I’m a bit worried to write this post. (that’s why it’s belated!)I know there are people waiting for it expectantly… reminiscing on their own trips to Melaka (hi mum and darshi, thanks for the comments!). the reason is that we didn’t really like Melaka. it was touristy, dirty, crumbling and damn hot. Nathan got food poisoning from eating seafood at the Portuguese quarter (we think) and I guess I’m just not that into museums.

Melaka with its strangely proud history of foreign occupation and colonialism is full of culture, every building a museum. we stayed in a beautiful old melakan house with a dipping pool in the lounge room. (totally random) we spent the first day finding our way out of the massive bus station-come-shopping mall, booking into out hostel and then hitting the street. first stop highly recommended Indian restaurant. we were a little skeptical but as soon as we stepped in the door we were ordered to sit down and when no menu was forthcoming I was even more worried. Ve-ge-tar-ian we said repeatedly and then banana leaves with rice and three assorted curries turned up in front of us. next came the tray of extra tid-bits - pakoras…. Paneer! we were impressed! a lassi and weird spicy curry “tea” later we were stuffed and the bill came to all of RM12… that’s about $4.50. stoked!

Then we took to the streets for real. I’m not going to embarrass myself explaining the numerous old buildings (whose-names-I-can’t-remember) we saw. lets say we got bored and really hot pretty quickly and I’m ashamed to say we retreated to the shopping centre for refuge. we made the trek home and cowered in our room until the sun was safely behind the horizon. Then we made out way to the Portuguese quarter… the food tasted good… pity about the diarrhea… hmm.

day two we were skeptical … we laid low ate at overpriced westerner oriented restaurants and took a tuk tuk to see a few sites. must admit it’s pretty beautiful when you’re not defying death walking along non-existent footpaths.

another sleepy afternoon passed and then we went to the movies.

I guess we didn’t try hard enough to like it. sorry guys.

Ellie

Well we waited on a jetty in Genting on Tioman Island for three hours today, missed a bus and ended up in the middle of nowhere in a (comparatively) really expensive “budget” hotel… fun huh?

The day started out quite nicely though… took the 10 steps to the beach for a swim even though it was kinda overcast and threatening rain… (gotta love monsoon season) the sea was like a pancake and so warm. **bliss** we had a big breakfast and then continued our our lazing. finally at about 11 we packed up and headed out on the boat back to Genting only to find out the ferry was late and wouldn’t arrive for hours. we had the lovely Malay family who were also at Nipah with us to keep us company though and I had a much needed lesson in Bahasa Melayu from Nine year old Alina. Nathan kept himself busy hunting for oysters and we watched the massive school of fish… and watched it some more…. I guess we went to the island for some peace and quite and to relax anyway to I thought of those 3 hours as an extension of the holiday

We had big plans to head straight to Malacca on the 5:30 bus on our return to Mersing but when we arrived the bus was sold out. long story Short we ended up in Kulang (which doesn’t even rate a paragraph in the lonely planet) thinking we could get a connection to Melaka (we were too late). So Kulang’s this substantial city… no idea what it’s reason for being is!?… but they haven’t heard of the concept of budget hotel. we forked out twice what we usually pay (all of $28! lol*) but we did get a hot shower in our room and free bottled water… fun for a change.

It was an exhausting… if very nothing-full day. but we’re booked on the 9am bus to Melacca tomorrow. so (if my mum’s 30 year old rave reviews are anything to go by) adventures awate us there!

love to all those still reading. .. c’mon you know you wanna log in and write a comment!

Ellie

*we’re saving for the inevitably expensive Europe leg of the trip and living off our Centerlink payments ok… call me a cheapskate… whatever.