Why I love train travel

Solo train station, heading to Jogja, Indonesia.

I have a confession.
I am insanely in love with train travel :-)

The lovely aspect of train travel, is no doubt the trip itself.  The sound of the swaying wheels on the rails, and that magical haunting whistle that gives me a sense of purpose in life - the anticipation of arrival in a foreign land.
 
My first train travel, dated back in 2006: Penang (Butterworth) – Bangkok, Thailand. The 20 hours train ride was nothing but a wonderful experience.

In Colombo, Sri Lanka

I remembered a group of teenage Malays whom I befriended during that 20 hour journey - The beautiful wide-eyed Indian boy with a ray of sunlight planted on his soft cheeks. The food and drink vendors with abundance of  Sweet pineapple, Pad Thai, "bamboo rice", a mildly sweet and savory sticky rice and spicy raw salads to feed everyone in the car. 

There is also something very romantic about train travel. Especially when you wake up in the morning to the choo choo sound of the train and the sweet aroma of coffee from the snack car. A book in your hand, watching the sun rises from the break of dawn :)