Train Travel

The plan was to go to Seremban, meet my Finnish friend, stay overnight then leave the next morning for K.L. to meet up with my Finnish friend's Finnish friend and go shopping at Ikea. That was the plan.

So, I woke up, got ready to go and called my taxi-driver. He said his taxi was rosak (broken). Ok, let's see, I think I have another taxi phone number. Yep. Found it and called. That driver was in Ipoh. Ooooh. Not so easy to get a taxi in Kampar. I could call my friend. Called. He was at work! Ouch. I'll have to walk it outta here.

Walked out to the road and flagged a very, very slow taxi but managed to get to the train station in time for the LRT. Went to buy my ticket.

"The LRT is rosak." WHAT? She said I'd have to take the "old train" which she said will take 4 hours or so...

"I should have taken the bus," I thought out loud. "Ok, I'll take the old train." It was only 20 ringgit and leaving in an hour. But, I was already hungry and really couldn't think of how to get any food. (The little food kiosk was closed as it always is at the train station which means somebody is missing out on a lot of business.)

On board the train, the dining car was the next car beside mine so I went along to find FOOD. I saw a lady order nasi lama, so ordered that. He said, "So sorry, they are sold out." Of course they are. All I could find was a pack of Oreo cookies. Breakfast. (Again, someone is missing out on a lot of business selling food on this train full of captive people who will be here quite a while.)

Well, I got to Seremban and the next morning, my friend and I ate breakfast before heading off to K.L. After we finished our breakfast, we got in the car, and it would not turn over! The battery was DEAD.

No problem, we were able to buy a new battery at the repair shop and were soon on our way to Ikea. It was great! Gotta love those Swedish meatballs! We found reading lamps, looked at curtain material, picked up a few odds and ends and headed to the specialty shop where my Finnish friends could get their berry jam, Finnish chocolate and Finnish sausages.

There was no berry jam, no Finnish chocolate and no Finnish sausages! My friends were disappointed.

On the other hand, I was able to find Organic coffee, to my joy.

I decided to spend another night in Seremban and when my friend dropped me off at the train station after lunch, it was 2:00 pm. I was told that the "old train" was leaving at 2:30. It would go all the way through to Kampar. Hmmm... decisions. Do I go to K.L. and change trains or get the one that goes all the way through?

I bought a ticket on the old train. They told me it could take 5 hours, but I thought they probably were mistaken because I'd taken it before and the trip was only about 4 hours. Boy was I wrong!

Before we arrived in K.L., the train came to a halt. Fifteen minutes later, the chattering around me is heating up. I can tell people are wondering what's going on and what will happen next. Thirty minutes later, we're still sitting there. I pull out my tablet, plug in my ear-phones and listen to soothing music. But, find it hard to concentrate.

There are three races of people on my car. Across from me, two Muslim ladies sit quietly. Beside me, a young Chinese boy is quietly listening to music. and two seats in front of me, an Indian man is doing most of the talking. Nobody is upset. People are smiling and chatting. I'm listening to my music.

An hour later, we are still in the same place. They make an announcement that anyone going to K.L. should get off the train. Everyone else stayed on. It took another hour and we were on our way, slowly.

But, it seemed the train was moving unusually slowly and when it passed Kuala Lumpur, it stopped again! This time, there was an announcement. The boy beside me translated,

"There is a technical problem with the train and it will be moving in about 15 minutes." Not so bad...

Still, I noted that the passengers were quite patient and calm. (Not like you'd see in my country.) Then, the stewards passed around free banana cake and water. I was glad to have some supper.

Well, by the time I arrived at Kampar, it was 10pm! 7 1/2 hours! Phew! By the time my taxi got me to my house, the trip that should have taken 4 hrs had taken 8!

Next time, I'll take the BUS!