Bukit Mertajam Railway Station

Pardon me if I travel back to 2009, specifically on Boxing Day, the day after Christmas. The whole family was in Penang for a holiday since all the children yearned to go after almost two months of sleeping-playing games-shopping-sleeping routine during the semester break / school holidays. The problem was, mom was always busy. So, since Christmas this year was on Friday, we seized the opportunity to go to Penang and Kedah.

I don't know why Bukit Mertajam Railway Station seemed to arouse my curiosity. I had never been to Bukit Mertajam before, not until early October last year when I went to visit and monitor Bukit Mertajam's Teachers Activity Center's Resource Center (Pusat Sumber Pusat Kegiatan Guru) which is located at SK Stowell. (The TAC is well run by two educational technology officers, En. Rosli and En. Roswadi, and a clerk). On the way there from SK Pauh Jaya, the Inokom van driven by En. Zainul crossed over a railway and En. Othman, the officer at state level, quipped that this is an old railway station. Yeah, I could see that and I know someone who would love to see old stuff. There and then I made a pact to myself that I would bring Harris here one day.

Alhamdulillah, praise to Allah, my dream came true two months after that. I couldn't ask for more. The whole gang was here. So, after going up the Penang bridge and went back to the mainland on a ferry twice (Sofeya loved the ride), we squeezed our tight schedule and made a detour to Bukit Mertajam Railway Station.

I'd like to share with you the serene place and definitely not the type my KLite-kids would see every day except on TV in their comfort zone. If I didn't bring them there, definitely they would never really see, smell the musty station, ring the bell, cross the railway to the other side (Hey, I discouraged them but they did) and feel the old chairs inside the station which are filled with laidback Chinese uncles reading newspapers as if there were no worries. But, I have to mention though that Piya didn't like the washroom at all. (It needs upgrading, I'm serious.)

Well, as for me I don't know how long this railway station which was built at the end of 1911 and officially opened in 1915, will last. Definitely one fine day, they are going to rape this place in the name of development. But the question is WHEN.

P/S A friend once told me that life is like a train. You take new people when you arrive at the railway station. Hmm... Is it true?