Solo Journey: Singapore to Malaysia Travel Mishaps & Triumphs
This was my very first time crossing the border from Singapore into Malaysia by land, and it immediately became a memorable journey marked by getting lost right after immigration. After completing the procedures, I followed the crowd downstairs, only to realize it was the exit to the parking area, not the way up! I wandered around for nearly an hour, completely unsure of where to go, until I finally discovered the correct path was actually on the upper floor.
Once outside, I headed straight for Larkin Sentral bus station to buy a ticket to Muar, intending to visit a friend before continuing my trip. However, upon arrival, the scene was truly overwhelming: the place was packed with people, luggage piled everywhere, and a constant loud clamor. I quickly learned that it was the Malaysian New Year holiday, and the next day was still a public holiday.
Seeing that chaos instantly reminded me of Tet holidays back home in Vietnam, where roads from Saigon to the Mekong Delta are jammed, with traffic moving inch by inch. Fearing traffic jams the next day and potentially missing my flight, I immediately canceled my plan to meet my friend, booked a hotel in Kuala Lumpur, and changed my bus ticket to head directly to KL that night.
The Struggle for a Seat
I assumed having a ticket meant I could board the bus on time, but that was naive. As soon as any bus arrived, people surged forward and scrambled on board, ignoring the ticketing line. I stood there holding my 6:25 PM ticket, watching bus after bus depart amidst the exhausted crowd, with luggage strewn all over the floor.
It wasn't until nearly 8:30 PM that a kind Malaysian gentleman made space for me to finally board. On the bus, I was the only woman; everyone else was a strange man. The person next to me was a tall man, likely from West Asia, who spoke very little. He borrowed my power bank and promptly fell asleep beside me. When we stopped midway for a restroom break, he returned and handed me a bottle of cold water. I thanked him with a smile, but honestly, I didn't dare drink it at that moment. In such an unfamiliar environment, that small gesture was both heartwarming and immediately triggered my caution.
The Overnight Drive to KL
Just when I thought the hardest part was over, we hit terrible traffic. The highway connecting Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur was completely gridlocked; the bus barely moved. I was utterly exhausted, opening my eyes countless times only to see the exact same scene.
We didn't reach TBS (Terminal Bersepadu Selatan) until almost 4 AM. Breathing a sigh of relief, I thought ordering a Grab ride would solve everything, but reality hit again... The Grab app wouldn't accept my card payment, and paying cash late at night was impossible. I pulled my suitcase and started walking towards the designated pickup zone, knocking on the doors of every parked Grab car, asking, "Sir, can you take me?" Finally, one driver agreed. The car set off into the still-dim city streets.
The clock showed exactly 5:00 AM when we stopped in front of my hotel. I looked at the warm yellow light spilling from the lobby, feeling both utterly tired and immensely relieved. It had been such a long night, filled with moments I thought I couldn't get through, but those very moments are what made it unforgettable.
Sitting in the hotel room, looking out the window as the Kuala Lumpur sky slowly brightened, I realized: throughout one night, I had traversed three cities, two countries, and experienced the full spectrum of emotions, from feeling lost and anxious to deeply grateful.
For my first solo trip, I expected to be scared, but it turned out that once you overcome that initial fear, everything else is just part of the experience.
And despite all the hardship and moments of melancholy, waking up the next morning brought one clear realization:
I truly traveled, and I did it entirely on my own.
