We were able to spend two more days in Melaka. Like Penang, it has a rich history and a very diverse culture, with a mix of mostly Chinese, Indian, and Malay people. It started off as a Sultinate in the 15th and 16 centuries, then was occupied by the Portuguese, Dutch, British, and Japanese before becoming independent. There was much to learn!
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| We finally managed to escape the motorbikes, pavement, crowds, and cars during our morning run through peaceful China Hill, an old Chinese cemetery. |
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| Seth for some reason was really taken by this flounder fish powder mural |
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| We spent the day sight seeing with Andrew. To start, we had a breakfast of the local specialty, Chicken Rice Ball. The name is misleading because it actually consisted of many balls of rice with pieces of chicken on the side. |
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| The red Dutch Square by day |
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| St. Paul |
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| Porta de Santiago |
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| After the heritage walk, we went back to the main strip (Jonker Street) for baba laksa, the version of the soup that we know and love. Australians would recognize this form over the sour and fishy asam laksa served in Penang. |
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| This popular restaurant is also famous for durian cendol! |
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| Jonker Street |
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| Fresh Melakan pineapple tarts, big and small |
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| Obama? |
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| A temple |
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| This guy, the Wan Aik shoemaker, specializes in making shoes for bound feet (lotus shoes). I actually went back the next day and bought this very pair he is holding (my big souvenire from Malaysia). |
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| Refreshing, cooling tea on a very hot afternoon |
We said goodbye to Andrew as he caught his bus back to Singapore that afternoon. It must be fun to live in the big city and be in close proximity to so many cool places, but too bad he has so few vacation days to be able to travel.
As soon as Andrew's bus drove away, we noticed heavy black clouds rolling in. That was our signal to hustle back to the hostel before the monsoon hit.
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| The view of the rain and the river from the back of the hostel |
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| During the rain, a massive monitor lizard (maybe 2 meters long) made a brief appearance before slipping into the drain to make his way back to the river. |
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| When the rain cleared, a Hari Krishna parade passed below our window |
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| On our way to dinner in the evening we saw the parade again in Little India |
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| Potato-filled Dosa masala dinner at an Indian place |
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| Nasi Sayur, rice with vegetables, served on a banana leaf. I was brave and attempted to eat like the locals, using my right hand and no utensiles. This takes a lot of practice. |
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| For dessert we hopped into a Chinese bakery. The guy was very cute and gave us a whole bag of chocolate swiss rolls as a New Years gift. |
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| The lovely river through the center of town. Notice how many of the buildings have murals. |
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| The next morning! The back of the hostel was wide open to the world, which provided a great view of the river but it was a little awkward to step out of the shower in a towel and see passers by on the walking path below. |
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| A nearby mosque |
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| Garlic being delivered below our window :o) |
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| A vegetarian lunch of mock chicken rice and laksa. Too bad it wasn't very extrordinary. |
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| Jack fruit tree by the side of the street |
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| A fire extinguisher shop |
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| A coconut factory. This guy was straining coconut to collect the milk. |
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| Lots of coconut! |
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| A scale shop (I always wondered where these originate!) |
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| China town getting ready for the lunar New Year |
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| We couldn't resist another Indian dinner. This is how they make tandoori chicken and naan, in this clay oven. |
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| All the carbs and some sauces for the carbs: garlic naan, roti telur, chapati |
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| This tower at the nearby mosque would emit chanting from its speakers very early in the morning (5:30 am, waking us up) and at verious times throughout the day. This was actually really common in Malaysia, a muslim country. |
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| The hostel |
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| Melaka, so so beautiful |
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