All aboard....the Eastern Orient Express, with bookends in Bangkok and Singapore

[love_the_life]

Now for our fellow passengers and a varied group they were too. Australians were represented with people from Perth, Darwin, Brisbane, Sydney. The trip was popular with Europeans as there were quite a few from different countries. There were also a few Japanese and also some from the US, a number from the UK and 2 from Mexico. Most seemed to be in pairs/couples though several we met were travelling solo. A variety of ages as well, a lot seemed to be between say late thirties and mid fifties. Only the passengers from one area seemed to find fault and talking to them they seemed generally miserable about everything! I'll leave you to surmise on the group!
One of the joys of traveling is meeting new people and finding our similarities and differences and this trip allowed us to do that admirably. There was really no one we wanted to avoid at all. Wonder if they thought the same about us!

 

[love_the_life]

Now to the important things - food and drink!
I have to plead 'mea culpa' as I forgot to either take pics or take note of what was actually served. As a result of my ineptitude I am sorry to say there are less photos than there should be.

The overall standard of meals was very good with some stand out dishes but also some that didn't quite work.

The best dishes would have to be the scallops with green mango salad as entree at lunch - so fresh and tasty but unfortunately half eaten.


Also the lightly poached egg with asparagus- also a lunch entree (sorry demolished it before thinking about a pic)
Christmas dinner was served on 24th in the European tradition. I do remember the turkey main course which again was excellent.

 

[love_the_life]

And of course dessert


Meals were a little spicy and some passengers found this a problem.
The wait service did show a lack of polish - the idea that a waiter should be invisible didn't quite make it into the staff psyche. You could be in mid conversation and the waiter would butt in to take your plate or refill your water. We did also notice that if you bought a bottle of wine, they kept pouring it so although you were supposed to be able to keep it for the next meal, no chance. All prices were in $US, with coughtails about $18, spirits about $11 and wine $11 by the glass for the house one and from about $60 a bottle. No point in complaining - just enjoy and pay up! And we did!

 

[amaroo]

Looks great!

 

[TomVexille]

Looks great!

It does. I'm jealous

 

[love_the_life]

What stands out on the excursion front was the visit to Kanchamburi War Cemetery and the Thailand/Burma Railway Museum - both incredibly moving. On the short barge ride on the river under the famous Kwai bridge we had an Australian from the museum on board who gave a short potted history of the railway and Japan in the early 20th century which helped us to understand why this happened.
The night before on the train we had flowers on our bed and were invited to place them on a grave if we so wished. The cemetery is beautifully maintained by the British war graves commission.

 

[love_the_life]

And the bridge itself

 

[UP4014]

I thought I would describe the trip not sequentially, but rather by sections - the train, other passengers, food, excursions. Hopefully that way I'll not forget anything, but here's not promising!

The train itself was long and that's an understatement! Although there were only about 110 passengers, there were 12 carriages with accommodation for passengers, there were also 2 dining carriages, kitchens, library, bar car, staff quarters, saloon and observation carriage. Believe me we had no trouble achieving our 10,000 steps!
The locomotives seemed to be changed often, not sure why.
The track (narrow gauge) was pretty rough and a single track in Thailand but dual track and much newer once we hit Malaysia. The train did rock and roll round a fair bit.

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I think the slow rough single track woudl be more fun.

Matt

 

[love_the_life]

Yes, the rough track was fun except when you a) needed to walk anywhere b) wanted to sleep or c) wanted to put your mascara on!
It was exciting though

 

[love_the_life]

The second excursion was less to our liking. It was a visit to Georgetown, Penang. There was the mandatory visit to the Khoo Clan family temple which is firmly on the tourist map. We'd been there before as well. There should have been a walk through the Indian area but it started raining quite heavily so we skipped that and went to the Eastern and Oriental Hotel (no link to the train) for a rather weak Pimms! Then back to the train. It was 2 hours that could have been better spent in our view but in the scheme of things not a biggie,

 

[love_the_life]

Ok, on the train, what advice do I have?
Well firstly because the train is so long and the bar, saloon and observation cars are in the second half of the train, I would request a cabin in this half. Actual cabin assignment is done at check in but I would add a request at booking. We were in carriage B and it was a longgggg walk!
Secondly, book a State cabin rather than a Pullman if you value a bit more space. That's if you were not going for the Presidential cabin! Our cabin was fine but very small! Mr LtL is reasonably agile so was able to climb up the ladder each night!

