DAY194: From Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Besut

9.30am: At the bus station, waiting for the bus that'll take me to Kuala Besut, the entry point to the Perhentian islands. I have no idea how long it's going to take but it looks quite far on the map. I didn't sleep well, I can feel that I'm getting moody, it's not a bad thing to spend some time in the bus and try to nap.

12.30am: Slept on the bus all morning until we stopped on a highway rest area and I feel more relaxed. This place reminds me so much of the day we were stuck in the middle of nowhere with Pierre-O (also in Malaysia) because our bus had broken down. It was one of our last days traveling together.

4.30pm: As I have wifi on the bus (and working decently), I decided to check the latest news on the kidnappings in Sabah, Borneo. It appears there has been no incident since December 2016 but the insurance doesn't cover you for going to Semporna or Mabul, where I wanted to go diving. Scary! All that I was told about the Filipino pirates was true. Fortunately I made up my mind and decided to go to the Perhentian islands, on the East side of Malaysia, instead. Hopefully I'll get a ferry tonight but I doubt it more and more as this bus ride seems never ending. It's OK, I'll take a boat tomorrow morning after sleeping near the pier. Let's stay positive!

6pm: Finally arrived in Kuala Besut. I won't even try to get a ferry ticket. Found a cheap guesthouse near the pier for tonight, thanks to the wifi on the bus! For the way back, I'll do things differently: book a night bus to go back to KL.

6.30pm: My hotel room is really basic, not to say dodgy but it's just for one night. Asked my host where I could find a nice restaurant. Answer: 'second restaurant after the public toilets'. Promising!

7.30pm: There must be some street art festival or something because I saw many people painting the walls. And it's beautiful. I don't think there's anything else to do here than watching the building walls.

11pm: Spent the evening with Michael and Vivian whom I met in the hotel lobby. They are also going to the Perhentian tomorrow and staying at the same place as I am. It was really fun. They are talking about sex all the time. But it was a good time really, I think the next few days are going to be fun as hell.