Srinagar, July 14: An Indian traveller’s reflections after a recent trip to Kuala Lumpur have stirred an online debate, after he candidly compared the Malaysian capital’s civic standards to conditions back home. In a Reddit post titled “Just back from Kuala Lumpur and I’m ashamed,” the user shared how his unexpected visit — chosen over Vietnam due to last-minute changes — turned out to be a revelation.
The experience left him feeling disheartened about what Indian cities often lack and empathetic toward foreigners or NRIs who return to a far less organised environment. It also led him to rethink his views on why many Indians choose to settle abroad.
The post sparked a lively online discussion about the disparity between India’s potential and the everyday reality faced by its citizens. Many users shared their own experiences of travelling abroad and having a similar shift in perspective.
One user said, “I visited Japan as my first international country from Delhi. Man, I expected shockers but the magnitude of it…I wasn’t prepared for it.”
Another user commented, “I was one of those who never wanted to leave India. Went to Germany for a business trip. My whole view of abroad changed. The safety. The air. The quality of food.”
A third wrote, “We need to own up to our own mistakes as well and not blame everything on politics. Cleanliness, for one, is the onus of citizens and not the government. And you can see how we do there. Corruption at all levels is on citizens, you can see how we do there.”
Despite initially having low expectations, he was struck by the city’s clean roads, organised infrastructure, and the overall civic sense of its people. The absence of potholes, efficient urban planning, and public cooperation deeply impressed him, prompting a critical reflection on India’s struggles with basic amenities despite having vast resources and talent.
