Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Day 5: Malacca --> KL

28 Dec, 07 - We woke up at 8 today. We went to the hotel’s café for breakfast.Well, I would say that the breakfast here was better compared to the one we had in Sri Malaysia. Even though there wasn’t much choice but at least I loved the Nyonya kuih and the karipap.

After checking out, we headed to the Jonker 88 café aka Maritime Museum Restaurant on Jonker Street. This was really a thumb up restaurant. The environment was really very good. With the religious song on the background, it gave me such a smoothing and relaxing feel. Besides that, customers get to admire those great collections of antiques. The collections ranged from monetary, philately, household items to calligraphy.


Jonker 88 - the old furniture...the woody smell

On top of this great environment, the food was a yahoo! I loved it very very much. Everytime I was in Malacca, I would surely come here. The cendol was irresistible…to the extent that we normally have 2 serving of this. Thou the price of the cendol was rather expensive at RM1.70 per bowl, but I can guaranteed you that it was superb! The thick coconut palm sugar was excellent here. It was like McD’s Sunday chocolate but the aroma was way better. With the finely shredded ice, the cendol melted deliciously in our mouths. Besides the cendol, I would strongly recommend the Baba laksa. We were too full to have this at that time but this is the ‘must’ dish for me normally. It is much like curry mee but with some tuna and lime in it, it isn’t that heavy.


wah...cendol....

Food and food…finally we have to start walking. From Jonker street we headed across the river to the St Paul hill site, the central of all tourist attraction. As most of outdoor scene such as the St Paul’s churh, the red Stadhuy building and the Queen’s Fountain, were common and we have all taken photographs here before, so we headed to the People’s museum straight.

Actually the People’s Museum building houses 2 other museum, the Kite Museum and the Beauty Museum. It was RM2 for admission. The collection in the Beauty Museum was rather interesting but may be horrible and puking at times. They have showcased many ways and items used by people across the world for the mean of beauty, from a nose stud to a binding head and feet. Sometimes I found that those things were too horrible until I have some adrenaline shots and start to shiver out of nowhere.


The Kite museum was good…it has kites from all around the world in all odds and evens shapes and sizes. They were colourful and beautiful. I enjoyed admiring at their collection. While the People’ s Museum was the least interesting of all three. There were lengthy words and few photographs only.

Then we walked further down the road to the Philately Museum. This was my 3rd visit to this museum. The collection was really very good and nicely showcased…but for first timer, please look for a vertical like drawers with years labeled on the first floor. They have displayed stamps from Malayan time till recent years. If you are stamps collector like me then you will start to recall if you have owned some of them.


familiar...isn't it?

As it was Friday, we left the museum at 12.15pm. After the museum, we walked to the A Famosa, the Proclamation of Independence Memorial and the Transport Museum for some shots.


next to the Memorial

So next would be the meal time again. We were having the famous Chicken Rice Ball in the Kedai Kopi Chung Wah. If one was to ask me which do I prefer, the Ipoh Bean Sprouts Chicken or the Malacca Chicken Rice Ball. I would definitely say I love the Malacca’s. This shop was really packed up. We have to queue up in order to eat here. Even for a take away, you will need for at least 20 minutes. I loved the chicken and the ping pong ball size rice ball. The sesame oil aroma was good and the rice was mushy enough. But one bad thing about eating in this place was you would be under the lime light. People queuing outside would be eyeing on you and hope that you finished you meal in no time and leave them the seats.


chicken rice ball...

So we quickly finished our lunch and left. We walked along Jalan Hang Jebat to buy some souvenirs and to get our Pineapple tart.


Calanthe Art Cafe

Next not to be missed out was the Calanthe Art Café. This café has been recommended by my friend during my past visit and it has also being listed in many travel guides and magazines. Here they provided really many choices of coffee….from up north to down south and further across the south China Sea, they provide different coffee s for 13 states of Malaysia respectively, each tuning to the preference of the locals….with the motto, The First and Only One…yes true I have not seen any shop or restaurant that provide coffee of 13 states.


proof...really got 13 type of Malaysians' coffees

We tried the Kelantan coffee, Perlis Coffee and the Johor coffee. Each was unique and good in a way. The Kelantan coffee was strong and rich while the Perlis was mild and sweet while the Johor was smoothing aroma which smell a little like lemon grass. And after our experimentally mixing, we found that when Perlis met Kelantan, it tasted like Rootbeer…it leaves the same sweetest just like we have drank rootbeer…yummy!


our Kelantan, Perlis and Johor Coffee

Then we left the Malacca town for Ayer Keroh. First in Ayer Keroh, we went to the Majlis Bandaraya Melaka aka MBB or the city council to settle our summon….yes we got summon early morning for parking without ticket…yes…to all drivers heading for Malacca town, please remember to buy the parking ticket. RM0.50 for half hour and for each subsequent hour or you can get a daily ticket for RM5…the MBB is very efficient in issuing summons. They were on motorbike, going round the city just to catch you.

Luckily, we managed to settle the summon at RM15 instead of the original RM30. So without further wasting our time, we went to the Mini Malaysia, Mini Asean. Again this was my 3rd visit. Yes the Mini Malaysia was interesting with all the unique architecture elements of every state here. We took a lot of photographs here but to our disappointment were the Mini Asean was not maintained. Those building looked creepy, the same as it was 2 years ago. Many were closed then with the notice saying that they are closed for renovation in preparing for Visit Malaysia 2007 but now it was 27th Dec 2007. Only visit this Mini Asean site if you are in a group and have time to kill.


my 'kaki lenguh'..ups and downs the houses


By 5pm, we left and headed back to Kuala Lumpur. We stopped at the Fatty Crab at the Sg. Besi highway for our last meal of the trip. The sweet sour and spicy crab was really very delicious. With the toasted bread, the gravy was superb. Besides the crab, we had a fried rice and vegetable. Overall, the food was great but was expensive….it cost us about RM25 per person.


really spicy...delicious!

Our meals today were extremely good. Another day filled with laughter, smiles and food.

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