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Malaysia. A hidden jewel in SE Asia’s crown. The most striking element for me was the people who are phenomenally kind hearted and warm spirited. Wherever we went and no matter where we turned people seemed willing to help us even without us asking, I particularly look back at two occassions where I shunned help thinking we were merely going to be harassed whereas in fact people saw we needed help and came to our aid. One time when we boarded the wrong bus and another time late at night when a guy helped us out by giving us directions to a hostel (I the doubter I was thought he was going to hurt us but no he really was just trying to help.) Coming from a society where mediatisation makes you doubt the goodness in humanity and causes you to close yourself in, the Malay openness and warmth comes as a breath of fresh air. Even when we were off the beaten tourist track and hadn’t seen any other travellers for a few days, we did not feel threatened, intimidated or alone, such is the wonderfulness of Malay nature. For this reason alone Malaysia is well worth a visit.

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