In an attempt to move the Dark Fairy Circus to less overheated conditions, the troupe of one decide to leave Vietnam and go to Malaysia. In terms of temperatures it proved to be a good choice as the weather was much more bearable. I slept without AC for the first time in weeks; happy days. When still in sweaty Vietnam, I had come across a funky co-working/ co-living space in the suburbs of Kuala Lumpur and I had booked myself a two-week residency.
Kuala Lumpur; Don’t Come to Close
Arriving in Malaysia I was hit by an advanced degree of civilisation compared to other countries in the region I had visited. The airport appears organised and outside, cars look fancy and the roads are well-maintained. The drivers of those fancy cars pay a fair amount of toll for those well-maintained roads. The airport is located about 45 km from the country’s capital Kuala Lumpur and when you approach the city, it looks glitzy and exciting from afar. Once in KL, the city feels rather distant and impersonal, almost intimidating, especially during the day, when there are no bright lights to dazzle you. The road network within the city, consisting of six and eight-lane motorways, is quite dense which makes KL rather unattractive for those who prefer exploring on foot. It’s very much a city of commerce and enterprise. Life doesn’t seem to happen on the streets- with exception of China Town perhaps- but in in-door areas such as malls, or spaces that are a collection of offices, eateries and shops. What is great about KL is that food is plentiful, of great quality and very affordable and people are absolutely wonderful.
Multi-Ethnic Wonder
Malaysia is an ethnically diverse country. The majority consist of Malay, who are Muslim, and Islam is the official state religion. A bit less than a quarter of the population is ethnic Chinese, and about eight percent is from Indian decent. This diversity is not only reflected in the people, but also the food on offer and the many religions practiced in the country. In addition to Muslims, you find Buddhist, Hindus, Christians and people practicing folk religions.
Connecting with like-minded peeps
After about five days in central Kuala Lumpur, I was happy to move to the suburbs to reside in a wonderful co-working/ co-living space called The Hatchery Place. The Hatchery Place, or THP for insiders, is located in a residential area in Subang Jaya and run by an absolutely amazing couple. This couple, Kevin and Elaine, had their experience of corporate prisonhood, doing very well to conventional standards. However, they are craftspeople and artists at heart and after several years of corporate careerism they took the bold step to follow their creative calling. In addition to running THP, Elaine also creates paintings and prints and Kevin runs a successful woodworking workshop. Although I was the only live-in guest at the time, I quickly became part of a wonderful community of remote workers.
Despite residing in a loving and nurturing environment, I didn’t have the focus to get meaningful work done. After a two-week THP residency, I wanted to continue doing the communal thing. I researched a few other co-working spaces in other parts of the country, but non seemed as wonderful as THP.
The Malaysia Experience
In the three weeks I spent in Malaysia I’ve seen very little of the country and I have the feeling that the best parts lie outside of KL and its suburbs. Kuala Lumpur is a popular hub for so-called expats, migrants and digital nomads and it is easy to understand why. You can find work, an entrepreneurial spirit, kind people, great food and very affordable costs of living compared to Western Europe. I, however, really wasn’t feeling the vibe. I guess what I don’t like about KL is, that I don’t find it quirky or quaint. I don’t feel the city invites me to explore. Perhaps KL is one of those places where you really need a local to guide you around for a fun and inspiring time. I’d love to go back to Malaysia to see other parts of the country and to reconnect with The Hatchery Place community. When that day comes, I’ll do my best to avoid Kuala Lumpur.
top image: blog.tourplus.my
second image: facetothewind.wordpress.com
THP image: vulcan post.com
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