Let’s alter that Willie Nelson song a bit and hum “On the Rails Again”.
The seasoned jungle explorers reeking of danger and DEET having seen terrifying piles of elephant dung on their jungle trek (actually a ride on a Jeep) return to the safety of the Eastern & Oriental Express to recount their adventure and consume a hearty lunch my selection being grilled Wagyu beef with a glass of Chateauneuf du Pape.
Returned to the bar and observation car to watch the Malaysian scenery roll by and enjoy a glass of Veuve.
My shower was quite an experience holding on for dear life attempting to manage the motion! Hint…plan your shower when the train is stationary.
Cocktails and live music at the Piano Bar Car. My Martini was just the way I like it. This may be Malaysia you say but even in far flung locales it is possible to snag a top rate Martini and may I add superior to most Martinis served in Canada.
Prior to departing Canada I read a comment on social media from a teetotaller complaining why should he have to pay for every passenger boozing it up and running up and down the corridors in a drunken state late at night. True drinks are included in your fare but as to pie eyed drunks running amok no such depraved behaviour was noticed on this trip. Well there was a very well-oiled gentleman at a pre dinner cocktail gathering but well behaved. Premium brands are not included…..and indeed they are premium.
I am business casual but there is a snazzy man dressed in a tuxedo with three well dressed birds in evening wear. Tittering and giggling from the ladies. Of course, the man in the tuxedo is residing in the Presidential Suite
14October2025 Taman Negara National Park in Malaysia
Breakfast in our Pullman Cabin is so cramped it is near impossible to eat. Pastries galore and all manner of fruit including dragon fruit and various melon pieces on a skewer sitting atop a bowl of yogurt. A delicious bowl of pork congee for me. I do love this Asian rice porridge. I heard a few fellow passengers were squirted with a stream of chocolate filling in their pain au chocolat. No such misfortune for me.
At 08:00 the train stopped at Maripoh station in Malaysia and our group was picked up in jeeps with a guide to transport us to Taman Negara National Park with one of the oldest rain forests in Malaysia composed of dense jungle, wide rivers and lush mountains. Once a habitat of the Malay tiger, the national animal of Malaysia, which is emblazoned on Malaysia’s coat of arms and on the insignia of the Eastern & Oriental Express. The Malay tiger is now an endangered species. Incredible ride through the forest and no tigers seen although a pile or two of elephant droppings. We had started with a long walk on suspension bridges giving us an aerial view of the rain forest. Lush and verdant.
My basic chow (not Olivia Chow tax loving mayor of Toronto) is chicken kibble. I eat at free will as opposed to set feeding times. That suits me just fine. Polish it off with cold clean water and I’m good to go. I hardly call it exciting but I must believe Bob when he tells me it is vital for good puppy health.
There are other foods that create more neurological excitement.
Poultry. Duck, chicken and turkey!
Occasional bits of fruit. I will eat a blueberry after I play with it awhile.
Vegetables? I am told Dylan the Westie loved raw carrots and all manner of cooked vegetables. Not me.
Cheese!
CARBS BABY. CARBS BABY!!! I love potatoes and pasta which I love slurping up like Tramp in “Lady and the Tramp”. Bread is my regular morning treat whether it be bagel or toast. If I don’t get my chunk to start my treat tyranny believe you me I will “advise” Bob and Fay of such!
Bob claims it is time for a CARB INTERVENTION! I don’t eat Wonder Bread or those flimsy grocery store loaves that are more sawdust than bread. I prefer whole wheat 7 Grain Sourdough and Montreal bagels. After all I am a Westie and we have taste!
13October2025: Boarding the Eastern & Oriental Express: Where Veuve Clicquot Flows Like Water but the Big and Tall May Face a Tight Squeeze
Goodbye to the Shangri-La Singapore. No complaints whatsoever about that hotel. On the bus to the Woodlands Train Station bordering Malaysia to board the Eastern and Oriental Express (E&OE). I have preconceived notions of luxury and murder as after all there was that film “Murder on the Orient Express”.
