There were smiling children all the way. Clearly they knew at what time the train passed their homes and they made it their business to stand along the railway, wave to complete strangers and cheer them up as they rushed towards Penang. Often whole families stood outside their homes and waved and smiled as if those on the trains were their favorite relatives. This is the simple village people of Malaysia. I was moved*. I had always traveled to Malaysia by plane or car, so this was the first time I was on a train. I did not enjoy the long train journey and had brought along many magazines to read and reread. I looked about the train. There was not one familiar face. I sat down and started to read magazines. It was not long before the train was across the Causeway and in Malaysia. Johore Baru was just a city like Singapore, so I was tired of looking at the crowds of people as they hurried past. As we went beyond* the city, I watched the straight rows of rubber trees and miles and miles of green. Then the first village came into sight. Immediately I came alive, I decided to wave back. From then on my journey became interesting. I threw my magazines into the waste basket and decided to join in Malaysian life. Then everything came alive. The mountains seemed to speak to me. Even the trees were smiling. I stared at everything as if I was looking at it for the first time. The day passed fast and I even forgot to have my lunch until I felt hungry. I looked at my watch and was surprised that it was 3:00 pm. Soon the train pulled up at Butterworth. When my uncle arrived, I threw my arms around him to give him a warm hug. I had never done this before. He seemed surprised and then his face warmed up with a huge smile. We walked arm in arm to his car. I looked forward to the return journey. 小题1:The writer expected the train trip to be ______.
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