Mar 25-26, 2018
Hanging-Out in Kuantan with the Guangzhou 5
Location: Kuantan (city), Pahang (state), Malaysia
Hitching a Ride to Kuantan
After the Vipassana course, I got a lift from Lee, a fellow meditator and a resident of Kuantan. We were joined by other participants, particularly, 5 Chinese ladies from Guangzhou, China, who came all the way for the Satipatthana course. We stopped by a restaurant for some sumptuous curry then spent some time in Lee's house for tea where we discovered common ground in yoga. We ended up taking turns doing asanas! They later took me to my lodging place, Kuantan Backpackers, to check-in, but I still joined them until the Guangzhou 5 checked-in at Rocana Hotel.
Guangzhou 5
Lee already left us at Rocana Hotel, but I still hung-out with the 5 ladies - most of them in their 50s except Xiaojing who was 26, and the only one who can speak a rudimentary English. We talked about yoga as they were all yoga practitioners. Later that afternoon, they still tagged me along for a walk to the river esplanade. This was followed by dinner. They again invited me to join them for breakfast the following day after doing a yoga class.
Feisty Ladies
Although the 4 were in their 50s, they all had this youthful bounce in them. The oldest, 62, didn't look a day over 50! And she did a headstand! They're also feisty, telling off the local shop keeper when they thought something wasn't in order. I enjoyed their company as I felt they enjoyed mine.
Ending Thoughts
They had to leave on the 3rd day but I really enjoyed being with them, despite the language difficulty. They extended an invite for me to visit them in Guangshou to be their English and Yoga teacher. How nice! But I think I'll have to learn Chinese first.
I just hitched a ride to Kuantan not knowing what awaited me - I didn't know anyone, didn't speak the local language and didn't know the place. Who would expect I'd get tagged along for 2 days by 5 ladies who hardly spoke English? Whoa! This is what I like about traveling...you let go and magical things spontaneously happen.
--- TheLoneRider
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Next stop: Exploring Kuantan, Malaysia
Kuantan (city), Pahang (state), Malaysia
- Terminal Sentral Kuantan - main bus terminal in Kuantan for trips to Kuala Lumpur and other provincial destinations. To get to Kuantan proper, take the Rapid Kuantan 303 bus to Hentian Bandar station.
- Hentian Bandar bus terminal - the local Rapid Kuantan bus terminal for destinations within Kuantan (MYR2)
- Stadium Darul Makmur - multi-purpose stadium with a capacity of 40,000 people used largely for football matches
- Masjid Sultan Ahmad Shah - Pahang's state mosque, inspired by Ottoman-Moorish style architecture
- Taman Esplanade (riverside park) - walking distance from Kuantan's main hub, 1 kilometer long, wide promenade, fishing, playground, fitness facilities
- River Cruise - leisurely cruise along the Kuantan River
- Mini Zoo Park Teruntum - free admission, near Teluk Cempedak
- Teluk Cempedak (beach) - Kuantan's most popular beach, Rapid Kuantan #200
- Global Max Trading (durian store) - durian during season starts at MYR15/k, Musang King at MYR55/k
- Tanjung Lumpur - fishing village and seafood eating place
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Kuantan Backpackers - MYR 30/day, clean, wifi, a/c, central location, all-day toast/coffee, common kitchen/fridge, walk to bus terminal
No 39, 1st Floor, Jalan Tun Ismail, Kuantan City
- Hoi Yin Restaurant - Curry Noodles, No. 31, Jalan Teluk Cempedak, Kuantan
Operatings Hours: 7am-2pm (or until sold out), closed alternate Mondays - Kedai Kopi Ah Soon - Nasi Lemak | Lorong Kubang Buaya 21, off Jalan Kubang Buaya, Kuantan
Operating Hours: 7.30am-12pm (or until sold out), daily - New Capital Chicken Rice Restaurant - Chicken Rice | 59, Jalan Bukit Ubi, Kuantan
Opening Hours: 8am-3pm, daily with unfixed closed days - Terminal Satay Zul - Sate | No. A 2600, Jalan Alor Akar, Kuantan
Operating Hours: 6pm-12.30am, closed alternate Mondays - Alor Akar Seafood Restaurant - spicy sweet sour tilapia fish, herbal beggar chicken, spicy pineapple crabs, pork and fruits in yam cake and hot pot tofu, homemade sugarcane juice | Lot 7695 & 7696, Jalan Kubang Buaya, Kuantan
Operating Hours: 6pm-12am, daily - Ana Ikan Bakar Petai 3 - Ikan Bakar | Kampung Tanjung Lumpur, Kuantan
Operating Hours: 5.30pm-12am, daily - Restoran Zaman - Nasi Lemak | Lot 1-3811, KM14 Jalan Gambang, Kuantan
Opening Times: 6am-2pm, daily - Mustafa Cendol - Cendol and Rojak | Jalan Teluk Sisek, Kuantan (near the Shell gas station)
Operating Times: 11.30am-7pm, daily - Pak Soh Corner - Keropok Lekor | Cherating Tanjung Tengah, Sungai Karang (Balok)
Operating Hours: About 12pm-6pm, daily - Jess Cafe - Yong Tau Fu | No. A15, Jalan Seri Kuantan 80, Kuantan
Operating Hours: 9am-6pm, daily, closed Mondays - Globalmax Trading - durian | Jalan Dato Lim Hoe Lek, Taman Pacific, 25200 Kuantan
+60 10-933 1079 - Lai Yien - Mee Kari (fav of Lee Boon Tai) | Lorong Seri Kuantan 25
- Dhamma Malaya - Vipassana Meditation Centre
Travel Tips for Kuantan
- Hentian Bandar Bus terminal
if you plan on using the local public bus, rapidKuantan, in exploring Kuantan, you'd be better off checking-in near the Hentian Bandar station. You get immediate access to all the buses plying the essential destinations in and around Kuantan. - Kuantan Backpackers
and if you decide to stay near the Hentian Bandar station and you are a backpacker, I recommend Kuantan Backpackers. I stayed there almost 3 weeks. For the money (MYR 30/night), you get wifi, all-day bread/coffee/tea, a common kitchen where you can cook your meals, common fridge and recreation area, tv, computer, a/c in the dorm room, strong water pressure, adequate toilets/showers. It's also clean and walking distance to the malls and river.
