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Published: April 30th 2006
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Today has been crazy!
As we said on our last blog we were uninspired by Melaka so we have done a bike tour today to take us out of the city into the countryside to learn and mingle with the locals. It's run by a guy from the hostel, Alias (spitting image of Andys mate Arthur Ball). The same guy who sent us to the language school. We had read comments on the tour which all said it was great, so we had high expectations.
We were picked up at 8.30am along with 2 danish girls. 25minutes later we were in the countryside at his house immediately being attacked by mozzies even though we had sprayed. From here we were given our transport for the day, a mountain bike each.
We rode through palm oil plantations and rubber tree plantations, kampungs (villages) and some really nice countryside.
As we went along Alias would stop and show us a fruit or plant or something of interest.
For example, we learnt that the palm oil from the tree is used to make hundreds of things such as diesel and cooking oil. The oil actually comes from the fruit, when it's ripe
it is red. The trees are only any good from 2.5years to 30 years old.
On our first stop we saw a lot of long tailed monkeys jumping from tree to tree. One fell out of the tree (very high) and came down with such a thud (quite upsetting) but it got up straight away and back up the tree.
Along the way we tried custard apples (nice), sugar cane and cocoa. The cocoa fruit is yellow and has big seeds in it with little flesh on it that you suck off and then spit out. Tastes good but nothing like chocolate, you need to grind the seeds for that. We also saw star fruits and the largest fruit in the world, a jack fruit and durians.
One of the most interesting things was seeing how they tap the rubber trees for the rubber. Andy didn't realise rubber came from a tree (he should sit in on one of my science lessons).
A lady was going to each tree making a fresh groove in the bark then the rubber just flowed from the tree into a small container. They cut grooves along one half of the tree and
then swap to the other side whilst the first side heals and then swap again. Apparently it is good money.
Later on in the steaming heat we rode through yet another rubber tree plantation where we made our own little rubber balls. We were able to pull the strings of dry rubber from the grooves as they are cut every other day. Alias wanted Andy to make a rubber condom but Andy says there wasn't enough rubber in the plantation!
Before we set off Alias said his wifes cousin was getting married and maybe we would get chance to see a Malay muslim wedding. So after 3 hours of cycling, when the tour should have finished, he took us down a road and into someones garden, bear in mind we were dirty and sweaty, the garden was full of guests. This is when it got crazy. First of all he told us to sit at the tables with everyone else, everyone was really friendly and said hello, and then go and get some food!! How mad? We thought we would be stood outside taking photos in a corner and there we were mingling with the guests and eating their
Woman getting her rubber
Maybe she is going to make a suit? food! So we got our rice, chicken and beef curry and ate it as the locals do, with our hands.
After lunch it got more crazy, we got ushered into the house by Alias's wife (lovely lady) to meet one of the brides (as there were 2 couples who had got married yesterday, this was like their party. Not like ours, no booze or cheesy music, but there were a dodgey band of young people playing instruments and singing, they were really bad.)
So having taken our shoes off we went into the bedroom to meet the bride! She looked beautiful and seemed pleased to have us there for some reason. We took photos of her and she really wanted to have photos with us too?! From here Alias took us out to show us some more plants whilst a couple of fireworks were going off.
Then we heard the drums which meant the grooms were coming. We went out to watch them come and meet their wives as a group of drummers played and sang.
As they sat on a couple of decorated chairs a group of 4 dancers came and danced for them whilst they watched and were
fanned (like royalty).
The final bit of craziness came when we got called back into the house to perform a ritual for the bride and grooms. We were a little taken aback and unsure if we were invading but everyone seemed so keen to get us involved. So I (melissa) went first. I dipped a leaf in some liquid and dabbed each of the bridal party followed by picking some leaves and throwing/placing them into each of the hands of the party and last of all I shook each of their hands. This was all to bless the couples. After this I got a gift with a boiled egg to symbolise fertility. Next Andy did the same and got his egg. He later ate them both, yummy.
Now we were on our way back to Alias's house through more plantations, kampungs and up and down some steep hills. Back at his place we rested before heading back to the hostel through the busy traffic of Melaka.
Straight in the shower and then relaxation. Melaka redeemed itself a little. We had a really good day. Crazy eh?
After a couple of hours we went out for some
Alias with his Cocoa fruit
Funny nice guy! Hard to understand, just laugh with him! rotis for tea, packed our stuff and watched a movie.
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Auntie Marg
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Well I've seen it all now, I didn't think you would go to such lengths for a freebee. Luv ya !