"...I enjoyed the food, but more than the food are these countless first time travel experiences that taught me to believe that the world, though getting smaller, is complex."

[KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA] ► Food. This was the first thing my body was longing the moment I reached Lorong 1/77a—the street where the guesthouse I'd be staying for the night is located.

[KUALA LUMPUR] ► HELLO! WELCOME TO KUALA LUMPUR!

For the very first time outside the , I'm gonna eat my . I thought this was really exciting. One of the things I forgot to do before pushing this Malaysian trip was to research for the food. The only idea I had that moment was a noodle soup with herbs and seafood. Since I'm not familiar with Malaysian food, it made my search for food extra intense.

I was lucky that is lined with hotels and restaurants on both sides including the huge shopping complex Berjaya Times Square. Not far from my guesthouse is an Indian restaurant. There were still many customers even if it was already late that night (10:00 PM). I've always told myself to go to a place where the people (locals) go whenever I travel. However, I learned it's an Indian restaurant so I ditched it. You know, I am not a fan of most Indian food I've tried. I am a big fan of their culture and heritage except the food. This is just me so I hope I don't offend any Indian reader here but I really don't like the strong smell of Indian food (as much as I don't want the strong smell of crabs and big shrimps of some of our Filipino food). I am not saying I don't like Indian food, let's be clear with that. In fact, after this I want to try them but just because I want to satisfy my hunger, I want to eat a food something I am comfortable with (yes, I was looking for a food similar to the Filipino dishes). One thing more, I was a little bit adamant to enter that Indian restaurant due to how I look. I mean, I don't look like them (the customers). I am a Filipino and I felt like I was the uninvited guest if I should dine with them—Indian people. Well, this is just me. I know Indians are nice people. I was just so hungry and tired that time that all I wanted was my comfort zone, including my comfort food.

[KUALA LUMPUR] ► ONE OF THE HOTELS LOCATED ALONG LORONG 1/77A

The search continued. Some of the restaurants were already closed. I wasn't losing hope. Not too far from (my accommodation for the night) was a restaurant with only two customers. It was well-lighted. I knew it was open. Thanks to the two Malaysians I saw dining inside.

With a big smile on my face, I entered this restaurant called Kafeteria Ikhwan. I occupied one of the chairs of a dining set good for groups. This may sound a little non-sense for some but it's a big deal for me. You know, it felt surreal. The reality started to sink in the moment I sat down on that chair. I'm feeling the same feeling I felt in and in (while writing this piece, that same feeling is coming back). It's a feeling of accomplishment mixed with excitement, disbelief and anxiety. Since this is the very first hour I relaxed in a foreign land (remember, I have no time to relax the past hours), my brain cells are more capable to handle emotional moments—because I'm relaxed and I can be more creative and more of a random thinker. I can be a poet, a word soldier, a soul searcher, a thought processor and an idea bio-chip. This time, I am the universe. See? I need emotion to think immortally, and of immortality.

[KUALA LUMPUR] ► ONE OF THE RESTAURANTS LOCATED ALONG LORONG 1/77A

[KUALA LUMPUR] ► KAFETERIA IKHWAN: THE FIRST RESTAURANT I VISITED IN MALAYSIA

Kafeteria Ikhwan was, and is, elevated. I greeted one of the boys (staff) wearing apron—busy doing their stuff. I asked for their menu. Unfortunately, the boy I talked with didn't understand what I said. He was a little bit confused so he called the other boy inside the kitchen with black apron. The latter understood me. He gave me the menu then I chose what to eat.

I have chosen this restaurant by the way because I saw rice meals. I really craved for rice. Since the menu was written in Malay, I didn't know what those food were all about so I just asked the former their best seller here (he understood me this time). The Chinese-looking, kind and shy-type crew told me it was the nasi goreng usa (daging/ayam). I learned that the ayam is chicken and the daging is beef. He asked me what should I order. I can't decide that time until he recommended me 'mixed." What a nice idea! So, without too much ado, I ordered the food.

[KUALA LUMPUR] ► KAFETERIA IKHWAN: THE MENU, YOU KNOW MY CHOICE

[KUALA LUMPUR] ► KAFETERIA IKHWAN: THE MENU. OK, TO BE FAIR, SOME PARTS OF THE MENU HAVE ENGLISH TRANSLATION.

[KUALA LUMPUR] ► KAFETERIA IKHWAN: THE MENU

While waiting for the food to be served, I made use of this wonderful moment to embrace the reality that I'm outside the Philippines—and that I will eat a non-Filipino food for the first time in this restaurant I first dined-in outside the Philippines. I had so many first-time encounters I wanted to document and write down but the brain was way too fast—giving out hundreds of thoughts a minute my physical limits can't handle.

Anyway, this restaurant wasn't the best restaurant I've tried but it's the most special and memorable. There was nothing fancy or luxurious but it has already occupied a space in my life (sounds too baduy I know, please bear with this travel blogger boy).

When I spoke with them in English, they started to appear awkward. They knew I was a foreigner. Their reaction was similar to the Filipino reaction when we communicate with a foreigner too. Well, of course, this isn't a general rule. This was the case when I was here. They suddenly became conscious. I noticed the abrupt change in their reaction (I should have used 'change in their behavior' but I realized I'm not a clinical psychologist or a behavioral science ace).

Before they served the food, I ordered mountain dew (the soft drink manufactured by Pepsi). The first boy gave me one can and a glass filled with ice cubes. I didn't ask for the glass with ice cubes. They gave it without me requesting for it. Thanks for that. Maybe it's their rule here to automatically serve the customer with this. I consumed one can right before my food was served so I ordered another one.

(I'm trying to remember how I learned that mountain dew was available here but I really can't remember how. All I know is that it was music to my ears when I learned mountain dew was available.)

Well, I enjoyed the food, but more than the food are these countless first time travel experiences that taught me to believe that the world, though getting smaller, is complex. This is my story. How about you? Can you still remember the first restaurant where you dined outside your country? | end |

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► THIS POST IS PART OF MY .

16 FEBRUARY 2016: KAFETERIA IKHWAN
KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA

[KUALA LUMPUR] ► HELLO! WELCOME TO KAFETERIA IKHWAN!

► FOOTNOTES, DISCLAIMERS, ACKNOWLEDGMENT, ETC

[1] This post is filed under the category "Restaurants." This is a category here on my blog where I write my experiences and note down my insights and personal stories about restaurants I've tried. There is a section below where you can see other related posts from this category.

[2] This is NOT a sponsored post. I personally paid for my food in this restaurant. I write reviews and stories to give other travelers more options and ideas in deciding what restaurant to try.

[3] All maps I used on this post are from Google Maps.

[4] All photos are mine.

[5] The insights, condition and name of places or properties I mentioned here are based on the facts and situation on the day of my visit. Take note that you may have a different experience when you try or see the properties or places mentioned here. Names of places and properties may also change by time so it's not my responsibility to update all the information on this blog because once published, I already consider it an archive and I won't update my narratives because I want them to become my references of what have happened in the past. I'm very particular of the dates because I want my amazing readers to understand that I am writing stories based on my perspective and insights on the day of my visit. You can see dates almost everywhere on this blog. Exempted from this rule are my travel guide posts that need to be updated.