Fascinating Malacca (Malaysia)
When Malaysia was just a pipedream and I was still brainstorming with myself on how to go about with my Malaysian visit, the one place that fascinated me no end wasn't KL or Penang or Johor Bahru. It was "Malacca"! For how can one forget a place often alluded to from History lessons. There was Malacca (of Malaysia)- and there was Moluccas (of Indonesia)! And any form of association was welcome: Portuguese, Galleon trade, barter, spices, etc. I would be thrilled to visit distant images from the "past"... visiting such faraway places. This was my chance.
Malacca is between KL (125 km.) and Singapore (225 km.) This is why many of the Singapore tourists are found on day-trips to Malacca (as well as Johor Bahru).
I approached my trip to Malacca with a bit of skepticism. I would take a bus from KL's Puduraya Station and pray to the heavens that people I meet along the way would a> understand english, b> be helpful. Finding Puduraya was a breeze. After taking a nice breakfast at a popular backpacker's hotel along Bukit Bintang (I found myself sitting on their front-of-house "veranda" directly facing the street - which was supposedly reserved for their in-house guests – but I was allowed by my friendly waitress to stay there if I please, so I was smug!), I took a leisurely walk going North. Some 15 minutes later, I found Puduraya Bus Station.
I expected a crazy environment teeming with people, but instead I found a building which looked like the old Ali Mall Building - only bigger! I crossed the street, went inside, and saw organized rows of buses with digitized signage’s bearing the destination and their exact time of departure. It WAS a cheap ticket too, and the buses looked new, well-maintained and clean. Inside, it smelled good, the waft of the air-conditioning was regulated and the seats were comfortably distanced. YES!!! My bus left on time! Everything was pretty convenient and well organized.
The 2 hour trip was a breeze. Scenic route it was! As we neared the Malaccan bus garage (I always remember a Scottish friend saying, "garr-ij"), I recognized some points of interest that I read from my guide. The bus depot was a sprawling one-storey berth. I went off my bus and headed towards the shops. I wanted to check out what was there. Went to a DVD shop and got crazy buying original DVD's and VCD's of Malaysian and Indonesian movies (this usually takes a while coz I have to make sure that they have english subtitles). I found some shawl and shirts as presents. Cheaper here than in KL.
Took an early lunch (restaurants everywhere) and bought bottled water at their 7-11. Also checked out the ticket counter where I would purchase my return ticket back to KL. Nice place. There was a seating room (like in airports) where travellers can comfortably wait for their bus rides. Malaysia is unexpectedly tourist-friendly. Most people speak or understand english (a lot better than Indonesia). The transportation fares are cheap, and the whole transportation system is well organized.
I also found a travel shop advertising local packages. I realized that it will be a very, very far walk to the city center, and since I am wary of a taxi ride from there (“Hostel” anyone?), I decided to hire a 1-hour local tour.
The people from the shop were obviously disappointed. ONE hour meant 30 Malaysian Ringgit (about PhP 370). I specifically told them, I just wanted 1 HOUR or "no go". Are they crazy? In the big city, KL offers a ride-all-you-want roving buses (hop on-hop off) that stops at various tourist attractions (like the Petronas Tower, etc.) for just MR35. This was good for 1 whole day! Compared to what KL offers, their MR 30/hr rate (though this is on a private car) is highway robbery of sorts. Well, I took that, and just decided to let the car go at one point (once I am at the town center) – I can go on my own from there!
The main tourist attractions comprise the "historic" areas heavily influenced by the Dutch and Portuguese settlers and traders, thus walls are painted in "red" (the Stadthuy Building), streets are cobbled, architecture is pre-war Portuguese and Dutch. There is "Jonker's Street", which was advertised for their "authentic" architecture and antique goods, never been rehabilitated, etc. This was supposed to take a carnival environment during weekend nights. What I saw instead was a row of run-down derelict houses in fast state of decay. Everywhere you turn, they were just ugly, dilapited relics of the past. Other than this disappointment, the whole town boasts of old colorful churches, a whole line of Chinese street, a mini-Lisbon square (ahhh I miss Lisboa!), and my favorite – St. John’s Fort, an 18th century fortress on a hill facing the Strait of Malacca, fortified with cannons from the past. This has stairs leading to the top of the hill, a church relic, and one of the best views overlooking the historic Strait, etc. St. Paul’s Church attracts the religious too. This was where the body of St. Francis Xavier was interred before he was transported to Goa, India. There is a huge Galleon ship marooned in front of St. John's. THIS was all part of the past, and I am so thrilled.
