Ride a train to the muddy confluence

22 January 2024

A ride to remember
Facebook Memories reminded Tian An (Anna) and I that we took a 7h (Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) [Malayan Railways] train ride from Tanjong Pagar Railway Station to Kuala Lumpur (KL) for our 2D1N Uni Grad Trip on this day 13 years ago (i.e. 22 January 2011). Actually, Anna saw this nostalgic reminder first, and he texted me immediately. Both of us had a good laugh reminiscing some of the fun and memorable moments during this trip.

Anna and I were in our final semester of our university school life. We decided to have a short grad trip during our last school holiday before we obtain our Bachelor degree and join the workforce.

Furthermore, Singapore succeeded in negotiating for the return of Tanjong Pagar Railway Station and all the KTM railway land within Singapore. As a Singaporean, this is a huge victory for our sovereign, as it is dangerous for Malaysia to own the entire stretch of railway track and land from Woodlands Checkpoint to Tanjong Pagar Railway Station from a defence perspective. Like what Papa said, imagine a train loaded with enemy soldiers and ammunition travelling all the way through our heartlands into the heart of our city centre? Following the resolution of this longstanding land ownership issue, the last KTM train will depart Tanjong Pagar Railway Station on 30 June 2011.

Perhaps it is the history geek and adventurer in us, since secondary school, Anna and I always wanted to travel across Russia via the Trans-Siberian Railway. As we sit beside each other, we always talked about this dream trip in class. Hence, we thought maybe we shall start small by beginning our rail adventure from Tanjong Pagar to KL first. In addition, we decided that we should fixed our trip early (i.e. in January 2011), as it is still school holiday for NTU (damn it, YOG) and we foresee this 'Tanjong Pagar to KL' full journey train ride will be very popular among Singaporeans nearer to the date of the Last Train (i.e. 30 June 2011), especially since June is school holiday.

On 15 January 2011 (Sat), Anna and I purchased our train ticket at Tanjong Pagar Railway Station. The nearest date available for the full Tanjong Pagar to KL trip is on 22 January 2011 (next Sat) 8.00am, so we bought our one-way train ticket. We only purchase one-way train ticket, because we planned to fly back from KL as it is much faster and cheaper; plus, our objective of the trip is to 'board a train out of Tanjong Pagar Railway Station'. Therefore, there is no need for us to purchase return trip train tickets.

We were quite surprised that the concept of 'exchange rate' does not exist in KTM! This is because tickets purchased in Malaysia and Singapore are the same price, but based on different currency (i.e. tickets bought at both Tanjong Pagar Railway Station and Woodlands Train Checkpoint are charged in Singapore Dollar, whereas tickets sold in Malaysia stations are charged in Malaysia Ringgit)! In other words, the ticket for our Tanjong Pagar to KL train ride cost S$34; whereas if we bought out return ticket at KL, it will only cost RM34, which is a third of the price if purchased in Singapore. Nevertheless, we are excited to board one of the last few train to depart Tanjong Pagar Railway Station.

Memories of Tanjong Pagar Railway Station
On the morning of 22 January 2011 (Sat), Papa and Mumy fetch Anna from his house, and we had breakfast at Whampoa Market. We reached Tanjong Pagar Railway Station at 7.30am. As there is still ample time before our train depart, Anna and I took some photos of Tanjong Pagar Railway Station and the train we will board.

Our train departed Tanjong Pagar Railway Station at 8.00am sharp.

Train ride from Tanjong Pagar Railway Station

Crossing the Causeway

Train ride from JB Sentral to KL Sentral

Searching for a hotel room!

Jalan Petaling (KL Chinatown)

Bukit Bintang

Good Morning KL

KL City Centre (KLCC)

Travelling to KLIA

KLIA

Fly back to Singapore

[draft; work-in-progress]

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Ride a train to the muddy confluence   © 文彬 2004~2024. All rights reserved.

A day @ Tanglin Village

28 September 2007

Tian An's birthday is on 26 September. On 28.9.07, the two of us decided to explore the much hyped Tanglin Village to celebrate his 22nd birthday.


Tian An 22nd birthday celebration @ Tanglin Village

Alighting at the bus stop after Botanic Gardens, the two of us walked up the weathered stairs to a posh French restaurant in a restored building. We continued our way up to the beautiful gothic Ebenezer Chapel, before reaching our destination Tanglin Village, which is also known as Dempsey Hill.


