Now you can travel on Agatha Cristie's Orient Express

What Excites a modern day traveler? It is the chance to experience a different time and space. If you think so too then the Orient Express luxury trains are for you.
The original company Orient Express Hotels Ltd was revived in 1970 .Today it run five main luxury trains but the most popular are the Orient Express that shows you the colorful Rajasthan in India, the romantic Venice Simplon- Orient Express and the Eastern Orient Express that takes you from Singapore to Bangkok via Kuala Lumpur.
This service was started in 1993 and this is the train that can transport you into pure luxury and indulgence.
It is not difficult to the heydays of the 50s when the trains wore glamour and luxury. When you simply stand at the Keppal Train Station a thick colonial air will engulf you, as you look at the murals on the wall of village (Kampung) life. You will see humid tourist fanning themselves in spite of the air-conditioned waiting room. The Thai crew gave us a warm big smile and the moment you step in, the interior take your breath away.
Little detailing of even simple things does not betray your senses; warm wood marquetry panels on the walls, seats are plushy upholstered, rose-shaped glass light fittings, a slim vase of orchids on every dining table .Even the bathrooms are scented by a bowl of jasmine flowers.
It’s easy to stay in your cabin and daydream in the luxury and uninterrupted hours of sleep and personal care, a steward serves you afternoon tea and breakfast. Its authentic English tea complete with crisp butter cookies, smoked salmon on brioche. But if you do get tired of lazing around you can go at the end of the train to the open air- observation car. It lets you feel the sun, see endless green grass, hills and huts. You may spot a monkey, rambutan trees, and farmers working in the fields or just plain children waving back to you.
However the high point of the trip is the food and service. The food is magic, the chef tells me theyare rated 9.5 out of 10 on an average. There is hardly any space in the kitchen cabin for the marvelous results one enjoys. There is so much variety of bread, a minimum of three in every meal, foie gras and duck confit, succulent beef medallion in pressed rice cake. The beautiful arrangement and decoration on food would want you to feast on the sight instead of eating it. The service is likewise impeccable. The staff is with the train from day one and it shows when they are not affected by an odd jolt or jerk while pouring water or wine or handling delicate plate’s. While having dinner our cabin is converted for sleep; unfolding bunk, tucking crisp sheets leaving a garland of jasmine or a chocolate. They will go out of their way to get your needs met.
You can spend time on a library or a saloon car with a reading area, a gift boutique that gives away the secret that you are not in the 50s and can buy souvenirs .There is a Bar where you can listen to soothing piano or watch classical Thai dance.
This trip will keep you lingering for more, that extra care, the romance. You will remember the nostalgia like I did.
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