All began with an spontaneous decision after a stressful night

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I always wanted to visit Melaka since I had read a lot about this historical place in my history text book. It would only be interesting if I know the ancient story about the place i am heading to, and seeing how it turns out to be modernized. So, I chose Melaka.

I was supposed to go to Melaka next year before my Kota Kinabalu trip, but I shift to a so much earlier date. I must say this trip was a spontaneous trip and it drove my parents so mad because I only informed them when I was on the bus to Melaka. This is the only way to avoid troubles because my parents hate me travelling. They think travelling is time and money wasting. They just do not know that there are lots of backpackers' inns that offer cheap dorm bed and cheap food are all around. And they think travelling alone is dangerous! IS THAT SO? I am a local, travelling within my country, and this already causes them to worry so much about. What about those who coming alone from the other side of the world? Maybe 16 year-old is too young for them to travel.

When I arrived in Melaka, I immediately found a hostel, it was Roof Top Guest House. I had read some about this guesthouse in Tripadvisor, It was awesome indeed. The owner Mani was friendly, she introduced to me where and what are the best in Melaka, just too good about this cheap inn. And the juice she serves while i was waiting, free homemade cakes. I Only paid RM 22.5 for a dorm bed, it's super clean, and it's with A/C. All those little little things just made me felt like home.

The next day i had to move to another inn because someone had already booked all the dorm beds in Roof Top Guesthouse. And then I found Voyage Travellers' lounge. It was cheaper, RM 15 per night, but no A/C, and still I like the atmosphere there.

Before backpacking, I used to stay in hotels while travelling with family. There are some differences I've noticed about hotel and guest house. The staffs work in hotel do not greet you outside the hotel; the staffs in guesthouse they greet you anywhere they meet you and sometimes they could remember your name as well. Something interesting about guesthouse is that the owner decorates the guesthouse base on their personalities. Like the Voyage Traveler's lounge I stayed for the 2nd and the 3rd night, it is full of art pieces on the wall, jazz musics playing the whole day,
and I even found a Book Exchange corner there, doesn't it sound interesting? And the owner was reading all the time I saw him.

I made friend with a German, Jonas, who studies in Malaysia as an exchange student. Something good about cheap hostel is that we can meet and talk to people from all around the world. I like to meet people from the other side of the world, from different backgrounds, different thoughts and personalities. It's was great indeed to try to talk to strangers that belong to a family called Backpacker or Voyager..

Something nice about travelling is when some of the locals and backpackers seeing you carrying a backpack and camera in your hand, they'll know you're traveler. Even they didn't see you before or personally know you, they will just say ''Hi" to you with warm smiles.

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Photos

roof top guest house!
neat, clean, A/C, friendly, = RM 22.5!

Comments

[John and Sylvia]

I like your blog
Like you, I started travelling around when I was 16. My parents worried all the time - especially my Mum. Hope you get to climb your mountain. John