Seremban Town

Coin-operated parking meter: endangered species

Seremban is a quaint medium-sized town, in neighbouring Negeri Sembilan. The capital of Negeri Sembilan state, along the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, this sprawling city used to be a hub of the British colonial trading network, both as a market town and a centre for tin mining in the area.

Nowadays, tin mining is no longer a staple, but it is still a major trading centre. Good infrastructure connecting the town to Kuala Lumpur, it is now within the greater Klang Valley Commuter Zone. One hour by car along the North-South Expressway, regular shuttle bus services and fast trains connecting the town to the Federal Capital, with express trains taking an hour and commuter trains an hour and quarter.

Not quite a bedroom community, it is still a vibrant place, with very classical-looking parking meters.

Medium-sized town, big city jam, the commuter effect.

Seremban's accessibility from Kuala Lumpur makes it a hidden gem for day trippers or people like me who enjoy trains and seek a world away from where they departed from.

The town provides a glimpse into what once was, though the wide central thoroughfares speak of what is to come. Traffic and colonial buildings intermingle, and old traders still continue what they do, as the work-day commute goes up and down to the commercial heart of the country.

Wesley Church, Seremban

Of course, if you have never been to Seremban, let alone read about it from history books or guides or whathaveyou, a walk through the old colonial shophouses in Kuala Lumpur will spell it out for you, literally.

Seremban is famous for 'Seremban Siew Pau,' a baked dumpling filled, usually, with barbeque pork; but other flavours such as chicken curry are now available. Found all over Kuala Lumpur, Malacca and Penang, this delicacy is the perfect snack, or afternoon tea nibble.

Yes, I can be mad enough to take a train just to buy a box. If you can get it from the source, why not?

Market by the river, hidden by shrubbery, with distinct roof

Seremban is ideal for walkers. The city, or at least the old city, is compact enough for you to explore on foot. Sadly, there is no walking guide or city map readily available in the city to guide you through, but take it from me: every nook an cranny, every wrong turn might lead you to a right architectural and heritage surprise.

Pavements leave much to be desired when walking from the train station to the town centre, but the five foot ways and grid-system makes it easy to navigate through. Quaint little coffee shops and aunties selling snacks make a few stops almost inevitable.

Wesley Church, by the river, next to modern Seremban

Ornate Colonial-baroque shophouse fronts

Grid-laid streets, State Assembly roof in background

Standard 1920s bank facade

Yes, at some point in time, I will put out my walking guide to Seremban. Might need a few more field studies to get it finely tuned.

Seremban: easy access from Kuala Lumpur, 1 hour by ETS or 1 hour 15 minutes by regular commuter train, both depart regularly from old Kuala Lumpur Railway Station.