`About to Embark', Hanger Lane Station, West London, 13 June 2008. Parvati Nair, `Lost and Found' (4).
Image by Dr John2005
At first, what rises up from this suitcase are memories... Memories that are my own, memories gleaned from others. Whoever said that everything we recall is based on our own lived experiences? Memories can be borrowed, stolen, acquired, gifted. Memories are even imagined. Turned into words. Stories we weave to cover the gaps of oblivion. Knitted stories. Crocheted stories. Darned stories. Memories stitched and held together by words ... by images. Images and words.
When I first read John's blog on Left Luggage and when I saw the photograph of a ship on high seas and of you, Dinu Li, in a train station with suitcase in hand, my mind leapt to a hidden memory, one that I had never really thought much about or ever consciously recalled. It was about two Revrobes, as they were called, or large suitcases, both in a leather somewhat more tanned than this ones, my fathers initials engraved in gold: VMMN. They have in fact been part of my life ever since I can remember. I seem to recall that I always knew the cases were special. My father put his belongings in them. The rest of us did not. Whenever we were about to leave a country, he would open them and begin to pack. With great care, I see him now, here in my minds eye, bending over and carefully laying his best suits in them. It was a sort of ritual. The Revrobes. They were his. They were special. In 1939, when as a boy of nineteen, he had gone from India to Britain to study, his parents had purchased these cases for him to take in them the things that he would need for his long stay abroad. Warm clothes, of a kind not needed at home, a formal suit, and books a copy of the Oxford English dictionary that he had won as a prize, his prayer books, his History textbooks, his beloved tennis whites. And so I remember my father, though I was not there to see him then, travelling with these two identical cases by train from Madras to Bombay, embarking on a ship that would take him to England, leaving India for the first time even as England entered the War. In a sense, though, going to England was also a sort of landing, for my father was born a British subject. This was the much-anticipated journey to the land of the ruler, who had long taught him and those of his generation to read Wordsworth and dream of England from the distant edges of the tropics. Indeed, such were the inner displacements not untypical of colonization that perhaps there was more that was familiar in England for my father in his own literary imagination than there was in his native India. Indeed, I know for sure that the spires of Oxford and the lights of Piccadilly were in my father’s store of remembered images before he ever saw them. For colonial incursions are all too often displayed most keenly in the mind.
When my father returned four years later, the cases came back with him. Shortly after he began a life of travel. The cases went with him everywhere. From Madras… In cabins and holds, in the boots of cars, on luggage racks in trains… To Oxford and then to Cambridge, to London, to Bihar, to Delhi, to Cairo, to Colombo, to Delhi, to Kuala Lumpur, to Singapore, to Phnom Penh, to Oslo, to Delhi, to Warsaw, to Rabat, to Tunis, to Madrid, to London, to Delhi again…
There are no photographs of my father taking the train from Madras to Bombay, or of his mother and sisters waving goodbye from the platform… None of him embarking on his own for England from the port of Bombay. None, that is, except the ones I carry in my head, imagined from the shards of knowledge that I have of his life before mine. I see him clearly though, aged nineteen, a boy rather than the man I know, excited and also fearful at the prospect of the unknown. I see him, leather cases in hand, on the threshold of his life. About to embark.
[Text by Parvati Nair, © 2008]
100+ Upcoming Social Media & Tech Events
Every week, Mashable puts together a calendar of upcoming social media and web events, parties and conferences. Would you like to have your conference or event listed here? If so, please first review the Mashable Media Partnership …
Read more on Mashable
Question by designersf: How to travel between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur?
Ill be in Singapore for vacation with my family of 4.Which is the best way of getting to Kuala Lumpur from Singapore?Should we book in advance or can we book on the spot?Which is the best-train or bus?Hiw much would it cost approx?any links would be helpful
Best answer:
Answer by salut
I think about 30 SGD. You can take a bus by grassland tours or Five stars tours. Here's the website with everything you need.
http://www.myexpressbus.com/
Add your own answer in the comments!
