The Jungle Railway

At 6 am this morning I was boarding the Jungle Railway Train. It's a rattly old local train that has one carriage for food and one and a half carriages for seating and about 100 people and many bags of food. We left in the dark and that's the way it stayed till the sun came up at 7:15..... The locals were getting on on platforms which were simply a sign on the side of the tracks. They used flash light to guide themselves on and luck to find a seat. One old and very loud woman was doing here shopping at each station by yelling at some poor woman on the "platform" who passed food goods through the window as she passed cash out...Usually through my window might I add. So this morning I was trolley boy for a woman with no teeth and a tribe to feed. She took up 6 seats and under my feet with her stuff. I just have that " sure I'd love to help you face".
The trip took just over 9 and a half ours through Some of Malaysia's best Jungle passing little shanty towns but I'd have to say the constant rocking put me in and out of sleep so I saw bits mainly.
Now I'd like to tell you I have learnt the fine art of peeing in an Asian style loo in a rocking train!
I was busting and just fooling myself if I thought I could go 9hours with out weeing, if you know me well I can hardly go an hour without going to the loo 5 times.
So off I went. The first time I even attempted it we went through two tunnels in the pitch black. So attempt three. I was more concerned by the fact the the window was at eye level and if we stopped at a station some poor local was going to cop a full view of my Lilly white ass. My other concern was not to fall head first in to the bucket of water (used to flush after the event) and not to fall backwards in to the loo itself. EEk.
All whilst squatting holding on to my jeans and trying not to pee on me!! At the best of times this is a difficult situation especially when wearing a 15kg backpack but I tell you being thrown around like a tennis ball at the Australian Open adds a whole new dimension> I think this should be featured at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games and see who comes off best. My attempt was pretty spectacular. I came out unscathed until I stubbed my little toe on the loo door on the way out!
Glad you heard about my toilet troubles? I'm sure you are.

I'm now in Jerantut on a stay over to Taman Negara. I could have caught the bus this afternoon but I really would prefer the boat even if it takes 3 hours...I traveled enough for one day I think and I'm really grotty after the train....It was all smoky and blew heaps of soot but it was so hot you had to keep the window open.

I'm sharing a room with a Fella named Zac from the US tonight but he's looking to go off the beaten track for 9 days, so, good luck with that my friend I'm just going to do a few day treks and maybe an over nighter. There's Tigers in there and I just aint ready to become that intimate yet.

Off to Melaka after so you probably wont here from me till then. So be safe and take care
Love Lizzy