I Put My Phone Down… and This Happened (Kuantan, Malaysia)

One morning in Kuantan, I did something I normally wouldn’t do: I put my phone down. I sat down to breakfast (just coffee, since it was a fasting day) and decided not to scroll the news, check stocks or do any of the usual stuff. I was just going to sit and listen to the waves come in. It was extremely therapeutic, and I quickly changed my plans for the day. No editing, no to-do list. I was going to walk on the beach.

Being in the moment. When you’re on the road all the time, you hear the advice “don’t live like you’re on vacation,” and you think you’re doing okay. But even on the days you sit in your room and chill out, you’re still watching YouTube and checking email, still doing all the things that take you away from the moment. Why would I want to be taken away from this moment? It was beautiful. You tell yourself you’ll do better at being present, but you’re so used to not being present that you slip right back. So I tried to do better that day.

Teluk Cempedak. I was staying at the Hyatt Regency Kuantan Resort, right on the beach, and the restaurant where I’d been having that coffee overlooks the sand. The walkway at the end of the beach was closed for repairs when I was there, which was a shame; I bet the view from that little gazebo is great. The water was actually a little cool and felt good. A friendly staff member told me about a trail over the hill to a lighthouse viewpoint, about a 15-minute walk, but you’ll want real shoes and insect repellent, which the 7-Eleven sells.

Shum’s lists. As soon as I arrived in Kuantan, Shum sent me two Word documents: a six-day itinerary of places to see, and an entire list of places to eat. It totally counteracted my plan to relax, do a little editing and take a few fasting days to reset. Add a good hotel breakfast and lounge access, and you almost feel guilty going out to eat.

From Shum’s list, I did make it to the tower and the river cruise; you can see those in Kuantan: Tower Views, River Cruise and Night Market. More from Kuantan is coming soon.

Looking back: I’m still adjusting and trying to find balance while traveling. I’m not complaining; it’s a wonderful problem to have, just more complicated than you’d imagine. I recently spent a whole month in Bali without worrying about social media. It was nice, but I’m ready to start journaling my trips again.

I sat for a while longer and just soaked it in. I definitely need to be doing more of this.