In this episode, I look back on the final weeks of my journey through Malaysia and Brunei before starting my new adventure in Taipei. Malaysia turned out to be an incredible experience. Thanks to my background in Indonesian, I could quickly adapt to Malay and chat with locals almost everywhere I went. Travelling from Kuala Lumpur through Penang, Ipoh, Malacca and Johor Bahru, and later across Borneo, I spent most of my time off the typical tourist path, meeting welcoming locals who were curious and delighted to hear my imperfect Malay. At the same time, Malaysia’s strong Chinese cultural influence was impossible to miss. Surrounded by Mandarin speakers and festive Chinese New Year decorations, I felt inspired to refresh my Mandarin and prepare for the next stage of my language journey in Taiwan.

Brunei, which became my 50th visited country, offered a completely different atmosphere. With Ramadan observed very strictly, the country felt quiet and almost mysterious during the daytime, and its higher prices meant I only stayed briefly. Malaysia, by contrast, was remarkably affordable and easy to travel around, with great food, comfortable apartments and friendly people everywhere. Thanks to its British history, English is widely spoken, making it accessible even for travellers who don’t speak the local language. Overall, the trip left me with a fantastic impression. Malaysia is a fascinating mix of cultures and influences, and it’s definitely a place I’d love to return to, especially beautiful spots like Kota Kinabalu with its stunning sunsets and easy access to nature.

If you need one-on-one language guidance, schedule a consultation session with me at languagehacking.com/chat.

And don’t forget to check out the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp here!

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In this episode, I’m announcing a return to one of my core languages: Mandarin. Earlier this year I focused on a short-term project in a brand-new country, but now I’m shifting back to a long-term priority. Mandarin has been on my core list for years, yet it’s the one I’ve neglected most. I first learned it intensively in 2012 when I arrived in Taipei without knowing a single word, eventually reaching a conversational level. However, the experience was stressful and overly focused on studying, and although I’ve maintained it and even co-written Language Hacking Mandarin, I’ve rarely had the chance to truly use it since.

Now I’m heading back to Taiwan for nearly two months to change that. I’ll spend time in Taipei rebuilding and pushing beyond my previous level, while also exploring more of the country and actually connecting with people in Mandarin. Rather than travelling to start a language from scratch, I’m travelling with the language and letting it open doors for me. My goal is to finally give Mandarin a solid place among my genuinely fluent languages, and I’m excited to bring you along for the journey.

If you need one-on-one language guidance, schedule a consultation session with me at languagehacking.com/chat.

And don’t forget to check out the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp here!

Or you can follow me on all Social Media channels:
Instagram: @irishpolyglot
Thread: @irishpolyglot
TikTok: @irishpolyglot

In this episode, I mark my arrival in my 50th country and reflect on what that number really means. After more than two decades of nomadic life, I’ve averaged about two countries per year. Some travellers race through dozens in a short time, while others, like me, move more slowly. I consider whether the goal should be collecting countries or shaping a style of travel that genuinely suits your values and curiosity.

For me, it has always been about people and language. Rather than ticking off landmarks, I prefer spending months in a place, learning the local tongue and building real connections. A few small states have boosted my total with brief visits, but most of my journeys have been deeper projects. As I reach this milestone in Brunei, I’m not chasing 100 countries, just continuing at a pace that feels meaningful and sustainable.

If you need one-on-one language guidance, schedule a consultation session with me at languagehacking.com/chat.

And don’t forget to check out the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp here!

Or you can follow me on all Social Media channels:
Instagram: @irishpolyglot
Thread: @irishpolyglot
TikTok: @irishpolyglot