Following the appetizer I have set for you on my previous post, the journey from Malaysia’s South to North then commenced. It was the first night of our 4 days and 4 nights trip around Malaysia and our first time to sleep in a second class cabin inside a train and we apparently came in too early for the trip (still 2.5 hours early after aimlessly roaming around and eating our dinner in Johor Bahru City Square.)
Thank goodness for Johor Bahru’s new railway station, which is also located at the Malaysia-Singapore Border and linked with Malaysia’s customs, immigration and quarantine complex with a covered footbridge, the long hours of waiting was made easier for us by its fully air-conditioned waiting area and its comfortable, perforated metal seats.
Since Johor Bahru Sentral is not yet fully operational, we still had to board the train from the old railway station found just outside it.
The ticket specifically indicated to be at the station at least 30 minutes before the scheduled time of boarding, as the time of the arrival of the train might go earlier than expected.
The old style of the exterior of the building and its dim lights, stained walls and floorings inside are testaments and indication of how long the station had already served millions of commuters, locals or foreigners, who are continuously seeking for the convenience and comfort that its services offer and who are wanting to experience and travel the whole of Malaysia and its neighbouring countries in a different light, through a different medium of transportation.
After almost an hour worth of random picture taking of the group on my left and regular shifting of the man, who was sitting on the seat behind mine thirty minutes ago and who I found a little bit creepy, from one place to another, the guard asked us to fall in line and line up accordingly as if he could sense the anticipation of a few of us.
He took our ticket and ripped a part of it. He gently gave us back the remaining part and smiled as if saying “Alright you are done here! You could now go to the platform.”
Hooray! I felt like a kid taking pictures here and there. My hyperactivity has again kicked in; I was uncontrollable.
After a minute or so of running around…
Chuuuut! Chuuut!
The train was then approaching!
We scrambled for our tickets, reading off the coach number we are assigned to. As we were trying to make out the alphanumeric symbols found on our tickets, a couple of their crew popped out of nowhere to come to our rescue. They then led us to the right door.
We then climbed aboard, pulled the door open and made our way to our designated sleepers through the long hallway. 33, 35, 36. That was where we were supposed to be. We paid for two upper berths and one lower berth, as the upper berth is cheaper as compared to the other. The things you would really do just to save a couple or more cents of your pocket money.
I now know why the lower berth is more expensive than the upper berth. It is because of the windows. The window in the lower berth is humongous as compared to the one on top. I advise you to get the lower one, especially if you are to travel during daytime, as to get a good view of the outside world.
After I had placed my plastic sandals underneath the berth of my brother and stashed my belongings at the foot of my bed, I then climbed through the ladder and closed the curtains, dividing me from the noise and hullabaloos that were happening in the hallway. The bed was just comfortable enough to relax you through your whole ride.
After all the people had found their places, the train was then ready to journey again. Tampin, here we come!
The train then moved, slowly accelerating its speed until it had reach the maximum of it. Not too fast, not too slow. Just the right blend for me but is surely too slow for people who were already used to a fast-paced life. It is as if the train itself was savouring every little inch of its journey.
After minutes of adjusting myself from all the necessary noises that the train emanated as it moved forward, I eventually caught myself in a deep slumber.
I had a very good sleep! But two hours before arriving, I could not go back to sleep anymore for the sole reason of fear that we might miss the station we were supposed to alight to. If only I had known earlier that someone would wake us up, I should not have made myself worry too much about it.
We arrived at the station during the wee hours of morning. We alighted from the station with a bunch of people but as time passed by, one by one, they went too until my mom, brother and I plus a couple of woman who has already found their places and are then ready to sleep, were the only ones left.
After taking a lot of pictures, I got envious of how my fellow companions were already fast asleep. That’s why I joined them too on taking in the cool atmosphere of the dawn with our eyes kept closed until the rays of the sun tickle those once again, as if signalling us that it is already time to wake up and get moving to explore Malacca.
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