PETALING JAYA: Instead of taking a routine flight home for Hari Raya, Malaysian couple Isa Zubir and Ain Rozli embarked on an epic 5,500km, five-day train journey across four countries, turning their trip into an unforgettable adventure.
While a direct flight from Beijing to Malaysia would have taken just six hours, Isa, 36, and his wife Ain, 34, chose a far more scenic and immersive route – one that took them through China, Laos, Thailand and finally, Malaysia.
Isa, who works at a media company in China, explained that the decision was about embracing the experience and meeting new people along the way home.
“We thought flying back for Raya was too normal. We could board a plane in Beijing and, before we knew it, we’d be in Malaysia in six hours.
“So there wouldn’t be much to experience.
“But by taking trains and also crossing four countries, we knew we’d gain so much more from the journey, especially during the fasting month. Plus, we could meet more people,” Isa said.
Their adventure began on March 21 with a high-speed sleeper train from Beijing to Kunming.
After a night exploring the city, they continued to Vientiane, Laos, via the China-Laos Railway, then travelled to Bangkok, Thailand, before taking another train to Hat Yai.
Finally, they arrived in Ipoh, Perak.
Along the way, they made lasting memories, including a surprising connection with a Laotian woman who could not speak English during the train ride to Vientiane.
When the couple realised they could converse with her in Mandarin, they became fast friends.
“It was quite funny because she is Laotian, we are Malaysians, and yet we communicated in Mandarin.
“After we started chatting, an auntie from Beijing joined in, and then suddenly a man from Sichuan joined us too.
“We started talking, and that guy played a popular Mandarin song on his guitar. It was so much fun,” Isa recalled.
They also picked up an extra suitcase thanks to a little shopping spree in Bangkok.
“My wife really enjoyed the whole journey. She is not usually into backpacker-style travel, but I used to do this before we got married.
“So this time, she agreed to give it a shot and she was really happy. Of course, if she wasn’t happy, we wouldn’t have ended up with another suitcase,” he joked.
But, Isa added with a laugh, Ain said no when asked whether they could do the same thing for their return trip to Beijing after Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
“I totally agree – it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. If anyone else wants to try it, they absolutely should,” he said.
