A man has shared a heartfelt post about how his life changed for the better after he chose to leave the noise and chaos he experienced in KL for a simple life at a kampung in another state.
His post has since resonated with many Malaysians, where it garnered 13,000 reactions at the time of writing.
Living a rushed life in KL
In the post, the man wrote he used to work in the capital city and lived a life which most would often associate with big cities such as getting stuck in traffic jams or rushing for the LRT.
“I rented a small apartment in Cheras for RM1,500 a month—not including utilities or internet. Dinner was always from Foodpanda — even a plate of fried rice came with a delivery charge.
“Life was going on, but to be honest, there was no passion in my daily routine,” he admitted.
Moved back to hometown
The OP then said he went back to his hometown, which was a small village in Negeri Sembilan, to visit his parents for a while.
Initially, he only planned to be there for a few days but as time passed, he began to see some of the charms of village life which made him give up his former life in KL completely.
“I wake up at 7 in the morning to daylight, birds chirping, the sound of motorbikes, and the smell of incense from the uncle next door.
“If my mum doesn’t have any plans in the morning, she’ll definitely cook me breakfast and even ask, “Do you want an extra egg or some choy sum?” That’s something no one ever asked me during my years in KL.
“Our old family house isn’t big, but there’s a small open space in front where my dad grows chili, pandan leaves, and a few papaya trees. After work, I feed the cats in the back alley — even the neighbor’s cats come over for food.
“After dinner, sometimes I sit on the stone bench outside with my parents to chat. The night air is cool and the crickets are chirping — it really makes you feel alive,” he wrote.
‘It’s anything but backward’
The OP added he got teased by friends who wondered why he chose to live a “backward” life at a kampung instead of a bustling city like KL.
“A lot of people still think villages are backward, but that’s because they haven’t visited one in ages. We have cafés here too—with uncles, aunties, and the younger generation all sitting together, chatting and laughing, unlike the cold, distant vibe of city cafés.
“Most importantly, no one cares what car you drive or what watch you wear. People ask things like, “Is your mother-in-law doing okay?” or “Looks like your motorbike tyres need changing.’
This kind of life is simple, warm, and pure. I feel a deep sense of belonging here — a peace of mind I never had in the city.”
While the OP admitted that he has to put up with slow Internet speeds and deliveries while living at the kampung, he has no plans of returning to his old life anytime soon.
“Even now, I still believe that moving back (to the kampung) isn’t a sign of failure. It simply means we finally had the courage to admit that the life we want isn’t about going faster—it’s about living more meaningfully.”
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