Famous Inn Melaka

... ended up spending a good 2 hours looking at rubbish and not buying anything as per usual. It got to about 15:30 and i decided to head back and i stopped off on the way for a fruit shake as i've had a chesty cough for about 10 days now and i can't shake it so i thought some vitamin c might help. I got back to the hostel and laid down for a bit before showering and going out ...

... them! Only joking)

The journey passed by in air con heaven, Shelley sleeping the majority of the way. Once we arrived at Malacca central bus station we had to find the No17 bus to the dutch square in the domestic arrivals part of the station. the station is pretty well laid out so finding the bus wasn't't a problem. Getting off it was!

Unaware of where we was, when the bus pulled into a bus stop on a dual carriageway the driver shouted out to ...

... were serious when they asked 'where is the rest of the crew' It took us no time at all to tidy up the last of the paper work, leaving us stacks of time for wandering and planning the next few weeks. We stayed at the 'Albert Court' right next to Sim Lim Square so we were in a good location for all the old haunts.

As Saturday approached we made plans to collect the truck from the wharf, blooming with confidence that we had this shipping business hacked. But ... you guessed it ...

... some traveling $$$ and then get right back on the Asia trail. Hope I see him somewhere farther on down the road. Melaka was a strategic port in the spice trade from the 14th-16th Century, up there with Goa and Macau. Then the Dutch colonized, a series of colonial decisions were made that did not sit well with the natives, the Portuguese got involved, then the British, and then the trading became a lot easier ...

... 1650 as the residence of the Dutch Governor and his deputy, the structure reflects Dutch architecture. It is today the "Museum of History and Ethnography". The museum exhibits traditional wedding clothes and artifacts of Melaka, dating back to its days of glory. We stayed for hours in there and learnt about the complicated history. On the way out, we visited St Paul's church. It was strange to visit a church after all these temples of the last couple of months!

... hostel owner ever. Howard, 28, owned the hostel alongside his friend and silent partner who also owned a local bar. Immediately on our arrival he introduced us to the other 'housemates' in a big brother kind of way, not only by name but country too. He took us out on a tour that evening, a walk around the canals and backstreets taking in some of the best local food eventually ending up Jonker Street - the old, chinatown area. Malaka is a World Heritage listed town ...

... and went across the road for lunch in, err, Pizza hut (well you've got to sometimes!) I killed the rest of the time on the internet, which is what I had planned to do in Melaka anyway, and caught the bus, as planned, at 5pm. The journey took 4 hours and it would have been fine if there had been at least one toilet stop along the way. My taxi driver later informed me you have to ask if you want to stop - damn it! In addition I had horrendous indigestion (that'll teach me for ...

... NOT easy to find. When we finally find one, Dr T tells me about all the legends and stories. Wanna hear some? The 19the century, the Chinese moved in and brought the Peranakan culture. To name one thing: marriages were arranged and the couple did not see each other before the wedding. Even during the ceremony, the bride was veiled. When the couple finally went to bed, the bride took of her veil and the broom had to say: 'Lady, I have to be rude ...

... instead of three wishes you get an overpriced slow ride around town.) First stop was one of the tacky markets, where Farah embarrassingly bought several horribly sickly pendants with her and Azhars (her fiancee) names on encased in a heart and then one with hers and my names on for me, great, just what I'd always wanted! After vomiting over that sickly display, we moved onto the ...

... been in the country so far we've had numerous cyclists, truck drivers, aged relaxing old people seated outside their homes and just general random folk giving us massive smiles, big hellos and ringing of bicycle bells. And a very friendly barber, whose view is that the world is full of happiness (so I'll leave that as my thought for the day - the sound of network gaming in this internet cafe is giving me a sore head so I'm off...).