 

[Pushka]

Yes, the rough track was fun except when you a) needed to walk anywhere b) wanted to sleep or c) wanted to put your mascara on!
It was exciting though

Especially after cosmopolitans or a bottle of wine.

This trip is living history. A very sad history.

I would pay to see you climb to the top bunk.

 

[love_the_life]

I did offer to take the top bunk. MrLtL just laughed!

 

[love_the_life]

So what were the memorable moments on the train?
Apart from the wonderful experience of chugging through rice fields and small towns that is.
The people we met and chatted to, interesting people all, a young woman from Tokyo who was traveling solo and had a ball, a US business man who lived in Moscow, a couple from Cambridge and many more.
Christmas Eve in the bar before and after dinner - singing carols and other songs (probably badly) until after 12! A fine time. The piano player was fantastic and got right into the spirit of it!

 

[get me outta here]

Thanks for the great TR and the improvement tips. Having done a couple of trips like this, it brings back the fun side.

So what were the memorable moments on the train?
Apart from the wonderful experience of chugging through rice fields and small towns that is.
The people we met and chatted to, interesting people all, a young woman from Tokyo who was traveling solo and had a ball, a US business man who lived in Moscow, a couple from Cambridge and many more.
Christmas Eve in the bar before and after dinner - singing carols and other songs (probably badly) until after 12! A fine time. The piano player was fantastic and got right into the spirit of it!
View attachment 39784

 

[get me outta here]

LTL, which class were the pax in that had the attempted theft?

As I said our flight from SYD to SIN was very pleasant- good food and excellent service. There was one unfortunate incident, however, as there was an apparent case of attempted theft perpetrated on the passenger on front. Security were at the aerobridge door waiting when we arrived. We were able to disembark but the passengers involved were asked to stay in their seats. Whatever had happened QF seemed to be handling it well and did treat the incident as severe.
It got me thinking about the prevalence of such occurrences.

 

[love_the_life]

It was in J. They were in row 1 (we were 2) - youngish couple separated by the aisle. The possible/alleged perpetrator was in 1A. He was doing a lot of rummaging round in the overhead bin and MrLtL saw a case open on the floor. I went to the bathroom not long after and noticed the young guy from 1C writing up something in the crew area there and the partner writing in her seat. Security was waiting on the aerobridge and the CSM told them he wanted to allow the rest of J to disembark first. The three passengers concerned were asked to stay.
A bit of a shock really and I wondered how often this sort of thing happens.

 

[get me outta here]

I have heard of this before and try to keep on my person my passport, credit cards and cash. Most of it goes in my 'invisible' tummy bag which is quite comfortable. It seems as if what you sort of witnessed was particularly and surprisingly blatant.

It was in J. They were in row 1 (we were 2) - youngish couple separated by the aisle. The possible/alleged perpetrator was in 1A. He was doing a lot of rummaging round in the overhead bin and MrLtL saw a case open on the floor. I went to the bathroom not long after and noticed the young guy from 1C writing up something in the crew area there and the partner writing in her seat. Security was waiting on the aerobridge and the CSM told them he wanted to allow the rest of J to disembark first. The three passengers concerned were asked to stay.
A bit of a shock really and I wondered how often this sort of thing happens.

 

[love_the_life]

Yes, it was really peculiar as the person had to climb over the passenger in 1C. I saw him at the overhead bin but assumed that it was his own luggage he was at. I suppose most people would think that as well.
When I looked back at the person in 1A he was hunched up with ear phones in, didn't look happy. I am only surmising he was the alleged perpetrator based on the was the CSM dealt with the other 2 passengers. Unfortunately they didn't/couldn't move 1A so they were stuck for the remainder of the flight - maybe a couple of hours.
Agree with you, I keep all important stuff with me if at all possible.

 

[love_the_life]

So, back to the TR. As most AFFers have been to Singapore probably numerous times, as have we, I didn't take lots of photos or visit many tourist spots. After the sleeping arrangements on the train, enough to say we were in bed really early and out like lights for nearly 12 hours! Something to be said for a wonderfully comfortable king size bed!

Immigration at Woodlands Station was efficient though not speedy, then it off to collect cases and join the taxi queue. It was well handled and because we had cash we were off and away within a minute. One thing I love about Singapore is their cheap transport. The taxi from Woodlands to the IC was just over $20. We would be looking at $70+ for the distance at home.

Check in was a breeze at the lounge and then round to the room - a shophouse room, nice and big and well kitted out. Time to partake of the free drink at the lobby lounge then veg a bit till canapés and coughtails!