All customs and immigration procedures for both Singapore departures and Malaysia arrivals are completed at the Woodlands Train Station. Never ending passport scans and the like leaving Singapore and then fingerprinting, eye scan and electronic reading of passport entering Malaysia. Greeted onboard the train by Keith our steward or butler as some refer to him as. Every E&OE passenger has a steward. “Ring the bell” and he/she is at your service.
My goodness how small our Pullman Cabin is! We wanted to upgrade to a larger and more humane State Cabin but none were available. A tall man trapped like a bug in a rug but the trick is to spend as little time as possible in the cabin. There was adequate disclosure as to the tightness of accommodations but was not heeded.
That’s the life. relaxing with a Veuve
Afternoon tea served at 4-5 in our cabin and Veuve Clicquot flows freely if you so wish. So cramped though in this Pullman Cabin one wrong move and food goes flying.
Breakfast in your cabin if you so wish!
Appetizers, cocktails and more Veuve available at the bar and open-air observation car at the rear of the train. Sipping Veuve watching the Malaysian jungle roll by. Armed security guard sits unobtrusively in the corner. The jungle, villages and towns greet the eyes and one senses rural poverty. Yet at certain locales apartment buildings and well-maintained small homes suggestive of the presence of a middle class. In every town I manage to see a Kentucky Fried Chicken sign. The Colonel is doing exceptionally well in Malaysia!
Appetizers in the bar and observation car
Two dining cars luxuriously appointed serving five-star cuisine. Spot on wine service with a choice of quality red or white or both depending on the four courses served plus dessert. Dress code is business casual for dinner somewhat difficult in packing an extra outfit with almost no storage space. You really do require a small carry-on bag for your cabin. Your larger luggage is loaded onto the baggage car to be delivered to you upon completion of your voyage.
Bathroom tiny and what will a shower be like with all the jostling. When walking the corridor one literally softly bounces off the walls.
The sofa in the Pullman Cabin converts to two bunk beds and is prepared by the steward while one is enjoying dinner. Once the bunk beds are pulled down my goodness only one person can prepare for beddy bye at a time! Agility and neatness are essential in the Pullman Cabin. And since I lost the toss I am in the upper bunk and just try climbing down the ladder to visit the WC at 3 a.m.! The train is on narrow British gauge, so one feels the motion which on this night was somewhat gentle beneficial to a good sleep. This is no high-speed smooth train ride!
What you might expect for lunch
Initial impression is sensory and culinary overload and no onboard murder quite yet although I did stop by for a glass of Veuve in the bar car after dinner and the karaoke blaring accompanied by off key voices was murderous on the ears.
Morning Malaysian jungle as seen from observation car
Couple travellers should avoid the Pullman Cabin as the particularly tall or portly will suffer.
24January2026: Spoof News Services: Bracebridge, Ontario: The Muskoka Cottager’s Association today announced the inaugural winner of its Big Daddy Award.
Kurt Gristle, Vice President of the Muskoka Cottager’s Association (MCA) , explained the BIG DADDY AWARD is an annual award bestowed by the MCA to an individual that displays unwavering skills in uniting Canadians from Newfoundland to British Columbia.
Gristle stated, “The hostility, aggression and ignorance displayed by President Trump has done more to promote and foster Canadian unity than even the 1972 Canada-Russia Summit Hockey Series .” Gristle remarked President Trump has insulted Canadians by:
Denigrating former Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau to the extent he has been driven into the arms of musician Catty Periwinke.
Threatening current Prime Minister of Canada Mark Carney for a recent speech made in Davos, Switzerland and for his attempt to repair relations with China which had deteriorated over the detention and arrest of Chinese executive Meng Wanzhou in Vancouver in 2018 as a resultof a United States warrant. As Gristle stated,” Canada does a favour to the United States and suffers severe economic consequences and as a result Canada attempts to repair that damage by permitting initial deliveries of 49,000 Chinese electric vehicles and Big Daddy Trump poops all over Canada.”