An antique shop at Jonker's Street.
Stadthuy Buildings, including Christ Church - Dutch architecture, red painted...
Mini-Lisbon Square
Stadthuy - in its characteristic reddish paint.
At the Church, I met an old man who volunteered to take my photo, so I decided to come back for him – to hire his trishaw (these are colorful tricycles decorated with either flowers or brass decors - and you see them all over the town) - after ditching my car service (my driver was morose).
Long way down. Inside the fortress' entrance, some local art works are being sold. I bought 4 pieces.
Church relic on the hill
Church on the hill
The view from the hill: Strait of Malacca
By then, I was drenched with sweat from every tip of my hair and down to my shoes. Ganun kainit! I went to a carinderia. Braved some "colorful" viand on display, enjoyed one of my cheapest meals ever at 5 ringgit (PhP60) – ice cold coca cola included! Parang on-the-house pa, coz the owner wanted me to "get more", "get anything". I wanted to be sure I wouldn't be charged more than necessary so I timidly took a small portion of one viand. How shy! Hehe. I was still smarting from the stupid driver who left me - though I was gonna let him go anyway. It was just insulting, to say the least! Iniwan ako ng gago!
Hospital (white), residential, shopping plaza... notice how the main road is "paved" with individual concrete blocks...
Shopping Plaza
I noticed the regular movement of school buses. There was a school near the hill. Though it doesn’t have the bustle of a city, Malacca had constructions everywhere, and the structures standing were new - a shopping mall, a hospital, high-end residential tenements; wide, clean, "cobbled" streets. Some 2 hours later, I decided to leave Malacca not knowing how exactly. I wasn’t sure if those trishaws would take me to the bus depot. Seemed too far.
THIS was another adventure! From the sidewalk, I bravely hailed the public bus. I had NO idea where this was gonna take me. As I went in, I asked everyone, "Bus Station?" When one nodded, I took my seat and relaxed. I was still wishing they understood me. THIS ride took a good 1 hour! To my delight, this turned out to be a local commuter bus which traversed most of the 3 districts that comprise the whole town of Malacca – I inadvertently availed myself of an inexpensive local tour, one that will terminate at the main bus station! We passed by Jonker's Street again, some residential areas, a row of new hotels. I watched as the bus took in new passengers. It was fascinating people-watching, observing the change of faces. For just PhP 5!!!
THIS was gonna be a technique I will use in the future - maybe when i find my way to the new city of Putrajaya - I made a mental note!
See? You lose some. You win some!
My Transnasional Bus back to Kuala Lumpur
Will the Dutch said...Malacca is between KL (125 km.) and Singapore (225 km.) This is why many of the Singapore tourists are found on day-trips to Malacca (as well as Johor Bahru).
I approached my trip to Malacca with a bit of skepticism. I would take a bus from KL's Puduraya Station and pray to the heavens that people I meet along the way would a> understand english, b> be helpful. Finding Puduraya was a breeze. After taking a nice breakfast at a popular backpacker's hotel along Bukit Bintang (I found myself sitting on their front-of-house "veranda" directly facing the street - which was supposedly reserved for their in-house guests – but I was allowed by my friendly waitress to stay there if I please, so I was smug!), I took a leisurely walk going North. Some 15 minutes later, I found Puduraya Bus Station.
I expected a crazy environment teeming with people, but instead I found a building which looked like the old Ali Mall Building - only bigger! I crossed the street, went inside, and saw organized rows of buses with digitized signage’s bearing the destination and their exact time of departure. It WAS a cheap ticket too, and the buses looked new, well-maintained and clean. Inside, it smelled good, the waft of the air-conditioning was regulated and the seats were comfortably distanced. YES!!! My bus left on time! Everything was pretty convenient and well organized.The 2 hour trip was a breeze. Scenic route it was! As we neared the Malaccan bus garage (I always remember a Scottish friend saying, "garr-ij"), I recognized some points of interest that I read from my guide. The bus depot was a sprawling one-storey berth. I went off my bus and headed towards the shops. I wanted to check out what was there. Went to a DVD shop and got crazy buying original DVD's and VCD's of Malaysian and Indonesian movies (this usually takes a while coz I have to make sure that they have english subtitles). I found some shawl and shirts as presents. Cheaper here than in KL.
