Ah… Malaysia! The land of sun, beaches, and endless rain; as someone who has rarely ventured further than outskirts of Lahore alone, going abroad completely on my own was an adventure like no other. With bags full of unnecessary clothing, a bottle of sunscreen lotion, and unbridled enthusiasm, I ventured forth, into the adult life.

My travel itinerary included three cities -- Penang, Langkawi and Kuala Lumpur.

After waiting for three hours at the Lahore airport, I immediately jumped up when my flight was announced, and made my way to the gate. Once I had boarded, I excitedly looked around, in hopes of seeing exotic and foreign-looking people. Much to my disappointment, everyone was desi, looked very much like me, and spoke Urdu. The only exotic ones on the planes were the airhostesses -- who looked like they would rather be somewhere else. After making myself comfortable, I covered myself with a blanket and promptly fell asleep.

I woke up to the announcement that we were about to land in Penang. A sudden thrill of excitement ran through me, and I passed through the whole customs and luggage carousel routine without a hitch.

The moment I stepped out of the plane, I was surrounded by the chatter of a foreign language. This made me feel lonesome but it was counteracted by the brilliant, smiling faces I saw in Penang. Whoever I stopped to ask for help would always give me a big grin, regardless of whether they understood me or not. This positive, open attitude helped me throughout the trip. Once I’d checked into where I would be staying, I set out to explore.

Penang is basically two islands linked together with a bridge. Although teeming with people, and big buildings, the place has a sense of serenity. Except for a few malls and the main business centre of Georgetown, most of the beauty is natural, and well worth visiting. My favourite place there was the Batu Feringghi beach, where there was abundant Pakistani food, as well as good Malaysian food. I found one favourite haunt, where the friendly Indian barman would make me cups of chai -- Pakistani chai, and regale me with tales of movie stars who visited the place.

An added bonus was, of course, his opinion of me looking like Anushka Sharma.

Another brilliant attraction was the Monkey Beach. Although it can be reached by boat, I chose to take the one-hour-and-fifteen-minutes-long hike there, and it was worth it. One Polish gentleman was attacked by a monkey after he chose to provoke the animal, making me feel like we Pakistanis aren’t the only ones who enjoy playing such foolish pranks. Other than that, the train ride up to Penang Hill is also something one should definitely experience. The view from the top is absolutely wonderful.

The second place I chose to go to was Langkawi. After assessing my dire financial straits, I meekly booked a single bed in a shared dorm in a far-off guesthouse. Langkawi was completely provincial, extremely peaceful and the weather was beautiful. Contrary to my expectations, the place I had booked had the loveliest and cosiest environment imaginable.

Famed for their hospitality, the Malaysians certainly lived up to my expectations. The guesthouse had two friendly dogs who would lay their heads on my lap while I sat down to read in the common room. The place had tourists and travellers from all over the world, and at night, the place would feel like a haven for people escaping from the bustle of the everyday world.

The time spent in Langkawi helped clear my mind; however, being born and bred in Lahore, I was starting to yearn for city lights and the vivacity associated with my hometown. Kuala Lumpur was the perfect answer to that.

No less than the Big Apple; KL is Malaysia’s most upbeat, cosmopolitan city. It was 2am when I reached there, and it was every bit as alive, as if it were the 6pm rush hour with jam-packed public places. It was like coming home after a long interval.

Kuala Lumpur has everything; from shopping malls carrying high-end brands to roadside vendors touting fake Nikes and Pradas.

Lost in a vortex of activity, I tried to fit as much as I could in my two-day stay in KL. The highlight was visiting the top of the Petronas Twin Towers, which houses a shopping mall, and offers an exquisite view of the city. The revolving tower is also a must-see sight.

My four-week long stay in Malaysia was nearing an end, and it was with a heavy heart that I bid adieu to the land of sunny beaches, nozzle-less Muslim showers (yes, they actually use a pipe-like contraption, with no nozzle on top), and most importantly, the nation obsessed with Milo in all forms. The popular Malaysian dishes -- nasi kandar and nasi goreng -- were always accompanied with iced Milo, and it was something I had grown obsessed with, in my short time there.

I had learned to love tanned skin, the Chinese and Malay accented English, and strange names which always ended with something like Jalan and Pualau. The interesting mix of people, Chinese, Malaysian, Vietnamese, cross-cultural exchange of food, language and people made me realise how easy it is to live in harmony, no matter where you’re from. The religious and cultural tolerance awed me, and it made me fall in love with the place even more.

However, my sense of adventure had waned considerably by now, and I couldn’t wait to get back home. Malaysia is an excellent travel destination especially if you’re on your own; but there’s one thing I’ve learnt, and that is that there’s no place like home!