Eastern and Oriental Express Rail Journey

A personal favourite of Paul Patane’s is the rail journey on the Eastern & Oriental Express

Paul is a devotee of train journeys and one of his favourites is the Eastern & Oriental Express in Asia - a popular and unique journey that links two remarkable capitals, Singapore and Bangkok. The landscape in between is blessed with intense natural beauty, wide-open spaces, meandering river sand dense jungle that has remained largely untouched.

According to Paul this train journey is a pleasurable alternative to other land-based touring opportunities and could be described as “cruising on land”.

The train boasts two restaurant cars, a bar car, a saloon car, boutique and library cum reading room. Importantly for comfort, the train is fully air-conditioned. On board the E&O Express the atmosphere harks back to a colonial age of gentility and politesse and on board cuisine continues the same high standards already established by the Venice Simplon Orient Express in Europe.

Paul recommends that for two people a State compartment is a worthwhile choice for the convenience of space. Both daytime seats convert to two single beds at floor level. Many of Paul’s fellow travellers agreed that the modest difference in cost above that for a Pullman compartment made the journey so much more enjoyable.

The itinerary:

Sunday- Bangkok
The Eastern & Oriental Express departs Bangkok in the early evening. Dinner is served as the train travels from city into the countryside with its rice-fields, villages and water buffalo.

Monday - Wang Po & River Kwai
On arrival at the River Kwai Bridge station, the E&O stops to allow you to disembark. Guides escort guests down to the jetty to board a local raft for a cruise along the picturesque Kwai Yai River, passing under the Bridge. At the E&O landing point you board a coach for a brief trip past the North Temple and Chinese Cemetery to the Thailand-Burma Railway Centre. There is time to visit the Don Rak War Cemetery adjacent to the museum.

Back on board the evening meal may look like this:

Dinner
Amuse bouche
Pan-fried escolar with Szechwan vegetable
Hot and sour sauce
Medallion of Lamb in fragrant vindaloo jus served with
Potato and Dhal Mash accompanied by Masala gnocchi
Warm chocolate pudding with
Coconut and rice sorbet
Petits fours
Café De Colombia

Tuesday – Penang
After brunch the train arrives into Butterworth and coaches take you across to colonial Georgetown, capital of Penang, on the local ferry. Enjoy a guided introductory tour with pre-World War II mosques, elaborately-roofed temples, churches, bazaars and shop.

Back on board, spend the afternoon watching the scenery from one of the lounge cars or from the open deck of the Observation Car. Dine in one of the opulent E&O cars and then spend a relaxing evening in the Bar Car. Overnight on board.

Wednesday – Singapore
After breakfast, having crossed the Straits of Johor into Singapore, you disembark.

Contact Paul for more information on (02) 8270 4800 or email him at ppatane@conciergetraveller.com.au

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