OUR TRIP TO MELAKA.....

Yesterday (29 April 2014) was our 2nd day in Melaka. It was a really hectic day...for me! I planned every place to visit at what time of the day as well as which good makan place to go to. And Waze (GPS)...though useful most of the time, made me go around the bush a couple of times!
Our first stop was Chop Chung Wah Coffeeshop for their famous Chicken Ball Rice. Information I had was that it opens at 7.30am. So there we were....but found out from locals walking around that it opens at 8.30am. So we went around the vicinity of the coffeeshop as it was near Melaka River and there were lots of things to see....like monitor lizards swimming in the river, and the replica of the fort built by the Malay Sultanate. The shop opened at 8.36am. The only difference is that the rice are rolled into balls. The verdict by the boys and my mum....so, so la...the Ipoh Chicken Rice in PJ is better! For me, since I have lost my sense of taste/smell (for those who do not know....can't taste the distinct special taste of food, I can only taste sweet, sour, bitter, salty.....sad, isn't it? Anyway, long story...) I could not comment and just makan saja....

The uncle that served us the chicken rice balls

We people tucking into the food. Very famous one man!! That is what I tell all of them.....at 8.40am, we were  extremely hungry!!




Then we were off for the Melaka River Cruise. It was a nice 45 minute ride along the river with glimpses of history on the walls of the houses along the river. Then we went to visit the famous A Farmosa, the Portugese Fort. There we met an interesting artist who was selling his artwork - Daniel. He is half Javanese, half Portugese and was a very nice man, and shared with us that he has been around A Farmosa for the past 36 years, and used to work for 6 years with a Portugese station in Portugal. He told us that this is not A Famosa as that would be the whole fort. What we see is the Porta de Santiago. His drawings in pen/pencil were very reasonably priced - purchased 3 pieces of art. Then we were off for MORE food!! 



We have been waiting to go to Jonker 88, the famous place for chendol and assam laksa. They only open at 12.30, so we went there then...but of all times, the shop was being renovated and we were told to come back tomorrow, i.e. today, 30 April at 10.30am. So we had to settle into another coffee shop nearby....a disappointment to Noel who had nyonya laksa. I had Japanese popiah which was actually nice! I said I don't want to take second best. I had planned to only go and eat the best of the best, as we did not have time to eat 2nd best, and no space in our tummies too! When we came back to our car to go to the next place on our list.....we had a fine for not displaying the parking ticket, which was there on the dashboard!! I checked the details of the parking ticket we put and it was the right date, and it was a whole day ticket! i was really upset (it's wierd that we are given a ticket for not displaying a valid parking ticket!) and thank God there was a police beat nearby and was told to go to MBMB 'Majlis Bandaraya Melaka Bersejarah' and we were told where to do.....which would disrupt our schedule!!! Aarghhh!! So there was a MBMB pondok at Taming Sari (Read about this place here) and we had to wait for the person who gave us the ticket to come. Anyway, he said we could have put the ticket AFTER they gave us a fine! He showed us pictures he took of the dashboard but only part....so I said you did not take the whole dashboard! I told him....would I try so hard to escape paying RM30 and do such a thing? I really didn't know what to say and asked Noel to talk to the officer. RM30 was not a lot of money and I could just have paid to solve the problem, but we were not in the wrong! I don't know what transpired, but Noel finally paid RM10....reduced fine with receipt given.
I am glad that the next stop was the Klebang Coconut Shake....needed to cool down!! There are lots of places selling this but this is where it all started. We spent about 20 minutes to get there (which included figuring out what Waze was trying to tell us!!) but it was worth it! The drink was a blend of coconut water, icecream and coconut flesh. Yums!!!


On Wednesday morning, we had breakfast at our hotel, The Baba House Hotel. It is quite nice, and it is strategically located on Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock, next to Jonker Walk. Jonker means Junior in Dutch.....where the junior officers used to live. Only thing was that it was under renovation and the tables were all dusty and yikes!! I had a rat run pass me which made me hop on to a chair.....which made my children laugh!! Of course I complained....but I was thinking it's because they are renovating....









Then we went to Stadhuys. We were disappointed as the Museum was closed for renovation until next year. Stadhuys was built by the Dutch occupants in 1650 as the office of the Dutch Governor and Deputy Governor.
But we really enjoyed the trishaw ride.....which was fun. Su told me later what Nahshon asked, "Guess who is heavier? Both of us?" Su said, "I think your mummy and your brother (Net)!"
We finally got to try Jonker 88's assam laksa...but found out that they used canned tuna (we do not eat canned foodstuff) instead of kembong...and everyone (that is all who were there : )) says, the chendol at Calenthe Cafe tastes better. Next, we went to Taming Sari....read all about it here. It was a little scary looking at Melaka town from the top! But a thrill for Jaden and Nahshon!















We were meant to collect the pineapple tarts we ordered but was told that they were still being baked...so we went to have one more round of the Klebang Coconut Shake. Then it was back to the pineapple tarts. Watched the pineapple tarts being taken out of the oven and had to wait for it to cool a little....really yummy when warm...best of all it is homemade!



Finally, we went to the Reptile Farm in Air Keroh - again a request from Jaden - before we headed back home. Nothing beats HOME SWEET HOME! It was tiring but I am glad we took some time away from home, and see something new and try Melaka food!!

Now I truly understand "as proud as a peacock"
When the peacock sees us coming near, it will
open up and come near us...the nearer we
come, it will show it's plumage, and come
nearer and nearer....to show off!!
So proud!!