Took an early lunch (restaurants everywhere) and bought bottled water at their 7-11. Also checked out the ticket counter where I would purchase my return ticket back to KL. Nice place. There was a seating room (like in airports) where travellers can comfortably wait for their bus rides. Malaysia is unexpectedly tourist-friendly. Most people speak or understand english (a lot better than Indonesia). The transportation fares are cheap, and the whole transportation system is well organized.
I also found a travel shop advertising local packages. I realized that it will be a very, very far walk to the city center, and since I am wary of a taxi ride from there (“Hostel” anyone?), I decided to hire a 1-hour local tour.
The people from the shop were obviously disappointed. ONE hour meant 30 Malaysian Ringgit (about PhP 370). I specifically told them, I just wanted 1 HOUR or "no go". Are they crazy? In the big city, KL offers a ride-all-you-want roving buses (hop on-hop off) that stops at various tourist attractions (like the Petronas Tower, etc.) for just MR35. This was good for 1 whole day! Compared to what KL offers, their MR 30/hr rate (though this is on a private car) is highway robbery of sorts. Well, I took that, and just decided to let the car go at one point (once I am at the town center) – I can go on my own from there!
The main tourist attractions comprise the "historic" areas heavily influenced by the Dutch and Portuguese settlers and traders, thus walls are painted in "red" (the Stadthuy Building), streets are cobbled, architecture is pre-war Portuguese and Dutch. There is "Jonker's Street", which was advertised for their "authentic" architecture and antique goods, never been rehabilitated, etc. This was supposed to take a carnival environment during weekend nights. What I saw instead was a row of run-down derelict houses in fast state of decay. Everywhere you turn, they were just ugly, dilapited relics of the past. Other than this disappointment, the whole town boasts of old colorful churches, a whole line of Chinese street, a mini-Lisbon square (ahhh I miss Lisboa!), and my favorite – St. John’s Fort, an 18th century fortress on a hill facing the Strait of Malacca, fortified with cannons from the past. This has stairs leading to the top of the hill, a church relic, and one of the best views overlooking the historic Strait, etc. St. Paul’s Church attracts the religious too. This was where the body of St. Francis Xavier was interred before he was transported to Goa, India. There is a huge Galleon ship marooned in front of St. John's. THIS was all part of the past, and I am so thrilled.
An antique shop at Jonker's Street. Stadthuy Buildings, including Christ Church - Dutch architecture, red painted... Mini-Lisbon Square Stadthuy - in its characteristic reddish paint.At the Church, I met an old man who volunteered to take my photo, so I decided to come back for him – to hire his trishaw (these are colorful tricycles decorated with either flowers or brass decors - and you see them all over the town) - after ditching my car service (my driver was morose).
Before my 1 hour ended, my last stop would be the hill. I went up while the car waited. 15 minutes before my hour, I decided to go back down (which was strenuous - it was a long way up and a long way down as well) and let my driver go. To my surprise, the nincompoop LEFT ME just like that! Might as well. I was about to give him gratuities that I was sure would help his regretfully dour life and his family! The nerve!
St. John's Fort
I have accepted the fact that, in any travel, NOT everything will go as planned. Something will turn out not to your liking. This was one such instance. It's best to just shrug the shoulder and charge it to experience.
Entrance to the hill tower/church.
St. John's FortI have accepted the fact that, in any travel, NOT everything will go as planned. Something will turn out not to your liking. This was one such instance. It's best to just shrug the shoulder and charge it to experience.
