🇲🇾 MYS – Malaysia

9. July 2025

So here’s the deal: I was all set to leave at 2 PM, backpack strapped on, ready for my 7 PM flight. Easy, right? Just a smooth little trip.

But then, at 12 PM sharp, out of nowhere, I get a message:

“Your credit cards have been blocked due to suspicious activity.”

Wait, what? Suspicious activity? I’m just a backpacker with a knack for last-minute travel, not a secret agent or a hacker! I didn’t do anything to deserve this.

No warning, no heads-up — just bam, blocked cards.

Imagine me, backpack ready, excitement ready, and then suddenly… no way to pay for anything. No taxi, no snack, no ticket. Nada.

I tried to fix it, of course. Called the bank, explained that I’m not some villain plotting financial chaos, just a regular traveler with a backpack and big dreams. But the hold music was so long, I had time to rethink my entire life.

By 2 PM, my “leave for airport” plan was history.

Now I’m stuck here, forced to extend my stay in Germany, with nothing but my backpack and a weird story about how my own credit cards grounded me.

So here’s the lesson:

If you travel with just a backpack, make sure your cards aren’t going to betray you first — because apparently, even your wallet can decide to go on its own little adventure without you.

Second Try to visit Malaysia

🌃 20th September – Nightlife in Kuala Lumpur

Arrived early morning in KL. First impression: super modern, like a Muslim Thailand. Checked in, napped, explored Chinatown, then night market — one of my favorite activities 🍜 Massage, drinks, and people-watching until 2 am. Surprising how many prostitutes around for a Muslim country.

⸻

🏙 21st September – To Georgetown

Morning: rented a scooter to see the Petronas Towers. Afternoon: 5h bus + ferry to Penang. Arrived late, self check-in. Almost everything closed — very different vibe than KL.

⸻

🤕 22nd September – Head Injury in Penang

Banged my head badly on a low ceiling in the hostel. Huge bump, headache. Switched hotels right away. Evening street market = disappointing. Later, sudden fever and body aches — I suspected tonsillitis.

⸻

✈️ 23rd September – Shortcut to Langkawi

Too sick for a 6h bus, so we flew to Langkawi instead. Only 20 minutes in the air ✈️ (sorry environment 🌍). Gorgeous hotel, rented a scooter, went to the beach. Fire show was cool but super dangerous with all the gasoline flying around, in our eyes burned as hell 🔥— escaped quickly. Fever still strong.

⸻

🤒 24th September – Doctor Time

Couldn’t eat or drink, throat pain unbearable. Went to a doctor — he looked shocked at my tonsils 🤧 Got antibiotics. Jean also had a mild case, so meds for him too. In the evening, crazy scene: a drunk Russian woman lay behind a car because the hotel owner refused to buy her beer. Police came, laughed, took selfies with us, and even followed us on Instagram.

⸻

🏨 25th September – Hotel Change & Broken Scooter

Our hotel was full, so we had to move. I felt a bit better, Jean still sick. Tried booking flights home — price jumped by 400€ while we were booking 😩 Instead, we booked flights to Phuket, then to Amsterdam. Later that day, our scooter tire broke in half. Called the rental and returned it. Early night.

⸻

🐟 26th September – Phuket Seafood & Bangla Road

Jean’s highlight: Patong fish market. You pick your seafood, chefs cook it upstairs. Delicious 🦐 Afterwards, nightlife on Bangla Road — strip show included, awkward but funny 😅

⸻