Melaka: Travelling Solo, 3 Days 2 Nights (Day 2)

Day 2 (Monday) started early, at about 9+ am. Hot and sunny. First stop, A' Famosa.

Porta de Santiago

the remains of a fort

up close

since 1511

watchtower, higher up

Went up the hill abit to see what's up there.

walking up

Then, there was a slight fuss and everyone stood aside to make way for....

kitty carrying her baby

almost at the top

I have this thing about heights. Ya, the hill wasn't like very high.. but still, my knees got weak when I was there. Hahaha....

The hill has a few tombs, of people who lived around 1853. But there was this young man, who went around these tombs and took a snapshot of himself with the tomb behind. Thought that was a bit unusual.

few more steps to the top

But I didn't get to the top. Walking up on steps without railings to hold onto.. somehow the limbs and the heart grew weak at that. Too scaredy cat to risk it!

view from the hill

do you see the sea?

Nearby, was the Melaka Sultanate Palace (now museum). Entrance fee was RM2.

Melaka Sultanate Palace

The Forbidden Garden (Taman Larangan)

Roamed the forbidden garden a bit and imagined the Sultan and his entourage walking around the same grounds...

garden, looking back at Palace

water spider?

bees buzzing

nice flowers

With the Palace now being a museum, the public is welcomed to enter it. Need to take off shoes prior to stepping into the museum. Just have to hope that the shoes will still be around when you exit.

Palace, front

side profile

traditional architecture

inside the museum

outer view

One can find the story of Hang Tuah and Hang Jebat, Melaka's two most prolific warriors, inside the museum.

Then, continued walking and found the two legends, of a different kind though.

These two vehicles were used during the state of emergency, 13 May 1969.

Nearby, is the Proclamation Independance Memorial.

Proclamation Independance Memorial

By near 11am, the area was teeming with tourists.

trishaws or 'beca' (马车 in Hokkien)

Umno Melaka Museum

which way to St Paul's hill?

Walked along and I found myself at Dutch Square.

Christ Church Melaka

Queen Victoria Fountain

clock tower

Then, passed by Church of St Francis Xavier.

Church of St Francis Xavier

front view of the church, taken on Day 1

Think I made a wrong turning somewhere, and ended up in Little India.

Little India

Traffic was scary at this part of the town! Being the directionless person that I am, had some difficulty figuring out, how to get back to Jonker Street. It's time for lunch!

So, figured I'd follow the river path. Hey, on Day 1 I did pass by the river and found Casa Del Rio, so that's somewhere near my hotel/

river view

Passed by some alleys.

antiques, or junk?

old school handpainted advertisement

ok, start of river path

colorful murals

But, by the time I saw this, I knew it. I was so so lost!

interesting building with ship mural

Ok, so now I've walked towards the end of the river and landed at some place far far away. What to do? No choice, perhaps walk back from wherever that I came from and take it from there, again?

mural depicting various culture in Malaysia

I was hot, tired and needing to pee.

interesting sight

monitor lizard, sunbathing

Initial plan was to have an early lunch at 11am. It was 12+pm when I managed to stumbled onto the right path. So, lunch was at Calanthe Art Cafe, otherwise known as the 13 States Coffee place.

decor outside the shop

interesting decor

The shop has an inner courtyard too.

inner courtyard

Ordered a bowl of nyonya laksa and a Sarawak Blenz (iced coffee).

Sarawak Blenz

coffee jelly, nice

nyonya laksa

secret ingredient, dried chilies for that extra yums

Then, nothing much to do, so went back to hotel after lunch.

after walking for 4 hours

Unfortunately, it rained so decided to stay in comfortably snugged in the room, watching TV.

raining

Then, the rain eased towards dinner time, so ventured out to find food. Plaza Mahkota, it was because the Newton Food Centre didn't look appetising.

Went into this shop called Jonny's Nasi Ayam, or something like that. Ordered a bandung (rose syrup with evaporated milk) and a nasi pattaya (Thai fried rice wrapped in egg).

bandung

huge huge plate of rice

dry chicken meat, too much rice and not spicy

Dang, they made the fried rice non-spicy for me. Probably  they thought tourist type can't handle chili padi's.