Melaka to Gemas

Sunday, April 13, 08
Up earlier than the establishment, I open the large outer doors and place the newspaper on the teak chair. Walking out, I watch the worshippers entering a Buddhist temple, placing flowers, and lighting incense and candles, bowing and kneeling first to the Deity as they enter. Virtually all shops are closed. I take note of a peanut vendor pushing his cart along the street. I never pass up peanuts. Several doors from my hotel is a spot open for breakfast. The complete front is open with tables and chairs set inside and out. Kopi there later. Thunder pounds in the distance. It's hot and humid.
Melaka has a Chinese graveyard which contains headstones from the Ming dynasty. This is Chinatown and the flavor is that. A mixture of races and people groups live together. Legend has it that while resting under a Melaka tree, a prince fleeing from his enemies witnessed an albino Mousedeer kick a dog into the river. Inspired by the courage of the Mousedeer, the prince Parameswara, a Hindu prince from Sumatra in the late 14th century, decided to stand his ground and face his enemies. He then named his kingdom Melaka, after the tree.
Walking the streets reveals no police. Yet, I feel safe. Is it the harmony of the city that I am sensing?
Deciding on a taxi to Tampin where we will catch the train, $6.50 each, 45 minute ride, rather than the confusion of the bus, we arrive at the railway station in Tampin at 10:30 - 30 minutes too late for the first train. The next one is 4:15. John and I walk into town and see what is of Tampin, have a cold drink banana and orange and return. My bank has again locked my account. I'll need to call again. Not today! A bite to eat - rice, slices of marinated chicken, a soup and drink for 6 ringgit ($2). The Kuala Lumpur to Singapore express arrives on time, YES ON TIME, and we sit in Coach D, seats 13C and 13D. The air conditioner is broken so the two loading doors are left open. No Osha here! Gemas is where we are headed - 50 minutes to the East. The rain pours off the train as a woman slams the doors shut. No! The closeness presses in. With the rain stopped, 15 minutes later, the doors are again opened. The roadside is palm and rubber plantations. John and I stand between the two doors where we attempt to find some breathable air. Sweat is pouring off me. An Indian woman comes to fan herself, talk and stand in the slight breeze. John nearly gets his face slapped by an encroaching tree branch as he leans out the door.
Gemas, a nondescript, rail town. Here is where several rail-lines converge. From this point we will take a slow train north to Gua Musang. The scheduled run is 7:00 to 5:00, with a 3 hour wait in Kuala Limpis for an express train to pass. During the three hours, we will find some lunch, hopefully. Our Gemas room has Air Con, ceiling fan, three beds, squat toilet and cold shower down a long outside walkway. All these goodies for 18 ringgit each (divide by 3 for USD).
Melaka pictures: http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/musungi/Melaka