Wrapping up Malaysia and Brunei

Wrapping up Malaysia and Brunei

Author: Fluent in 3 Months March 9, 2026 Duration: 8:47

In this episode, I look back on the final weeks of my journey through Malaysia and Brunei before starting my new adventure in Taipei. Malaysia turned out to be an incredible experience. Thanks to my background in Indonesian, I could quickly adapt to Malay and chat with locals almost everywhere I went. Travelling from Kuala Lumpur through Penang, Ipoh, Malacca and Johor Bahru, and later across Borneo, I spent most of my time off the typical tourist path, meeting welcoming locals who were curious and delighted to hear my imperfect Malay. At the same time, Malaysia’s strong Chinese cultural influence was impossible to miss. Surrounded by Mandarin speakers and festive Chinese New Year decorations, I felt inspired to refresh my Mandarin and prepare for the next stage of my language journey in Taiwan.

Brunei, which became my 50th visited country, offered a completely different atmosphere. With Ramadan observed very strictly, the country felt quiet and almost mysterious during the daytime, and its higher prices meant I only stayed briefly. Malaysia, by contrast, was remarkably affordable and easy to travel around, with great food, comfortable apartments and friendly people everywhere. Thanks to its British history, English is widely spoken, making it accessible even for travellers who don’t speak the local language. Overall, the trip left me with a fantastic impression. Malaysia is a fascinating mix of cultures and influences, and it’s definitely a place I’d love to return to, especially beautiful spots like Kota Kinabalu with its stunning sunsets and easy access to nature.


If you need one-on-one language guidance, schedule a consultation session with me at languagehacking.com/chat.

And don’t forget to check out the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp here!

Or you can follow me on all Social Media channels:
Instagram: @irishpolyglot
Thread: @irishpolyglot
TikTok: @irishpolyglot


There’s a certain magic that happens when you step off a plane and try to order a meal in a language you’re still fumbling through, or when a simple conversation with a stranger on a train opens up an entirely new perspective. Language & Travel Hacking, from the team behind Fluent in 3 Months, lives in those messy, authentic, and profoundly rewarding moments. Host Benny Lewis, a nomadic polyglot and best-selling author, doesn’t just theorize from a studio; he records from the road, sharing raw, real-time experiences and the practical strategies that actually work when you’re navigating a foreign market or building confidence in a new tongue. Each episode feels like a candid chat with a well-traveled friend who’s made all the mistakes so you don’t have to. You’ll hear the sounds of street markets and train stations in the background as Benny breaks down the psychology of language learning, offers actionable tips for picking up phrases quickly, and discusses how travel itself can be the ultimate classroom. This podcast is built on the idea that fluency and cultural connection aren’t distant goals reserved for the gifted, but accessible skills you can hack through smart, intentional practice. It’s for anyone who believes that the deepest way to explore a place is through its language, and that every journey is an opportunity to reshape how you see the world-and yourself. Tune in for honest stories and tangible advice that will change how you approach your next adventure, whether it’s across the globe or right in your own neighborhood.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 271

Language & Travel Hacking
Podcast Episodes
#30 Nissa on learning Bengali in 3 Months [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:04
This episode features Nissa, who learned conversational Bengali in just 90 days with the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge.We guarantee that anyone who completes the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge will have a 15-minute conversa…
#29 Judith Meyer on Opening Up Opportunity with Languages [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:42
Judith Meyer is the writer behind Teach Yourself’s Script Hacking series, creator of LearnYu, and several other language learning resources and tools.In this episode, Judith Meyer, renowned polyglot and language educator…
#28 Lindsay Williams the Language Dabbler [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:44
Lindsay Williams of Lindsay Does Languages is a co-founder of Women in Language, the creator of Language Stories, and is passionate about language learning.In this episode, Lindsay Williams joins us to discuss traveling…
#27 Jessica Tefenkgi Ruelle on Mindfulness in Language Learning [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:13
Jessica Tefenkgi Ruelle of French Sunnyside teaches mindfulness to language learners. She helps learners discover their authentic selves through self-awareness, journaling, and other coaching techniques.In this episode,…
#26 Jonathan Huggins on the “One Method” Strategy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:06
Jonathan Huggins first discovered his love for learning languages when he started diving into his father’s language learning library. That passion brought him to France to study music and continues to be a part of his li…
#25 Learn a Language in 5-Minute Bursts with Drops [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:48
Benny Lewis chats with Shannon Kennedy and Caitlin Sacasas about how they use the language app Drops. Drops is a visual, vocabulary language learning game that helps you build your foundation in a new language in 5-minut…
#24 Elizabeth Bruckner - from 10x Failure to Language Coach [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:30
Elizabeth Bruckner failed ten times to learn French. It wasn’t until she began exploring the online language community that she finally learned French… in her 40s. She’s since gone on to successfully learn German and Spa…
#23 Michele Frolla on Living and Working in Rome to Learn Italian [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:46
Michele Frolla grew up hearing Italian, but didn’t learn to speak it until she was a bit older. After picking up her heritage language, she went on to live and work in Italy, fully immersing herself in the language. She…