Two Cents: A Tourist in My Own Country

Write up by Sir Cheapskate.

I have this conflict when it comes to acknowledging the places I go as travel destinations, especially when it comes to places within the country.

Why is it that many people would only consider they are “traveling” when they go outside their country? I have the same issue.

There world is too vast to visit yet we are too excited to see all and even have our counter for countries visited. However, not everyone can say that they have traveled far and wide within their own country.

The Realisation

I once read that if you want to travel the world, better start traveling your own. Go local and find out what you are made of.

I was born and raised in Kuala Lumpur, this is my home. This city is rapidly changing and getting packed by the day while balancing the modernity versus traditional culture agenda.

Upon returning from UK and visiting European cities, I aim to explore my own region. I want to be a tourist in my own country.

Kuala Lumpur

Don’t get me wrong, visiting other countries is really fun to do and challenging especially with the different settings of culture, history and geography. However, there will be moments in which you just can’t relate with what you are seeing or experiencing other than just being an outsider looking in.

Rethinking and Relearning

Traveling within your own country gives the chance for you to see your own routine carried out in different perspectives.

Sekinchan, Selangor

This is how you rethink and relearn your way of doing things in very subtle difference. You will stop and think, “I didn’t realise a slight difference in latitude would affect how my fellow countrymen enjoy their Nasi Lemak!”

Repositioning Your Center

I didn’t get the chance to set foot in East Malaysia until I was 27! Although I was already aware of the language difference, I didn’t expect that some other things are done quite differently.

Jonker Walk, Melaka

I’m referring to how Malay weddings are held as early as 9.00am and ended by 11.30am in Sarawak as compared to starting at noon in Peninsular Malaysia.

Who knows that just the simple difference could teach me that there isn’t just one truth and that centers are just for reference. Too deep?

You can’t just walk into a different place bringing your own rules and regulations on how things should be done.

Think Bruce Lee; “Be like water!” Take the shape of the container you are in.

Cherating, Pahang

Reinterpreting Words Force

Conversations reveal a lot about the subtle difference between fellow countrymen of different regions. Opt for GrabCar (Southeast Asia’s version of Uber) and you will notice.

Although the topic between Grab drivers in KL and Penang might be the same (about the shitty traffic and our shady politics), the way we talk is at different magnitude.

Melaka Riverside

In Malacca, where my parents are from, people talk a bit harsh and this is not referring to dialects. Some curse words might get in there but all in all, you will understand that this is just how people here see other people - as close friends.

You notice how harsh, rough and unfiltered your words are to your closest friends? Same thing applies here.

If you find yourselves harshly addressed by locals in Malacca, that means that you are already family! Talking about tough love.

Dialects Dilemma

Basically since Kuala Lumpur is the country’s capital, everybody knows how KLites speak. Little do they know that as someone living in KL, I constantly have a dilemma when it comes to conversing with people of different dialects when I’m traveling.

Geographer's Cafe, Jonker Street, Melaka

I find that speaking a different language such as Chinese Mandarin when I was in China and Spanish/Italian when I was in Spain (can you tell that I’m trying to brag here?) to be much less stressful because:

1. They already know that I’m a foreigner, even if I fucked up their language.

2. When they can’t speak English, I have no other choice than just to make it work!

Dialects, however is tricky because:

1. They can speak in and perfectly understand KL style.

2. I fear of being seen as disrespectful if I don’t try to speak in the local dialect.

3. Not sounding authentic enough is a joke.

4. I have this nature of easily adapting to local dialect but end up very cringy for everyone including myself.

That’s all for now.

-Sir Cheapskate