It's been a couple of days since I last posted. Yesterday we checked out of our high-rise apartment in Kuala Lumpur, leaving the large metropolises behind, heading for the more earthy places that we cherish. That meant we had to go to the airport first, to pick up our rental car, then drive the 5 or so hours north. By the time we reached our destination I was, once again, pretty exhausted and decided to forego the post.
The previous day was a long and exhausting one as well. Up at 6 am, we took a Delima bus for the 2.5 hour ride to Melaka, a remarkable example of a colonial town, that is also a UNESCO Heritage city. By the time we returned home it was midnight, and with the early morning wake-up looming, it was easy to say, no posting tonight.
The Delima bus from Kuala Lumpur to Melaka
But now that we are settled in a place that I will soon report on, we can tell you about our excursion to Melaka.
Possibly the most historical city in the country, Melaka (also known as Malacca; you may have heard of the Straits of Malacca), it was a prized outpost of the Portuguese, then the Dutch, and ultimately the British. Little of that period has survived, although recent excavations are bringing old city walls to life.
Red Square is the fulcrum of the city. While there is nothing monumental about it, it exudes much charm and is unlike anything else around.
Red Square
From here you can walk along Jonker Street, and take in many of the museums, window shop, or enjoy the scents emanating from the numerous restaurants. But it it at night that Jonker Street comes alive. There is entertainment a-plenty and the entire street is lined up with food and trinkets vendors. We were there only late enough to watch the vendors set-up.
Jonker Street
Our lunch spot
Vendors setting up for night-time activities on Jonker Street
From Red Square you can also walk toward the Quay and opt for a short boat tour along the Melaka River, which we did and enjoyed.
Wonderful murals are all along the river
We had both lunch and dinner on Jonker Street. The restaurant we selected for dinner specialized in local Melakan cuisine called Nyungne. The owner told us all about the original Chinese that came to inhabit the city in the 1800s and married with the local population. The descendants are a separately recognized group called Pandangaran. Nyungne food pertains to this group. There are beautiful museums dedicated to the history of the Pandangaran, but being in town only a few hours, we decided not to visit, choosing instead to do some shopping after all the sightseeing.
Melaka is one of the most colorful places we have yet visited. While it was quite a struggle to wander the city streets in high heat and humidity, we very much enjoyed it.
This lady is wearing the traditional Malay hat
Stay tuned for a completely different destination. Thanks for following us, and if you are inclined to leave a like on the post, or a brief comment, it is always most appreciated. Terima Kasih (Thank you in the Malay language).
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