Gua Musang to Kota Bharu

Tuesday, April 15, 08
Last night, dinner was a bowl of rice, spiced chicken and sauce and vegetable assortment. Two iced teas washed it down. Since we were seated in a Muslim restaurant there was no pork or beer. Looking around, we found a can of beer each in a small market and took it to our room - lukewarm beer. Great!
Morning is early. After a shower, no shower head, no sink, I re-work my shin which has become infected. The large scrape on my knee is virtually healed. Cleaning my shin with hydrogen peroxide, I apply salve and wrapping. This I will do again this evening taking double special notice and care. An inch long gecko keeps wanting to travel with me making numerous attempts at climbing into my day pack. He may have made it. What stories he'll have for his grandchildren.
9:54 (How does this square with the absence of clocks? The one in the station is broken at 6:49) is the scheduled departure of the train heading to Tumpat. It doesn't happen. Sorry, 1 hour late - right on time. We leave the linestone outcroppings and continue north - Bertam Baru, Dabong, Kuala Krai, Tanah Merah, Pasir Mas, Wakaf Bharu, and Tumpat. Puttering along, we stand in the open doorways one hand on the handrail and the other hand holding and clicking the camera. We laugh at the kilometer markers. They must be so the train master knows where to pick up the two Westerners who have fallen off. Not so funny when the train lurches to one side, then the other. Past wide muddy rivers, jungle, plantations, through several tunnels and one lane roads, we sway.
Having been in hills since we left Gemas, yesterday morning, outside of Tanah Merah we enter flat lands. Here are more settlements which dot our way, a bit up scale from what we've been seeing. Birds, looking close to white egrets, are everywhere.
Well, that's disgusting! The toilet looks through onto the tracks. Touch as little as possible.
In the coach, we are the only two passengers. An elderly rail worker kneels on the seats, facing West, Mecca, and says his prayers.
Off the train at 2:30, we sit in the station and have a cup of coffee. A taxi driver sees us as a potential golden cow. Not so! We wait for the bus which will take us to Kota Bharu. Why didn't we get off as we passed nearby? Because, we wanted to ride the train to the end of the line. Tamput is certainly that - 8 km from the Thai border. But, now we must double back 30 km. We are told a bus will come past at 3:00. Cost to Kota Bharu is 2 ringgit (70 cents).
Before leaving Gua Musang, I made some phone calls. But, once on the way, the signal quickly evaporated. Again, I have a signal but now it's too late Stateside to make a call. Tomorrow!
Wait, wait, wait.
John and I have agreed to wait till 3:30 for the bus - 1 hour in the station. After that, we'll take a taxi. 3:30 arrives and no bus. No taxi, either. 3:32, the bus rounds the corner and we're on for a fun 1 hour ride of 30 km. Dropped at the central bus depot, walking through some road work, we enter a square where we find a room, with fan, for 30 ringgit. First, batteries for my camera and then a cold drink. We've been traveling for the past two days. Tomorrow, we'll rest up and see the town.
Jungle Train pics: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/musungi/GuaMusang