A simple act of kindness during a travel mishap has left a Chinese tourist with a lasting impression of Malaysia’s warmth and hospitality.
The tourist, who had just arrived in Malaysia, found herself in a tricky situation when she realised she had no local currency to pay for her lunch.
Photo via Xiaohongshu
Sharing her experience on Xiaohongshu, she explained that the trip was a last-minute one, and she had assumed that WeChat, Alipay, or Visa would be accepted everywhere, “I didn’t bring any cash and thought my e-wallets would be enough,” she wrote, attaching a photo of the meal she almost couldn’t enjoy.
The first eatery she visited in Johor only accepted cash. She searched through all her bags but couldn’t find a single ringgit.
Just when she was about to give up, a Malaysian Chinese auntie nearby noticed her struggle and stepped in, “Without hesitation, she paid for my meal,” the tourist said, adding that she tried to stop the auntie but the payment had already been made.
She was even more surprised when the auntie refused to share her contact details. Instead, the woman simply smiled and shared that she had visited Beijing, Shanghai, and Xi’an before, and always had a good impression of China. Then, she quietly walked away.
Photo via Xiaohongshu
The meal, which cost RM26.30, consisted of a bowl of pork noodles and a refreshing coconut milk drink. Touched by the gesture, the tourist said she would gladly repay the kindness ten times over.
In a show of gratitude, she offered to treat up to 10 Malaysians to a meal or reimburse them the same amount she was helped with, saying it was her way of paying it forward.
“May China and Malaysia remain friendly for generations to come,” she wrote, ending her post with a heartfelt wish.