Stating Canada only lives because of the United States.
Stating the United States won World War Two ignoring the contributions of its once allies including Canada.
Stating Canada should be the 51st state.
Referring to former Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau and current Prime Minister Carney as “Governors of Canada”.
Referring to Canadians as “igloo people”.
Posting maps online showing Canada and Greenland as part of the United States.
Stating Canada did nothing in the United States war against Afghanistan whereas 158 Canadian troops and a senior Canadian diplomat died in Kandahar province in Afghanistan.
Incessantly threatening Canada with tariffs.
Stating the United States does not need Canada for anything. Gristle remarked, “Repeat that to the tourism industry in the United States!”
Notice of the award was sent by regular mail to President Trump at the Merde Lardo Golf Course clubhouse in West Palm Beach today. A ceremony will be held on Canada Day (July 1st, 2026) at the Port Carling IGA reception hall.
Kurt Gristle is a former American citizen once residing in North Bergen, New Jersey and a well-known actor in the United States who received political asylum in Canada after fleeing an arrest warrant in the State of Minnesota after starring in a sequel to “Escape from New York” which was to be entitled “Escape from Minneapolis”. The movie will continue to be filmed in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He resides in Port Carling, Ontario with his actress wife Gilda Yawn.
Singapore 12October2025: Passing on the 250 Acre Gardens by the Bay and the Garden Rhapsody Light and Musical Show
I am not enthused by the evening activity of visiting the 250-acre Gardens by the Bay with The Cloud Forest, Supertree Observatory, Flower Dome and OCBC Skyway followed by the garden Rhapsody Light and Musical Show as it is reminiscent of a North American amusement park. Being the real adventuresome tourist looking for the “authentic Singapore” I walk twenty minutes from the Singapore Shangri-La to the massive multi-floored Icon Shopping Mall, the site of the former Thai Embassy. And I am on a quest to the find the Holy Grail of “real Singaporean street food” here at Icon which was recommended by the tour guide Andrew “if you had the time to do so”.
We are off on the Orient Express tomorrow, and I am told there is no room for a full suitcase or even a carry on. So I buy a nifty small canvas bag for 55 Singaporean dollars, some extra t Shirts and pants at an enormous Uni-Glo and a 29 Singaporean dollar deodorant at Bath and Beyond. Just try and find deodorant in Singapore! I mistakenly packed a travel shower gel for a travel sized deodorant and in this humidity, deodorant recommended! Extra clothes required as you sweat through everything in this humidity!
In Singapore my travel physician had mentioned “street food” is entirely safe in Singapore. I see no vendors on the street hawking questionably prepared and stored food. It seems street food is often available in shopping mall food courts. These are not the North American food courts jammed with chain restaurant food but rather a huge selection of authentic Singaporean foods in small and immaculately clean kitchens. I head down to the ground floor and am in a maze of small takeout kitchens offering a tantalizing array of excellent and inexpensive Asian food. Absolutely delicious fish ball soup! No Caucasians here. Have I stumbled on a secret dining conclave in Singapore? Eating with the real Singaporeans? Perhaps I will one day tell you about eating with the real Italians at a McDonalds in Rome!
Singapore’s Peranakan heritage refers to the rich and unique culture of the Peranakans, also known as the Straits Chinese. The community has a distinctive heritage combining elements of Chinese, Malay and Indonesian cultures. The term Peranakan refers to the descendants of Chinese immigrants who came to the Malay Archipelago, including Singapore between the 15th and 17th century. They intermarried with local Malays and Indonesians creating a unique hybrid culture. The Peranakan enclave in Singapore is the Katong area where shophouses showcase a unique architectural style, featuring colourful facades, intricate tiles and ornate carvings reflecting their heritage’s wealth and cultural identity.