Butterworth is the main town on the mainland side of Penang state in Malaysia. It is a major rail terminal for Keretapi Tanah Melayu (Malayan Railways) trains heading south to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore and north to Hat Yai in Thailand as well as the State Railways of Thailand's International Express to Bangkok. The KTM intercity train service is a comfortable and affordable way to travel between Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and all the way to Thailand Bangkok. Most of the KTM intercity
Video Rating: 3 / 5
Category : Singapore Kuala Lumpur
What a trenchant piece. As I read it my mind sifted through so many of my own borrowed and made-up memories. John, I really think your Left Luggage collection would make a wonderful display at a smaller art gallery such as the Manchester City Gallery or the York Art Gallery (just to name two that I've been to). It is so moving. Thanks for sharing it.
--
Seen on your photo stream. (?)
Thanks, Gio. I really appreciate the comments and the tips about galleries. The first ten images of the series were recently shown at the Crypt Gallery, St Pancras. But, at the moment I'm just seeing where the project takes me before thinking about exhibition. In fact, I think Left Luggage would work best as a book. Oh well, back to the journey. By the way, LL is best seen at: leftluggage.wordpress.com/
Fantastic! I should have known you'd know the value of what you're doing. : )
--
Seen in my recent comments. (?)
By coach definitely. Go down to Golden Mile Complex to get your tickets, they have a dozen bus operators there. You can see pictures of their coaches before booking. Those priced between $ 30 to $ 40 has newer buses and provide smoother rides. Better to book in advance as seats are not unlimited, especially so for popular timeslots like Fri nights. The train ride takes twice as long and is uncomfortable too as the trains are really old.
Train
I have just answered 1 question-How much time does it take from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur by train?Please take a look at the Yahoo/Answer-Singapore!
Singapore-Kuala Lumpur takes 6 hours on one of two modern daytime trains or 8 hours on a time-effective overnight sleeper train.Please check website for train schedule.
Singapore - Kuala Lumpur :
2nd class seat About RM 34 (About $ 10.00)
1st class seat About RM 68 (About $ 21.00)
2nd class sleeper About RM 43 (About $ 11.00)
1st class sleeper About RM 86 (About $ 20.00)
Deluxe sleeper,shower & WC About RM 131 (About $ 38.00) sharing,About RM 180 (About $ 54.00) sole occupancy.
When checking fares (or booking online) at http://www.ktmb.com.my,classes & class codes are as follows:
AFC = 1st class seats (also known as "Premier")
ASC = 2nd class seats (also known as "Superior")
AEC = 3rd class seats (also known as "Economy")
ADNS = 2nd class sleeper (also known as "Superior Night")
2PLUS = 1st class sleeper (also known as "Premier Night Standard")
ADNF = deluxe 'Selesa' sleeper with private shower & toilet (also known as "Premier Night Deluxe")
Do I need a reservation..?
Yes,you do.All long-distance trains in Malaysia are 'reservation compulsory',so you will need a seat or berth reservation for each train you take.Reservations open 60 days before departure.
Bus
Singapore - Kuala Lumpur
About 5hrs -subject to traffic jam.
1) First Coach
Novena Square
#02-33 238
Thomson Road
(next to Novena MRT station & opposite Tan Tock Seng Hospital)
Tel: 68 222 111
Departure : Daily 7.30am 9.30am 11.30am 2.30pm 4.30pm 6.30pm
Price : About S$ 30.00
2) Aeroline Coach Service (Double Decker)
Grand Copthorne Water Front Hotel
Tel: 6733 7010,6341 9338,6341 9368
Open : Daily : 8.30am - 6.00pm
http://www.aeroline.com.sg
Departure : Mon - Fri
8.00am 9.00am 10.00am 3.30pm 6.45pm
Sat - Sun
8.00am 9.00am 10.00am 3.30pm 6.00pm
Price : About S$ 47.00
