Photography courtesy of Chok Yen Hau.
Not long ago, Chok Yen Hau hardly knew anything about Malaysia; today, he is one of the biggest champions of Malaysian travel. He now spends his days introducing Malaysia to Malaysians through his books, bespoke travel services and giving talks all over the country.
On a Friday afternoon, photographer Chok Yen Hau was at the market in Wakaf Che Yeh near Kota Bharu. It was his first ever trip to Kelantan. Entranced by the colourful kuih-muih, he was absorbed in the difficult task of choosing a selection from the tempting arrangement. When he finally looked up, he found himself alone. No one was around. Everyone had gone to Friday prayers, leaving him alone with their wares – and money. “Where else in the world would anyone trust you so much?” he said.
Chok was excited by life outside Malaysia’s big cities on this – his first – big trip around the country. That was many years ago. Today, he is one of the biggest champions of Malaysian travel, having published two books on Malaysia’s unsung beauty in its loneliest spots. He also runs My Road Planner (www.facebook.com/myroadplanner. english), a bespoke trip organiser to the lesser-known spots. As he said, there’s more to Malaysia than George Town, Malacca, KL and Cameron Highlands.
Yet, many Malaysians don’t seek it out; it just doesn’t seem interesting enough. That was how Chok, 41, had also viewed it in the past.
Before he left to study in Taiwan in 1997, he had only visited KL, Penang and Malacca. His conservative parents did not allow him to travel much away from his home in Kluang, Johor.
But once he was in Taiwan, he began backpacking around China with his friends. The travel bug bit so hard that he later began travelling alone, even to places where he did not speak the language.
And everywhere he went, he met travellers who inevitably asked him about Malaysia. He found he had nothing to tell them, as he had hardly seen any of his own country. “I felt so ashamed,” he said. “I love my country, but I could not even explain what I liked.”
