The chance of going on a solo trip has always crossed my mind since a lot of my travel friends have already done it and have recommended that it is a liberating experience. Some even said that they don’t see me as a solo traveler and it only fueled me more to take a stab at it. The crazy-stupid-beautiful thing about it is why I had to choose to do it in a foreign land!
By now my friends already know about what happened to my lonesome adventure in Malaysia. Those following me on Twitter witnessed my complaints and rants about how I got lost in the streets of Kuala Lumpur and Melaka, but very few only know the true story. But be informed that this is not a diss to Malaysia but an account on my inability to ask for directions and failure to read a map properly.
So how many times did I go astray?
1. KL SENTRAL STATION
I was never the type to ask for directions because pride insists that I can find things on my own. Upon entering the station, I was dumbfounded at how many connecting trains and ticket counters were there. I searched the level looking around for signs directing me to the KMT Komuter but found none. In the end, I gave in and asked someone who directed me exactly where I need to go… one floor down.
TIME LOST: 10 minutes
2. SENTUL STATION
On my way to the Batu Caves, I got off at the wrong station. I was so shunga for going down at Sentul station instead of Batu Caves. I figured that I was probably still in a morning haze, so I just went back and waited for the next train.
TIME LOST: 20 minutes
3. HANG TUAH
We were supposed to be back at the hotel by 10:30 am because a shuttle will pick us up for a meeting with Chartis. By 10:35, I just hopped on a cab, knowing that I am already late and by the time I arrived everyone was already gone. I looked at the map given to us but it had no directions on how to get to there. With my laptop and a city map of KL, and with the help of Google Maps, I figured out how to get to Sri Petaling without taking a cab.
I arrived in Hang Tuah station but couldn’t figure out where to go as all lifts seem to be going back to city proper. Afraid to ask for help from locals, I just decided to walk out and try to catch a cab. I don’t know what happened, but I just found myself walking aimlessly around unfamiliar streets and no cabs seem to be passing by.
Luckily, I saw this commercial building and decided to wait for a cab there. I never made it to the meeting.
TIME LOST: 2 hours
4. PETALING ST.
See, Chinatown has always been a tricky place as it’s packed with sidewalk vendors, tourists, locals, etc. It confuses you. Binondo is even much harder to navigate than Petaling Street since the latter is only made up of 2 intersecting streets. My problem was which exit to take to get to Sze Ya Temple? In the end, I decided to just have lunch and move on to the next destination.
TIME LOST: 1 hour
5. HANG TUAH PART 2
Aaaaand we’re back in Hang Tuah station. This time around, someone informed me that there were stairs going down to where I needed to go. It has already been a tiring afternoon of walking around to see the tourist spots of KL and I was now on my way to Melaka. Even though I didn’t get physically lost, I was already at wits end mentally and emotionally. Full story on a separate post (Yes, it deserved its own entry.)
TIME LOST: 40 minutes
6. BANDAR TALIK SELATAN
So I figured that I needed to get to this station first in order to reach Terminal Bersepadu Selatan, bus station for Melaka. After alighting from the train, I kept walking until I reached an alley along an endless construction site. This seems weird, I thought. Wasn’t I supposed to be heading for a major bus station? I’ve been walking for 10 minutes and all I could see were half-finished buildings.
After climbing some steps to an overpass, I decided to look back and there it was. A big sign that said ‘Terminal Bersepadu Selatan’ was on a building at the opposite end of where I was. It felt really good to realize that I had to go all the way back.
TIME LOST: 30 minutes
7. MELAKA (Night)
Isn’t it amazing how I managed to get myself lost during my first day in Malaysia? But apparently, the day wasn’t over. When I arrived in Melaka, I got lost at the bus station again. And that’s not all! When I finally reached the famous Jonker Street, it took me another hour just looking for a guesthouse. Apparently, the guesthouse was located far from Jonker and I was going back and forth Jalan Temengong several times because their signage was soooo hard to spot!
