I was mulling going on a trip and after some consideration, I decided to take the bus to Johor Bahru (or JB as we call it) on 10 March 2023 as I reckon I could go to other places in Ramadan but not to JB and back in Ramadan (unlike Penang, I don’t feel like overnighting there). I bought the ticket for the bus leaving TBS at 08:30 and while the bus arrived on time, we only departed at 08:45 as we had to wait for three Chinese nationals who were late. Like hello, I bought the ticket because I wanted to leave then; if I had wanted to leave later, I would’ve purchased the ticket for the 09:00 bus. Inconsiderate buggers!
We stopped en route at Machap rest area to use the facilities and arrived at Larkin Sentral at 12:20. I went to find the ticket counter and had to pay RM2 to get the physical ticket (not sure why we have to go through this process – aren’t online tickets good enough?) before asking the lady at the Information Counter which bus I should take to JB Sentral. Apparently there is a free bus to JB Sentral if I was lucky or I could take the bus from platform A. I hurried out and the bus was waiting. The fare was RM1.80 and you have to pay in cash, no change given back. Or you could use a card but I didn’t ask. It took 30 minutes to reach JB Sentral – I was timing the duration.
I walked to find the old Railway Station (now a museum). Unfortunately, there was some construction work in front of the building. This station building was built in 1931. Prior to that, all train services operated from a small wooden building nearby. Then I wandered along the recently rejuvenated Sungai Segget which is now a tourist attraction. I turned and walked to Public Bank tower and took the walkway next to it to cut across to Jalan Trus.
I walked past the old Chinese Temple, down to Gurdwara Sahib and then the Hindu temple before crossing over to get a bottle of mineral water from Big Pharmacy.
After that, I headed up the hill to Sultan Ibrahim Building which used to house the State Secretariat. I had a sudden hunger pang and quickly walked to the vegetarian eatery opposite the Chinese Temple for some lunch.
After lunch, I continued down Jalan Trus and turned back to Jalan Wong Ah Fook to Broadway Cinema. Then I turned into Jalan Segget and Jalan Pasar, walked past Pasar Karat which was quiet as it was daytime. Back at Jalan Trus, I turned into Jalan Dhoby before turning into Jalan Pahang and then turned into Jalan Tan Hiok Nee which is lined by charming shops. There was some roadwork which spoiled things somewhat.
I then walked to the High Court, stopping en route at the Zero Kilometre mark. There was a small park nearby but it wasn’t very accessible with a drain around the area like a moat. I turned back and walked back to Jalan Tan Hiok Nee then continued up to Jalan Wong Ah Fook.
I walked up to Amari Hotel and enquired where the prayer room was. After prayers, I walked back to JB Sentral for the bus back to Larkin Sentral. The bus left at 16:00 and we reached Larkin Sentral before 16:30. I walked to the adjoining Larkin wet market to browse before returning to the bus terminal.
The bus was late and we only boarded at 17:15. And despite the bus being late, again we had to wait for passengers who were late. I felt like screaming at them. I didn’t buy the 17:00 ticket so that I could leave at 17:30 and yet that was what happened.
The traffic heading north was heavier and we only reached TBS at 22:22, i.e., almost five hours after we departed. We stopped en route to use the facilities and I bought a chicken burger and a sausage roll as I was feeling hungry then. I reached micasa after 23:30. This is one reason why I didn’t want to go to JB during Ramadan: the traffic would be heavier and I’d have to break my fast along the way and then come back and perform tarawikh and witir prayers.
I wouldn’t mind another trip to JB but not anytime soon.
