I’ve been putting off this trip for the longest time, but I finally experienced a slow journey on a remnant of Malaysia’s past.

This railway, a nostalgic passage through the heart of the peninsula, meanders past kampungs and one of the world's oldest rainforests. Spanning from Johor Bahru to Kelantan in the northeast, it offered a fresh perspective on a familiar country.

The slower pace of travel allowed me to carefully observe the layers of rural life that I have always been curious about — partly fuelled by the settings of Yasmin Ahmad films. I took in the vibrant hues of nature, relished copious servings of Nasi Kerabu, and paddled meters away from baby sharks in Pulau Perhentian. Simple moments that has etched themselves onto the canvas of my memories.

View video travelogue here.