Throughout his life, Lam lived all over the globe: for his Masters, for instance, he spent two semesters in Germany and one in Brazil. So when he returned to Malaysia in 2012, he had an epiphany: he had seen so much of the world, yet so little of his home country.
He vowed to rectify this immediately.
“I had no car at the time, I didn’t have stamina for cycling, and our train services were not comprehensive enough. So that left me only one choice: to take the bus!” Lam, 43, told FMT Lifestyle with a laugh.
And so, in December 2015, bringing only the bare essentials, he embarked on a whirlwind adventure around Malaysia, which he chronicled in his book series “My Journey By Bus”.
Two volumes are out so far, in both English and Chinese: the first contains Lam’s adventures around Perak, Penang, Perlis and Kedah while the second takes readers to Pahang, Terengganu and Kelantan. The author estimates there will be six volumes in total.
The series is full of charming anecdotes and striking photographs. Lam has a great eye for detail, and fills every chapter with comprehensive information from his journeys. It almost makes you feel tempted to go on your own bus adventure.
“Many people don’t realise this, but on a bus, your seat is much higher than that of a car. So you get a more expansive view of your surroundings,” Lam said.
“On a bus, you also don’t have to do anything, just sit back and leave the journey to the driver. If you’re lucky, you can have conversations with the people around you.”
Lam’s books offer a fascinating showcase of Malaysian culture and lifestyle: volume one, for instance, highlights popular destinations such as Ipoh, Taiping and George Town alongside lesser-known gems such as Tanjung Piandang, Timah Tasoh and Tanjung Chali.
The series highlights are undoubtedly Lam’s observations of small-town life.
The author regales readers with stories of playing rummy along the Kuala Sepatang river, and watching clam diggers along the shores of Kampung Tepi Laut.
One chapter has Lam take a trip to Kuala Kurau in Perak, where he ends up witnessing a fighting fish match!
Parts of the book serve to remind readers to appreciate traditional ways of life: in one rather poignant part, Lam visits one of the country’s last match factories, in Kampung Sungai Keladi, Kelantan.
Many of the author’s most memorable experiences involve encounters with locals, who often show him unexpected kindness.
In his book, he writes about sharing a table with an elderly couple in Kuala Terengganu, who were makers of the traditional “roti paung” delicacy. They invited Lam to their house and showed him their trade.
Lam laughs as he recalls a trip to Timah Tasoh, Perlis, where he ended up waiting for the last bus of the day in a rather deserted spot. He worried he would be left there for the night, but a kind Malay woman offered him a lift.
“The moment I got into her car, though, the bus pulled up behind me! So I was worrying for nothing!” Lam quipped.
The author is currently working on the third volume of his series, which will cover part of his travels around Negeri Sembilan, Melaka and Johor. A Malay version of the first two volumes is also in the pipeline.
Lam hopes his stories will inspire more people to try public transport, and discover Malaysia’s many hidden gems.
“Many buses are cashless nowadays, but it’s always good to have some small notes or coins with you. A bus conductor may not always have change for your fifty ringgit note,” Lam said.
“And don’t be shy to talk to anyone. A lot of bus passengers tend to be very friendly. Ask them for recommendations around their town, you often get very interesting replies. You may end up finding unique places you could never imagine!”
Learn more about Lam Ching Fu at his website or follow him on Facebook and Instagram.