Paul Lindberg

June 18 The Magic Hour - Kuala Lumpur
06-27-06 | 09:54

The magic hour was about 6:30 am when I arrived at Singapore station. There were a few people milling around and some kids were playing. There was something beautiful about this old station building as the birds flew through the high ceilings of the main terminal. I lamented my short stay in Singapore but felt pleased to have met and shot a some pictures with Ciska.

Having the bulk of Awake film's equipment, I was not traveling light and easy as I would have liked to.

I didn't sleep much as I left my hotel about 6 am to Singapore Main Station. Most Singaporeans and Ciska had recommended the bus as a more efficient way to travel but I have always enjoyed traveling a little slower to enjoy the scenery and true speed of travel.

The Singaporean train station seemed to be a part of Malaysia more than Singapore. It was the first time that I saw English and Malay together. The station was falling apart in many ways. The standard brand new look of Singapore was conspicuously missing from station. It might be that the majority of passengers on this train are Malaysian and can afford the cheap ticket. It could also be that people don't like stopping at each train station along the way.

At Immigration, I had lost an entry card which I had to keep in my passport for departure from Singapore. The officials were surprising at ease but they were the Malaysian officials. I think the Singaporeans at the airport might have been a little more biting.

The trip went quickly, maybe because I passed out from not sleeping the night before but as the train rolled into Kuala Lumpur. The rain had descended again. I had a few hours before my next train would be coming so I looked around. After checking my Herculean load of bags, I took the sky-train.

From the main train station, I got off at the KL CC, which stands for Kuala Lumpur City Center. This is where the second two tallest building in the world. The rain didn't allow me to walk around much in the city. There was a mall under the twin towers. There was also some kind of Disney ride run by Malaysia Oil Company which I found funny but the towers are called Petras Towers after the Oil Company so it made sense after all.

I rode the sky-train back to the main train station and boarded my night berth.

I look forward to some good zzz's on the train....nightie night