Entrance to the hill tower/church. Long way down. Inside the fortress' entrance, some local art works are being sold. I bought 4 pieces. Church relic on the hill Church on the hill The view from the hill: Strait of MalaccaBy then, I was drenched with sweat from every tip of my hair and down to my shoes. Ganun kainit! I went to a carinderia. Braved some "colorful" viand on display, enjoyed one of my cheapest meals ever at 5 ringgit (PhP60) – ice cold coca cola included! Parang on-the-house pa, coz the owner wanted me to "get more", "get anything". I wanted to be sure I wouldn't be charged more than necessary so I timidly took a small portion of one viand. How shy! Hehe. I was still smarting from the stupid driver who left me - though I was gonna let him go anyway. It was just insulting, to say the least! Iniwan ako ng gago!
Hospital (white), residential, shopping plaza... notice how the main road is "paved" with individual concrete blocks... Shopping Plaza I noticed the regular movement of school buses. There was a school near the hill. Though it doesn’t have the bustle of a city, Malacca had constructions everywhere, and the structures standing were new - a shopping mall, a hospital, high-end residential tenements; wide, clean, "cobbled" streets. Some 2 hours later, I decided to leave Malacca not knowing how exactly. I wasn’t sure if those trishaws would take me to the bus depot. Seemed too far.THIS was another adventure! From the sidewalk, I bravely hailed the public bus. I had NO idea where this was gonna take me. As I went in, I asked everyone, "Bus Station?" When one nodded, I took my seat and relaxed. I was still wishing they understood me. THIS ride took a good 1 hour! To my delight, this turned out to be a local commuter bus which traversed most of the 3 districts that comprise the whole town of Malacca – I inadvertently availed myself of an inexpensive local tour, one that will terminate at the main bus station! We passed by Jonker's Street again, some residential areas, a row of new hotels. I watched as the bus took in new passengers. It was fascinating people-watching, observing the change of faces. For just PhP 5!!!
THIS was gonna be a technique I will use in the future - maybe when i find my way to the new city of Putrajaya - I made a mental note! See? You lose some. You win some!
My Transnasional Bus back to Kuala Lumpur- Thanks for your comment on my blog! I really appreciate it. Are you still travelling? Some of your shots are incredible. I especially liked the ones from Hanoi, like the one of the girl on the park bench. -- Will
- I like reading your blogs a lot, the way they seem to transport the readers themselves to where the you were or have been. it's like experiencing those places through your photos and narrative, so I appreciate your visiting my blog. I have bookmarked your blog actually, and am looking forward to your next adventures. nope, i am back home in manila, but have a scheduled trip to pattaya, phuket, chiang mai, chiang rai via bangkok, and (this i am REALLY looking forward) bagan, yangon, mt popa and mandalay. i wish i can do long haul travels like you did, encompassing several cities instead of just 2 or 3, so what happens is i "try" to travel every 2-3 months when time (and "economics") allow. thanks for your message. i really enjoy reading your blogs which prompted me to leave a message. otherwise, i just browse and leave. LOL. keep it up, its very informative and insightful. believe me, those blogs help other travelers - a LOT!
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Snake Island, one of the 15 islands that dot Honda Bay in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, is a long stretch of sand bar, sinuous and surreal. It's one of the few remaining islands that doesn't require an entrance fee. 
Pedestrian crossing in Tokyo, Japan 
Sunset and the Temples of Bagan. Boasting of more than 2,000 preserved temples built during the 6th century, Bagan outnumbers Angkor Wat's temples several times over. Bagan is Myanmar's most arid, with desert-like terrain, located some 600 km north of the former capital of Yangon. It is a 12-15 hour bus ride. This was from the Old Bagan area. My hotel was in Nyaung U. I hired a horse-drawn carriage to roam. 
Jodhpur, Rajasthan's Blue City. This was taken from the Mehrangar Fort which sits atop a 150 meter hill. The fort is a whole city in itself, and would take 3-4 hours on a fast roving. 
My camel Deeshka & his owner Dipsingh - I was waiting for the sunset at the Thar Desert which is located at the fringes of Jaisalmer, a boundary between India and Pakistan. It was a comfortable, wobbly 2-hour ride in the calm & quiet sand dunes. 
Wat Kang cool! Vang Vieng, Laos 
Vang Veng beauty, Laos 
Tranquility in the Visayan Seas, Camotes Island, Philippines 
Parade of the monks in the early morning, Luang Prabang, Laos 
The Way to Luang Prabang 
Thong Nhat Park, Hanoi, Vietnam 
Serenity from a seaside town in Davao del Sur, Philippines 
Immaculately shiny black cabs - London, England 
Solitude. River Kwai, Kanchanaburi, West Thailand. 
