The directions to the Portuguese Quarter of Malacca? Just follow the echoes of "Ó Malhão, Malhão."

In Malaysia, Diogo and Sara discovered a country rich in unexpected connections resulting from the unique blend of cuisines, religions, and cultures, including Portuguese.

The small Christ the Redeemer that marks the Portuguese quarter of Malacca

On the radar of cultural convergence.

Because, sometimes, the best predictor of a good experience is expectations, or rather, the lack of them… That’s what we discovered while exploring Malaysia, a country we set out for with only a few vague ideas, all of which were much smaller than the reality.

Upon arrival, we encountered a diverse and complex country… It was even a bit difficult to initially identify what constituted Malaysian culture before we accepted that it was indeed a composite culture. “That’s Malaysian culture,” we would say to each other, followed by a “wait, actually it’s Indian” or “Chinese, maybe.” In every street, in every city, we found a unique blend of cuisine, religion, and traditions, all presented as integral parts of this culture.

Diogo and Sara in front of chinese characters in Melaca

In Penang, at a Buddhist temple, the murmur of Buddhist prayers and the scent of incense intertwine with the “Azan,” the call to prayer for Muslims. At the top of a hill, we're able to absorb and visualize this experience as we gaze at the horizon. With our eyes fixed on the city, we can see mosques, Buddhist temples, and Hindu temples, all within a single glance.

As has been customary so far, we have come to know the places we visit primarily through the people we cross paths with. This situation was no exception. Right at our first stop, we met a local who took us out for dinner and introduced us to his culture, explaining that Malaysia is currently made up of three major communities: Malays (Muslims), Indians, and Chinese.

Budhist temple on the top of the hill, Penang

With distinct cultures, almost everyone communicates using Malay or English as a common ground. As for the celebrations unique to each community, it seems even easier to find a solution—they celebrate the cultural milestones of everyone. “Just now, the Chinese New Year has ended, and soon we’ll be celebrating the end of Ramadan,” the local explained to us.

Although it isn't easy, and we’ve been given a glimpse of the complexity that surrounds this country, everyone we’ve encountered describes the great diversity under the same flag as something that enriches both their identity and that of their nation

In Malacca, our first stop, traces of various very different pasts can be found. In its center, amidst Chinese, Dutch, British, Islamic, and even Portuguese influences, the diversity of its history serves as a fitting metaphor for its current context.

Among the bridges we built through our interactions with the locals, we crossed one that led us to our own past. It was here, amid such diversity, that we had the experiences closest to home. Here lies a Portuguese quarter, with roots dating back to the early 16th century. As we approached, we read: “Bem vindo ne Bairro Portugés Malaca (Welcome to the Portuguese Quarter of Malacca.)”

Local restaurants like “De Mar (Of the Sea)”, “Restoran de Lisboa,” and “Restoran San Pedro” have very familiar names and offer cuisine that combines Portuguese and Malaysian influences, featuring flavors of fish and seafood with a spicy touch that reflects the fusion of cultures. In the center of the quarter stands a small Christ the Redeemer, a symbol of the Christian faith of this community, while the houses display images of Our Lady and phrases such as “nos sa senhora de consengsang reza per nos.”

Diogo and Sara playing with Nickolas de Sousa

The local language is very similar to European Portuguese, allowing for communication while also reflecting the changes that have occurred in both parts of the world. At the end of the day, many people gather in cafés and restaurants, many of them returning from a day of fishing. We sit down to play with Nicholas de Sousa, letting the "malhão malhão", a portuguese traditional song, echo around us.

In Kuala Lumpur, or “KL” as the locals prefer to call the city, we were unexpectedly caught by a local at the train station, who took us to an 81st birthday party of a man we didn't know. Once again, the blend of cultures was evident as we were welcomed into a large celebration. Feeling like we had fallen from the sky, we sought to absorb as much information as possible to quickly integrate ourselves. Our noses recognized the aromas of Indian cuisine, our eyes noted the Muslim attire, and our ears picked up the ever-comforting English. Although everything came at us all at once, it didn’t take long for us to feel that all the pieces fit together, and as such, so did we.

The capital of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, or KL for short when you befriend it

The next day, we were taken to a Chinese New Year celebration at a work event y our local friend. What stood out to us was the general enthusiasm of everyone, regardless of their culture, for a celebration that, although Chinese, was cherished by all. For instance, our local friend, a Muslim in this case, was particularly excited about the “Lion Dance,” a traditional Chinese custom where participants, dressed appropriately, mimic the movements of a lion to bring good luck, happiness, and wealth while driving away evil spirits. It was an impactful experience shared by everyone.

Alongside us, other locals encouraged us to pet the lion, saying it would bring even more luck. At one point, oranges were even tossed (similar to a bouquet of flowers at a wedding), with those who caught them having even greater luck that year. Perhaps our luck had already arrived ahead of time. Even without a plan, KL welcomed us warmly, and by accompanying a local to tourist attractions and local celebrations alike, we were once again able to experience opportunities that would be impossible to plan for…

On our journey, we realized that more countries do not necessarily equate to a better gap year experience or a more diverse one. Setting aside preconceptions and embracing our admitted lack of preparation, Malaysia ended up surprising us as the embodiment of how the unknown can be a great travel companion.

Beach in the Perhentian islands, an archipelago in Malásia

Traversing Malaysia served as a reminder of the weight of expectations in how we experience the world, as well as the possibility of discovering fascinating stories anywhere if we have the time and willingness to listen and seek them out. Had Malaysia not been somewhat off our radar, perhaps the unknown wouldn’t have had as much room to surprise us. During these weeks, we walked with diversity, novelty, and the opportunity to live with and like the locals, not forgetting the lush jungles and paradise islands we encountered along the way. And do you believe that, since Malaysia consists of two regions, this is only half the story? Who knows, perhaps in the remaining months the other half will still show up on our radar.

"Universus" is the name of the sabbatical project created by Sara and Diogo, two psychologists who will showcase a different perspective of Southeast Asia and Greece over 10 months. They both believe that "each person is a universe, yet all this diversity can be a bridge to collective unity." You can follow their journey on SAPO Viagens and on instagram.