. I booked the vehicle in for a service – I’d done 10,000km since Darwin (18,000 since Sydney). One of the joys of Toyota is they are absolutely the same where ever you go. And they are everywhere. I gave them the truck with absolute confidence they’d do as good a job as Mosman Toyota. They did, and it cost maybe 70% less.
The truck was ready around midday and I made a dash for the border – maybe another 4 hours drive north.
Now to explain, taking a vehicle into another country is a long, arduous and difficult process. I understand what’s enquired now. But overlanders like me are rare, so finding a customs official (and I need two, one for each country) to understand the process and the paperwork, and to complete it correctly, is never a certainty. I struck gold this time, with both the Malaysian and Thai officials on the ball. As well as their efficiency, they were friendly, funny, curious and really, really nice. As I left the Thai border, two pf them came out and waved my goodbye. So sweet. The whole thing took 90 minute which is a new PB for me.
And suddenly I was in Thailand. No more 4am wake-ups from the mosque next door. I had a steak last night. Alcohol is normal (large parts of Indonesia and Malaysia have zero alcohol). It felt soft, nice, calm, spiritual – that Buddhist thing is so, so wonderful. I’d done 8 tough months – and now I can change gears and unwind. I have a visa for China that requires me to enter that country on 7 May. Until then I have 5 months now just to relax. Do not too much. I’ll drift through Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. No stress. No long drives. No serious stuff to deal with.
And I will be with some of nicest people ever. Life will be very good.
One last takeaway for you. I crossed into Thailand yesterday. As I drove away from the border I felt this incredible sense of euphoria. Huge!!!! Was I just so happy to be out of Malaysia?? After a bit I worked it out. Another country. And reinforcement for me that I can do this overland thing. I am doing this overland thing. I will do this overland thing. I f***ing will!!!
That gave me a great, great sense of satisfaction. I felt good. Instead of failing, of feeling like a failure, my constant companion for many years, I felt a success. I felt confident. Secure in me, and in what I was doing.
I’ve been living in the dark for so long. My mood dark, but also I was hiding. Hiding from people, hiding from challenge, scared that whatever happened, if I put my head up, I’d fail.
Now it’s like the sun has entered my life – that strong light as the sun rises from the ocean. That’s how I feel now. And, if I add some natural Miles optimism, the sun has just come up – it will be around in my life for long time yet.