Date: 21 Jul - 22 Jul (Daune's 23rd Birthday)
Time: 0730hrs - 2000 hours (back to Singapore)
Ppl involved: Daune & K (D&K for short)
Place: Malacca
Accomodation: Klebang Beach Resort (RM 92 per night for 2)
21 Jul 07
0645 - 0930hrs - Singapore
D&K arranged to meet at Boon Lay MRT station at 6.45am for Malaysia. As expected D was late for the appointment and made K's face turned charcoal. Well, as it was D's birthday, he automatically became the trump card and would put off any kinds of fire. Like the Shang4 fang1 bao3 jian4 in chinese TV serial. D arrived at 7.05am, so D&K board up the train that led them to Kranji. During the train ride, K did made comments about D's late-coming habit. FYI: When K meets D for appointment, D is always the latecomer (that's why you can understand why he #@*&^).
0930hrs - 1030hrs Malaysia Custom & Larkin
Finally left D's 'comfort zone' to the land where rumours fly around stating about robbery, and swindlers. So as their target, D kept himself very close to K (who's a Malaysian) . D&K bought tickets to Malacca from the Larkin Terminal. 10.30am is the journey time, so the two of them went to Mac for their early 'brunch'. D ordered an Ayam Burbur meal (which is a chicken porridge meal). Well, their porridge is just made up of water and rice with some chicken and garnishes. Its seemed oily to be. After eating that, D really missed Singapore Mac's Singa Porridge for breakfast.
Ayam Bur Bur breakfast @ Macdonalds1030hrs - 1300hrs Larkin to Malaka Sentral
D&K took some short walk around Larkin bus interchange after meal. Well, nothing much there except merchandise selling times expensive than Malacca stuff. Board the bus to Malacca, played some games along the journey. What else can 2 person do on bus? Sleeping? Nah!!!
Reached Melaka Sentral (Malacca Central - a bus interchange) about 1pm. The first thing D&K did was to rushed to the nearest toilet after hours of winter endurance. The place was much more neater and in order than Larkin's. D bought one of his favourite snacks, the Pandan Balls, trust D, the Melaka Sentral's is one of the best in Malaysia. Come and try!
1330hrs - 1400hrs to Hotel
Took a cab down to the hotel. so took some pictures of it.
Snapshot of taxi driver (snapping behind his back)
Streeshots of Maleka Sentral
Melaka Sentral
Melaka Chinese School1400hrs - 1800hrs
So D&K reached the hotel about 2pm, just in time for the check-in. At the glance of the hotel, OMG!!! it looked like both D&K had entered some heritage tour, the room, toilet CMI with cobwebs decorated the stained-yellow walls.
The bed room (my bed lor)
The bathroomAs it was raining heavily that day when D&K arrived, both of them had no choice but to lie on the bed and watch TV for the whole afternoon. For that D&K's itinerary was pushed backward. Well, like a chinese saying ren2 suan4 bu4 ru2 tian1 suan4 (Murphy's law).
1800hrs - 2359hrs Fun time
As a fun-lover, D took the opportunity to find some fun. Though both of them intend to visit Jonker Walk that evening, the whole event was spoiled by the rain. Nevertheless, it had not dampened D's curious mind. They decided to go to Mahkota Parade instead. At least, D&K believed, that there's something for them to do there. So D&K decided to arrange for a cab to drive them round the city, however, the hotel told &K that a RM30 surcharge will be charged regardless of where they want to go. Not willing to pay this high price, D&K decided to do something they had never done in their life - to hail a cab in the streets. That was D's first time hailing a cab in a suburban area of Malacca. There were many cars, however, none were taxis.
A cemetry directly opposite the hotel.
Roadside where D&K hailed for taxis
Roadside where D&K hailed for taxis II
The bus stop opposite us when we hail for cabIt was raining quite heavily when both D&K were still on the streets 'soliciting' for taxis to stop for them. Red pops could be found on our hands due to the love bites from mosquitoes. Finally, one kind taxi stopped for D&K, it was Encik Mohta (will introduce Encik Mohta later). Both of them eventually end up sharing cab with a couple who were heading the direction to Melaka Sentral. Again, that was another first experience D had to share a cab wif someone else he didn't know and in a foreign country, not even in Singapore D does that.
Encik Mohta was a nice guy, he probably saw D stumbling with Melayu that he knew D was a foreigner. Thankfully, D had K with him, who was a born&raised Malaysian who spoke Malay fluently. Encik Mohta was just a relieve driver that week and he happened to meet D&K. So D&K got his contact no. and arranged him to fetch them to places where they desire to go. Encik Mohta knew that D's a foreigner so he charged cheaper, as the reason, K had to lied to him that both of them were Singaporeans before Encik Mohta charged them cheaper.
