A Ride Meant to be Simple
What was supposed to be a “chill trip” across the Causeway turned quietly stressful for Singaporean cyclist Joel Liu, better known online as @injaee.
He had cycled from Singapore into Johor, expecting a straightforward journey. Instead, as he reached Kota Tinggi, his bicycle tyre punctured — twice. By then, he had run out of fixes.
The sun was already dipping, and he had no campsite booking for the night.
“… this is kinda lame,” he admitted in an Instagram video posted five days ago, recalling how the situation began to sink in.
With no clear plan, he pushed his bike on foot for three kilometres, heading toward what he described as the “nearest human civilisation” — a small kampung.
Meeting Faz, Who Knew Everyone
That walk led him to Faz, a local who offered him a seat and listened to his story. What struck Joel almost immediately was how connected Faz seemed to be.
“He somehow knows everyone in the kampung,” Joel said.
Faz began making phone calls — to his mother’s friend, then a friend’s father — eventually securing a vacant campsite spot for the night.
For someone Joel had just met, the effort felt unexpected and deeply reassuring.
But the night was far from over.
Two Hours, Homemade Fixes, and No Complaints
As Joel tried to figure out what to do about his bike, another villager arrived — Isa. After hearing what had happened, Isa sat down with him and began trying to revive the tyre.
They experimented with whatever they had on hand. Isa even rode back home multiple times to fetch more tools.
“I don’t think I’ve ever spent two hours helping a stranger fix anything,” Joel reflected later.
For nearly two hours, Isa stayed with him. Despite their best efforts, the tyre couldn’t be saved.
Joel resigned himself to the idea of walking another seven kilometres to the campsite.
A Van, a Burger, and a Missed Dinner
That was when Isa disappeared — briefly.
He returned not on his bike, but in a van. Without hesitation, he loaded Joel’s bicycle inside and drove him to the campsite himself.
But not before stopping at a local stall.
Isa bought Joel a hamburger, a small gesture that carried unexpected weight. When Joel asked if he had already eaten — or if his family was waiting — Isa brushed it off.
“It’s okay, I’ll just eat the leftovers later,” he said.
Isa had delayed his family dinner to help someone he had never met before — and likely would never see again.
Then he left, quietly, without asking for anything in return.
“What does he have that I don’t?”
Looking back on the encounter, Joel didn’t frame the experience as heroic or dramatic. Instead, he turned the question inward.
“We often think of people living in developing areas as having less,” he said.
“But that day, I honestly felt like I was the one missing out on something.”
In another moment of reflection, he asked aloud: “What does he have that I don’t?”
A Story That Struck a Chord
The video resonated widely online, with many pointing out that such kindness isn’t rare — just often unnoticed.
“Kampung folks are always friendly and helpful,” one commenter wrote. “Just smile, be respectful. Ride safe.”
Another added: “That’s Malaysia for you. Glad you got to experience our Malaysian heart and kindness.”
What began as a punctured tyre and a fading sunset became a picture of generosity, and unconditional kindness — to a complete stranger: from kampung people with hearts of gold.
Watch the video here:
@iska.1967 That’s what living in Malaysia means, kind hospitality, warmness friendship and good hearted. Hope you tell your Singapore friends who we really are🙏👍👏
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