There were smiling children all the way.
There
were
smiling
children
all
the
way
.
Clearly they knew at what time the train passed their homes and they made it their business to stand along the railway, wave to complete strangers and cheer them up as they rushed towards Penang.
Clearly
they
knew
at
what
time
the
train
passed
their
homes
and
they
made
it
their
business
to
stand
along
the
railway
,
wave
to
complete
strangers
and
cheer
them
up
as
they
rushed
towards
Penang
.
Often whole families stood outside their homes and waved and smiled as if those on the trains were their favorite relatives.
Often
whole
families
stood
outside
their
homes
and
waved
and
smiled
as
if
those
on
the
trains
were
their
favorite
relatives
.
This is the simple village people of Malaysia.
This
is
the
simple
village
people
of
Malaysia
.
I was moved.
I
was
moved
.
I had always traveled to Malaysia by plane or car, so this was the first time I was on a train.
I
had
always
traveled
to
Malaysia
by
plane
or
car
,
so
this
was
the
first
time
I
was
on
a
train
.
I did not particularly relish the long train journey and had brought along a dozen magazines to read and reread.
I
did
not
particularly
relish
the
long
train
journey
and
had
brought
along
a
dozen
magazines
to
read
and
reread
.
I looked about the train.
I
looked
about
the
train
.
There was not one familiar face.
There
was
not
one
familiar
face
.
I sighed and sat down to read my Economics.
I
sighed
and
sat
down
to
read
my
Economics
.
It was not long before the train was across the Causeway and in Malaysia.
It
was
not
long
before
the
train
was
across
the
Causeway
and
in
Malaysia
.
Johore Baru was just another city like Singapore, so I was tired of looking at the crowds of people as they hurried past.
Johore
Baru
was
just
another
city
like
Singapore
,
so
I
was
tired
of
looking
at
the
crowds
of
people
as
they
hurried
past
.
As we went beyond the city, I watched the straight rows of rubber trees and miles and miles of green.
As
we
went
beyond
the
city
,
I
watched
the
straight
rows
of
rubber
trees
and
miles
and
miles
of
green
.
Then the first village came into sight.
Then
the
first
village
came
into
sight
.
Immediately I came alive; I decided to wave back.
Immediately
I
came
alive
;
I
decided
to
wave
back
.
From then on my journey became interesting.
From
then
on
my
journey
became
interesting
.
I threw my magazines into the waste basket and decided to join in Malaysian life.
I
threw
my
magazines
into
the
waste
basket
and
decided
to
join
in
Malaysian
life
.
Then everything came alive.
Then
everything
came
alive
.
The mountains seemed to speak to me.
The
mountains
seemed
to
speak
to
me
.
Even the trees were smiling.
Even
the
trees
were
smiling
.
I stared at everything as if I was looking at it for the first time.
I
stared
at
everything
as
if
I
was
looking
at
it
for
the
first
time
.
The day passed fast and I even forgot to have my lunch until I felt hungry.
The
day
passed
fast
and
I
even
forgot
to
have
my
lunch
until
I
felt
hungry
.
I looked at my watch and was surprised that it was 3:00 pm.
I
looked
at
my
watch
and
was
surprised
that
it
was
3:00
pm
.
Soon the train pulled up at Butterworth.
Soon
the
train
pulled
up
at
Butterworth
.
I looked at the people all around me.
I
looked
at
the
people
all
around
me
.
They all looked beautiful.
They
all
looked
beautiful
.
When my uncle arrived with a smile, I threw my arms around him to give him a warm hug.
When
my
uncle
arrived
with
a
smile
,
I
threw
my
arms
around
him
to
give
him
a
warm
hug
.
I had never done this before.
I
had
never
done
this
before
.
He seemed surprised and then his weather-beaten face warmed up with a huge smile.
He
seemed
surprised
and
then
his
weather-beaten
face
warmed
up
with
a
huge
smile
.
We walked arm in arm to his car.
We
walked
arm
in
arm
to
his
car
.
I looked forward to the return journey.
I
looked
forward
to
the
return
journey
.
There were smiling children all the way. Clearly they knew at what time the train passed their homes and they made it their business to stand along the railway, wave to complete strangers and cheer them up as they rushed towards Penang. Often whole families stood outside their homes and waved and smiled as if those on the trains were their favorite relatives. This is the simple village people of Malaysia. I was moved.  I had always traveled to Malaysia by plane or car, so this was the first time I was on a train. I did not particularly relish the long train journey and had brought along a dozen magazines to read and reread. I looked about the train. There was not one familiar face. I sighed and sat down to read my Economics.  It was not long before the train was across the Causeway and in Malaysia. Johore Baru was just another city like Singapore, so I was tired of looking at the crowds of people as they hurried past. As we went beyond the city, I watched the straight rows of rubber trees and miles and miles of green. Then the first village came into sight. Immediately I came alive; I decided to wave back.  From then on my journey became interesting. I threw my magazines into the waste basket and decided to join in Malaysian life. Then everything came alive. The mountains seemed to speak to me. Even the trees were smiling. I stared at everything as if I was looking at it for the first time.  The day passed fast and I even forgot to have my lunch until I felt hungry. I looked at my watch and was surprised that it was 3:00 pm. Soon the train pulled up at Butterworth. I looked at the people all around me. They all looked beautiful. When my uncle arrived with a smile, I threw my arms around him to give him a warm hug. I had never done this before. He seemed surprised and then his weather-beaten face warmed up with a huge smile. We walked arm in arm to his car.  I looked forward to the return journey.