My First Solo Trip Experience in Malaysia as a Black Traveler

This article shares my honest experience in Malaysia as a black teenager,

with no lies or sugarcoating.

Although I advise, it is based on my experience only,

and you shouldn’t take it as an objective review of Malaysia.

Learn from my experience and that of other creators

so you can make better judgments.

Passion for traveling

Since I was a kid, I have always had a passion for discovering

and knowing new things.

As I grew older, my passion for traveling

and exploring new places, people, and cultures grew.

At the age of 20, I became a trader and earned some money.

My first thought was to travel,

although many people in my family advised against it.

But I knew it was for me, and I had to take that first step.

I didn’t watch many videos about traveling solo,

but I took the leap.

First Impressions

Arrival

In April 2023,

I got my visa and took the flight to Malaysia from Khartoum, Sudan.

I reached there on the 13th.

I was stunned from the moment I arrived at Kuala Lumpur airport.

The airport is so cool,

and just like Asians are not used to seeing black people,

black people are also not used to seeing Asians,

and I stared a lot in the beginning.

Immigration

I had some minor issues with my departure date,

so the immigration officer told me to change it.

I asked some officers (a man and a lady) for some help,

and they were helpful and directed me to the right office,

where my issue was solved.

First bad interaction

Then, before exiting the airport,

two policemen stopped me to check my luggage.

I didn’t understand anything at all

because I had to go through the security checkup.

But I kept it cool because I don’t want to get into any trouble.

Then the other policeman took my phone and told me to open it,

which was unacceptable.

I wanted to refuse, but knew they would get aggressive

and maybe lock me up, so I unlocked it.

He then checked my WhatsApp messages and found nothing.

I kept my temper cool because I knew even if I reported the treatment,

it would be dismissed.

But all was clear, and I left.

What pissed me off was that they opened my luggage

and had to check my private messages with my loved ones.

First interaction with locals

I then got a Grab and went to Selangor, not Kuala Lumpur.

I loved how the city was so clean

and the vibe was so calm at that moment, despite the rain.

I then met a local at 7-Eleven, with whom I spoke,

and everything went smoothly and well.

There were Saudi kids who approached me,

and we had a lovely conversation in Arabic.

I then went ot the gym on the same day and met some Indians

and Malays who were friendly.

My first day interacting with locals was very good.

People & Cultural Experiences

On the second day, we visited the city center to explore and shop,

and I was surprised by the many cultural differences.

We didn’t take Grab but took the metro, and yes, people stare a lot.

I was a bit nervous because it was my first time

getting too much stare from people in public.

I won’t deny that some people were racist toward black people,

but some of them were curious.

I understand that because they don’t see black people a lot.

I read a lot of comments from Malaysians

who say they genuinely want to greet black people,

but they are just scared, and some are shy.

I had a conversation with one of the locals, which was very interesting.

My interaction with the people while shopping was smooth and good.

I then got myself a burger and toured around the Twin Towers.

I was shocked by how tall the skyscrapers were, and I loved it.

On that day, I learned my first Malay word,

which was “Terima Kasih,” meaning “Thank you.”

It was the first because, regardless of the strange looks,

many people were helpful

and friendly (I still remember them to this day).

While the culture was so strange and different from mine,

it made me realize how small I was.

The world is vast, and there are many cultures about which I know nothing.

I visited the Twin Towers in the city center,

and there were many tourists there as well.

If you go there, expect a variety of different experiences.

I chilled for a few minutes, then went and took some pictures.

While taking pictures, some locals came and took pictures with me.

It was a smooth experience, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Meeting friends

On the third day,

I decided to visit a couple of friends who are studying there.

It was a wonderful moment when we met,

and I was excited to see them.

We talked for a long time and went to eat together.

They also shared their experiences with me and described life in Malaysia.

They mentioned and talked about being stared at,

and we laughed so hard at it.

I also shared my experience from my first day.

I asked them about many places, and the conversation was so good.

I then decided to stay with a friend, Edmond Cam.

He is cool, chill, and nonchalant.

He helped me with many things,

and I would have been in a lot of trouble if not for him.

In my last days, we stayed with another friend, Isaac,

who was welcoming and good. I am genuinely grateful to them.

Food and daily life

I didn’t try many local dishes, so I won’t be giving a review.

People there mind their own business and are busy,

from my experience.

During the day, the city is not that crowded and there are few people.

But during the night, it gets very crowded and busy.

I went to several places in Kuala Lumpur,

but Bukit Bintang is busy and crowded at night.

It gives both Dubai and NYC vibes.

It is something you have to experience.

My travel cost and safety

Malaysia is a budget-friendly country;

you don’t have to worry that much about spending too much.

For food, I spent around $150-$200, which was absolutely great.

I spent around $80 on transport.

I spent around $300-$400 on shopping alone,

but I ended up buying a laptop, which cost me around $700.

Since I stayed with my friends,

I didn’t spend that much on accommodation.

But you can read more about the budget here.

But I know that on my next trip, I will spend more.

I wasn’t afraid for my safety,

but I would recommend reading more about safety here.

Solo travel reflection

I faced a lot of challenges because it was something new

and I had never experienced it before.

Many people advised me not to go,

but it was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

I think most people fear traveling alone

because they are afraid of being alone.

However, I was fine navigating alone

because I am accustomed to doing many things on my own.

My confidence grew throughout the journey,

and I gained a deeper understanding of myself.

Right now, I know myself and know what I want in life;

all credit goes to that one decision of traveling solo.

My views and perspective on life have improved.

I am no longer that self-centered boy;

I now know that I am just one out of eight billion people on this planet.

People are different, not just in their colors,

but in their mindsets, views, and way of life.

That’s a change I am grateful for.

Lessons learned and takeaways

Trust

One of the challenges that caused me a lot of problems

was trusting people easily.

I learned my lesson from that journey,

which prevented a lot of future problems.

No matter what, do not trust anyone easily.

Scams

You will be a target of many scams if you are a foreigner;

that’s something we all face.

Be extremely vigilant and conduct thorough research

on common scams targeting tourists before traveling.

You will feel great relief when you outsmart scammers who target tourists.

Peace of mind

The most important thing is your peace of mind,

so don’t let any minor bad issue

or treatment upset your whole day and vibes.

For a better experience, anticipate

and accept potential bad experiences.

An old traveler once told me,

‘Never let a $3 scam upset you; that’s a high price you choose to pay.’

Ever since, I have accepted experience, learn my lesson,

and enjoyed my trip.

That $5 will come back, but the moment will never.

Recomendation

From my experience, I would recommend traveling to Malaysia.

However, you must accept the indifference, stares,

and changes in culture.

If you’re not accustomed to that,

then Malaysia may not be for you.

Malaysians are friendly,

but you will experience racism from some people.

Final thought

Traveling solo to Malaysia for the first time

was indeed one of the best decisions and a turning point in my life.

Regardless of everything I went through,

I am still grateful that I made that decision to travel.

My interaction with asians, especially the girls, was absolutely cool.

I still remember all the good interactions,

and I think I will remember them till my last days.

I will cherish the kindness, friendliness,

and good conversation I had with you forever.

If you are traveling to Malaysia or any other country,

please be aware that not everyone will be nice to you or welcoming,

and that’s completely fine.

Every country has racism,

and you will experience it whether you are white, black, or asian.

You must accept this

and enjoy the experience to the best of your ability.

The trip will not be as great and affectionate if everything goes well.

I plan to travel back to Malaysia in the coming years

and explore many of its places.