How to get to Kuantan from Kuala Lumpur
- take the local train from KL to TBS (Terminal Bersepadu Selatan)
- at TBS, go to the ticket counter (there are over 50 of them) and book a bus for Kuantan (3 hours, 40 mins/MYR ~24). You can also view the jumbotron for bus schedules, but the counter staff can advise you about bus schedule for Kuantan.
- you will be getting off at the main bus terminal in Kuantan, TSK (Terminal Sentral Kuantan). Take the local Rapid Kuantan 303 bus (to Hentian Bandar, MR 2.00) to get to the city proper
- Hentian Bandar station is the main local bus hub of Kuantan with buses taking you to essential destinations in Kuantan, MR 2.00
How to get to KLIA2 Airport from Kuantan
- go to Hentian Bandar bus terminal - Hentian Bandar station is also the main local bus terminal (303). Any local bus usually takes you to that station (MYR 2).
- Hentian Bandar bus terminal to TSK (Terminal Sentral Kuantan) - first trip is 6am and last trip from Hentian Bandar is 11pm (MYR 2, 20 mins). TSK is the provincial bus terminal in Kuantan.
- TSK (Terminal Sentral Kuantan) to TBS (Terminal Bersepadu Selatan) - earliest trip from TSK is 12:30am but the next one is already 7:30am. TBS is one of the main bus terminals in Kuala Lumpur (MYR 24, 3 hours, 40 mins)
to purchase tickets online from TSK: BusOnlineTicket.com - TBS (Terminal Bersepadu Selatan) to KLIA2 Airport - earliest bus leaves TBS at 3am (1 hour, MYR 12)
to purchase tickets online from TBS: https://eticketing.tbsbts.com.my
Malaysia Blogs
- Cool Climate of Cameron Highlands June 19-23, 2016
- Overnight in Kluang, Malaysia Aug 13-14, 2016
- Funky Flow Yoga with Lora Lorenzo at YogaOneThatIWant Studios July 27, 2016
- Deja Vu Kuala Lumpur with Karine July 21-26, 2016
- Layover in Kuala Lumpur June 22, 2016
- The Kuala Lumpur Experience Jan 21 - Feb 20, 2015
- Police Harassment in Kuala Lumpur Feb 17, 2015
- Visiting Batu Caves of Kuala Lumpur Feb 18, 2015
- Walking Tour of China Town Feb 5, 2015
- Breaking New Ground in Kuala Lumpur Jan 21, 2015
- Goodbye and Thank You Kuantan Apr 13, 2018
- Visiting the Masjid Sultan Ahmad Shah Mosque Apr 10, 2018
- Visiting the Pahang Art Museum Apr 3, 2018
- Beach Fun at Teluk Cempedak April 1, 2018
- Visiting the Kuantan Mini Zoo April 1, 2018
- High Intensity Interval Training Apr 1, 2018
- Fitness in Kuantan Mar 29, 2018
- Exploring Kuantan, Malaysia Mar 25-, 2018
- Hanging-Out in Kuantan with the Guangzhou 5 Mar 25-26, 2018
- Satipatthana Sutta Vipassana Mar 16-25, 2018
- The 24-Hr Trip from Loboc (Philippines) to Gambang (Malaysia) Mar 15-16, 2018
- A First-Timer in Malacca July 28-Aug 8, 2016
- Art Scene of Malacca August 6, 2016
- The River Charm of Malacca August 5, 2016
- About Malacca July 28, 2016
- Penang (Malaysia) Immersion May 27-Jun 19, 2016
- Exploring the Emergent Cafe Culture of Penang Jun 18, 2016
- Encounters with the Guru-Types of Penang Jun 17, 2016
- Overnight Camping at Turtle Beach Jun 10, 2016
- Yoga, Pranayama and Meditation in Penang Jun 10, 2016
- Daytrip to Batu Ferringhi Jun 9, 2016
- Savouring the Food of Penang May 27 - Jun 6, 2016
- Surreal Glow-in-the-Dark 3D World at Dark Mansion June 3, 2016
- The Animated Street Art of Penang Jun 3, 2016
- Exploring the Lush Greenery of Botanic Gardens May 29, 2016
- Up up and Away to Penang Hill May 28, 2016
- About Penang May 27, 2016
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