I am a wildlife conservationist. I travel throughout the country to explore wildlife.  Recently, I, along with five other conservationists from Nepal, was selected to attend the Wildlife conservation course organized by WildCRU (Wildlife Conservation Research Unit), part of the University of Oxford’s Department of Zoology. This year wildlife conservation course was held at University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus. 

Malaysia is one of the 12 mega-diverse countries in the world. It was my first international visit. I was nervous and excited at the same but it turned out to be a life-changing experience for me. During my visit to Malaysia, I got exposed to its culture and lifestyle. Though the course at the campus was rigorous, we still managed to experience what the city had to offer us.

There were 42 participants from 11 countries (Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Myanmar, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Nepal, Thailand, and India) for the course. Studying together with a diverse group of people helped me enhance my communication skills and confidence while talking to others.

Likewise, dinner at an Arabic restaurant was one of the most memorable moments in Malaysia. Chatting, and sharing experience with friends helped me get a clear idea about my future endeavor.  By traveling abroad, I built my connections and lifelong memories. 

At the end of the break, we explored Kuala Lumpur, capital of Malaysia. And I got to visit one of my friend’s farms where I enjoyed durian -- the king of fruits; I didn’t like the taste of the fruit due to its strong odor. Nevertheless, I loved rambutan and langsat. Then I got the feel of a beach for the first time in my life. I could see the water over the horizon and sunset, such a lovely moment which was just amazing. 

Located partly on the Asian mainland, Malaysia is truly Asia, like the tagline of Malaysian tourism says. It is rich in culture and has lots of traditions. The five main races -- Malay, Chinese, Indian, Iban, Kadazan -- make up the majority of its population. It is one of the wealthiest countries in Southeast Asia and equally rich in biodiversity. Being in Malaysia made me more alive.

The Nepali diaspora living in different countries abroad are welcome to write about experiences of the cities that they inhabit for our column ‘Citylogue’. Send submissions to mycity@myrepublica.com with the subject-line ‘Citylogue’.