Melaka & KL

So after arriving in Melaka after about 8 hours and almost no sleep, I was exhausted. Another guy I met in Langkawi was also arriving in Melaka that day around 5pm but I hadn't heard from him (yet another Sam). It turned out, his journey also took longer than expected. We went to a local restaurant for Indian food and then to Sids Pub for a few beers. The owners of the hostel I was staying in, also owned a Reggea bar and all day happy hour prices for their guests and so we went there after the pub. We met a few other people and also one local guy that wanted to take us out for local Peranakan food the next day. 

After a very good night sleep, we all met up and went for lunch on our rented bicycles! It was then, when we left the cute and historic side of Melaka that I noticed how big the city was. Traffic was crazy!!! When we got to the place, Unicorn Cafe, we were welcomed with open arms! The guy kept telling everyone my grandmother and mother were born in Indonesia and everyone he told (Malay, Chinese, Thai) all had the same response: Ohhh with a fitted facial expression. It was very funny because after a few times I knew what they would say and would do the same. The food was amazing and I had a cendol Melaka for dessert nom nom. 

We then went to a church on top of a hill with Dutch gravestones (and history). The view of the city was nice and there was a nice breeze, which was very welcomed because it was so hot. When we walked outside the church (ruines), there was this guy playing his guitar and singing a song but pretty slow music. And so we wanted to dance and he started to play 'Let's do the twist', a country song and then 'Proud Mary'! We, the 5 of us, starting dancing and singing and people came from every angle to see what was going on. Videos and pictures were taking and we just had a blast! Such a good day so far.

At night a few of us from the hostel and elsewhere went to check out the sunset at a floating mosque. We all had to wear these long dresses and a headskarf (just the girls) to go into the mosque. The mosque was nice, the view was great. Just water and skies. It almost looked like a painting. It was very cloudy so there wasn't much to see during sunset.

We went to the famous Jonker Walk Night Market when we returned but it was a bit of a let down. And so we headed back to the local restaurant for some Indian food and then drinks at the reggea bar. We sat outside on the 2nd floor and saw fireworks followed by hundreds of either bats or small birds that came from the trees and flew over the river away from the fireworks. I have never heard or seen anything like it!!! 

All of us took the bus to KL the next morning, a 2-3hour busride, fingers crossed.. and what do you know, it only took us 2hours! We checked in at the hostel, we all stayed at the same one. I was suppose to go to a hotel for my last few days but decided to tag along. And also, because it happened to be the same hostel I stayed in 5 years ago and I wondered if the owner still remembered me and if the place had changed. He did and it hadn't. We went to a pubquiz that night, organized by the hostel. It was a night full of fun, meeting new people, lots of drinking of course and dancing! Great night out.

I got up the next morning, pretty early to extend my stay, I had only booked one night. I saw that there was still toast and decided to have a few slices, I then went back to bed but couldn't really sleep. So we got up, picked up our laundry and went to the Petronas Towers. I had already been a few years ago but since I couldn't sleep anyway, guided the guys there.

After that we went to the Batu Caves. I swore I would never go back again. It was such a let down 5 years ago and also after a night of heavy drinking, the stairs seemed to be endless. But a girl showed me some photos the night before that they had painted all the steps and since everyone went, I decided to give it another go. On the way there, I told everyone that I was not going up again, but once there, I did and it wasn't as bad as I remembered. But still once at the top, I didn't care too much for the cave itself.

I missed having a nap and was so tired, but as we came back, we pretty much went straight to Little India to, again, have Indian food and to see the last bits of Deepavali (Indian holiday), fireworks and all. The main celebration however was the day before...and we missed it. It didn't take long after we came back, that I was heading for bed. I didn't have the best or longest night, but I did get some rest.

I am currently at the airport and the flight is almost ready for boarding! (posted this during my transfer in Dubai though)

And even though, everyone is happy to see me coming back..I'd rather stay. But you'll read more on this in my next and final post I'll write for this trip.

Cheerio,
T.