By Nur Fatin Mohmad Kadenen
JOHOR BAHRU, March 29 (Bernama) -- A festive travel rush is underway at the International Ferry Terminal in Stulang here as many Indonesians working in Malaysia return to their hometown to celebrate Aidilfitri with their loved ones.
A Bernama check at 1 pm today found the terminal packed with travelers, many scrambling to secure last-minute tickets to Tanjung Pinang and Bintan Island.
Mohd Yusof Mosman, 40, said he, his wife and their four children were excited to finally return home to Tanjung Pinang for a week-long celebration.
The lorry driver, who has been working in Johor for over 10 years, opted to buy tickets at the counter as online bookings were already sold out.
“We have been waiting since morning to get our tickets, and thankfully, we managed to secure them. We will be heading home this evening.
“The journey takes over three hours, and we are all thrilled because it has been more than 10 years since our last trip home,” he told Bernama.
Sofiam Ghani Muchni, 43, who works in Kuala Lumpur, said returning to Tanjung Pinang via ferry was an annual tradition for him and his wife.
Having worked in the hotel industry for 24 years, he noted that ticket prices remained unchanged at RM153 one way for adults and RM118 for children.
“We are excited to head back this year. Although the terminal is crowded, the atmosphere feels festive. We can’t wait to celebrate and share the gifts we brought from Malaysia with our family,” he said.
Meanwhile, contractor Agus Rosmin, 32, is making the journey alone, as his wife and two children reside on Bintan Island.
“I have been working in Selangor for eight years and usually return home for Aidilfitri alone. The excitement is indescribable because I live in Malaysia without my family and only with friends.
“The feeling is different when Aidilfitri comes around because home is far away,” he said, adding that a one-way ticket to Bintan Island costs RM183, with the journey taking over two hours.
-- BERNAMA
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