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Published: August 27th 2013
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I have now decided to write this blog as our diary as writing both is proving too demanding and too time consuming. The entries will record our trip, experiences and opinions. If the entries are too long, self indulgent or just boring and our friends stop reading then we'll understand. We hope they will continue to log in from time to time and send the occasional message.
Thursday 23rd
Up at 5.45 to catch the local bus to the bus station for our coach connection. Soon through the border into Malaysia and the scenery soon changes to magnificent trees lining the road on both sides for as far as you can see. The landscape is beautiful.
Spend my time alternating between sleeping and listening to my MP3 player until Christine digs me in the ribs to say I'm singing out of tune !
We reach the out skirts of Melaka when the coach suddenly stops and to every ones surprise the driver says we must all get off, that's as far as he's going ! We stand by the road side with all our bags and no local currency and not a clue where we are. We
wave down a taxi and ask him to take us to a bank and onto our hostel. He laughs and agrees and we haggle over the cost. ( I've been warned about over charging) I get 5 ringets off, about a £1.
We arrive at our next hostel. Travellers Planet, not our first choice. We are met by Annie, very warm and smiling. To our relief we are shown to our ground floor room and no need to lug our bags up two flights.
We have splashed out and booked a room with en suite at £15 a night. It is themed, straight out of Prisoner from Cell Block H, including bars at the window. The 4ft by 5ft en suite comes with added value. We get our feet washed every time we use the basin as the waste pipe leaks.
The room comes without laundry and we cannily use our sleeping bag liners and save the 20p hire charge !
Later we have a walk into town and find it's a charming small town with most of the old buildings lining the riverside.
In the evening we come out to find the streets lined
with market stalls selling everything from souveniers, clothes, angel fish in bags and street food. We try a type of crispy pancake covered by a nutty sauce. Not bad.
The streets are very lively with crowds filling the place. We find somewhere to eat and then I discover on getting the bill that I've not got enough money on me (I've done this before!). I leave Christine as deposit and rush back to the hostel, about a mile away to get some funds. I get her out of hock and find she's still talking to me !
On walking back through the stalls and buildings we see a group of middle aged women doing dance aerobics to the Hippy Hippy Shake !
Another day over.
Saturday 24th
We get talking at breakfast to another couple who have been travelling for 3 months. They tell us they stay in each place for several weeks and immerse themselves in the local culture and don't plan. It's a nice idea but I look upon us more as easy going long term tourists. I'd like to be that laid back but one step at a time. It's difficult for
control freaks !
Later in the morning we take a boat trip up the river and pay for VIP tickets to allow us to hop on and off boats. No one tells the captain as we roar past all the stops to our destination. The only way we're going ashore is by jumping ship ! Just as we pull into the final stop the boat plays the safety anouncement for life jackets !
We decide to walk back along the tow path and see much more, stopping at little shops to take on more water. It's impossible to carry enough. So hot and humid.
Very scenic walk with many buildings covered by murals. Christine snapping away thinking she's Linda McCartney, but without the singing.
Stop for lunch at a small and pleasant waterside cafe before returning for an afternoon nap.
After dinner, the best one yet we have another walk through the street markets to the very end. There's a large stage and roped off area at the base filled with locals watching an X Factor style Karoke competition. The contestants even get their own video to take away. We listen to a few. One
can even sing. The event is sponsored by Mr Potatoe in partnership with Man. Utd. A great bit of marketing !
On the way back we are passed by a very long and noisy procession with dragon dancers and dragon drums. We haven't a clue what it's about.
Sunday 25th
Up late and take a walk into the old town which is a UNESCO site. We walk the Heritage Trail of the town where the buildings are very old and many have been restored and are attractive. We see one worth restoring as a project but quickly forget the idea. Christine does more snapping away and I'm starting to worry about her singing next.
Further on we come across many temples and had a look in a few before getting Buddha-ed out. Step on a lizard large enough to take my foot off.
Climb a hill to look at a church and at the top stand in the shade to drip dry. We talk to two young Muslim school girls dressed in full trousers, long sleeved shirt, football jersey, headscarf and cap ! I ask them why they must dress so and get told it's
to protect their aura. They're really nice but hot !
I get asked to take a photograph of three Japenese girls on their I phone. They pose, and pose and pose and eventually at the third attempt I take a photo. I show them, they smile and walk away------- somewhat disappointed !
Really hot so retired to the hostel for a sleep.
Go for a snack at a water side cafe and on the way talk to a boy holding two snakes, a boa constrictor and python, not the sort of thing you usually come across shopping ! They are really strong to hold.
Retired to the hostel for the 2nd shower of the day.
We haven't spent much today so treat ourselves at a restaurant. and see costume
Monday 26th
We have a walk to the old fort and replica sultan's palace and see costumes from ages passed. one manakin looks like Gaddaffi, so that's what they did with him. We also see a section on tribal beautification with lip plates, neck rings and ear piercings. All for 40p
Go for a snack at our favourite waterside cafe and afterwards go
up the Melaka Gyro Tower, 110m high, which gives great views over the countryside. We see the sea, the Straits of Melaka about half a mile away but you can no longer gain access to the beach as it's being developed by hotel chains. A sign of the times.
The heat's got to us and it's back for a rest.
After dinner we take our final walk into town which is much quieter than the weekend We pass the dozens of trishaws who peddle tourists around. They decorate their machines with hundreds of artificial flowers in the design of butterflies. At night they are illuminated by hundreds of tiny flashing lights. They look good fun zipping about in the dark.
Christine packs the bags as we leave tomorrow and she still has problems getting it all in. I'm not allowed to be involved so I sit and give some "helpful" advice, much to her annoyance!
So we leave Melaka, a charming little town with lots of nice buildings, a busy night life and a really pleasant riverside walk.
Onto Kuala Lumpur in the morning.
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David (no Carol today)
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Destitute?
Been to K-L. Worked there for a few weeks just as they were finishing the Petronas Tower, Malaysia's Electrical Control Room is directly opposite. I'm sure you'll be fascinated by that. Suggest a boat to Crab Island from Klang. K-L too busy and far too many cars for me though. Standing waiting for the bus you look destitute Steve!