KLIA has a bus station which serves express buses to Kuala Lumpur and other cities in Malaysia (Penang, Ipoh, Melaka, Johor Bahru, etc). Bus is the cheapest option to reach KL city center from KLIA.





This bus would take me to TBS (Terminal Bersepadu Selatan), from where I would left for Penang.



The bus journey from KLIA to TBS took about an hour.







It was almost midnight, but there were still long queues to buy tickets.





The bus timetable.





My bus would depart at 2.20 a.m. There were still 2 hours to spend, and I chose to sleep until the terminal's speakers called my name. I quickly rushed to the bus.



After boarding the bus, I continued to sleep.

August 21st, 2018, 6.10 a.m. When I woke up, the bus was parked in a rest area near Taiping, Perak, about 75 km from Penang.

The "Etika Express" bus, with chassis made by Malaysian company, SKSBUS.











After resting for about 30 minutes, the journey continued. The bus mainly went through North-South Expressway which stretched from Johor Bahru (bordering Singapore) to Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah (bordering Thailand).

Then my bus journey ended in Butterworth at 7.45 a.m. Butterworth is a town located on mainland Asia facing Penang Island.





Butterworth railway station, Penang's train terminus serving intercity trains to Kuala Lumpur and commuter trains to Kamunting (near Taiping) and Padang Besar (a small border town facing Thailand). You can read my experience taking train to Thai border here.



Usually we could walk from the bus station to ferry pier. But there was an upgrading project on the terminal, so we had to take a shuttle bus to hop the ferry to Penang Island.



Waiting for the ferry.







The ferry was mainly used by commuters from the mainland (Butterworth, Seberang Perai, etc.) to Penang Island, especially Georgetown, the administrative and financial center of Penang State.





Penang Bridge, connecting Penang Island and the mainland, could be seen from the ferry.



Buildings on the island side.



Arriving at the Weld Quay jetty.



Integrated with the jetty was Weld Quay bus terminal, serving "Rapid Penang" city buses including the "CAT" Free Bus.



Having breakfast at a local restaurant serving "Nasi Kandar", one of Penang's must-try food which is the Indian-style rice dish mainly sold by "Mamak" or Muslim Indians.





After breakfast, I walked to the nearby Chowrasta Market. Daily items, foods, clothes, and others are sold here.





Komtar, one of Penang's landmark. It had been Malaysia's tallest building before the arrival of taller buildings in KL, especially Petronas Twin Towers.



Komtar's ground level contains Rapid Penang bus station, from where I would leave for the airport.



This is the cheapest, but also the most time-consuming, transport option to Penang International Airport.





It costs MYR 2.70 to reach the airport. Very cheap, compared to the KLIA - Kuala Lumpur buses which cost MYR 11.00-12.00. You must pay the exact fare, no changes are given. As a city bus, it will stop at all bus stops along the route.



Passing the junction with Penang Bridge.



Reaching the airport.



Thanks Rapid Penang for taking me to the airport. The journey took about 40 minutes without jams.