THE HAIRY GIRAFFE… IN MALAYSIA
After one week in Malaysia, it’s time to reflect. How did we experience this journey? What were our joys, disappointments, questions, doubts, and discoveries? This is not merely an assessment of a country but rather of a trip—how we perceived it individually and subjectively.
 We are François and Benjamin, Canadian and French giraffe hairstylists and travel enthusiasts. On this blog, discover our travels, tips, moods, and everything you need to become a giraffe hairstylist and embark on travelling the world. An honest blog with photos guaranteed 100% unfiltered and untouched. |
François’ Travel Reflections
The tenth destination of our world tour, Malaysia was not initially part of the plan. The destination was primarily added because we were passing through the area. Malaysia is very far from France. Additionally, since we had the impression that there wasn’t much to do there, we thought we would probably never come here deliberately. A world tour that largely takes place in Asia was therefore an opportunity to pass through Malaysia, especially since it lies between Singapore and Indonesia, destinations already planned for a long time. So, we arrived in Malaysia without any particular expectations. After a week spent between Borneo and the capital, it’s time to assess our experience. This may not be an easy task.
It’s not easy, not because I don’t know what to say, as happened after our departure from Taiwan, but because I feel like I visited two completely different countries from each other.
The Peninsular Malaysia, the part of the country sandwiched between Thailand and Singapore and which includes Kuala Lumpur, has little in common with East Malaysia, which includes Borneo.
Let’s say it straight away, Kuala Lumpur is a city of no interest. It’s an eastern capital trying to be modern in a western way. With its skyscrapers, luxury boutiques, and shopping malls, the Malaysian capital attempts to rival New York. However, it still has a long way to go. Once you leave the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC), tourists find themselves in an ugly and noisy city. Not very pleasant at all.
The KLCC itself doesn’t hold much interest. Once you’ve snapped a photo of the famous Petronas Towers, there isn’t much else to do but wander aimlessly under the scorching sun. We often found ourselves heading back to the hotel rather quickly. Surprisingly, we preferred spending most of our time lounging by the pool or simply reading in bed. Binge-watching episodes of Friends on Netflix proved far more engaging than walking the streets of Kuala Lumpur.
It’s quite a statement if we had a better time in Brasilia than in Kuala Lumpur. After all, Brasilia is known for having absolutely nothing to do… which says a lot!
It must be said that the atmosphere in Kuala Lumpur isn’t necessarily the most memorable. The locals there are cold and distant. It’s as if they barely notice us when serving in restaurants, hotels, or shops. People seem indifferent and the slightest request appears to bother them immensely. I don’t recall seeing a single smile. All of this gives the impression that they couldn’t care less about us. It’s a very unpleasant feeling and probably not the best way to make the country welcoming.
That’s the capital. Fortunately, there’s Borneo to save the Malaysian experience.
Arriving in Kuching can be surprising. At times, the city feels more modern than Kuala Lumpur. Smiles are common, and religion is much less prevalent. You can sense that the residents are much cooler and relaxed. It feels like a completely different country. It’s more traditional (not in a conservative sense), cultural, and authentic.
It becomes clear quite quickly that it will be very enjoyable and that we will feel good there. It’s also difficult to remain indifferent to the fauna and flora of Borneo. Admiring proboscis monkeys and orangutans in their natural habitat is a rare and extraordinary experience. Just like seeing pandas in Chengdu or cheetahs in Namibia, we live a timeless moment watching these magnificent animals. We take genuine pleasure in observing them live their lives. We even forget about the heat and humidity and feel sad when it’s time to leave them behind.
Is Malaysia worth visiting?
It’s best to avoid the Malay Peninsula. It’s far from Europe and America, and it’s really not worth it. However, it seems that the islands offer beautiful beaches. We will never know because we won’t be returning there.
However, Sarawak and Borneo are worth the trip. With great apes, carnivorous plants, genuinely kind people, and a true indigenous culture, there are so many reasons in favor of the island. I have absolutely no reason to return to Kuala Lumpur. However, I’m almost already looking forward to exploring the rest of the island of Borneo and discovering even more secrets.
Check out Benjamin’s Travel Reflections:
Find all our other articles on Malaysia:
