Many visitors to Port Dickson by-passes the town center. As the most popular beach locations are away from the town, most head for the hotels and resorts rather than dropping by the town area. It is thus a misconception that PD Town is a busy town flooded with tourist. Fact is, Port Dickson town almost comes to a standstill after 9 pm when all the shops are closed. Except for the 2 shopping centers which closes at 10, you will hardly see any activity.
Nightlife In Port Dickson
Sad but true, nightlife in Port Dickson Town itself is non existent. There isn’t a single pub or lounge in town where you can unwind. In fact, there is not even a cinema complex in PD. Those who wants some action heads for Seremban about 40 kilometers away. Others who can afford the exorbitant charges will simply go to the lounges opened in most of the Resorts or Hotels in Port Dickson. Most provide quality entertainment with in house band or singers.
For those looking for some cruder entertainment, they will go to a nearby town called Lukut where there are a couple of karaoke outlets. However, gang fights are quite frequent in places like these and you will not feel very safe.
Development in Port Dickson Town
In all my life if staying in Port Dickson, the town center has not taken much of a change. The most significant change happened as long 20 years ago when the State government decided to reclaim the sea surrounding the edge of the town. There was big ambitions then but the project failed to take off after the reclamation and many efforts to revive the project did not succeed.
The Duty Free Zone In Port Dickson
It was only quite recently that the Government announce that Port Dickson will have a duty free zone that the re-claimed land finally saw some revival. Constructions of shop houses in the land is at present going full steam and words has it that those shop lots are selling like hot cakes with many investors from the outer states anticipating good returns once the duty free zone is in operation.
Buildings In Port Dickson Town
Other than that, there is much constructions going around PD Town. Shops that I have visited when I was in Standard one are still standing, though the owners have changed hands many times. There are still pre-war building.
I do not know if it is true, but people say tall buildings are not allowed in Port Dickson town. The local council will not approve any building that exceeds 4 storeys. The idea is not to turn Port Dickson into another concrete jungle. Thus, the only tall building visible in town is the Police Headquarters.
Port Dickson Railway Station.
No more trains comes to Port Dickson anymore. The town’s train services used to be quite busy when I was a little boy. The railway stretches right to the Port Dickson jetty where ships will unload their goods trains will ferry those goods to where-ever it is destined for. Somehow for reasons that I do not know, these activities just stopped.
The railways also connects to the 2 oil refineries in Port Dickson and refined fuel used to be transported by rail. That too came to a stop many years ago. As it is, the railway tracks are still there but have been badly vandalized with many parts of the railways stolen and sold to scrap dealers.
The colonial era train station still stands though and credit has to be given to the KTM for still maintaining and operating the office. It is manned by a one man staff and those who wants to pre-book train tickets can still do so there but they will have to embark in Seremban.
The train station is easily the oldest building in Port Dickson and you can still see some rare items from the colonial times there.
The Port Dickson Harbor and Jetty
When I was a little kid, the harbor jetty was already in operation. The oil refineries which does not have their own jetties will rely on this only jetty to transport their crude. Ships and giant oil tankers can be seen anchored there daily and it was quite a fascinating sight. Somehow security was not so strict then and we were free to wonder to the harbor to view those majestic tankers.
Things changed when the refinery built their own jetties. Oil tankers stopped coming and the harbor slowly became deserted.
Ferry Services From Port Dickson Town To Indonesia
Many of you might not know, but there is a ferry service from Port Dickson to Indonesia. The journey takes about 2 hours and is frequently used by Indonesians wanting to return home or entering Malaysia. During weekends or holidays, there are also many tourist who takes the ferry for a visit to this neighboring country.
More about Port Dickson later.
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