From Manchester to Kuching: My Crazy Travel Experience

Some of you may know this but last month, I relocated from UK to Malaysia to be with my parents and let’s just say that it was quite a unique experience to be travelling during this ‘lockdown’ times.

This post is not really a Travel piece since I’m not focussed on the destination (not yet anyway!) but rather of the experience moving across borders when things are not as straightforward as they used to be. Hence, I’m filing this under Local Stories!

Anyway, if you’re wondering why I’ve been rather quiet… here is the fruit of my labour!

I’m finding out the hard way just how time consuming it is to edit videos. It’s not that the video has a huge amount of layers to manage but I did have at least twice the number of clips that you see in the video below and it’s been narrowing down the selection and picking the right clips that fit. And let’s just say that I’m struggling quite a bit to get an iPad, LumaFusion (the video editor app) and my Android phone to work together. It’s taken me close to 2 weeks to create this video! Oops!

The super brief summary of my journey:

  • Limited flights to Malaysia and I basically waited a month plus before I could fly home
  • Overall, I was travelling from Manchester to Kuching
  • Manchester to London by train
  • London Heathrow Airport to Kuala Lumpur International Airport. I’ve never flown from Heathrow and hope that I never will in the future as it was really challenging getting there from Manchester with all my bags
  • Swab test upon arrival and can only proceed with a negative result
  • After a few hours, took a flight from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to Kuching International Airport
  • Mandatory 14 days quarantine at a local hotel in Kuching; in my case, I was placed at Harbour View Hotel (I’ve only just realised how bad the map listing is for this hotel!! :scream: ). For 14 days, I cannot leave my room except to do my testing. Food gets delivered and left outside my room at fixed times. Was it tough? Watch the video to find out how I survived
  • Swab test on Day 2 and 10 whilst at the hotel
  • Released on Day 15 pending test results

It’s been almost 2 weeks since I’ve been released and I’m still trying to get used to how things are done in Malaysia. Some are similar, others not so much. In any case, there are some changes and constant tweaks to be done.

I present to you my list of my revelations (I have opted to refer to apps by their first letter only):

  • UK: I use “A” a lot for online shopping and get tons of stuff delivered as it’s usually quick and easy to do so. Malaysia: “S” and “L” are apparently the popular choice for online shopping but I’m also having to get used to different brands of items that are more common here.
  • UK: The weather is usually cool and grey in Manchester. Malaysia: The weather is scorchingly hot :fire_engine: . It feels like standing next to an opened oven with hot air surrounding me and making my skin prickle. Today is one of those days where I’m just constantly sweating even in the shade
  • UK: I don’t drive and never had the need to do so thanks to good public transportation links. Malaysia: Public transport is okay but probably less reliable. I’m now in the process of getting lessons so that I can take my test and, hopefully, be able to drive around. Although I don’t really want to. But it’s good to have a driver’s license. But I really don’t enjoy driving. But I think I have to. Sigh
  • UK: To get to places where public transport is a hassle, I use “U”. Malaysia: It’s another app again, called “G” that is more popular
  • UK: I have a pretty much cashless lifestyle and pay for everything through contactless transactions with my phone (NFC). Malaysia: NFC technology is not as widely available so QR codes are the dominant method. There are also numerous local apps that function like e-wallets to facilitate the transactions such as “SP”, “B”, “GP” to name a few. Unfortunately, different businesses support different apps so if I really wanted to go cashless, I would need to have multiple e-wallets, each with money in them to pay for things. Eek!
  • UK: The virus is still an issue with lockdowns happening in specific locations. Malaysia: Much less cases but still on alert. So there is less restrictions but also a different way of handling it. Everywhere I go, I need to my body temperature measured before entering a premise and I also need to write down my details for contact tracing. And wear a mask
  • Past: I always thought my mum was super organised. Present: It turns out that I may be more OCD that her! :rofl:
  • Past: I have all my finances sorted out nicely. Present: I have to open local bank accounts. Unfortunately, I failed to realise that being in full time employment and having all the paperwork (proof) at hand really helps. I’m just thankful that I’ve managed to get an account opened but I’m not allowed a credit card. Plus, I don’t have a credit history here so I’m having to start from nothing
  • Past: I had my work laptop, super fast fibre connection at home and fast mobile connection. Present: No laptop and just a decent mobile connection. I thought I could get by but I severely misjudged that

I think that in general, I certainly do feel that I have taken a few things in the UK for granted and now that I’m here, I really do miss them!

I know the above all sounds a bit whiny but I really need to look at this as if it is an adventure: to succeed I must face my challenges head on and keep working my way through them. Onwards and upwards!

Anyway, what can you expect from me for the next few months!? Well, hopefully I can start to share more things about Kuching and show you what this place is like! I already have a few places that I can ‘review’ and talk about! However, my outings are still limited as I’m trying my best to keep a low profile until this virus is defeated. I’m really hoping that I can start to meet the Local Guides here in Kuching! I’ve already done a search on Connect and there are a few around!! Whoop!! Whoop!! :smile:

The video is a bit long but I hope you find it enjoyable, if not interesting! Have you had to travel during these times too? What was your experience like? Or have you ever relocated to somewhere completely different? How did you cope (please teach me!!!)? What are your tips as a Local Guide in a foreign place?! Let’s see if I have the same tips as well! :sunglasses:

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Hi @AdrianLunsong ,

I can only imagine how tired you must be after waiting so much to go back home. :earth_asia: I’ve flown to Malaysia a few years ago and know how long it takes to reach there, not to mention the whole situation that we are all now in the world. Happy for you that you got home! :blush:

I am really curious what did you do in the 14 days of quarantine?

