People have asked, 'Why travel by train?' To fly would have been much faster and efficient. The trip back to Kuala Lumpur in August was originally planned for me to spend time with my mother in hospital. After Mum passed away in June, and with a dear friend facing terminal illness, my thoughts turned to my own mortality and what I would leave behind for my children. How can I share my heritage, family history and traditions? Especially when it is so different from what we have in ...
Life
Childhood memories of train travel
When I was young, we could not afford to fly to Bangkok to see my mother's sister (this was before the days of cheap air travel). Therefore we will make the long trip from KL to Bangkok by train, which would have taken 2 nights and a day. The train schedule is still the same 40 years on. In fact, the train I was on 2 nights ago looked like it was in service 40 years ago too!!! First class on a Malaysian train is nowhere near first class travel on British Airways! Don't even mention the state ...
Nothing like home too
It is lovely to be home! Just in time to pick up David from school, with this being his last day at school. I wanted to have the chance to thank his awesome teacher who had been so patient and kind, dealing with David's cheekiness throughout the year. This is the end of my travel in luxury. Boy, was it FUN! First Class on British Airways has been a real treat. Who would mind having a handsome young man constantly top up your champagne, cook for you, make your bed and tidy up after you? ...
The W Hotel is way too cool for me
I admit I am not cool or funky. My good friend Tim, with whom I am travelling for work, suggested staying at the W Hotel at Times Square. He is the cool kind of guy. Me? I am showing my age.... On arrival as I was stepping out of the taxi in front of the hotel, I thought this was the first time I am encountering a friendly New Yorker - a gorgeous young man with a trendy stubble on his chin dressed in a white shirt with rolled up sleeves, unbuttoned collar and a pink tie hanging off the ...
Profound discussions via text from my son
My mother had just passed away unexpectedly and I was travelling home on my own. I was gutted to have been too late to see her for a last time. Just less than 24 hours too late. There were many thoughts of "If only ...." I wished for time to go back so I could do things differently. Taken action earlier. All the regrets weighed on me. I flew from London to Bangkok and was waiting for a connecting flight to Kuala Lumpur. And my older son contacted me. I did not often talk about my faith ...