Our visit included visiting a family business/museum noted for Peranakan cuisine where we listened to a lecture on Peranakan culture and with tea sampled various pastries made with glutinized rice. The greenish coloured one topped with caramelized coconut giving it a delightful smoky flavour was stellar.
WHY IS BOB MUTTERING LIKE COLONEL KURTZ IN APOCALYPSE NOW?
Aside from scoring human food like bits of bagel or today’s blueberry I live in anticipation of the next walk. After suffering puppy quarantine for not being fully vaccinated for the last three months it is 3-5 walks a day in mushy slush, powdery snow, freezing cold and nasty wind chills. I have a double coat and when it is 15 below I have a chic Eddie Bauer coat I wear. A pup of fashion and no longer do I try to tear it off…in those days I was unsophisticated.
As we were preparing for our morning walk in temperatures of minus 13 and a wind chill of minus 23 while Bob was putting on his boots just like Colonel Walter E. Kurtz in the movie “Apocalypse Now” which I saw on the couch last month I heard “Oh the Horror! It is viciously cold out there Rory!”.
Not sure what it means as I have only walked in snow and cold my entire walking career?
Out we head and in 3 minutes I am puppy fighting with a 10-month-old Cavapoo! Its mistress complaining about the nasty cold apologized and moved on saying, “Gotta keep moving so I don’t freeze!”
Then three more dogs clustered in a group. I puppy fought with a 6-month-old 95-pound Bernese Mountain dog however Bob kept pulling me back saying one swat of his massive paw and you’ll be out cold. Seems Bob is a bit obsessed with cold?
We made it home and what a groan of suffering when Bob walked in the door. What’s a little cold. I hear about spring and summer from Bob and how walks will be long and much more exciting. You mean they can be more exciting than they are now!
Onward we go with the temperature minus 23 the coldest day of my life!
Golly gee, I love digging a speciality of West Highland Terriers. I live to hunt prey (and perhaps a crust of bread and cheese too!) and there was an apparent collision between hunting and digging last night.
Several days ago, due to global warming, we saw an opossum for the first time in the neighborhood trundling along the top of the fence. Juicy opossum meat has my prey instinct boiling.
Last night Bob was about to open the door for my late-night bedtime ablutions and I heard him say, “Is that an opossum?” causing my blood to boil and as I readied for attack Bob did not open the sliding door so I could do my business so in pajamas and boots in the bitter cold accompanied by Bob I did my business in the driveway.
You see I had been digging by the fence leaving a hole which in the moonlight creating the impression of an opossum. You had to be there to see it! The big dig is my work and not the reference to the Boston Big Dig years ago!
I was so excited upon hearing the word opossum I simply couldn’t go to bed so Bob played with me until 00:30 at which point I entered my crate and yelped to escape so I could get that opossum but after a big “SHHHHH” from Bob I fell asleep dreaming of a chase!
Singapore 11October2025: Eating With the Toiling Masses of Singapore
We are staying at the Shangri-La Singapore with five-star victuals. Who wants perpetual five-star food? I asked our tour director for a simpler locale where the toiling masses chow down. So for dinner a short walk down Orchard Street where the hotel is located then turn left to the 7-11 and walk down to the basement to a “low key” food court bereft of tourists but full of locals not working for major international financial organizations nor of the moneyed Singaporean classes. Well a dinner # 4 for me consisting of BBQ chicken and pork, a bowl of broth and a gigantic portion of rice. Food it was and not gourmet but for 6 Singaporean dollars who can complain. I also had a large TIGER Lager the only beer served in the food court by a young lady in Tiger logo shirt serving up the brew. She even topped up your glass when needed. What service! I’d give this a 2- star rating but a five for the “authentic” Singaporean experience!
A Bird's Eye View of Fashion, Food, Travel, Culture, Beverage and Curiosity 