Why I prefer to drive in Malaysia
Or in the Philippines. Or in any other developing (2nd and 3rd world) countries. Because I cannot trust my life with the local bus drivers and detest being ripped off by ruthless taxi drivers.
From Singapore, my parents and I took the Delima bus to Malacca. Singapore and Malaysia are divided by water and connected to each other by this massive long bridge. Immigration was surprisingly a no nonsense procedure. You get off the bus to go through immigration and the bus will then wait for you at the other side. They do ask you to bring your luggage with you through security check though. The bus was very comfortable and the drive was fine.
Going back we took the same bus company but had a horrible experience. Firstly, we almost missed the bus to Singapore because we did not have a printed copy of our booking and the bus company at the terminal in Malacca is not digitally automated and connected to the booking system. THEY NEED THE PRINTED BOOKING. Unfortunately, the printer was kapot at the Baba House we stayed at, so I had to buy another ticket for the three of us. *I hate wasting money*
Anyway, we managed to take the bus on time but then it turned out that its air-conditioning was not working well. We were sitting at the back where the motor of the bus is placed so I was cursing like I was in hell and sweating like a pig. It was a very hot hellish 4-hour ride. Moreover, the bus was dreadfully dirty. As if everything was not enough, and this is like rubbing salt in an open wound, the bus driver started racing with another Delima bus. WTF? Are we now on a racetrack to Singapore? Stupid bus driver risking the lives of passengers. Grrrr, this really annoys me so much, I wanted to kick the ass of the driver and throw him out of the bus. THIS IS THE MAIN REASON WHY I AVOID BUSES AND ALWAYS RENT A CAR EVERYTIME I TRAVEL.
So having said that, we rented a car in Malacca and drove to Kuala Lumpur and the Cameron Highlands. It was my first time to drive on the other side of the road so I kept chanting in my head—Right, Right, Right, hehe. Traffic and vehicular situation was quite okay. It is not as bad as the Philippines, except for a few here and there cracked drivers such as in the below news.
In Kuala Lumpur we decided to let the car rest and we took the cab to explore the city, and naturally on our first day we got scammed right away by a taxi driver. He charged us more than twice the normal ride. When we learned about this trick we avoided the new and pretty looking cabs that tend to wait for passengers on a corner. They will not put down the meter but will stubbornly haggle with you a price. It is pure BS. Most of the times they conspire with each other. You’d have a row of taxis and none will not bring the meter down. This really sends me reeling. The best way to avoid these swindlers is to take the cabs passing. Older cabbies also have better integrity than the younger ones.
We had a chat with an old cabbie driver and he can only sympathise with us. He is not proud of the taxi situation in Kuala Lumpur but he tries to do his best by being honest with his passengers. I tipped him well, although he was not really expecting it. A very good man.
Do you have the same experience as us in Malaysia?
Travel Period: August 2013
Destination: Malacca – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Keep in touch and follow me on Facebook: Travel & Lifestyle Diaries by Dutched Pinay Travels
Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)
From Singapore, my parents and I took the Delima bus to Malacca. Singapore and Malaysia are divided by water and connected to each other by this massive long bridge. Immigration was surprisingly a no nonsense procedure. You get off the bus to go through immigration and the bus will then wait for you at the other side. They do ask you to bring your luggage with you through security check though. The bus was very comfortable and the drive was fine.
The bridge connecting Singapore and Malaysia.
Toilet stops =)
Malaysia has highway tolls.
Going back we took the same bus company but had a horrible experience. Firstly, we almost missed the bus to Singapore because we did not have a printed copy of our booking and the bus company at the terminal in Malacca is not digitally automated and connected to the booking system. THEY NEED THE PRINTED BOOKING. Unfortunately, the printer was kapot at the Baba House we stayed at, so I had to buy another ticket for the three of us. *I hate wasting money*
Anyway, we managed to take the bus on time but then it turned out that its air-conditioning was not working well. We were sitting at the back where the motor of the bus is placed so I was cursing like I was in hell and sweating like a pig. It was a very hot hellish 4-hour ride. Moreover, the bus was dreadfully dirty. As if everything was not enough, and this is like rubbing salt in an open wound, the bus driver started racing with another Delima bus. WTF? Are we now on a racetrack to Singapore? Stupid bus driver risking the lives of passengers. Grrrr, this really annoys me so much, I wanted to kick the ass of the driver and throw him out of the bus. THIS IS THE MAIN REASON WHY I AVOID BUSES AND ALWAYS RENT A CAR EVERYTIME I TRAVEL.
So having said that, we rented a car in Malacca and drove to Kuala Lumpur and the Cameron Highlands. It was my first time to drive on the other side of the road so I kept chanting in my head—Right, Right, Right, hehe. Traffic and vehicular situation was quite okay. It is not as bad as the Philippines, except for a few here and there cracked drivers such as in the below news.
Driver was angry with cabbie who overtook the bus. Resulted in 37 pointless deaths.
In Kuala Lumpur we decided to let the car rest and we took the cab to explore the city, and naturally on our first day we got scammed right away by a taxi driver. He charged us more than twice the normal ride. When we learned about this trick we avoided the new and pretty looking cabs that tend to wait for passengers on a corner. They will not put down the meter but will stubbornly haggle with you a price. It is pure BS. Most of the times they conspire with each other. You’d have a row of taxis and none will not bring the meter down. This really sends me reeling. The best way to avoid these swindlers is to take the cabs passing. Older cabbies also have better integrity than the younger ones.
We had a chat with an old cabbie driver and he can only sympathise with us. He is not proud of the taxi situation in Kuala Lumpur but he tries to do his best by being honest with his passengers. I tipped him well, although he was not really expecting it. A very good man.
Do you have the same experience as us in Malaysia?
Central Market of Kuala Lumpur.
A mosque I believe and a government building.
The friendly cabbie who did not expect a tip.
Muslims, Hindus, Christians and Buddhists live together side by side in Malaysia.
Travel Period: August 2013
Destination: Malacca – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Keep in touch and follow me on Facebook: Travel & Lifestyle Diaries by Dutched Pinay Travels
Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)
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