Discovering Malaysia

2012 was indeed a lucky year for me because of overflowing blessings like having the chance to work abroad and assigned on a Milk Powder Plant in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. I already knew about the overseas project late 2011 since I am also in-charge with the papers of all our personnel who will be assigned in MY and much to my excitement, I immediately search, plan and draft an itinerary of what to visit in Malaysia which I afterwards hashed out with Hon who’s in Malaysia as well.

I flew to Kuala Lumpur via Malaysia Airlines together with my father’s personal assistant and 2 additional employees.  It was my first time to leave home, to leave my beloved Philippines and the feeling was so unusual. I felt a bit of sadness, thoughts keep running through my mind and I suddenly uttered “Ganito pala ang feeling ng mga OFW, ngayon alam ko na.” (Now I know how Overseas Filipino workers feel when they leave their family and their homeland) But after a while my sadness turns into excitement knowing that I’m so blessed having this opportunity to explore other countries in Asia and I’m so grateful to God for everything.

Flight duration from Manila to Malaysia is 3 hours. There are 2 international airports in Malaysia namely: Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and KL Low Cost Carrier terminal (LCCT) where budget airlines like Cebu Pacific flies. We landed at KLIA and amazed by how good and spacious their airport is. After having a quick lunch we move ahead to Station Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) at Bandar Tasik Selatan where buses travel from KL to JB and vice versa. It took us 5 hours to reach Larkin Terminal hub in Johor Bahru and another hour for a taxi ride to our apartment.

For my months of stay in Malaysia, I learned some of their basic words and greetings like,

Selamat Pagi – Good morning

Selamat Datang – Welcome

Terima Kasih – Thank you

Pasukan – Entrance

Bawang Puti h – Garlic

Bawang Merah – Onion

Makan – Eat

Minuman – Drink

Ayam – Chicken

I also learned about their culture and of course their food.  During wee hours, I just stay inside our apartment because of the curry smell circulating from time to time all over the compound, but after several weeks I already got used to it. Most of the time we ate fish, chicken, beef and vegetables because pork isn't available in the market and it is prohibited to Muslim countries. Most Malaysians have strong resemblance to Filipinos and at times you will see women wearing head scarf called “hajib” which symbolizes their religious devotion. One more thing noticeable with people of Malaysia is nobody points with their index finger because it is considered really rude; they are using thumbs and knuckles for pointing instead.

Here are some other discoveries I saw in Malaysia:

  

Malaysian Cuisine

Our project location

Roti - Bread with some filling

PTP Apartment view on the road

KFC Malaysia always serves 2 dipping sauce Catsup and Chili

KFC MAlaysia

Their Cheesy Potato Wedges - Sooo Yummy

Port Tanjung Pelepas

Fruits

Roti Canai - Spreading condensed milk

Roti Canai - Malaysian Breakfast comes with curry or sweet milk

Bittermerlon 

ABC - Air Batu Campur or Ice Kakang (Halo-Halo version)

Fish and Chips - delectable

Mi Goreng my ultimate favorite product from Malaysia

PTP Apartment where we stay for months

Facilities inside the 2 bedroom/2 bathroom/2 shower room apartment

Just like a bliss apartment

Malaysia Tours

My food from Malaysian Airlines - noodles with chicken curry

Malaysian Airline free snack

Double bus Kuala Lumpur

Convenient store inside PTP Apartment

Buffet style food in the streets of Kuala Lumpur

Fish ball soup

Currencies

Business Center in PTP

Chicken Masala Pizza hut Malaysia

Our dried mangoes in a gondola of Malaysian mall

Pig's blood

Kuya Joseph - a Filipino seller we've met in a Filipino owned stall

Buko Pandan Stall - buko juice with taste of Pandan & locals love it. 

Just like Greenbelt of the Philippines (signatured stuffs)

So yummy baby octopus

Bukit Indah - a mall in Johor Bahru

Malaysia is really a beautiful country with fascinating rich culture and I am so grateful I’d be able to visit this renowned country. I am truly hoping that I can visit this country again together with Singapore with my dearest friends because I want them to experience what we have encountered in this beautiful country; Malaysia Truly Asia.