What can I say about the train from Singapore to KL? Well, I’ll tell you right now, I thought it would be like long distance trains in China but nuh uh. No way. In China the bunks are perpendicular to the hall, they turn the lights off and there is space to put your bags. The ride is mostly smooth and the air conditioning works. There is somewhere to sit besides the bunks and surprisingly often, the whole car doesn’t smell like piss. This train was almost the opposite of a Chinese train.

My ticket was for a top bunk, that was all there was left, which means there was nowhere for my bags to go - and I had a lot of luggage. Luckily a Malaysian gent offered to switch with me, jackpot! Later when he learned that the top bunks were cheaper he almost asked me for his $6 back, but instead detailed to me his love of Germany, and asked if I knew where to buy a metre tall crystal Statue of Liberty. I didn’t want any of my money going to that atrocity, so I kept quiet nodding and smiling serenely, even when he stumbled onto the topic of ‘Conspiracy Theories’. This train stops at the Singapore/Malaysian border and everyone on board has to get off and get some passport stamp or other and then get back on, which meant I couldn’t go to sleep as I so dearly wanted to, and clearly needed. Instead I listened to this crazy man tell me that the jews had enjoyed World War II because it made them rich (I’m sure), that China lets Taiwan be because Taiwan has money. I was silently pleased when he slipped into speaking Chinese to the man across the way who had only one big toe. I listened dutifully when he started to hum classical music and made knowing comments when he switched back to english to shout the names of Australian Celebrities to me. “Nicole Kidman!”, “yeah, she sure is Australian”.

We parted ways at KL Sentral, where in a daze I started out to find my hotel with no local money, and without getting my passport stamped. Hooray for me!

I adore arriving in asia, that first morning when my body is still definitely on Australian time and getting up super early is a breeze. Early morning in Singapore is one of the best times to be out and about on the street. I stayed on Jalan Besar, an in-between area packed with eateries, food courts, shopping centres and lighting shops. Today, my only day in Singapore, I had some errands to run, but first - breakfast.

They balked at my $10 note when trying to buy breakfast. Change had to be fetched, now I’m cursing myself, pocket full of coins.

Off to the Malaysian Railway Station in Tanjong Pagar, Lavendar, Bugis. So much to see and not enough time to see it all in.

I know, I have been lazy with this space, but I haven’t wanted to relive our lovely stay in Singapore, reminding me of all the luxury that has been and gone. Also, I’ve been spending more time on Pikelet & Pie.

Singapore was beautiful, and there is much more to come.

Hello!

We whisked through Malacca, and are now relaxing in the lap of luxury in Singapore. Managed to outsmart their free wireless which requires you have a mobile phone, and am sitting drinking free coffee (free!) in air conditioned comfort in a cafe.

More updates soon.

Normally it takes me a long while to get the hang of travelling, not this time. Maybe it is because time is so limited on this trip, or because we landed in Singapore a city which seems both easy and familiar. Everything is English, but there is also much Chinese. The streets are calm, the traffic lights work.

Our first morning saw us explore extensively, ending in Little India, before many shops opened.

Singapore is hot and more multicultural than expected. Some things are wonderfully cheap, others unexpectedly expensive. The transport works and the streets are clean. 

A stop in an electronics department store. We could have been in Hong Kong, Beijing or Sydney.

A light lunch, a visit from a bird, and then back to the hotel to rest. I’m still on Sydney time.