Uncaptured moments

Some of the stories that couldn't be filmed.

Our adventure is being fully documented. However, there are moments that simply can’t be captured on film—because they happen too quickly, take us by surprise, or just don’t feel right to pull out a camera. Still, some of those moments are worth sharing.

So, here we are. No photos, just words—taking you along through the moments we lived as they happened.

Monkey car crash

Our first encounter with Malaysia’s cheeky monkeys was one to remember. It all happened in a split second, and it went something like this:

As we cycled through what felt like a dreamland of palm trees, banana leaves, and bamboo groves, we spotted two monkeys crossing the road in the distance. “Ah, so cut…”—but before I could even finish my sentence, the situation became a lot less cute. Suddenly, three more monkeys appeared, following the first two straight onto the road. At that exact moment, a car came speeding by. The last monkey, blindly running across, slammed headfirst right into the side of the vehicle. SMACK!

I covered my eyes, preparing myself for a bloody scene. But when I carefully looked up, I saw that the monkey had not only survived—he was fighting back. He jumped up, chased after the car, and stretched out his paw as if he was trying to show the driver his anger. That’s how smart they are. Crazy.

Bernardo and I looked at each other in a bit of a shock. It was surreal and, honestly, kind of hilarious—mostly because the monkey seemed totally unharmed.

For a few minutes, we just stood there, trying to process what we had just seen. And I think it’s clear there was no way we could have filmed this...

Lizard with a fish

This is a short one. And as the title of this scene already gives away—we saw a lizard with a fish.

A big lizard, by the way. Basically a mini crocodile.

He crossed the road, head held high, clearly proud of his catch, almost as if he was showing it off to us. And honestly, we got it. It was a serious fish. A real trophy.

There’s just something bizarre about seeing a lizard casually strolling by with a massive fish in its mouth. At least, for us. Maybe you, dear reader, are used to sights like this. But for us, it was like watching National Geographic—if National Geographic had terrible camera work.

Breakfast paid for by a stranger

This story is one of the many beautiful moments we shared with the people of Malaysia. If you haven’t read this article yet, where I describe another such moment in more detail, I recommend it. It will take you straight to Malaysia.

Just like the following act of kindness:

On this beautiful morning, we enjoyed a local breakfast—Nasi Lemak for me (once again) and Roti Canai for Bernardo (yet again). By the time we sat down, we had already covered 20 km, so we were more than ready for it. When our plates were empty, I casually walked over to the counter to pay, only to be told by the waitress that our meal had already been paid for. I looked up, surprised, and asked, “But by whom?”

We had been so focused on our food that we hadn’t exchanged a single word with the people sitting next to us—including the man who had quietly covered our bill.

Completely taken aback, I walked over to him. It felt a bit awkward, but I had to ask: “Did you pay for our breakfast?“ He simply smiled and explained that, just by looking at our gear, he had decided we deserved a free meal. We were speechless, but I hope our expression made our gratitude clear.

The generosity of the Malaysian people is unbelievable. I could say it a thousand times and it still wouldn’t be enough.

Thanks to a monkey

Now, here’s a story about a monkey who unexpectedly helped me on my way to a minimalist lifestyle.

In the video, you see how Bernardo and I are enjoying a dive into a waterfall—clothes and all. Lovely. But meanwhile, someone had other plans…

As we climbed out of the water, we spotted a monkey messing around by our bikes. We rushed over, only to discover that one of my bags was wide open. My sunscreen and towel were left abandoned on the ground. But what especially caught the monkey’s attention was my toiletry bag. It was gone. Nowhere to be found. I’m still visualising him brushing his teeth with my pink toothbrush.

In the meantime, I’ve realised that, with the exception of my toothbrush, everything in my toiletry bag was pretty much unnecessary. So, that monkey did me a favor. I’m now one step closer to my minimalist life goals.

Smoking police officer

Last but not least, a story that sums up the randomness of our trip.

It all started when we found ourselves stranded—tired, hungry, and cycling in circles in the dark, searching for a place to camp. Just as we were starting to accept a night of mosquito bites and improvised sleeping, a car pulled over. An older couple stepped out and simply said:"You can stay with us."

A miracle. With one minor obstacle—their house was still 10 kilometers away. Normally not an issue, but after already cycling almost 90 kilometers that day, it felt like a bit of torture. But relief won out, so we pushed through.

When we arrived, we sipped on soft drinks. The man proudly shared stories about his life as a police officer in Kuala Lumpur—at which point, filming suddenly felt illegal. We put the camera away. It was a simple, innocent evening—or so I thought…

Fresh out of the shower, I caught Bernardo’s sneaky smile.

“The man just invited me to smoke a joint.”

I laughed. “The cop?”

Bernardo: “Yep. And his wife doesn’t know.”

I copied Bernardo’s sneaky smile.

A man who made a living enforcing the law, yet now found himself breaking it (in Malaysia, getting caught with even a small amount of weed can mean up to five years in prison).

The irony went up in smoke and filled the room.

Oh well, you’re not going to tell me that every dentist flosses daily or that every yoga teacher meditates at sunrise. At the end of the day, this cop is just a person too. And that’s probably what made him such a great host.

I’ll leave it at that for now. But I’m sure this article will have a follow-up. So, to be continued.

Thanks for living these moments with us, just as they happened.

Jule Noah