Corus Hotel
Jalan Ampang
Departure : Mon - Sun
10.00am 4.00pm 5.30pm
Price : About S$ 47.00
Menara Axis No 2
Jalan 51A/223 (opposite Armada)
3) Airebus (Business Class)
Suntec City
Level 1 (Adjacent to Cheers/Tasty Treatz Food Court)
3 Temasek Boulevard
Suntec Tower Four
Departure : Daily 8.00am 2.00pm 8.00pm
http://www.airebus.net
Upper/Lower Deck
Royal
Price : AboutSGD 69.00
Premier
Price : About SGD 65.00
Deluxe
Price : About SGD 63.00
4) Airebus (Executive Class)
DFS Galleria Scottswalk
(Adjacent to Royal Plaza @ Scotts)
25 Scotts Road
Tel : 6737 6535
Open : Daily 11:00am to 7.00pm
http://www.airebus.net
Sunway Lagoon Resort Hotel
& Adjacent to Cititel Hotel Mid
Valley City
Upper Deck
Price : About SGD 47.00
Lower Deck
Price : About SGD 47.00 + SGD2 surcharge
5) Nice ++ Bus Services (with individual TV screens)
Copthorne Orchid Hotel
214 Dunearn Road
Tel : 6256 5775
Departure : Daily 8.30am 9.30am
Price : About S$ 55.00
Old Railway Station
http://www.plusliner.com
6) Transnasional Coach Services
Singapore Lavender Street
Departure : Daily 8.30am 10.00am 12.00nn 1.30pm 3.00pm 5.00pm 8.00pm 11.00pm
Economy Coach
Price : About S$ 14.95 /AboutRM30.00
Puduraya Bus Station
Executive Coach
Departure : Daily 9.00am 11.00am 4.30pm 6.30pm
Price About S$ 30.00 /About RM60.00
http://www.nadi.com.my/
7) Grassland Express
5001 Beach Road
#01-26
Golden Mile Complex
Tel : 6293 1166
Departure : 7.45 am 9.00 am 9.45 am 12.00 noon 3.30 pm 5.30 pm 7.00 pm 9.00 pm 9.45 pm
Super VIP Coach
Price : About S$ 30.00
Departure : 7.00 am 8.15 am 10.45 am 2.30 pm 11.30 pm 8.30 am 3.30 pm 11.00 pm
Gunung Raya Express
Royal VIP Coach
Price : About S$ 42.00
Boon Lay
Tel : 6261 7811
Departure : Daily 8.30am 3.30pm 10.00pm
Price : About S$ 25.00
Pasar Rakyat No 8 Jalan Melati off Jalan Imbi/Tun Razak
9) Transtar Coach
Lavender MRT Station/Golden Mile Complex
Tel : 6299 9009
Departure : Daily
0730hrs (SVP/EXE)
0830hrs (FCL)
0930hrs (FCL)
1030hrs (EXE)
1500hrs (PRE)
1630hrs (FCL)
1830hrs (FCL)
2200hrs (SVP)
SVP = SuperVIP
EXE = Executive
FCL = First Class
PRE = Premium
SuperVIP
Price :About S$ 25.00
Executive
Price : About S$ 38.00
First Class
Price : About S$ 58.00
Premium
Price : About S$ 45,00
Transtar First Class Passenger's Lounge
No 10 Ground Floor
Jalan Melati off Jalan Imbi / Jalan Tun Razak
http://www.transtar.com.sg
10) Konsortium Express
Golden Mile Tower
Tel : 6392 3911
Boon Lay Shopping Centre
Tel : 6262 641
Departure : Sunday-Thursday 8pm
Price : About S$ 34.00
Departure : Fri -Sat 8pm
Price : About S$ 39.00
http://www.konsortium.com.sg
Please Note: Changes to fares & time schedules are at the discretion of the bus/coach operators.
i am definitely going to take this train next week.. full of adventure and nice country scene.. will celebrate new year in bangkok next week!!!
lol when you get to kuala lumpur from singapore, its like "The Survivors have escaped!"
Malaysia, the best Rail service in SE Asia!!!
That music would drive me fucking nuts. So, can you buy the tickets on the same day you plan to leave??? Is it easy just to walk up to the counter and book tickets? That fucking music !
That music is actually playing through tiny speakers spread all over Malaysia 24 hours a day. It's kept at that volume to keep the people of Malaysia just slightly insane. It's a government tool to keep the population under their control.
Lucky this video only goes for 8:42, because after 8 minutes and 43 seconds, the effects begin to kick in.
Please no music in these kind of videos!!!
get the sleeping class it's worth the ride
fuck off and go back to your swiss army knife~ i pity the fool...
take a plane u swiss asshole,why u took that train if noisy dont complain about shit ok
if u dont like go back to ur country
its very noisy itsn't it??
its very noisy!
To me......."No Class"
looks like 2d class air con .....
what class is this?