What's it like to balik kampung during Raya/CNY, and how to survive the traffic?

Balik kampung veteran, been doing the long drive for over 15 years, so here are the survival tips that actually work. One, timing beats everything. The classic move is to leave super early, like 4 or 5am, or leave very late at night after midnight, to skip the peak. Leaving at a normal time like 9am on the eve is exactly how a 4-hour trip balloons into 9 hours. Two, use a live traffic app and be genuinely willing to take alternative or old trunk roads when the highway turns into a giant carpark, because sometimes the slower route is actually faster during peak. Three, prepare the car before you leave, not on the way, check tyres, engine oil, coolant, and top up petrol early because stations and R&R stops get absolutely insane. Four, pack your own food and water and plan the toilet situation for the kids, because R&R toilets have queues longer than a Bank Negara line. Five, download offline entertainment for passengers and rotate naps if driving with someone. Six, mentally accept it will be slow, don't road-rage, everyone is tired and heading to the same reunion makan. Smart timing and patience turn a nightmare into just a long drive.