Before leaving Singapore, I get $20 exchanged for Singapore dollars. I know I’m leaving Singapore but I have just too little cash to feel comfortable. I never realized this about myself but I like to have cash on hand. I like to know if we ran into a problem maybe cash could help for unexpected transportation needs, food or water, even an unanticipated lodging need. It’s a security issue of mine. It could create a false sense of security but I need it.
Cash, large bottled water, two cans of iced tea and I’m ready for our nine-hour train ride from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. We have a choice between $43 ticket for a bed or a $30 ticket for a seat. We opt for the seats. They were comfortable enough and fortunately Andy had his blanket to share on this frigid train car. We left at 10 pm. It didn’t take us long to fall asleep but when the train stopped just an hour into our trip it was quite a surprise. One of the crew members from the train is shouting at us. It must be, “Everybody get off the train and take everything with you.” We’re just following everybody else. I had these scary and disturbing feelings. I mean, here we are, in an unknown region, in the middle of the night, following strangers, not understanding a word of what was being said, won’t dare ask any questions, and unclear why any of this is happening. We just line up, beside the train. We separate from our backpacks and continue walking. We’re crossing into Malaysia and this is border control. We just follow the crowd. Give them our passports, pick up our backpacks and get back on the train. Now that was a rude awakening!