TIME LOST: 2 hours
8. MELAKA (Morning)
I had high hopes in the morning despite the burning hot sun piercing through my epidermis. Then I realized I took a wrong turn after the heritage trail and I was walking aimlessly again, unable to identify my location since I had no map of Melaka. After trying to figure out where I was, I decided to take a trishaw back to the hostel.
TIME LOST: 30 minutes
9. KEPONG
Kepong is a town north of KL and is mostly a Chinese community. Our reason for going here is to check out the Forest Research Institute and its many nature trails. Oh, and I was no longer traveling alone that time, but that didn’t stop us from losing our way and taking an hour’s worth wandering and looking for a cab.
10. FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE OF MALAYSIA
It wasn’t enough that I got lost in the urban jungles of Kuala Lumpur, in FRIM we became literally lost in a forest jungle on our way back from the canopy walk! We came down through an unfamiliar trail where we had to go past slippery boulders, spiderwebs, and uprooted plants. At one point, I imagined that 2 bodies of Filipinos were to be found deep in the forest the following day. If it weren’t for a Hindu family who came from the opposite direction, we would’ve gone to where the wild things are.
TIME LOST: 30 minutes (but seemed like forever)
FINDING ONE’S WAY
This experience has discouraged me about solo backpacking. From the looks of it, I may not be cut for solo traveling after all. But my doors are not entirely closed to the idea. At least now I can finally say that I have done it… and that I can do it again. =)
One thing’s certain, as I have come to accept, that when you can’t seem to find your way, there’s nothing wrong with asking for some direction.
Much love to Airphil Express (which now has Manila to Kuala Lumpur flights three times a week) for making this trip possible together with the Malaysian Tourism Board and Travel Guard Chartis for our travel insurance.
42 REPLIES
Infer, damang-dama ko ang pagod mo sa entry.
Malaysia’s off your list. Now, where to? :)
Actually, I still plan on going back. It was my first time in a foreign country and I have learned a lot of things. There’s still so many places to explore there and I actually want to return to Melaka. =)
Haggard lang talaga. Hahaha.
I love Melaka!!! :) Actually I got lost as well in the streets of Melaka and KL, I have a companion though so we had fun :)
Yeah! Getting lost with a companion would’ve been a lot of fun!
Getting lost all by yourself… scary.
It’s not really fun to get lost esp if you are alone! :) Hopefully you did still enjoy your trip in KL and Melaka. :)
I did! In a different way. Experiences don’t always have to be fun for one to enjoy it. This was, overall, still a great trip since I was able to test my limits and how I would go about when my travel buddies are not with me.
Took down some notes. Next time I go solo, I’ll be better at it. =)
Mukhang nakakapagod nga nangyari syo dyan sa KL pero at least next time alam mo na gagawin. Sabi nga ni JRR Tolkien “Not all those who wander are lost”.:p
Yehey! finally nakapagsolo travel ka na!
Di ba life-changing ang solo traveling!?haha
SUPER.
love love love the top photo (you on the train) ang cinematic! :)
Pag babalik ka sa Melaka, sasama na ko para may mga levitating pictures ka. Hahaha
Wooooo! Sige ba! Gusto ko talagang puntahan ulit. Madaming wafu sa Jonker St! Hahaha.
The good thing about getting lost is you get to experience and see so many new things. In a way, you know Malaysia so much better now :)
And yes, at least you can say that you’ve already given solo backpacking a try. That deserves a pat on the back and a big serving of matcha <3
YES! At least I know how to get around Malaysia now. It’ll be easier when I go back. =)
Matchaaaaaaaaaa!
Never should your experience be a lost but an enriching expeiprience to understand life in a foreign land Robbie! I was lost also once in KL when I took the different train but I made it my way though lost precious hours.
Cheer up for the first solo trip overseas!
Nasayangan lang ako sa hours spent getting lost. I could’ve spent it enjoying more places pa. Hahaha.
