I'm just here for the Kapas

Marang, just south of Kuala Terengganu, is a small town. A handful of streets hugging either side of Highway 3. A small market. A big mosque. A KFC (oooh, fancy!). And a small dock, where passenger boats depart for Pulau Kapas, the only reason tourists ever come to Marang.

My bus from Kuantan took a lot longer than advertised, so I arrived in Marang too late to head out to the islands, and overnighted in town instead. My hotel was one of those places that sees a steady stream of single-night guests, as it's in the fortunate position of being the only hotel near the pier, so they don't give a toss. Rooms are overpriced, the included breakfast was served stone cold, and when I complained that my bathroom door wouldn't stay shut (there was no latch, and the door was weighted to swing open, letting mosquitoes into the bedroom), they just shrugged.

I bought some knock-down spray in the 7-11, treated both the bedroom and the bathroom, then held the bathroom door shut with duct-tape (never go anywhere without duct-tape, just like MacGyver. Or in the words of my favourite MacGyver character, Murdoc, "MacGyyyyvvvvvveeeerrrr!")

Thankfully, I only had to crash there one night.