They arrived at Mahkota Parade almost 7.30pm. So D&K headed for dinner, K wanted to eat the famous A'Famosa Chicken rice initially, but they couldn't seemed to find it. It was after some query that D&K found out they left Mahkota. So D&K decided to visit the Chicken Rice Stall, another franchise in Mahkota. As for remarks - not bad lah!
The Chicken Rice StallD&K shopped around Mahkota Parade after dinner. That is where D found out that Harry Potter was sold for RM89.90 (Many times cheaper than the standard rate)... D got scolded by Charmaine for not buying for her the book over there! Wah lau...
As the closing reached, D&K headed for D's most favourite place: the bowling alley for a game of bowling. As both D&K had not bowled for quite some time, K offered a challenge to D. So D accepted the challenge and thought that he could win, it was K who won in the end, with a mere 5 point lead. The bowling alley was big and was packed with people that day. However, people there had bad habits, that is not tidying up after playing, they left not returning bowling ball (bowls) which ended up both D&K had to go around 'borrowing' from other people. The balls weren't as impressive than what D used to play in Singapore, it was badly defaced and dents could be found on the surface of the bowls.
D&K finished their game around 11pm. This is where they go to the meeting place and wait for Encik Mohta. When D reached back the hotel, it was his birthday! so he took pictures of the straits of Melaka, as a symbolic birthday gift Mother nature had given him on the 22nd.
Straits of Malaca taken on the 21 Jul
Straits of Malacca taken on the 21 Jul 
Straits of Malacca - taken on 22nd Jul (D's first birthday present in 22 Jul)22 Jul 07
0000hrs - 0430hrs
After taking the pictures, D&K went back to the room. After showering and resting, the two started to watch TV, play Bohnanza, poker, talk till 4.30am. Then they zzz zzz.
0830hrs - 1030hrs
D&K woke up around 8.30am not wanting to waste the rest of the day sleeping. After washing, both of them headed for breakfast to 'break fast'. Breakfast was some traditional Malay food, Mee goreng, Nasi Lemak mixed with western flakes. The food taste good except that its abit oily. K told D that its quite normal for Malays to eat such an oily in the morning. But as for D, he doesn't think he could take it.
D&K's break fastAfter breakfast, D&K went back to room and packed their stuff preparing to check-out. D took some pictures while waiting for Encik Mohta.
Lobby pics I
Lobby Pics II
Self-taken pics @ the LobbyD had a habit to self-take his own pics. So the above was one of them.
1130hrs - 1500hrs
Since that morning was a nice one, both D&K decided to head for Jonker Walk as K had never been there before. It was a heritage tour and they bought some stuff for their families, friends and colleagues. D&K took a few shots of some buildings found along the streets that worth remembering.
Jonker Walk
Teo Chew Huay Kwan
Hokkien Hway KwanAfter the heritage tour, D&K headed for Famosa, the ancient city to visit the church relics.
Pics taken in Visitor's Centre
Pics taken in Visitor's Centre II
Self-pic again in red churchIt began to rain again in the afternoon. so D&K had no choice but to proceed to some shelter.
Fire Engine taken in the museumWe went to the Famosa, the top of the mountain where a church relic was found there.
Top view from Famosa
The church
Self-taken pic behind the tombstone
Self-taken pic behind the relicsThe rain did not subside. So both D&K went to find some place to rest. So D took a self-portrait of himself by one of the street artiste. Well, it doesn't really look like him.
D's self-portrait drawn by street-artistAfter this piece of art, both D&K then proceed to Mahkota Parade again. Actually Mahkota Parade was D&K's 2nd day itinerary, but it was brought forward to day 1 due to the rain. D&K went to San Shu Gong to buy Malacca's specialty and both D&K bought lotsa stuff.
San Shu Gong Malacca Outlet
Things D bought @ San Shu GongD&K had lunch @ KFC. D must say that Malaysia's KFC was better than Singapore. The chicken were crispy, the chilli sauces were nice and many more. D ordered the Colonel Rice Meal.
Colonel Rice Meal D orderedAfter the meal, D&K rushed to take taxi to Melaka Sentral to take bus off to Singapore. Then both D&K reached Singapore safely.
After thoughts for this trip
This was a very fruitful trip that I've had. Malacca had a rich culture that I truly learn, though I may grumble at the things I saw which was different in Singapore. Generally, it was good to experience a cultural exchange. I realised that Malaysians had an oriental lifestyle, they loved rice. Rice could be found in almost every fastfood restaurants. Macdonalds, KFC and even doughnut shops too. Another point to note, the same newspaper had different editions in different place - I bought a Sin Chou Daily @ Johor and Malacca and each place had special columns of their own which you cannot find elsewhere. So next time when you visit Malaysia, make sure you get a copy of the newspaper if you want to know what's happening at that state.
Travelling is difficult in Malaysia, though taxis could be found at major shopping centres, taxis are rare gems in small out of town areas. So if you want to find a hotel, please look for somewhere which is convenient.
I guess its going to be a long page and I shall stop now. It took me 2 over hours to draft this article. Cya
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