It was enriching! Kinda like a test run of my soon-tob-be solo backpacking trip. Hahaha. Thanks Doc!
ahihi. ang sarap maligaw.. isa yan sa pinaka-kinakatuwang experience ko kapag nag-sosolo travel :)
Sige ikaw na lang. Wahahaha!
Ang haggard lang kasi nasa ibang bansa… may communication issues. Lol.
ang saya pa rin naman ng mis-adventures mo sa Malayasia…siguro when your in the moment na nawawala nakakainis pero pag binasa mo na to ulit nakakatuwa na!
yahoo! baptism of fire…come november isang malaking solo trip na yan! ahahahha
Congrats!
Yes it was. I’m really happy I got to experience solo travel kahit saglit lang. It really is an entirely different thing. Now, I’m thankful for it kahit na nung mismong nawawala na ako ay ang haggard haggard ko na. Hahaha.
Rob, Penang is known in Malaysia for best food trip, and I wanna see you too in Langkawi, their known beach spot for tourists.
I’ll make sure to visit Penang next time! Are you in Langkawi? If so, I’ll be glad to meet you there if I pass by. :D
hehehe…..that’s the exciting part of traveling alone…. masarap namnamin yung sense of achievement na nakarating ka sa pupuntahan mo….. good job robx!
Exciting, yes. Haggard, YES. Pak na pak. Hahaha. Thanks guys! Ayan mag nae-encourage na ulit ako ituloy ang solo backpacking trip! :D
i can relate much – the fear, stress and lost of precious time by getting lost in a foreign country – when i got lost from London on my way to Hull (England). but i assure you Robbie your next attempt will be so much appreciated if you apply the lessons learned (i.e. ask for directions), like how i loved commuting solo in Singapore very recently.if i don’t know, i ask!
Would be flying to Malaysia soon. Any food stops you could recommend?
Sounds familiar ang quote na yan!
It’s a full 360! Hahaha.
Sabi nga nila its the journey not the arrival that matters! at least pagbalik mo d2.. kabisado mo na! :)
At naloka tlga aq sa Frim may mga batis2 na tau dinaanan buti sumigaw ka ng malakas na HELLO lumabas si kuya!!
Would love to travel with you again Robx!!!
I knowwwwwww! Nakakaloka bigla na lang tayo napadaan sa mga batis! Hahaha. Bakit nga ba natin pinuntahan yung FRIM?!?! Hahaha!
Pagbalik ko Malaysia ulit! :D
I remember nung nag-’reunite’ tayo then kinukwento mo pa lang yung after Batu Caves, napapagod na ako char.
Kidding aside, I am proud of you and like what you said in one of our conversations, solo traveling is not ‘fun’ compared to our past group trips, but it is ‘nice’. Solo mode ako today dito sa Tacloban hehe I am still pushing you to go to Thailand!!! <3
and yes, do not stick to your very tight itinerary much. Just keep in mind the destinations na priority mo talaga to see. I love you pa rin woot :D
One of the biggest lessons I learned.
It’s a different experience talaga. It wasn’t as fun as my previous trips where I’m with my friends kasi walang tawanan, asaran, etc. But in it’s own way it was very enlightening and a lot of things can be learned.
Syaks naman. Hassle nga. Good thing you made it back safe and sound. Is it the type of thrill na natutuwa at kinakabahan ka at the same time na napapawiwi ka? I hate that feeling, pero I love it at the same time.
Galingan mo ulit sa future travels. :D
panalo ang first solo trip mo rob! hahaa
wow what an experience robbie! you may have learned a lesson but trulaloo in a hard way. i know this won’t deter you from doing it again. :P
never ever rely on the signage here in Malaysia, especially the road signs. maliligaw ka talaga. and the entry #6, it should be Tasik Selatan. ^__^
Thanks for the tip! Even the map confused me a little. Hahaha. :D
Welcome to my world Rob! I get lost a lot. Especially in Makati and Manilai. Hehe!
handaming beses ka pala naligaws. pero part yun ng adventure mo, k lang yuns.