We just got back a few hours ago from Malacca, a 1.5 hr drive away from the hustle and bustle of KL. Ahhhh for those who still have the perception that Malacca is a quaint and quiet lil' town, I must CORRECT YOU. The traffic jam going INTO Malacca stalled us for almost an hour or so, even though the roads were clear from KL.
This trip was really impromtu. We woke up (after intense licking from the lil one) and made breakfast and then sat down to decide what we should do for the day. I surfed for the Top Attractions in KL but all the 80 or so were not appealing. In the end, we decided to steal away to Malacca.
Immediately (& totally unlike the way we booked our USA trip hotels), we chanced upon Hotel Puri's website. This hotel was one we had walked into before on our last trip to Malaccas, whilst looking for a spa. It had left a good impression. :D We called and reserved a room and then (because the guilt had taken over), we took Jay Jay for a walk downstairs in the garden.
We met a nice family downstairs which consisted of two young girls. Emma was playing enthusiastically with JJ and got her hair chewed by the lil pup. The other girl (didn't catch her name) who was only a toddler, did not know how to react to Jay Jay's affections and alternated between wailing and giggling. Debbie (the mum) announced that they were just about to embark on their journey to Malacca and Alan and I gasped. We quickly exchanged notes about hotels and then they were off.
Packing at top-speed, we left KL for Malacca (stopping by for approx half an hour at the orphanage to pass some home-made cookies to the kids) and headed for Hotel Puri. We arrived at 5+pm, conquering the amazingly jammed narrow streets of Malacca. We put down our stuff and quickly headed out to explore the area. Normally, we would stay in Equatorial but this time, this boutique hotel was directly behind the Jonker Walk! What a great location!
Jonker Walk hawkers were just about setting up their stalls and we purchased a few cutesy items and had our road-side lunch cum dinner. We had some fried radish cake 
and later on chicken rice balls . Yumz. Just about the cross the road to leave JW, Alan nudged me roughly and I looked up to see Debbie and her family crossing the road! Wow. Talk about fate!
and later on chicken rice balls . Yumz. Just about the cross the road to leave JW, Alan nudged me roughly and I looked up to see Debbie and her family crossing the road! Wow. Talk about fate! We then walked out on the Jonker Walk to the neighbouring areas, taking photographers along the way. After a utterly disappointing Soursop "smoothie" at the Dutch Harbour Cafe 
and a few photos of the setting sun, Alan and I went back to Jonker Walk to take in the sights and sounds (and shop lah!) in its full glory.
and a few photos of the setting sun, Alan and I went back to Jonker Walk to take in the sights and sounds (and shop lah!) in its full glory.
At this time, the hawkers had all displayed their wares and the tourists and locals were busy haggling and picking up beautiful handicraft items. I found this uncle whom I had bought some handmade keychains from a couple of years ago and bought a cute lil pounch (FINALLY) for my iPHONE.
Alan and I sat down to savour durian chendol at the Bibik House. The pineapple tarts, however, had plummetted in standard and we were very disappointed. We travelled into the back alleys in search of melt-in-the-mouth tarts to buy back for colleagues and friends and OURSELVES n found a stall. We ordered two boxes and told the lady we wld be collecting them the next morning.
Since the Foot Reflexology was so cheap (RM38/hour), we couldn't walk past the shop without treating ourselves to a good massage. The two ladies rubbed our pains away and convinced us to get our bodies massaged as well for an additional RM20 each.
It was 11+pm when we arrived at our hotel, exhausted but very fulfilled.
1 September 2008
We woke up and showered and went downstairs for a light breakfast at the hotel. Then we explored the hotel vicinity. We picked up some cutie bedroom slippers and went back to the pineapple tart stall. We waited and waited for our tarts and were asked five times by the forgetful aunty for our order. hahaha.
After leaving with 5 boxes of pineapple tarts worth every bit of their calories, we strode back to our hotel for a quick shower and then checked out a lilttle late. Then, lunch was on the cards and we drove a short distance for some traditional nyona food.
Restaurant Ole Sayang was VERY crowded and we waited for quite a bit to be served. We had assam fish (not nice even though it was their famed dish), assam sotong (not nice cos very weird taste), chicken pongteh (not nice cos very salty), otah otah (not nice cos very "floury") and sambal kangkong (NICE-finally!). We washed it down with barley lime (not nice- perhaps they forgot to add sugar?) and chinchow (ok lah. not bad) Even though renowned, I won't go back again. :P
The drive back was quite ok save for the heavy downpour and very nearby lightning flashes that scared the $ht outta me. It was so flooded that a car from the other lane (travelling in the opposite direction) splashed a whole lot of rainwater on our car and we lost visual for a few seconds!
Jay Jay was mighty glad to see us and licked my face all over to welcome us home. The poor baby was home alone for so long for the very first time and we felt awful to leave him in solitude and guilty the whole of the trip. :S
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