After spending all morning figuring out the whole 'where to next' question, we decided we'll go to Borneo in 3 days and just stay in Melaka until then.
We leisurely stepped out in the afternoon to actually go and see the Straits of Melaka. For some reason, this isn't actually listed in any forum or any tour book as something to go and see. Without the Straits, this town wouldn't be renowned. However, to get to see the Straits, you have to walk along a pier, through multiple restaurants, and a place where you book rooms by the hour. It's a quiet place. Not a lot of people. Clearly a place where you feel comfortable getting a room by the hour - a karaoke room that is! The place had some weird hallway that you walk down, hearing one bad song after another, creating a cacophony of karaoke sounds. Straits of karaoke if you ask me.
The Straits themselves are only interesting in that you can say you've seem them. Not great water. Not a great sight. But its still filled with tankers and ships everywhere, reminding one of their importance.
We decided to try to go and find some old Sultanate (which we ended up only finding on our way home), but in the meantime, actually climbed up to the top of a hill to St. Paul's church, where Father Xavier use to stay when in Melaka (and was even interred here for 9 months before heading to Goa for his final resting place). We then got a chance to go explore Chinatown in the daylight. This area is for these Baba (Straits-born Chinese), filled with temples like the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, covered with intricate vignettes carved into the roof (we missed the Sunday night chant unfortunately). I can see why most of the guesthouses are based in this area. It's quiet, charming, and filled with character. I wished the little old Baba woman with the kids playing outside while we had a beer wasn't closing up shop for the day - she looks like the kind who can really cook.
We stopped by the night market again, and this time hunted down something called Cendol. It's a shaved ice treat with jellies, coconut milk and sugar cane syrup. It looks a little like ice cream with green wormy things on them that's all a bit wrong - but it tastes oh so right!
Melaka also has these 'trishaws' - which is your traditional rickshaw + decorations + flashing lights + boom box stereo system. These are not only everywhere, but you see people actually in them! I keep wondering how you pick one? Do you pick it based on the design (Hello Kitty & Frozen seem to be in the top two spots for decor, but I did see a cool Spiderman one)? Or do you pick it based upon the music (dance club, Let it Go, Abba)? Not that we'll get one, but I'd like to know just in case I'm ever asked. I think I've got to pick it for the music, provided its not Hello Kitty. I don't think I can be seen in Hello Kitty unless there is some sort of reason - like Hello Kitty onesie for a onesie party.
I get the feeling all we are going to do for the rest of our stay is just find more yummy food and maybe walk a bit more. Nothing wrong with that.
We leisurely stepped out in the afternoon to actually go and see the Straits of Melaka. For some reason, this isn't actually listed in any forum or any tour book as something to go and see. Without the Straits, this town wouldn't be renowned. However, to get to see the Straits, you have to walk along a pier, through multiple restaurants, and a place where you book rooms by the hour. It's a quiet place. Not a lot of people. Clearly a place where you feel comfortable getting a room by the hour - a karaoke room that is! The place had some weird hallway that you walk down, hearing one bad song after another, creating a cacophony of karaoke sounds. Straits of karaoke if you ask me.
The Straits themselves are only interesting in that you can say you've seem them. Not great water. Not a great sight. But its still filled with tankers and ships everywhere, reminding one of their importance.
We decided to try to go and find some old Sultanate (which we ended up only finding on our way home), but in the meantime, actually climbed up to the top of a hill to St. Paul's church, where Father Xavier use to stay when in Melaka (and was even interred here for 9 months before heading to Goa for his final resting place). We then got a chance to go explore Chinatown in the daylight. This area is for these Baba (Straits-born Chinese), filled with temples like the Cheng Hoon Teng Temple, covered with intricate vignettes carved into the roof (we missed the Sunday night chant unfortunately). I can see why most of the guesthouses are based in this area. It's quiet, charming, and filled with character. I wished the little old Baba woman with the kids playing outside while we had a beer wasn't closing up shop for the day - she looks like the kind who can really cook.
We stopped by the night market again, and this time hunted down something called Cendol. It's a shaved ice treat with jellies, coconut milk and sugar cane syrup. It looks a little like ice cream with green wormy things on them that's all a bit wrong - but it tastes oh so right!
Melaka also has these 'trishaws' - which is your traditional rickshaw + decorations + flashing lights + boom box stereo system. These are not only everywhere, but you see people actually in them! I keep wondering how you pick one? Do you pick it based on the design (Hello Kitty & Frozen seem to be in the top two spots for decor, but I did see a cool Spiderman one)? Or do you pick it based upon the music (dance club, Let it Go, Abba)? Not that we'll get one, but I'd like to know just in case I'm ever asked. I think I've got to pick it for the music, provided its not Hello Kitty. I don't think I can be seen in Hello Kitty unless there is some sort of reason - like Hello Kitty onesie for a onesie party.
I get the feeling all we are going to do for the rest of our stay is just find more yummy food and maybe walk a bit more. Nothing wrong with that.
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