To Malaysia

When I reached Hat Yai, a town only 100km from the Malaysian border, I saw women with veils in their hair and men with white hats, which I had never seen before in the country I was passing through.

I think, “Finally, Malaysia is near”

On my last night in Thailand, I stayed at a petrol station, “Thailand was a comfortable country”, I thought back to my first days in Thailand.

The next day I headed for the border.

As I went along the road, I saw a sign that said “1km to the border” and then I saw a gate at the end of the road.

This border is for cars only, pedestrians are supposed to walk along the side of it, and as a cyclist I tried to pass from the pedestrian side.

As a cyclist, I tried to pass from the pedestrian side, but the attendant told me to go towards the cars.

I took out my passport at the entrance of the highway, where there was a line of cars, and the attendant stamped it quickly and easily, without asking any questions.

I am now about to enter Malaysia, I we can’t see the immigration building, so I cycle on and finally see it, it’s a car border.

　The Malaysian immigration is also for cars and has a high ceiling, just like the entrance to a toll road in Japan.

This time I entered through the motorbike entrance and the immigration man gave us an application form to fill in.

“Ok, you can stay in Malaysia for 3 months”.

He stamped my passport with a “clank”. Apparently, you can stay in Malaysia for up to 3 months without a visa.

A smiling, bearded man customs.

“What’s in the back and what’s in the front?”

He asked me in English.

I replied simply,

Without even checking,

He let me pass.

Finally, we entered Malaysia, a country that I don’t have much of an image of, but what kind of country is it? I was very curious and not worried.