Arriving at Kuantan Bus Terminal
Here’s the previous article: ✈️ Traveling from Kota Kinabalu to Kuantan: My East Coast Malaysia Adventure
After arriving at the Kuantan bus terminal, I continued my journey with a ticket I had purchased from the official TBS-BTS website. But here’s the catch: that printed paper wasn’t enough to get me through the gate. Instead, I had to go behind the departure counter upstairs to exchange it for an actual bus ticket at the ticket counter.
According to the website, the counter closes 30 to 45 minutes before departure. But in reality? I showed up way past that window and had no problems at all. Phew!
Waiting… and Waiting…
I showed my ticket at the gate below and entered the waiting area. My bus was scheduled for 3:30 PM. At 3:30 PM on the dot, the bus was still nowhere in sight. I asked the staff at the counter, and they confirmed it hadn’t arrived yet.
Eventually, the signboard updated, and I asked one of the staff again – apparently, the bus had just arrived. An announcement followed, but of course, it was entirely in Malay. No way I could understand that. I spotted a pair of Western backpackers looking just as confused as I felt.
Onboard the Bus – Not So Cold After All
Inside the bus, it wasn’t cold at all. A T-shirt and jeans were more than enough. I guess it depends on the bus company or route. Unfortunately, my seat was roasting because the guy in front of me refused to close his curtain. I couldn’t close mine either unless he did, since his curtain blocked mine from sliding. Ugh. I managed to pull over the rear curtain, but still – seat 8A? Not recommended. Try 7A or 9A instead.
The bus was almost fully booked in the single-seat section, but the double seats had a few lone riders scattered here and there.
The Long Ride to Terengganu
The bus got caught in traffic and stuck to regular roads instead of highways. I finally left around 4:00 PM and looked to arrive by 8:00 PM. So, a 4-hour ride. No toilet announcements were made, and although the bus stopped a few times, it was just for fuel or quick stops – nobody got off, and there was no toilet on the bus. With everyone speaking only Malay, it was pretty tough to figure out what was going on.
Thankfully, people started getting off at different stops along the way. By the final hour, it felt like I had most of the bus to myself, which made the ride less stressful.
The ride was bumpy and the brakes intense – not the most comfortable journey. Constant vibrations meant reading was out of the question. I either typed or dozed off.
Compared to transferring from Kota Kinabalu to KL and then to Kuantan, this route was much smoother overall. Toilet issue aside, traveling by bus was actually quite pleasant.
Arriving in Terengganu
Once I reached the Terengganu bus terminal, a swarm of taxi touts swooped in. A bit annoying, honestly. I headed to the terminal bathroom first – but not before realizing I had forgotten my carry-on and had to rush back to grab it. 😅
Dragging my suitcase, I walked to my hotel, which I had wisely booked in the city center. Although it was nighttime, the vibe wasn’t particularly sketchy. Compared to Kuantan, the city felt more chaotic, but not dangerous.
A Morning in Malaysia
I woke up around 9:30 AM. Not sure if I really slept or just kind of drifted in and out. Definitely low-quality sleep.
My throat felt scratchy and sore. Pretty sure it was COVID based on the symptoms, though I never got officially tested. My shoulders were super stiff too. I wasn’t feeling great.
Of all places, I really didn’t want to come down with something while staying at the most budget-friendly spot of my trip, but I needed the room cleaned, so I pushed myself to go get breakfast.
Breakfast at Suerasa Nasi Kerabu
I had been looking forward to trying authentic nasi kerabu in Terengganu, so I headed to a well-known spot nearby called Suerasa Nasi Kerabu. It wasn’t crowded – maybe because I went late.
Of course, no English was spoken, so I ordered in Malay. Proud moment! 😄
Nasi kerabu is topped with budu, a fermented fish sauce. From what I had researched, it’s similar in aroma to Thai fish sauce or Vietnamese nuoc mam – both of which I really dislike. So I politely asked them to skip the budu.
Still, the dish was amazing. The rice paired perfectly with the crunchy vegetables, and the East Coast-style sambal was rich and flavorful. The fish? Delicious. Maybe next time I’ll try budu… after a smell test at the supermarket first. 😉
Exploring Despite the Sickness
Though I felt pretty bad, I knew I wouldn’t get many chances to come back here. I pushed myself to visit Pasar Payang, a famous market.
