Selamat Datang!

Our room at the Sama Sama Guest House
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Jenn and I left Singapore on the 8:30 bus headed for Melaka.  The bus ride was kind of weird, because we had to get off to exit Singapore, then drove for about 5 minutes during which we were officially not in any country, then got off the bus again to enter Malaysia.  The bus driver seemed very concerned about us, and surprised every time we managed to make it back on the bus.

Once in Melaka, we were in for a bit of a shock with trying to navigate the traffic.  I had kind of forgotten how difficult it can be to cross the street!  We were tired, hungry and hot, so it was a little frustrating.  Eventually we realized that you just have to step out and let the cars swerve around you.

Town Square, Melaka
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Melaka is a wonderful artists town on the South West coast of Malaysia.  We were really lucky to arrive there on a weekend, as there was a fabulous night market both Friday and Saturday night, with tons of booths selling both crafts and foods.  On both nights we got dinner from the market--one of the best things to try is Popiah, which is a Baba Nonya type roll with vegetables and spices.

Melaka is also home to a famous chicken rice ball restaurant.  The lines to this restaurant are always out the door (even at 3 or 4 in the afternoon), and there are pictures around town of the line curving all the way around the block.  The restaurant seems to only serve one dish--rice molded into these little balls with chicken.  It was good, but I didn't quite get what the fuss was about.

Kampung Village, Melaka
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There were also lots of interestings stores, including the Orangutang House, which is the store of a local artist who designs politically motivated paintings and t-shirts.

We stayed at the Sama Sama Guest House in Chinatown, which was quite the experience.  The woman who owns the place is very bizarre--she would emit this strange wail, or high pitched maniacal laugh, after almost everything we said.  However, the Guest House is very neat, with all rooms facing a central garden where there are tons of fighting fish in cages hanging from trees (there was even one in the washroom!).  At night, candles float in the water and hang from trees.

Night Market, Melakaaaa
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Near Melaka is  a traditional Kampung village.  Jenn and I took a trishaw ride out there, and the driver blared Celine Dion the entire way there.  One of the houses in the village is open to the public, so we took a look around.  It was really interesting--raised on stilts with interior walls.