“Malaysia Boleh”
Malaysia Boleh.
A term that until you experience it yourself,
you would think it's just a local mythology.
It means “Malaysia can do it", but also loosely translates to "anything goes" in Malaysia.
One incident that stands out involved a Grab driver who, after failing to reach me by phone, promptly departed without leaving my food at the hotel concierge. I lodged a complaint that exact same day, but 5 days later today, I’m still waiting for a response.
The locals I spoke to later that day said that they had that happen to them, and they wouldn't be surprised that the driver treated himself to an unexpected dinner courtesy of my order.
During a recent dining experience at the airport Din Tai Fung Restaurant Group, I found myself facing a quintessential "boleh" moment. Despite my clear request for a change of order to a vegetarian option and overcoming initial resistance from the waiter - who clearly out of laziness didn't want to change my order -, I was dismayed to receive dumplings filled with chicken meat (see pictured), delivered half an hour later.
They only apologized and made no further attempts to make up for the mistakes and I ended-up paying full price, leaving me less than impressed with the establishment, as I had only good things to say when I had my food served in their Taiwanese branches.
This is the chicken dumpling dish I had requested to change. The original vegetarian dumpling dough is supposed to be green…
Even Malaysia's airport customs had their share of "boleh" moments. Despite clear instructions for travelers arriving after January 1, 2024, to provide fingerprints and a digital arrival card at customs, I found myself passing through without being asked for either, despite signs indicating the rules were in effect.
Posters shown at the KL International Airport (KLIA)’s customs area
Malaysia's "boleh" spirit reveals itself in various everyday encounters, from Grab drivers taking liberties with food deliveries to restaurant mishaps and even lapses in airport customs procedures. It's a reminder that while Malaysia boasts a vibrant culture and warm hospitality, it's also a place where the unexpected can happen, for better or worse.
#CulturalImmersion #Malaysia #Travel #DinTaiFung #KLIA #Airport #AirportFood #SouthEastAsia #BolehVibes
