‘I worked for 5 years in Canada. Things eventually started to feel very routine and depressing working as a Video-Visual Technician in the biggest law firm back in Canada…’

‘It was a very stressful job, I always went back home too tired to do anything else. I then started to get depressed and eventually just decided to quit and I went traveling to Colombia for 9 months, and then later I went down to South America, and then to Japan for 3 months – then here, Malaysia, for 6 months.

‘Its not impossible to travel without a lot of money. When I left for Japan I only had US$200 in my pocket and I just made do with that that, by taking odd jobs here and there. I’ve been to Malaysia twice before, so I knew it’s cheap. I knew I like the food, I knew I like the people so yeah I think that’s it. And with my job I see something new all the time.

‘So what is the biggest thing you have learned so far?’

‘The biggest thing I’ve learned is to feel happy, and my inspiration for traveling was for happiness – it keeps you happy. You don’t need to do whatever society wants you to do to ‘make it big’. You can feel fulfilled doing any thing – that’s what I learned. I am now doing different jobs and doing different things. I thought I was happy doing anything as long as I got the basic necessities to live. A lot of people are pressured from their family to be successful and you might not like that, you might not feel fulfilled doing it so don’t force yourself’. 

‘Where are you going next?

‘England.’

‘How long? 

‘I don’t know, it might be 2 weeks, or it might be a year, I don’t plan that far ahead”.

– Humans of Kuala Lumpur

*(The photo was taken a while back – as far as we know he has decided to stay in KL after his trip to England!) — with Boris Panov.

Photostory by Mushamir Mustafa

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(This post was first published on June 2nd 2016)

“He’s 35, and I’m 31. We’re in love, but I feel sad that other couples can think and plan of their future – but I can’t, because no matter what we do, he’s still a refugee…”

“I’ve never met anyone else who thinks alike. I tried dating other guys but it didn’t work out because the way they think is too narrow-minded. I like how he thinks, and we have really deep conversations I’ve never had with anyone else. And he’s the most serious guy I’ve ever met, but at the same time, he also has his little moments of spontaneity”.

‘No matter what we do, its hard to be a future. He can’t be Malaysian. He can’t go anywhere else. And I can’t change the country’s refugee laws’.

– Humans of Kuala Lumpur

Photostory by Mushamir Mustafa

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(This post was first published on May 29th 2016)

“BOO!”

Sorry, we know its not a human, but just couldn’t help but share his photo!

Photostory by Mushamir Mustafa

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(This post was first published on June 3rd 2016)

“I’ve been working here for 10 years. I always wake up at 4am in the morning, and finish work at 3pm…”

People close their shops already but I still have many more to sell. I don’t keep count how many hours I sleep, I’m just very tired when I get back home. I don’t remember what time I sleep. That’s my life!”

– Humans of Kuala Lumpur

Photostory by Mushamir Mustafa

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(This post was first published on June 1st 2016)

“It’s a family business. I am 49 years old and I love my job…”

“I took this job from my dad, and I started helping him since I was 7 years old. This wet market has changed a lot. Many things have changed. The area has changed. But we still sell. My son he’s doing something else. He doesn’t want to be a butcher like his dad.

“When do usually you experience the most crowds, and how many pieces of meat would you cut everyday? 

“During Hari Raya Aidilfitri. It depends on everyday demand. In a day we cut one meat and if we have orders to supply for catering and hotels it will be more than one. A lot of people like lamb.”

– Humans of Kuala Lumpur

Photostory by Mushamir Mustafa

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(This post was first published on May 31st 2016)