KTM - Keretapi Tanah Melayu

I'm feeling really sad to see KTM Tanjong Pagar and the stretch of railway will be gone.. No more trains... No more lunching at KTM.. No more dates... No more Maggi Goreng.. One more nostalgic building/area erased in this country...

Truthfully I don't really lunch at KTM that often... But that place holds special memories for me.. The first time I step foot at KTM was when I was quite young and ignorant.. I remember going to Johor with my family for dinner.. It was during fasting month if I'm not wrong.. I have no idea why we decided to take the train.. But I can't recall much of those memories because I don't think I know where I was back then...

True memories started when my boyfriend brought me there for dinner one night.. Back when we were still awkward and dating... When I was still shy to even eat properly in front of him.. I didn't know even know what to order... So, I let him chose for me.. He told me that they have one of the best Mee Soto there... I was fascinated by the building and the surroundings... It was like... " Woahhh.. So this is the Tanjong Pagar KTM.. This is where all the cool ppl hangout at night.. (Like real!) hahaha.. And this is the famous Mee Soto??" I was like a mountain tortoise; just that I didn't really show it... It was a lovely date.. I always love to see new (old) places... And my love for historical buildings...  

Then a few years later, I worked nearby... I remember the long arduous journey I had to take just to get to my office from Tanjong Pagar MRT... Seeing the KTM building is like a sign... "Ooh.. my office is just a few minutes away!"... And by then I knew I had to rush because I was late.. hahaha.. 

Then came the virgin longest ride on KTM itself.. I remember always telling my significant other how I never took the train before... And how I've always wanted to take a sleeping train to somewhere.. Besides the insignificant train ride to JB when I was young, I think my first real train ride (MRT is not a real train to me) was at Europe... Lucky?? However I still long for the trains here.. In my very own mother-land or should I say neighbouring country... And so, my other half decided to take me on a short but meaningful train ride to Kluang... I was really excited although it was not a sleeping train... Kluang is like less than an hour away from Johor.. We sat on the train.. Walked here and there... We stood near the connector... I don't really know what the parts are called but it was where the exits were... Then, he opened the door while the train is moving and told me to stand near at the edge of the door and feel the gush of wind as the train travelled passed.. Scary but it was thrilling... Hey, I love cheap thrills!! haha.. He showed me where we were as the trains went by Singapore... It was really cool... Seriously.

Then, I changed job and KTM wasn't where I frequent except passing by a few times when we travelled to Vivo City by the motorbike... Until now, a few months being in my current job, I realised that I was just about 10 minutes walk away from KTM.. I went there to satisfy my craving of Maggi Goreng.. Seriously, it's so hard to find a decent tasting Maggi Goreng in Singapore.. I wonder why... Food (most of it) at KTM is cheaper and satisfying... And the place always reminds me of good memories.. Of me and my other half.. I don't think he feels the same way as I do.. But I guess it's just me.. ;)

KTM just officially closed its doors on 1st Jul... I had my last dinner there with my boyfriend 2 weeks ago... I just observed the surrouding for the very last time.. Sat down there wishing that they didnt have to close that place... I love History... I love historical/old building... Buildings like this are hard to come by these days, in Singapore.. Moreover it has so many memories that I hold so dear... It was sad to see it go... I am sad to see it go... Even if they decide to preserve that building, I don't think it would have the same aura... I don't think I would have the same feeling if I enter it again...

It may be a beneficial agreement between 2 countries.. It may be the time to move forward... To use the land more productively.. But to me, I think some things should just be left alone... Cos money cannot buy the memories I have of KTM..

My mother was telling us the other day, while walking to my house from my sis's house from Senja, she would have to cross Stagmont Ring, where the train passes by... If she does bring my Ariff (my little nephew) with her, he would stopped there just to watch the train pass.. And he would not leave until the train disappear from his sight.. I was moved to tears to hear that (I don't know why).. I hope that when he grows up, he would still remember what KTM is.. I just feel that it's this kind of historical things that we need to preserve to show our future generation what is history... to let them appreciate beautiful, simple things in life.. Sadly, we live in a world of greed and technology... or should I say country? 

On a lighter note, I would like to share a recipe.. Maybe, it would suit this vintage theme of KTM... Nothing is more traditional than a Pound Cake.. I decided to make a Chocolate Pound Cake... maybe cos I was feeling chocolate-y that day... But I would pick the original vanilla pound cake anytime over chocolate... This recipe came out drier than expected and I didn't really enjoy it.. Maybe because I've always found comfort in Sara Lee moist, dense, smooth, delicious Butter Pound Cake since the day I started eating Pound Cake.. hahaha.. 

Chocolate Pound Cake (taken from Baking from my Home to Yours by Dorie Greenspan)
1 2/3 cups all purpose flour or 1 3/4 cups cake flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 sticks (8 ounces) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
4 large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1. Centre a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 325 deg F. (est 160 deg C)

2. Butter 9 x 5 inch pan or 8.5 x 4.5 inch loaf pan (I used a 7x10 inch pan). Put the pan on an insulated baking sheet or 2 regular baking sheets stacked on top of the other.

3. Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, salt. (I sift it altogether).

4. Working with a stand mixer, preferably fitted with a paddle attachment, or with a hand mixer in a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar on high speed until pale and fluffy, a full 5 minutes.

5. Scrape down the bowl and beater and reduce the mixer speed to medium. Add the eggs one at a time, beating 1 - 2 minutes after each egg goes in. As you're working, scrape down the bowl and beater often.

6. Mix in the vanilla extract. Reduce the mixer to low and add flour, mixing only until it is incorporated - don't overmix. In fact, you might want to fold in the last of the flour, or even all of it, by hand with a rubber spatula.

7. Scrape the batter into the buttered pan and smooth the top. Put the cake into the oven to bake, and check on it after about 45minutes. If it's browning too quickly, cover it loosely with a foil tent. If you're mixing 9x5 pan, you'll need to bake the cake for 70-75 minutes; the smaller pan need about 90 minutes. The cake is properly baked when a thin knife inserted deep into the center comes out clean.

8. Remove the cake from the oven, transfer the pan to a rack and let rest for 30 minutes. Run a blunt knife between the cake and the sides of the pan and turn the cake out, then turn it right side up on the rack and cool to room temperature.

~And that's why I smile
It's been a while, since everyday and everything
Has felt this right...~