Hill Tribe Children strike a pose - Doi Suthep, Chiangmai, North Thailand 
Wat Doi Suthep, Chiangmai, North Thailand 
From Hang Ca Cave, along Ngo Dong River, Tay Coc, Vietnam 
Vietnamese Children waddlin in a pond, Hoa Lu, Vietnam 
Sunset over Ha Tay's rice paddies, Viet Nam 
Thousands of boats, Perfume Pagoda, Yen River, Ha Tay, Vietnam 
Yen River canoe lady 
Rowing down the Yen River, Ha Tay Province, Vietnam 
A young policeman, Ha Tay Province 
Old Sukhothaii - 6 hours south of Chiangmai, 6 hours north of Bangkok, 1 hour from Phitsanulok 
A tea house in Hangzhou, China 
Shanghai, China - just a few walks from Xintiandi's Taicang Road 
Inside Wat Niwet - Gothic Catholic-Inspired Buddhist Temple, Thailand 
Tranquility at the Bogor Gardens, Bogor City 
Maritime Museum, Old Batavia, Jakarta, Indonesia 
A Galleon Ship - Malacca, Malaysia 
Infinity Pool, Pearl Farm Resort, Samal Island, Davao 
Grande Island, Subic 
On the way to Pau Gu Grotto, Thien Cung, Ha Long 
Cave of the Heavenly Palace 
Thien Cung Cave 
Ha Long Bay 
2 boatmen, Ha Long Bay, Halong City 
Ho Chi Minh Museum (their great hero's memorabilias) 
dolls, temple of literature 
Hanoi 
are you lonesome - hanoi 
selling what? 
Hoan Kiem Lake, Hanoi 
Boats at the Tonkinese River 
The Bayon (mysterious smiling faces looking down on you anywhere you turn) 
Ta Prohm entrance 
Banteay Srey (said to be the most beautiful coz of its pinkish color) - this is the "girly temple", and though it is pretty in reddish-pink, the area doesn't match the scope and grandeur of Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Ta Keo, Preah Khan, etc. It is also very far from the central temples, about 37kms from Siem Reap. I absolutely enjoyed the ride going there. Wind against my face, sun-soaked fields, and my tuktuk. 
The Bayon's smiling faces - some 200 of them 
Ta Prohm. This, along with the Bayon, are two of my favorite temples. Nature taking over what men had built - that is just classic! If you take a look at what's inside those dark enclosures, you will find more intricate carvings, although most visitors never bother anymore. This temple is usually visited in the middle of a tour coz of it's location, and by which time, a visitor has shed gallons of sweat; climbed steep temples (I braved climbing up Ta Keo and got unexpectedly petrified coming down - didn't realize how steep and difficult it was - the step was just 3-4 inches wide, so I had to do a difficult side-step maneuvering), etc. I was already on my 3rd dry shirt, having changed in the "wilderness" at the back of the carinderia where my tuktuk driver and I had lunch. A row of small eateries and make-shift souvernir shops can be found at the entrance of this temple. But there's no toilet within walking distance. I walked some 50 steps at the back of these eateries, under shades of giant trees, just to change my shirt. 
Ta Prohm - nature vs. man-made structures 
West Baray - Angkor Wat. This is the surreal beauty from the moat leading to the main Angkor Wat's Western Baray. 
Angkor Thom 
An alley at Angkor Wat. It took me a good 15 minutes to decongest this hallway just to get this shot. I was competing with a french man who wouldn't leave. At any time of the day, these temples are filled with tourists, bus-loads! The temples open at 5AM and close at 5PM. Other far-flung temples in the vicinity of the jungles like Sra Srang are less populous - unguarded and dangerous (landmines, local hoodlums waiting for lone trekkers, etc.). Tourists can visit such sites at their own risk. 
Angkor Thom - kunyari 1204 BC. He he... 
off the beaten track 
Wat Kesaram - along National Route 6, Siem Reap 
Notre Dame Cathedral - near the main post office, Saigon. Gloomy day and I wasn't happy with the colors I was getting. My solution - good old se
