My dad went back to Australia and we went along with my mom for another weekend in Peninsular Malaysia. We woke up later than planned, but we made it ok across Woodlands immigration point. I used
this site to pick out a waterfall - Taka Melor - on the way to Melaka. Of course, the site failed to mention that the road to the waterfall had been washed away during a flood a few months back. After stopping to ask for directions in the nearby town's cafe we started driving towards a dangerous sink hole, but luckily we noticed a nice couple on their motorbike chasing us and signaling for us to turn back. They showed us how to get as far as the broken road could take us and we paid them to watch our car while we walked the rest of the way. The fall is very small, and despite being completely unreachable by motor vehicles, the tiny park around it was filthy with debris. Shame, shame, shame on you Malaysians. Still we made the best of it and had a nice dip in the cool waters.
By the time we had gotten back the wife had abandoned her man and he was sitting patiently next to the car waiting for us to finish our frolicking. We paid him and offered to take him home which was just off the main road where they had started following us. He invited us into his home, but we politely declined and continued on our way. He reminded me that there was a hot springs in the town as well, and we managed to find it. The water was super-duper hot. Too hot. Lizzy and I spent the hour there playing in a decrepit playground that was part of the complex. We especially enjoyed hiding and crawling through the large cement pipes. Not so much the cement slide... ouch!
Cool waterfall dip, hot spring bath, and we were done for the day. On to Melaka and
our hotel, which was a bit rundown but cozy for the price. We had dinner at Tandoor, which was a small restaurant with tables laid out on the parking lot it faces. Despite the environs it got packed while we were there. The waiters were brisk but efficient. The menu was not extensive, but the food was great. Constant flow of tandoori chicken (succulent, spicy goodness on a stick), naan and yellow daal (lentils). Lizzy suffered bravely through the spicy affair. My mom was fairing better. Connie and I just kept licking our fingers, and ordering more and more chicken. After dinner we drove to Jonkers market and enjoyed the street market with its bustling trade. We bought some wooden stools, a hello kitty umbrella, a sesame snack, and firecrackers. What a day!
Lazy walk through central Melaka - climb up to St. Paul's cathedral, down to museum row, and the park/playground. Lizzy and I had ice cream on the swings waiting for Connie and my mom who went to visit the
Enduring Beauty museum which looked anything but from the outside...
We spent the rest of the day in the car going from one wild goose chase to another. When you're winging it, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't. On this particular afternoon, it did not work at all... For dinner, we went back to Jonkers market and tried to get a seat at Teo Soon Loong Chan but it was all reserved for the night, and we settled for Famosa Chicken Rice Balls. Not bad, but we need to get back to Malacca to try the famous TSL before long...
A nice break. Second time in Malacca was way better. It's a small place, but you need to appreciate specific bits of it - last time we were only there during the day and missed out on Jonkers night market. That is really the highlight of the place.
No comments:
Post a Comment