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| Financial District |
A 0415 fire alarm in the hotel had us up earlier than expected. We were advised by the ceiling voice to await instructions and after 15 minutes our adviser reported a false alarm. So Sorry. At 0930, a more respectable time, we had completed a fine international breakfast and were rolling through the streets again. We swung around the Keppel Railway Station (built 1932) and got off in the back lot. The first thing I did was to step in dog droppings. Being in the tropics it is easy to find a stick and so with clean shoes again I was able to rejoin our group and made entrance to the grand old station. The murals from the grand old days of the 30's remain though much of the rest of the grandeur is gone. Soon this station will be part of a modern high-rise complex and a new station built further North.
http://www.streetdirectory.com/travel_guide/singapore/historical_sites/157/tanjong_pagar_railway_station.php
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| One of the murals |
After an hour long wait in the VIP lounge, which is nothing more than a room with a few beat up old couches and some hard chairs, we were herded to the platform, checked in at the Malaysian Immigration desk and walked down the platform to the waiting train.
The train crew, in uniforms, stood in a line, hands peaked in front and bowed and nodded and welcomed us. The coaches are painted in green and buff with gold lettering proclaiming The Eastern & Orient Express. Through the windows we could see the white table cloths, brass lamps, fine china, silver cutlery and crystal glasses set for lunch.
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| Malaysian immigration desk |
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| Dining car staff welcomed us |
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| Thamasin, our steward, with Julie |
Our car, “A” was closest to the front so we had a bit of a walk; there are more than 9 cars. Our steward awaited us outside the car and escorted us aboard, down the narrow corridor to our stateroom. There are 4 staterooms in this car. Our room was paneled in fine wood and inlays, with brass fittings, Thai curtains, soft carpet and equipped with a settee, window side seat, a chair, a folding table, two large windows, a closet, bathroom with shower and a cabinet with a safe. The door to the isle has a glass panel and a roller shade for privacy.
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| Companionway |
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| our stateroom |
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| our stateroom |
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| library compartment |
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| one dining car |
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| club car |
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| another end of club car |
At 1130 the train rolled out of the station and we walked back to the car Malay and were shown our table for a fine Malaysian lunch prepared by the galley crew and our French Chef. The menu read cold smoked salmon on a purple potato bed with citrus cream and avruga roe, roast duck breast with calamansi on vegetable teppanyaki and a raspberry macaroon with lychee and pistachio cream and a raspberry coulis. Singha beer as well. This was followed by a nap and an exploration of the train. The countryside is agricultural and mostly palm plantations for producing palm oil. Before the palm plantations these were rubber tree plantations. The ride was quite smooth as the ties are concrete and the rails welded. The train is narrow gauge so we do roll a bit. There is a lot of new road bed construction going on. After crossing the causeway from Singapore to the mainland at 1220 we entered Malaysia and proceeded North. Tea was served this afternoon in our compartment.
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| cooks busy in galley |
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| club/observation car |
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| tea in our stateroom |
Julie was feeling a bit off due to a bit of a cold so she had her bed made up and dinner brought in. I went to the dining car. The train has a dress code which calls for casual smart clothing during the day, coat and tie for gentlemen in the evening. Now and then the train would stop on a siding to allow a freight or passenger train to pass. Dinner tonight was a warm scallop terrine with lobster bisque and cucumber mikado salad, medallion of beef with carrot and ginger flan, asparagus and a vindaloo sauce or ayam rendang biryani (chicken) and finished with a dessert of chocolate granache and orange blossom jelly in a delicate jasmine mousse with mandarin orange coulis. I mention food because travel is more than the sights, it should also be the sounds, smells, music, interaction and taste. The flavors of the region are an adventure for the palate.
At 8pm we stopped at the station in Kuala Lumpur for about an hour; just toward the end of dinner. By the time I had completed by dessert and Thai coffee, there was little time left to explore “ashore.” I did get off and walked the station but as it was dark now, I was unable to see much of the beautiful exterior. People showed up to have their picture taken by the E&O coaches. I returned to the train and went to the club car to listen to the piano player and enjoy a cocktail with the other passengers. All the crew know Julie is not feeling up to snuff and wish her well. Word travels fast.
The service is impeccable. In the stateroom, push the call button and the steward comes at once. Breakfast and afternoon tea is served in the stateroom. Dinner in one of two dining cars and cocktails in one of two club cars. A club car at the end of the train has a covered open sided observation deck.
By 10pm it was time to be rocked to sleep.
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