Today, I embarked on a journey from the Little Red Dot to Kuala Lumpur by bus. In the morning, I made my way to Keypoint bus station, where I had to wait for 30 minutes for my Kuala Lumpur-bound bus. During the wait, I purchased and enjoyed some pastries from a local shop. I had booked the bus months ago through an online website. The bus ride turned out to be quite straightforward, and to my surprise, there weren’t many travelers on board. Consequently, I had two seats to myself, making for a comfortable journey. Anticipating smooth roads, my expectations for an easy trip to Kuala Lumpur were met, given the well-maintained roads in Malaysia.
The journey to Kuala Lumpur by Bus
Upon reaching the Singapore border, we disembarked and smoothly passed through customs with just our passports. After a quick 15-minute pause, we resumed our bus journey for another 15 minutes until we reached Malaysian customs. This time, our luggage underwent scanning. It was at Malaysia’s border control that I encountered a stark contrast between the two countries – particularly in the realm of hygiene, exemplified by the Malaysian toilets. While the facilities at the Singapore border were acceptable but fell short of Dutch standards in terms of cleanliness, the toilets at the Malaysian border were shockingly dirty and odorous. Out of principle, I’ll spare you the details, but to paint a vivid picture: I didn’t have the courage to touch the faucet in the sink!
Post-customs clearance, the journey persisted for a four-hour stretch. The bus fare was remarkably economical, just 28 SGD for a one-way trip covering 350 kilometers to Kuala Lumpur. In summary, the bus proved to be comfortable, air-conditioned, and spacious, offering more room than the Dutch buses I was accustomed to. However, the bus driver was rather taciturn and provided no explanations, so it’s advisable to be clear about your disembarkation point. My chosen carrier for this trip was Gold Couch.
While on the bus, I captured images of the picturesque landscape unfolding before us. Bathed in sunlight, the palm trees reflected the sun’s rays, enhancing the beauty of the surroundings. The Malaysian roads, resembling those in Europe, made the 4-hour journey remarkably comfortable.
Arrival at Kuala Lumpur
Upon disembarking the bus at the Kuala Lumpur bus station, I was instantly hit by the intense heat and humidity—conditions I wasn’t accustomed to at all. Kuala Lumpur felt a staggering 7 degrees Celsius warmer than Singapore and considerably more humid. The air was thick with fumes, and the bustling street sounds were borderline painful to my ears—no exaggeration. A row of approximately twenty taxis awaited passengers in front of the bus station. A hefty Malaysian, seemingly in charge, approached me and inquired about my destination. I presented him with my note containing the street name, written in my notoriously illegible doctor’s handwriting: ‘Jalan Tun H S Lee.’ In response, he pointed in a different direction and briskly urged, ‘Go go go go go!’ Confused, I followed his instructions for about thirty meters, still uncertain about my destination. Opting for clarity, I retraced my steps to the taxi driver, who now had an English-speaking companion by his side. With precise instructions, I learned that the hostel was a mere five-minute walk from the spot where I stood.
My Second Hostel
In contrast to the cleanliness and hygiene issues at the Little Red Dot hostel, the current hostel I’m staying at is the complete opposite. It boasts clean beds, warm showers, fast wifi, and an exceptionally helpful staff. I must acknowledge that the staff at the Little Red Dot were also very helpful and friendly. The nightly rate here is a bit higher, but it could be attributed to my stay coinciding with New Year’s Eve in Singapore.
I highly recommend staying with BackHome to others. Their central location and attentive staff make it a great choice. The last image on this page displays the main street, Jalan Tun Perak, with the sky train above it. BackHome is situated on the side street, Jalan Tun HS Lee. Once settled, I set out to find an ATM, and with the hostel’s guidance, locating the banks was a breeze. However, my quest proved challenging as I tried several banks, only succeeding on my fifth attempt. Lesson learned: Islamic banks are best avoided. During my stroll, I couldn’t help but notice many people casting curious glances my way, creating a somewhat unusual feeling. While I perceived the Malaysian people to have stern expressions, I found them to be remarkably helpful. Thus far, acclimating to the city’s dirt, heat, and humidity in Kuala Lumpur is my ongoing adventure.
During the evening, I encountered Michaela, a spirited math teacher from Victoria, Australia. Currently, she’s on a backpacking adventure in Malaysia for a few weeks en route to Sri Lanka. Tomorrow marks her final day in Kuala Lumpur. Eventually, we decided to spend some time together. Later that night, I dedicated time to crafting and uploading travel stories to my website.
