Rail life: Jonathan Phang on living it up onboard a train

SINGAPORE — While many people may prefer taking a flight instead of embarking on a long train journey to get to their destinations, Jonathan Phang admitted that the trains featured in the second season of the television series Gourmet Trains tend to be a little bit above average, compared to the pedestrian options that travellers often take.

“It’s public transport at its very best,” proclaimed Phang about the journeys he features, which airs on the Asian Food Channel.

“The trains that I travel on tend to be very leisurely, quite romantic and quite exclusive,” he added. “Food is a major feature because there’s very little else to do!”

Yes, this is luxe travel on rails, so it’s not surprising Phang enjoys the romanticism of train travel. “What’s so great about (train journeys) is that one is suspended in time, if you like, because there’s no Wi-Fi, there’s no TV and no distractions,” he elaborated. “Literally, all you can do is look out the window, talk to your fellow passengers and look forward to your next meal. Food really is a big part of your day. It suits me fine. I love the leisurely pace of it because in real life everything is so frantic … so I love that enforced leisurely pace.”

The first season of Gourmet Trains focused on European destinations, but for this second season, the locations and destinations “are more sweeping”, said Phang. This time round, he boards various famous luxury trains from across the world. These include the Royal Scotsman that traverses Scotland; The Canadian (he went from Vancouver to Winnipeg via Jasper and Edmonton); The Hiram Bingham, which wends its way from Cusco to Machu Picchu; and two trains in Australia — The Indian Pacific, which goes from Perth to Sydney, and the The Spirit Of Queensland, which runs from Cairns to Brisbane.

Food, of course, is a key feature of the series (it is the Asian Food Channel, after all), and Phang samples the cuisine on board the trains before exploring destinations along the route and the food each place has to offer.

“That’s the theme for this year,” he said. “It’s epic journeys, if you like. It’s more about the outside than the inside.”

While some might consider a four-day journey across Australia tedious, for example travelling on The Indian Pacific rail, said Phang, it does offer something more, not least because it’s one of the most luxurious train rides in Australia.

“The scenery does change very rapidly and often. Coming out of Perth, it’s very beautiful, you have the Margaret River and all that and the Blue Mountains are beautiful,” he said. “But there are some parts that are so desolate, you don’t see any sign of life, not even a plant. That might be the boring bit, because there’s not a lot to look at, but you still feel humbled by the landscape. I felt quite insignificant to the world, against this huge expanse. It makes you contemplate your position in the grand scheme of everything.”

Added the 49-year-old: “If I was younger, I would probably find a four-day train journey boring, but at my age now, I didn’t have a problem with it at all. There are not many Australians who have crossed their country.”

If you’re thinking of following in his footsteps, Phang offered a couple of tips. “You can’t really prep for a train journey. What you can do is take a couple of good books and some travel games and socialise,” he said. “That’s what a train offers that a plane doesn’t. I don’t know about you, but when I’m on a plane, no matter what class I’m sitting in, I refuse to look at anybody, because you’re lumbered with them. I just sit there looking ahead.

“But on a train, you do wander around and you’re forced to socialise, in a way,” he added. “Sure, you can lock yourself up in the cabin if you don’t like the other passengers but it’s nice to share experiences and talk about it. And the train does stop so you can go do excursions and things. It’s not like you never get off it.

“The food is so great and the wine and conversation flow. It’s a great way to travel. I can’t believe I’ve done these journeys.” Christopher Toh

Jonathan Phang’s Gourmet Trains Season 2 airs every Sunday, 3pm and 10pm on the Asian Food Channel (StarHub TV Channel 435)