Ok, I went to Kota Bahru to attend my best friend wedding, Zetty with Nor. We already bought the tickets earlier and as per ZT's suggestion, we chose Mutiara Konsortium.
Our journey started on Friday, one day before ZT's solemnization after office hour. We went out from office around 8pm to Hentian Duta by LRT train.
Hentian Putra was so packed! Our bus departed at 9.30 pm so we got ample time to buy snacks and went to the loo. Crazy thing happened in the toilet where we had to queue (very long queue indeed). Very hot, crowded and the toilet room was so small. Imagine with my bag pack, where to hang my bag, hand bag...
After all that in-comforting situation, we managed to settle down in the bus 10mins before the bus departed. Fuhhh....
Photo inside our bus. Mcm dlm flightkan....? It was a double-decker bus, very convenient and brand new.
As expected, my journey to the east coast was disaster. Is it because I'm not used with the winding road of east highway or I'm just not as adventurous as before, only feel comfort in a car. I think the 2nd one is a strong reason however not because I'm pampered with a car journey but I used to drive a lot so when it come to be a passenger and someone drive for me, I just don't know what to do so all the dizziness, nausea started to hit me. (Banyakla ko punya alasan kan....). Since it was also a school holiday, the highway was quite congested and few times we stuck in a traffic jam. The bus had a break at Merapoh around 1/2 hr then continued the journey.
We reached Kota Bahru at 5am. The KB CENTRAL STATION was a very small bus station. Well when I heard central I thought it must be similar with Malacca Central. A bus terminal complete with main facilities (shops, toilet, surau, etc..). However, KB central was just a place with few cover benches to wait a bus and rented a car/taxi.
We was quite dumbstruck at first on what's would be our next plan. Luckily there were few people waited for the bus there (oh yes I wondered and amazed that KB town was not deserted at that time. In fact there were lots of people with family and that made me felt a bit secured.)
We went to sit at one of the benches and asked a lady nearby where is the nearest mosque (as we planned to perform Subuh prayer and took a bath there). There was one mosque nearby at Central Market Area so we went there.
Something that I don't dare to do it in KL, just 2 persons walked along the town at 5pm! However in Kelantan a Serambi Mekah as they called it, org tua, makcik2, kanak2, perempuan2 bertudung were all there that time so of course U won't expected anything danger around the corner.
Jalan Siti khadijah area at dawn...
...... and after a walk less than 2 mins I think, we reached at the mosque.... Solat, took a nap until 7.30pm.
We went outside and it was already bright. As the mosque located next to the CENTRAL MARKET (wet market), we could see all the hawkers already started their business and busy unloaded their sellings (meat,fish,fruits,vegetables and etc...) from lorry to their premises.
In front of MASJID AL-BAROAH, Pasar Siti Khadijah KB
I was at the heart of the town, Parkson Mall at my back, market on my left, McD and The Store on my right, Mydin next to The Store, bus station next to the Parkson, and so on..so on.... So U get what I mean right, all the places were located next to each other so it was quite easy for us to "tawaf" Kota Bahru later.
Starved... we had a breakfast at McD, KB. Luckily it was operated 24hrs
IM LOVING IT!!
Conventional guider but still practical. Our map and we already listed and marked the interesting places to visit at KB.
Electronic gadjet. While having our breakfirst, we re-located our location and find the nearest way to our Hotel.
Photo after breakfast
8.30am : We went to the public toilet nearby for bath and change cloth. We paid Rm1 for the toilet but it was not worth it as the toilet was dirty. If not because we were each uncomfortable with our's body odor, we won't bath there. Desperate and back packer as we called ourselves, so we just redah je la air2 yg berkarat itu.
9am : Ready to explore KB town but first we decided to find our hotel and put our bag there. X selesa nk berjalan2 dgn bag pack yg berat itu. We supposed to check in at 12pm. Luckily when we reached there, our room was ready for us so we just directly checked in.
About our Hotel, Rose Garden Inn, imagine I changed my plan on our accommodation one day before our departing day. Initial plan was to sleep at Zetty house. She insisted on letting us to sleep at her house however after deep consideration, we found that it was not nice to hassle the tuan rumah with our ittenary when on the same time they need to monitor and prepare for the wedding event. I "google"d and found few budget hotel nearer with KB town and Zetty house (luckily zetty house is not far from town) and only one guess house available. You may find the link HERE. It was school holiday so most of the hotels were full. Apparently, beside of the price was quite cheap (rm55/night for double bed room), we were impressed that the hotel was indeed very comfortable, clean and all the necessary facilities were provided. The owner is Malay and I really like it a lot. Located at Jalan Kebun Sultan, it was also nearer with the tourist attractions, malls and banks. Normally when we heard budget hotel, we don't put high expectation on it. However look at our room... Looks like a 3stars hotel right. What...? No...? Alamak malunya saya..
Lets take a look at my room....
The most important thing that I look into in every hotel that I've checked in, is it's toilet. It must not really looks sophisticated and luxury... as long as it is CLEAN that's fine with me. And this toilet, had pass my evaluation.
Lastly the bed, it was already called us... "come to sleep...come to sleep...". Cair beb...
Suddenly our plan changed!! What do u expected when we who were already like zombie saw a very comfy bed, cool temp... Sleep definitely came first! Lgpun still earlykan. Tido dulu la jawabnya!
So i think i will stop my writing here... Gonna continue in my experience meronda Kota Bahru town later. Till then see ya..!!!