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What a hell of a experience, @AdrianLunsong !

I have scrolled through the video and watched some of them on your social media, they were definitely entertaining. (Especially the experimental ones in your hotel room such as the tumble :rofl: )

The quarantine period in the hotel must have been getting you crazy, I can totally imagine.

Stay safe man and good luck!!

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Thanks @TsekoV ! I think that trying to do a video recording on top of an already stressful trip wasn’t such a great idea! But hey ho… it was a learning experience!

During my quarantine I was doing the following:

  • Daily exercise routine: 100 sit-ups, 100 push-ups, 100 squats
  • Played around with the Insta360 One R camera and testing out the 4K wide angle camera as well as the 360 camera modules. I was hanging my selfie stick out the hotel window onto the balcony!
  • Edited and created a few short clips (timelapse mostly). The app wasn’t that great but it was an interesting learning process. Watched a few YouTube tutorials as well.
  • Washed some clothes. Tidied the room. Re-packed my bags to make them more space efficient.
  • I was reading and responding to two forums related to the travel and quarantine experiences. I wrote a recap and posted it to the group there to help others learn from my experiences.
  • I created a book cover for my dad. That came out of the blue. He wanted some feedback of a draft that was done by someone else. I ended up redoing the whole thing :sweat_smile:
  • Chilled: games, Netflix (pre-downloaded tons of stuff), read a book
  • I was going through my camera role on the phone and editing photos.
  • Went through my timeline for the past couple of months and tabled out what I should be reviewing, adding photos etc.

They don’t sound like a lot but they do just eat away at the time. :sunglasses:

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@Stphn yeah… the Insta360 camera is new to me so I was trying to test out the features and learn how to edit the videos. It’s really interesting because I don’t normally do videos so I was trying to figure out where the camera should be, how far to hold it etc.

My videos are a bit poo poo at the moment but I have to start somewhere and keep improving!

I enjoyed the quarantine period. It was weird having to see folks again and having to figure out how to navigate the real world. :rofl:

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@AdrianLunsong , honestly if you wouldn’t tell me, I would assume you are a experienced vlogger.

You seem to be very natural on the camera, have good angles and I like the text edits along the video! (this must have been quite some work I suppose :grin: )

Hahaha yes tell me about it, losing my social skills every second now. :joy:

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Hi @AdrianLunsong

Welcome home safely :smile:

I think you will miss your activities during your 14 days of quarantine. Glad to hear that you enjoyed it by doing some great activities. At first, I thought you’re a Malaysian from KL :sweat_smile:

Kuching is quite close to Indonesia, so that wishing someday you could come to visit me and the other Indonesian Local Guides.

I had the similar travel experience during this pandemic just like you. I’ve just finished my business trip to another city in Indonesia. The domestic flight was 2 hours, and during the flight, I kept wearing a medical mask and face shield. To be honest, it was so tiring to wear them, especially in the air. How about you? And how about your experience when doing a swab test?

Caption : A collage photo of a view from the airplane’s window (left) and Local Guide @Velvel wearing a medical mask and face shield during the flight. (Local Guide @Velvel)

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Hey abang @AdrianLunsong

Karena sudah di Malaysia aku bicara bahasa ya LOL

Salam dan selamat datang kembali ,sehat selalu .

Kita adalah jiran sekarang jadi kalau kapan kapan berpergian ke Indonesia terutama Sukabumi kasih tahu ya , selama di UK jarang naik motor kan hahah

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Hi @AdrianLunsong ,

this is indeed a crazy travel experience in a crazy time of our lives! I admire you had such a move and even more during this special period with all what is going on around us.

Well I can’t imagine how you passed your 14 days in the hotel, I saw you have been being the most creative possible LOL but I can imagine it wasn’t nice.

You have indeed a new chapter, new community, new Local Guides as soon as we can come back to normal! Ah … and you live in the city of cats: Kuching :joy: ?!?

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@Stphn Thanks for the compliments! You are way too kind! :blush: I still have so much to improve especially in reducing editing time and knowing how to manage a shoot better.

@Velvel Didn’t wear a face shield whilst in the plane but I did keep my mask on. Once I was settled and relaxed, it was okay but when moving it is quite tough to breathe. The mask I had was quite thick so didn’t let air in or out very easily. I now use the surgical face mask and they are certainly more breathable! As for the swab test… they were okay. a bit weird to think how far in the swab goes but hopefully I don’t have to do any anytime too soon!

@Nyainurjanah Ya… boleh cakap dalam bahasa! Saya boleh practise my bahasa juga! Saya tak tahu macam mana di Indonesia tapi kat Malaysia, banyak orang cakap dalam bahasa pasar; suka campur bahasa melayu dengan Inggeris, dengan cina juga! Semua pun boleh… macam rojak! Ya… kalau bang ada pergi ke Sukabumi, tentu akan beritahu kamu. Tapi motor… dah lama tak naik: 1994 kalau saya ingat betul betul.

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@LuigiZ Yes… I am now indeed in the city of cats! Should be quite fun to explore. In the coming days, I’m going to try to make a list to make it easier for me to explore as many as I can in one area. Moving about is still quite challenging for me as I don’t drive but I really should take this opportunity when it’s quiet to have a wander about!

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