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How do you survive the balik kampung drive to Penang during Raya without going crazy

Every year the North-South Highway during Raya is a nightmare. Last year my usual 4-hour drive from KL to Penang took 9 hours and my kids were crying the whole way. Seasoned balik kampung warriors, what are your real tricks to make it bearable?

Anonymous asker ·Asked on 20 days ago ·3,720 views ·5 answers

[Question] How do you survive the balik kampung drive to Penang during Raya without going crazy
Every year the North-South Highway during Raya is a nightmare. Last year my usual 4-hour drive from KL to Penang took 9 hours and my kids were crying the whole way. Seasoned balik kampung warriors, what are your real tricks to make it bearable?

[Answer 1 | Cikgu Tuisyen Ganesh · Best Answer]
After 15 years of balik kampung to Penang, my golden rule is to leave at odd hours, either 4am or after 10pm, never in the afternoon when everybody and their grandmother is on the road. Fill your Touch n Go RFID beforehand and check it works because the reload queue at RnR is longer than the toll jam itself. Pack a proper cooler with drinks, boiled eggs and snacks so you don't waste an hour queuing at Tapah RnR toilet and food, and download offline Waze plus some cartoons on the tablet for the kids. Also, use the alternate trunk roads via Sungai Petani if PLUS shows total gridlock, sometimes the kampung road is faster.

[Answer 2 | Property Newbie Jason]
Leave AFTER Raya, not before. I now balik on the second or third day of Raya when everyone else is already there. Roads clear, and my relatives are more relaxed too. The trick is to zig when everyone zags.

[Answer 3 | Corporate Slave Jia Hui]
Honestly I gave up driving and take the ETS train now from KL Sentral to Butterworth. Book early during Raya because tickets sell out in minutes, but no jam, kids can walk around, and I arrive fresh. Car rental in Penang if needed is cheaper than my sanity.

[Answer 4 | Abang EPF Faiz]
Waze live traffic plus the PLUS app for the traffic cameras. I check the CCTV before deciding which exit to take. Also keep RM50 cash for the stalls at RnR that don't take e-wallet when signal drops.

[Answer 5 | Makcik Kedai Runcit Zaiton]
Empty your bladder and your patience tank before you start lah. Seriously though, the biggest lifesaver for me is having a co-driver so we can switch every two hours. Driving 9 hours solo in stop-and-go traffic is dangerous, that's when accidents happen.

Source: ASK https://my.a-sk.org/q/b5-my-05-how-do-you-survive-the-balik-kampung-drive-to-penang-dur-7145

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Cikgu Tuisyen Ganesh Beginner First-hand experience Run tuition centre, I guide on scholarship, matrikulasi vs STPM and course pick strategy.

After 15 years of balik kampung to Penang, my golden rule is to leave at odd hours, either 4am or after 10pm, never in the afternoon when everybody and their grandmother is on the road. Fill your Touch n Go RFID beforehand and check it works because the reload queue at RnR is longer than the toll jam itself. Pack a proper cooler with drinks, boiled eggs and snacks so you don't waste an hour queuing at Tapah RnR toilet and food, and download offline Waze plus some cartoons on the tablet for the kids. Also, use the alternate trunk roads via Sungai Petani if PLUS shows total gridlock, sometimes the kampung road is faster.

Property Newbie Jason Beginner First-hand experience Just bought my first rumah, still shell-shock from S&P and legal fee, I share the mistakes.

Leave AFTER Raya, not before. I now balik on the second or third day of Raya when everyone else is already there. Roads clear, and my relatives are more relaxed too. The trick is to zig when everyone zags.

Corporate Slave Jia Hui Beginner First-hand experience 8 years corporate grind, I share office politics, WFH real talk and when to jump ship.

Honestly I gave up driving and take the ETS train now from KL Sentral to Butterworth. Book early during Raya because tickets sell out in minutes, but no jam, kids can walk around, and I arrive fresh. Car rental in Penang if needed is cheaper than my sanity.

Abang EPF Faiz Beginner First-hand experience Licensed planner, boleh advise on EPF, ASB, and tax relief without the sales talk.

Waze live traffic plus the PLUS app for the traffic cameras. I check the CCTV before deciding which exit to take. Also keep RM50 cash for the stalls at RnR that don't take e-wallet when signal drops.

Makcik Kedai Runcit Zaiton Beginner First-hand experience Jaga kedai runcit kampung, I know SSM daftar, supplier and cash flow susah senang.

Empty your bladder and your patience tank before you start lah. Seriously though, the biggest lifesaver for me is having a co-driver so we can switch every two hours. Driving 9 hours solo in stop-and-go traffic is dangerous, that's when accidents happen.

How do you survive the balik kampung drive to Penang during Raya without going crazy

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