Traveling Back In Time with KTM Train! A Memorable Journey...

Life is full of excitements, isn't it? It is easy to identify if one enjoy every moment of his life! I love traveling and I found many excitements in "it". You love traveling?

I travel frequently within Kuala Lumpur and Ipoh as I have businesses in these two cities. Usually, I will drive, but this round I decided to travel by train. Yeah, is Curiosity, it encouraged me to search for new "excitements"! Perhaps, I already get bored of driving alone for such a long distance journey in the freeway!

To be honest, I never tried the train service before as it takes longer traveling time, it is one of my major considerations! Time is a matter for businessmen, like me. Self-driving is definitely offering more flexibility (in terms of time saving) and more pleasurable. This round was special as I had "granted" myself a day break to try the service! Haha...I can't deny that I wanted to do something different, so I gave an excuse for myself to have a change in the daily routine.

The train was like an "ancient" sleeping beauty, and was pleasantly forgotten by many "modern" people who live in the cities, taking train was definitely not the primary choice of transportation for many people in Malaysia. People love to take bus mainly because of the frequency of the services and it is affordable. And now, even better, low-cost flight carriers are offering great services with good prices for people who are looking for a bargain. But still, some of the "occasional" local tourists like me who in search for new "excitements", train is definitely the better choice of all.

KL Central Station.

My train journey was pleasurable. It departed from the Sentral Kuala Lumpur Station (the new and official central train station in Kuala Lumpur since 2001) slightly on time. Way before this, the train was originally departed from the Kuala Lumpur Railway Station (a colonial-era landmark). This station is definitely a "must-visit" destination for people who are in deep love with heritage and cultural site. Now, it only opens its door for commuter train services within Klang Valley.

KTM Train.

I really felt fortunate that KTM still operates the train services within the Peninsula Malaysia. The trains are powered by diesel locomotive. The moving speed of the KTM train was comparatively slow, low speed of the train has made other modes of transportation more competitive, but it certainly brought back the feeling of the good old days to me. The KTM railway system was first built to transport tin during the British colonial-era, and gradually turned to carry patrons between stops serving cities, towns, and villages in Peninsula Malaysia. For those people who originated from small towns (e.g. Kampar and Tapah) and working in KL, train will be the best choice for traveling since the ticket is affordable.

The cost of spending on a one-way train ticket from KL to Ipoh was cheap, only RM22 (about USD$6.5) for a second class air-conditioned seat, for economic class, it cost even cheaper, only RM12 (USD$3.50) for a seat. I chose to enjoy my journey in a second class cabin as there was no first class cabin service for this route!

The train journey takes about 4 hours. To pass my time in the train meaningfully, I brought along my "good friend" on board, it called "Book"! Recently, I bought a very interesting book in MPH book store, it called A Fortune-Teller Told Me by Tiziano Terzani. I bought this book by chance while I glanced through the traveling books shelf. The title of the book caught my attention and created some interest to get to know more about it. I gave it a chance and I studied the synopsis (what a good book, I told myself!). I decided to bring it home.

An interesting book that I read during my journey! A Fortune-Teller Told Me by Tiziano Terzani.

Please allow me to tell you a little bit more about the book since it was part of my memorable train journey. The book author, Terzani, was born in Florence, Italy. He lived in Asia for more than thirty years since he decided to stay in Singapore as a reporter in 1971. For all his books, perhaps, 'A Fortune-Teller Told Me' was his most well-known book. He described his travels across Asia by land and sea following the advice and warning from a fortune teller in Hong Kong that he avoid airplanes for a year. A fascinating book that I had ever read!

"Book" has made me felt embarrassed in the train but it was unforgettable. I laughed out loud in the train while I was reading the stories. It was chapter twelve, which Terzani mentioned his experiences in Singapore, the title of the chapter was An Air-Conditional Island. I felt so bad as I shocked the girl who sat beside me. She certainly felt surprised about my expression (Sorry to the girl, please accept my apology, I don't mean it!). The story of the chapter was so funny and I lost control fully of my emotion. What was the funny thing I read in the book? Sure thing, let me share "the joke" with you here.

Terzani was in Singapore in 1965. It was his first visit there! He loved Singapore and the place made him feel at home. In 1971 he decided to settle down in Singapore. He felt many things had changed and he wanted to revisit his "first love - Singapore" again by himself (although he had friends there). He hopped on to a taxi which many foreign tourists will do to discover the island. He felt very annoying as the taxi driver was keep on asking him questions. He controlled his patience well at that time. But not the second time. He "fight" back. He met the same incident again. He became more aggressive.

'Take me to Holland Park,' I said to the taxi driver.
'Are you going to dinner?'
'No.'
'What country are you from?'
'Africa.'
'How? You're white!'
'There are whites in Africa.'
'What do you do for a living?'
'I murdered taxi drivers who ask too many questions.'
(Abstracted from: A Fortune-Teller Told Me, chapter 12, pg.164)

Oh, what the hilarious part! Really funny! Indeed, Terzani didn't know that a campaign of courtesy had launched, locals need to be friendly with tourists! But anyway, he felt a bit irritated!

Time flies. I nearly finish reading the book. I decided to take a break to enjoy the moment in the train. With a non-stop changing backdrop, I got a chance to see the stunning views of unblocked scenery of mountains, palm plantations, tin mining fields, vegetable farms, villages, and beautiful bright sunshine.

I saw a few passengers boarded the train at the Kampar railway station. I realized that Ipoh main railway station was approaching and people tried to make noise and some people were start waking up from their sweet dreams.

'Trains are wonderful... to travel by train is to see 

nature and human beings, towns... and rivers,

in fact, to see life' - Agatha Christie
Source: Eastern & Oriental Express Webpage.

Ipoh Station Hotel! (One of the oldest constructions in Malaysia)

I arrived at the Ipoh Main Railway Station (one of the oldest constructions in Malaysia) around 1pm in the afternoon. What a pleasurable journey. I stayed in Ipoh for three days and I have finished the story of A Fortune-Teller Told Me during my return trip to KL.

*Jumbo Wing*
Keep Discovering The World...

Epilogue: I love traveling very much and definitely love to share the joy with my friends. I would like to dedicate this article to my friend Carlos Lopez who live in Argentina who wish to visit Asia soon, a friend of mine who came from the same city with me, Ray, and three friends of mine who love to travel around the world like me, they are Esther Lai, Diane Balqish Nur, and Waihan Lee. At last but not least, a friend of mine who love reading very much, Alice Teh. Hope you guys enjoy the "journey"! ^^