Sleeping in hostels is not the best. In a room with 10 beds on a highway. I had a free coffe then discussed with Alex how I can help them with the website. Then I took off to the street with a "food map". It has the dishes one should try and the best restaurants that serve them on a map
I started the day with Nasi kandar, a loal dish of rice, sauces and a choice of chicken, lamb, sea food..etc. it is not a new concept but rather a delicious dish.
I took it from a food stall beside a big mosque. The number of places to eat gives you the feeling that nobody cooks at home. After the meal I visited the nice mosque:
I resumed walking, without a particular aim. Eventually I wanted to see the Kek Lok Si temple. The biggest Buddhist temple in Malaysia. But thought getting lost in the streets leads you to unexpected events! And it did!
While I was walking, a man shouted from across the street: "Where are you from?" It was obvious to me that he was Egyptian! I was wondering if he managed to know I am Egyptian as well despite all the disguise I had like the hat and the shorts. He didn’t look to be doing well in life. I shouted back at him "where are YOU from?" He said "Egypt" and we started introducing ourselves. He is Nasser, I guess in his early forties. Studies religious studies in Azhar University, a big Islamic university in cairo that attracts students from around the world for Islamic studies. I spent a few hours talking to Nasser and having coffee in one of the narrow streets of Penang where he smoke 3 cigarettes without a pause! Nasser has only his backpack which doesn’t look full! Has been traveling around Malaysia looking for a job as a teacher in any Islamic school. He managed to work twice for one month each. Which pays him enough to live for a few months. He had the face of an unemployed man. A sad disappointed face. Plus a face of a man who left home to look for work and food. Somehow depresses. He sleeps in the mosques during the mornings, the streets, whatever he can get.
Nasser told me a lot about Malaysia and Indonesia since he lived there for a month as well. He told me about how Arab communities are doing here. It was an enriching conversation, however, not really charged with positivity. I saw another kind of traveler today which I don’t see often. A traveler who is trying to live and on his way, he discovers the world. Nasser holds some believes that I dont share with him. I asked to take a photo with him and he refused politely. I asked him if he thinks that taking photos is a sin and he said "yes". I greeted him to leave telling him that I am heading o he temple. He said "why don’t you visit the mosque instead?" He said that visiting temples is not allowed and that te prophet Abraham destroyed the idols. I expressed my disagreement in both topics and greeted him and wished him best of luck. Then I went to the temple!
7:30 was the meeting time with a small group of couchsurfers to have dinner and take a walk afterwards. Kla, a local member took us to one of his favorite restaurants and we had a great meal with nice conversations. Beside both of us, there was an Australian couple, a polish girl, a polish guy and a local Malaysian girl who studied medicine in Russia! After the dinner, Kla took us for a walk around the secret spots of the city. Penang is famous of its street art mainly done by a Lithuanian artist two years ago. I was impressed by how one person can boost the tourism and economy of one city alone!
Went back to the hostel around 11:30 where I spent around two hours with Alex working on the website. It was a long day. Meeting Nasser left me with both a bit of sadness and appreciation of what I have. I will always remember his words that unemployment kills you slowly. After sometime, you can’t work anymore. If I ever end up unemployed, I should volunteer at least for the sake of work. To maintain my ability to live!
I thanked God and went to bed.