bus rides Archives - Splinter's Paradise

Day 157: Crossing the date line

June 1, 2014

Today I would travel from Fiji to Honolulu Airport in the United States. I sprang out of bed before my alarm chimed. After a quick breakfast, I delved back into my book. My rendezvous point was the main road by 10:45 am, with the bus scheduled to roll in by 11 am. Bidding farewell to Jeremy and fellow dorm mates, I regretted not exchanging contact info with such a fun guy. The bus journey was smooth, and by around 1:30 pm, I found myself at Nadi International Airport. After a quick pit stop at the restroom, I joined…

by Maarten

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Fiji

Day 154: Fiji’s Coral Coast, Pacific Harbour

May 29, 2014

Today’s adventure involves a journey along Fiji’s picturesque Coral Coast, leading me towards the captivating Pacific Harbour. I beat my alarm to the punch, rising at 8 am. Swiftly checking out and stowing my bag, I headed to the restaurant to order breakfast. The previous night, amidst laundry duties, I gathered all the travel intel I needed at Smugglers Cove’s information desk. Today’s bus ride promised a leisurely three-hour journey. Post-breakfast, attempting to tackle some blog reports, my motivation dwindled. I resolved to resume work at my next stop, expecting a fresh burst of productivity. At around 8:15 am…

by Maarten

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Indonesia

Day 30: Passing the equator, arrival in Bukittinggi

January 25, 2014

Yesterday, I departed from Lake Toba for a marathon 15-hour drive on the Trans-Sumatran Highway from Parapat to Bukittinggi. At around 11 pm, a minivan departed from the port town, carrying three other passengers. Anticipating a challenging journey, I was aware that traveling by road from Parapat was the only available option. The Trans-Sumatran Highway, leading from Parapat to Bukittinggi, might sound grand, but in reality, it’s far from being a typical highway. Its dimensions are more reminiscent of a Dutch bicycle path than a standard Western-country highway. It became immediately apparent that this road hasn’t seen maintenance in quite…

by Maarten

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Malaysia

Day 9: A night out in Kuala Lumpur, Omygod!

January 4, 2014

I woke up at 9 am and struck up a conversation with a fellow dorm mate named Gopal. Today, we planned to explore Kuala Lumpur together. Gopal, a 38-year-old who could easily pass for 23, exudes youthful energy in both appearance and demeanor. Hailing from Montreal, Canada, he’s a professional drummer who sought refuge in Malaysia to escape the harsh Canadian winter. Having recently visited Manila, the Philippines, he shared some chilling stories about the poverty he encountered. His travels are driven by the quest to find a suitable place to reside, one that offers respite from the Canadian winters…

by Maarten

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Malaysia

Day 7: Moving north?!

January 2, 2014

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…

by Maarten

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