We had to pause our trip for about a week and return to Melbourne so that (insert drumroll) Pallavi could attend her Australian citizenship ceremony. It was all very la di dah Waltzing Matilda and everything. But what does this mean? New passport with new visa privileges! Welcome to the world of no visas required or visas on arrival at least 60% of the time, Pallavi. It's so lovely.
After indulging in our last bowls of Weetbix, glasses of Australian red wine, lots of meat pies and burgers, Tim Tams, clean clothes, and, of course, water from the tap, we booked the cheapest one way ticket we could find to get out of Australian winter - and decided to go to Kuala Lumpur (KL).
Both of us have traveled to Malaysia before, HATE KL, but want to go to Borneo and love Malaysian food. We figured its an easy jumping off place.
We decided not to stay in KL upon arrival, but rather travel to Malacca (as in the Straits of). Apparently its some UNESCO Heritage protected town, which Lonely Planet says, there is nothing to not like about it. History? UNESCO? I'm sold.
We arrived at the bus station in Malacca after dark and after a lot of traveling, without accommodation booked. While we are looking for the bus to take us to Town Square, this English Indian fellow comes up to us and asks if we have accommodation. We push him off, but he says the things we are looking for - in our budget, with breakfast, and wi-fi, and he'll give us a lift. Plus, he has a brochure and his book of the rooms on him. (He apparently is running an errand at the bus stand, not just trying to solicit people to his hotel - which I kind of believe as he ran off while we thought about it for 5 minutes and then came back with a handful of stuff).
Stranger danger probably should have said no. Tiredness said sure. We jumped in this 1980s style German vehicle (the kind with the vinyl seats that inevitably makes your butt sweat) and we started driving. Then, he started giving us a tour! I'm not sure if it was his partially Indian/partially English confused accent, or how he actually gave us the tour - but it was like listening to a documentary or being on one of those sightseeing buses.
Example: To the left you will see <insert church name> built in <insert year>. It is the oldest church here in Malaysia. The gong in that church is valued at $1.5 million US dollars, and, unlike ordinary gongs that are pulled, this one is operated by foot pedals. You will see that, as this is protected, it must be maintained in its original colour, style, and texture. Now to your right...
It may have been dark, it may have been the stranger danger, it may have been the micro-tour, but just at a quick drive this town looks cool. Where can you find Dutch windmills across the street from Portuguese fortresses across the street from a fountain with Queen Victoria on it. .
PS - the accommodation apparently only has a 4 out of 10 rating; but its not a 1 out of 10.
You were the errand!
ReplyDelete