Tanglin Village Blk 27B

We explored Tanglin Village for a while. Anna and I thinks that Tanglin Village does not feel like we are in the outskirt of Singapore City, because we cannot see any skyscrapers or HDB flats from any angle. After discussing for quite some time, Tian An and I decided to have our lunch at DOME Café.

After a satisfying meal, both of us continued to explore the precinct. Eventually we ventured to the nearby Loewen Road and Ridley Park, indulging ourselves in the tranquil ambience and snapping several photos of our adventure.

Reaching Tanglin Road, we took bus #111 to Orchard Paragon...

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A day @ Tanglin Village   © 文彬 2004~2024. All rights reserved.

Bukit Timah: Geography

25 June 2004

[1st Edition: June 2004]
[6th Edition: December 2023]

Geography
Bukit Timah District is located approximately 5km northwest of the City in the Central West Sub-Region, West Region.

Bukit Timah District is bounded by Dairy Farm Road to the north; Bukit Timah Expressway (BKE), the eastern perimeter of Bukit Timah Satellite Earth Station, Pan Island Expressway (PIE), Sime Road, Adam Road, Pan Island Expressway (PIE), Whitley Road (PIE) and Malcolm Road to the northeast; Mount Rosie Road, Chancery Lane, Balmoral Road, Anderson Road, Orange Grove Road, Tanglin Road, Grange Road, Hoot Kiam Road and Zion Road to the east; Alexandra Canal, Prince Charles Crescent, Prince Charles Square, Jervois Lane, Tanglin Road, Kay Siang Road, Margaret Drive, the northern perimeter of developments along Margaret Drive and Jalan Penjara, the eastern perimeter of Ridout Tea Garden, the northern perimeter of Esso Queensway petrol kiosk, the northern perimeter of Commonwealth Crescent precinct, the back alley of Taman Warna and Jalan Hitam Manis, the back alley of Lorong Mambong and Lorong Liput, Lorong Mambong, Holland Road, North Buona Vista Road, Rail Corridor, the northern and western perimeter of the former Raffles Junior College campus, the eastern perimeter of 91 – 99 Grove Drive and Sungei Ulu Pandan to the south; Clementi Road, Ulu Pandan Road, Holland Road, Rail Corridor, the northern perimeter of Clementi Forest, Clementi Road, Upper Bukit Timah Road, Pan Island Expressway (PIE), Toh Tuck Avenue, Bukit Batok East Avenue 3, Bukit Batok Street 25, Bukit Batok East Avenue 6, Old Jurong Road and Upper Bukit Timah Road to the west.

Bukit Timah District covers an area of approximately 3,048 hectares, ranking 7th among the 27 districts. Bukit Timah District housed an estimated population of 172,928 residents as of June 2017, ranking 14th among the 27 districts. Bukit Timah District has a population density of 5,673/km².

[Singapore Map: Town]

Division
Bukit Timah District comprises 3 Sub-Districts (Bukit Timah Sub-District, Holland Sub-District and Tanglin Sub-District).

Bukit Timah Sub-District contains 23 neighbourhoods, namely Dairy Farm Nature Park, Fuyong, Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, Rifle Range, Hindhede, Anak Bukit, Jurong Kechil, Toh Yi, King Albert Park, Mayfair Park, Chantek, Sixth Avenue, Bukit Timah Turf Club, Hillcrest, Orchid Village, Watten, Coronation, Adam, Dunearn, Barker, Malcolm, Arcadia and Sime Road.

Holland Sub-District contains 8 neighbourhoods, namely Greenleaf, Jelita, Pandan Valley, Holland Village, Holland Park, Leedon Park, Coronation West and Queen Astrid Park.

Tanglin Sub-District contains 16 neighbourhoods, namely Farrer, Woollerton, Sommerville, Tyersall, Botanic Gardens, Tanglin Village, Ridout, Kay Siang, Ridley, Chartsworth, Grange, Napier, Nassim, Orange Grove, Dalvey and Stevens.

In total, Bukit Timah District is sub-divided into 47 neighbourhoods.

[Town Map: Neighbourhood]

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Bukit Timah: Geography   © 文彬 2004~2024. All rights reserved.