Jungle train exploits

Greetings from Phyllis Fogg and Passfarttwo aka the other idiot abroad

Despite still having the alarm on the phone set on British time the ever reliable British postie got us up on time for the train this morning. We checked out and said our fond farewells to all at the hotel – including Mee Goreng Mary who was really pleased to be in our photo album but disappointed we weren't staying for the Nasi lemak, I think she must work on the principle of one item off the menu each day. She uttered her only words in English this morning "Come again" so i feel somewhat committed now to return for her latest samples on our next world exploits. That’ll be our next adventures around the world – not the next world adventures.

Gemas station is currently in flux between the old station and new highly impressive one. Gemas is a terminus for most of the trains traversing the country from Singapore through Malaysia to Thailand including the one we needed to take to reach Kota Bharu (The jungle train) A train which surprisingly does what it says on the tin, or in this case timetable, and goes through the jungle.

John-Which platform do we need?

Anne-Don’t know yet?

Anne toddles off and asks a variety of malay speaking travellers – providing a concencensus that it’s the right platform.

John-Which way will it come?

Anne-I don’t know but we’re going North east

John-Well this way is North-the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, and the sun is over there so it’ll come this way. Thought you were in the brownies, thought you were an arkala blah , blah

Train approaches station from opposite direction

John-umm maybe the sun rises in the west and sets in the east then !!!, or thats the east and that’s the west”

Anne- Umm...think we’ll stick to asking next time, or bringing a compass ! J

Anyway we are now settled on the train for a 9 hour trip through the jungle- so lots of good piccies to come with todays blog no doubt – provided John doesn’t fall asleep and block me in. The train is basic, but adequate – complete with Samsung flat screen TV but no remote although the toilets and seats have seen better days.

Oh no- now he’s sulking – he just bought a carton of Chrysanthemum tea thinking it was orange. (cause the carton was orange ! )

Note to self and Lindsay– chrysanthemum tea isn’t half bad-(water chrysanthemum extract,sugar, liquorice extract and sunset yellow) Could omit the sunset yellow if you drink it from the carton. Maybe we could distil some in Daventry to raise money for the next adventure.

There’s no chance of missing the refreshment trolley – or “Mrs. Overall’s wagon” as john calls it- as you can hear the wheels two carriages away. I think the words catering on the back of the operative’s shirt is taking crisps and cartons of juice a bit far- but i guess it’s handy if you’re famished. Having been warned of the shortfall in substantial refreshments we had stocked up at the station buffet before getting on and arrived stocked with a variety of Malaysian sweet breads and a packet of mintoes.

I can report that Roti Kaya and Roti Kelapa will be the food words of the day. The former is a soft bread roll which i can only describe as injected with a thick light brown paste. (Injected as in like a donut is injected with jam) the latter is filled with a dark brown paste with coconut and what looks a bit like figs in.. ...anyway filled a hole.

John has just returned from the toilet – although i was thinking he might have been indulging in some local baccy when he got back. He was ranting on about riding the winner in the Grand National. Apparently to help you squat without falling in, and maintain a reasonable aim at the same time, they provide a horizontal rail for you to hold. Fortunately i haven’t got pics for this so you will have to use your imagination, or maybe not. By all accounts he got up to a fair gallup as the train picked up speed. He reports that looking at the mess on the walls there appeared to have been a few unseated riders.

Well we are still on the train. Everything is dark outside so no more Jungle to look at. We stopped at a station at quarter to 8 (45 mins after we were due to arrive in Khota Bharu) so John hopped off and asked the guard how much longer we would be –about half hour?... No 3 hours says the guard nonchalantly. We are now stopped again and not sure whether this stop is included in the 3 hours - so we are hoping we still have a room when we eventually get there. Guess that’s the problem you have when you are running late on a single track railway, and have to keep stopping on the double tracks in the stations to let the other trains pass. They are certainly going to beat the British rail companies on punctuality - C’est la vie en Malaysia.

Footnote – the train finally arrived at 23.00h. – exactly 4 hours longer than scheduled- no explanation- so can’t tell you whether this is the usual situation. We shared a taxi into town with a young Japanese student who had travelled from Singapore (well Johor Bharu so the ticket was cheaper for those of you who like detail and know the way the ticketing system works) – setting off the night before. His train had broken down and he’d had to swop to ours- so his journey ended up being 9 hours late. Ours was long enough at 14 hours so i won’t be doing his.