Malaysia Caught Me Off Guard

I wasn’t expecting much from the airport in Malaysia. I’d had a layover there before, on my way back to Phuket after six months in Sri Lanka, and I figured it would be a place to wait for my connection. Then I looked up. It’s a stunner, similar to Jewel in Singapore, which makes sense given how close the two are.

So when I went back this time, I booked two nights at the St. Regis, which is consistently one of my favorite hotels.

At the airport, I heard someone speaking English, and he sounded American. After months of not talking to an American, my ear tuned in fast. He was asking for help. I introduced myself, and he told me the ATM had swallowed his debit card. He called his bank, and once they heard what happened, they canceled it. That account was also linked to his Apple Pay, so he had basically no way to pay for anything until his family in California woke up.

His name was Brett, and he was on a visa run from Bali. We came up with a plan. His mom would Venmo me the money, and I’d pull it out of the ATM for him. She could also book him a hotel room over the phone or online. I realize “send money to the guy at the airport” isn’t what most mothers want to hear, so I’m glad it worked.

We spent pretty much the whole day together getting it sorted, and somewhere along the way it turned into just hanging out. It was fun to have someone to talk to and explore with. We had dinner at a great spot within walking distance of the St. Regis.

That set the tone for the whole trip. Every person I met was warm and kind. Malaysia is a Muslim nation, and some of the customs aren’t what I’m used to. I found it fascinating.

I’d also gone with a mission. A friend from Kuwait introduced me to a cologne I love, and I haven’t been able to find it anywhere in Thailand. My research said Malaysia was my best shot, so I went looking in Little Arabia. I didn’t find it. I did spend the day smelling every fragrance in sight and eating at a local restaurant, and I’d call it a good trade.

The metro is spotless. The city is impressive. I usually explore islands and beach towns, so wandering around a big unfamiliar city felt different, and it reminded me of when my mom took our family to Boston to do Christmas shopping when I was a kid. There was just a certain excitement in the air.

It’s a quick trip from Phuket, though the culture feels a world away. I only had two nights and could have happily used more. But part of being a digital nomad is balancing the fun with the work. My friend Holly Wilmoth likes to say you have to work for the dream to work. She’s right, even when it means leaving a city I wasn’t done with.