Eastern & Orient Express: Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok

Probably the most elegant trip we took in 2007 was a two-night train ride on the Eastern & Orient Express, leaving the old railway station in Kuala Lumpur on September 6th about 8 p.m. and arriving in Bangkok on September 8th in the mid-afternoon. We didn't sleep very well due to the noisy rocking and rolling of the train on the old rails, sometimes going slowly, othertimes careening down the tracks, but it was comfortable, the service impeccable and the food 5-star gourmet all the way! You can check out more details on their website at: http://www.orient-express.com/

















































The bar-lounge just before the end observation car was a popular spot for the 100 or so passengers on board. They were from Australia, Europe, India and the US for the most part.




















One of three dining cars offering two sittings for lunch and dinner each day (three course meals prepared in a tiny kitchen on board!).





















Pat at dinner the first night: in the foreground our appetizer of pan-friend sea scallops with lemon and vanilla dressing accompanied by cauliflower puree. Yum!














Dessert was a gingered pineapple tarte tatin and macadamia parfait drizzled with mango sauce!




















While we lingered over dinner, our compartment steward transformed our small pullman compartment into sleeping quarters with bunk beds (I got the top!).




















Through this door to the left is our tiny bathroom complete with flush toilet, corner sink and shower.

A continental breakfast arrived in the morning.
















Rural Malaysia as seen from the back observation (open air) car on the first morning.















Our first stop was at Butterworth where we boarded a bus to take us across on the ferry to the island of Penang and a trishaw ride around the old part of the city.















Morning market in downtown Penang















Old colonial architecture in Penang















The green of Malaysia















Nearing the Thai border, the landscape became decidedly "lumpy"!















The resident pianist entertaining passengers in the lounge before and after dinner.















Kathie and Pat with the Thai dancer who performed for us in the bar lounge on the second evening.














A taste of Malaysia: fried rice with Nonya curry and grilled chicken satay.




















After dinner drink in the bar lounge.















The second morning brought us to the River Kwai in Southern Thailand and the famous "Bridge Over...". We were taken on a boat trip down the river and had a lecture on what actually happened there during World War II (which did not exactly follow the American movie line!).




















A temple along the river route.
















The war dead have found peace in this beautiful cemetery, lovingly tended to by many gardeners and caretakers. We spent a long time in the mueum nearly, which highlighted the building of the Death Railway, by so many Japanese POWs, the majority of whom came from Malaysia, which we found interesting.

The end of the line-some of the staf at the Bangkok railway station. We hurried off to our favourite haunt in the city-the Jim Thompson Silk Shop and Pat bought more fabric for some shirts and pj's. I treated myself to a lovely purse and some toiletry/make-up cases! We spent the night at the Shangri-La Hotel by the river and flew back to KL in the morning via Air Asia. Another whilrwind long weekend...
Jumpa lagi...