The first floor had souvenirs; the second floor was full of clothes, batik, and T-shirts. Terengganu batik is renowned, so I bought one. The sewing was rough, but the fabric and dye work were top-notch.
I grabbed a drink near the market and walked through Chinatown and Turtle Alley. Eventually, the dizziness kicked in hard. I stopped by Watsons and stocked up on throat lozenges and cough syrup. Lifesavers! Difflam AB and Strepsils Max were my MVPs this trip.
The Next Day
Fever, headache, fatigue, sore throat (again), neck and shoulder stiffness, and yellow phlegm and nasal mucus when I woke up. Not great.
I downed a cocktail of meds (thank you, Watsons!) and left the room around noon to allow housekeeping in. I wore a mask and brought disinfectant wipes to avoid spreading the infection.
I had to cancel my speedboat reservation to Kapas Island via Redbus. Instead, I headed to Mayang Mall to rest.
Oddly enough, I started feeling slightly better (maybe the meds kicked in?), so I took a Grab ride to Pantai Batu Burok, the most famous beach around.
The young driver complimented my Malay – yay! But I couldn’t understand his replies. My listening and vocab still need work.
The beach? Honestly, less interesting than Kuantan. Not much to do, little shade, and I didn’t bring sandals, so I couldn’t get close to the water. The white sand was nice, but not ideal for swimming. Food stalls were also sparse. Meh. To be fair, it might be a lot more lively and enjoyable at night when the beach comes alive.
Grab Driver Recommends Night Eats
On the way back, I got the same driver. He suggested I check out the food trucks near the famous bridge from 9 PM to midnight. But he warned that Grab rides vanish after 11 PM, so he gave me his Instagram and said to contact him if I couldn’t get a ride.
Back at the hotel, I felt too sick to go out again. I ordered dinner on GrabFood. It was from a nearby place, so in hindsight, I could’ve just gone myself.
I started to worry about the next day. I had to fly to Padang via Kuala Lumpur. Was I well enough?
That night, my sore throat finally faded, only to be replaced by a runny nose – non-stop clear snot from my left nostril. I had a hunch it might turn into yellow gunk soon… not a good sign.
The Last Morning in Terengganu
I honestly couldn’t tell if I slept at all. Maybe a few hours? My body felt hot, and sleeping was rough. Even with the AC set to 86°F (30°C), cold air blasted through. I think the central unit was overriding my room settings.
The hotel seemed good at first glance, but hallway noise echoed loudly, the windows let in a lot of outside sounds, and the elevator was frustratingly slow. I got one of the best rooms on the 5th floor, so I can’t complain too much — and honestly, I think I’ll probably stay at this hotel again next time I come back to Terengganu..
They had a “Do Not Disturb / Please Clean” switch, which made things easier. I kept it on “Do Not Disturb” until I left, then flipped it to “Please Clean.”
The water dispenser in the lounge behind the lobby was a nice perk.
I got up at 8:30, checked out at 9:30, and arrived at the airport at 10:00 AM. AirAsia is said to be strict on time, but in Malaysia, that didn’t seem to be the case. Despite being a busy route to KL, the self-check-in process was fast and smooth.
I bought a cool Terengganu T-shirt at the souvenir shop, grabbed a bite at a kopitiam, and entered the departure gate area 30 minutes before the flight.
Then… BAM. Major delay. My 11:50 AM flight got pushed to 3:00 PM. By the time I reached Kuala Lumpur, my connecting flight to Padang, Indonesia, had already closed its gate.
I had planned a private tour in Padang for my one-night stay, and now that plan was toast. I messaged the tour operator and my hotel in Padang (a nice one with an upgraded ocean-view room – and super cheap by the way). I double-checked with AirAsia at KL airport, but yep – gate closed. I’d have to buy a new ticket if I still wanted to go.
Travel isn’t always smooth sailing, but hey, it makes for a good story, right? 😅 Although I was feeling really unwell during my time in Terengganu, it’s become one of the places I definitely want to revisit on my next trip to Malaysia.