We took 6 hour train ride from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Beth insisted, even though it cost more than flying. It was nice to see the countryside – Mostly jungle.
Wow, just the way the photo’s taken, sort of makes me feel like I’m there–probably the sense of motion of the train and the oh-so-close-up of the train-bed and vegetation (contrasted with the far-far-away-seeming mountains).
Way to go, Beth, with the insisting. EXCELLENT idea!
Hmmm, I’m looking up on a map Malaysia, Singapore (which you said is a city, island, and country, all rolled into one–interesting), and Kuala Lumpur. So, is Malaysia in two parts, divided by water? And you landed in Singapore, near the western chunk of Malaysia . . . and you took a six-hour train ride north and slightly west? It’s only a half-inch on the map I’m looking at. How fast did the train go? Lots of twists and turns to slow it down? Climbing, descending, neither, both?
Jungle? Gosh, I don’t know a thing about that part of the world!
AND I have to say that knowing you were hanging out of a moving train does not surprise me in the least! I’m still nervous about you getting close to the edge of that rooftop miniature golf course in SC! Not to mention your giving your brother *bungee jumping* for a birthday present! (Actually, I have a photo similar to that that *I* took when hanging out of a train once. I think you and Jon were medium-young. Of course, that was in Iowa, land of tall mountains and deep gorges! ) XOXOX
I’m looking at a map, too. When the train is not on land, does it go through a tunnel or on an elevated track? I’ll be interested in hearing what you did in Kuala Lumpur and how long you were there. Will you be returning to Singapore? I had not realized how very small (in size) Singapore is. Of course, it’s densely populated.
What I meant was, how does the train transverse water? But now that I’m looking at a close-up map, I can see that what separates Singapore from Malaysia is almost like a river, so perhaps the distance over water isn’t very far.
Great pic – and great idea to take the train. Way to go, Beth! I assume it felt like a “normal” train ride and not a 3rd world type of train ride (no goats and chickens). So tell me a little more about the countryside? What was the jungle like? Were there a lot of cultivated fields? Rice or what?
Yeah Malaysia has different parts. We were only on Mainland (or Peninsular) Malaysia. There was a bridge from Singapore to Malaysia. We wont be heading backwards on this trip. We are plowing ahead to Thailand->Laos->Vietnam.
No there were no goats or chickens on the train that I saw. Everyone was very friendly. As far as the jungle, most of what you saw from the train looked fairly similar. Lots of palm looking trees, some little villages that you would probably never see otherwise, and mountains. Also you could see mountains that were being, or had been, mined for what looked like marble or something similar.
Not sure how fast the train went. It wasn’t lightning speed or anything. Several stops. Some winding. Not much up and down.
Yes, we plan on having several days to a week in a few different places in Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. Will have to see how things go. We wanted to see a bit in Malaysia, but were mainly going through to get to Thailand.
9 Comments »
Comment by josh — March 29, 2009 @ 11:26 am
We took 6 hour train ride from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Beth insisted, even though it cost more than flying. It was nice to see the countryside – Mostly jungle.
Comment by Peg — March 29, 2009 @ 1:41 pm
Wow, just the way the photo’s taken, sort of makes me feel like I’m there–probably the sense of motion of the train and the oh-so-close-up of the train-bed and vegetation (contrasted with the far-far-away-seeming mountains).
Way to go, Beth, with the insisting. EXCELLENT idea!
Hmmm, I’m looking up on a map Malaysia, Singapore (which you said is a city, island, and country, all rolled into one–interesting), and Kuala Lumpur. So, is Malaysia in two parts, divided by water? And you landed in Singapore, near the western chunk of Malaysia . . . and you took a six-hour train ride north and slightly west? It’s only a half-inch on the map I’m looking at. How fast did the train go? Lots of twists and turns to slow it down? Climbing, descending, neither, both?
Jungle? Gosh, I don’t know a thing about that part of the world!
Comment by Peg — March 29, 2009 @ 1:46 pm
AND I have to say that knowing you were hanging out of a moving train does not surprise me in the least!
I’m still nervous about you getting close to the edge of that rooftop miniature golf course in SC! Not to mention your giving your brother *bungee jumping* for a birthday present! 
(Actually, I have a photo similar to that that *I* took when hanging out of a train once. I think you and Jon were medium-young. Of course, that was in Iowa, land of tall mountains and deep gorges! 
) XOXOX
Comment by Clara — March 29, 2009 @ 1:50 pm
I’m looking at a map, too. When the train is not on land, does it go through a tunnel or on an elevated track? I’ll be interested in hearing what you did in Kuala Lumpur and how long you were there. Will you be returning to Singapore? I had not realized how very small (in size) Singapore is. Of course, it’s densely populated.
Comment by Clara — March 29, 2009 @ 1:53 pm
What I meant was, how does the train transverse water? But now that I’m looking at a close-up map, I can see that what separates Singapore from Malaysia is almost like a river, so perhaps the distance over water isn’t very far.
Comment by dadman — March 29, 2009 @ 8:06 pm
Great pic – and great idea to take the train. Way to go, Beth! I assume it felt like a “normal” train ride and not a 3rd world type of train ride (no goats and chickens). So tell me a little more about the countryside? What was the jungle like? Were there a lot of cultivated fields? Rice or what?
Comment by josh — March 30, 2009 @ 12:03 pm
Yeah Malaysia has different parts. We were only on Mainland (or Peninsular) Malaysia. There was a bridge from Singapore to Malaysia. We wont be heading backwards on this trip. We are plowing ahead to Thailand->Laos->Vietnam.
No there were no goats or chickens on the train that I saw. Everyone was very friendly. As far as the jungle, most of what you saw from the train looked fairly similar. Lots of palm looking trees, some little villages that you would probably never see otherwise, and mountains. Also you could see mountains that were being, or had been, mined for what looked like marble or something similar.
Not sure how fast the train went. It wasn’t lightning speed or anything. Several stops. Some winding. Not much up and down.
Comment by Peg — March 30, 2009 @ 3:28 pm
Man, you *are* plowing! Since you have till April 28th, will you stop anywhere for awhile? XOXOX
Comment by josh — March 31, 2009 @ 10:34 am
Yes, we plan on having several days to a week in a few different places in Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam. Will have to see how things go. We wanted to see a bit in Malaysia, but were mainly going through to get to Thailand.
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