Melaka we like you!

Before we fly back from Kuala Lumpur on the 3rd March we found time for one more stop and interestingly it has been one of our favourites! Melaka is half-way between Singapore and our final destination in Asia, KL. The city is both very important and diverse due to its history as a principal trade port between East and West. The moment we entered the historical centre we understood that Chinese, Indian and everything in-between that modern Malaysia has become to resemble was mixed there. This mixture was furthered by a vintage European influence due to the Portuguese, Dutch and British all making this city a focal point of there Asiatic ventures. It is a really fascinating place to be and completely different to other places along our journey.

Avant de rejoindre KL pour le grand depart vers l'Europe, une derniere decouverte, celle de la ville de Malacca. Nous avons particulierement apprecie cette ville qui est riche en histoire. L'architecture de la ville s'est faconnee en fonction des diverses colonisations (portuguaise, hollandaise et anglaise). Le point fort de cette ville est sa position geographique entre l'est et l'ouest, en faisant naturellement un port important depuis le 15eme siecle dans le fameux detroit de Malacca. Singapour ayant pris le relais, Malacca est devenue une petite ville touristique tranquille.

Our liking of Melaka was made better by the fact that everything is quite calm but at the same time something is always happening. As you stroll the streets you are almost invited to look into the lives of people who live and work along the roads. There are a great number of places to eat and drink while the quality of almost all has been exceptional! We have been spoiled with choice as the night markets bring the Chinese New Year to a close and the streets are filled with things to see, try and sometimes... buy. The sight of the streets when filled at night is quite something and a real effort seems to have been made here to decorate the town as you can see. What else is there to do? Well, the river cruise, visiting the various temples to various religions [often next door to each other],walking off dinner and generally relaxing!

Enfin pas si tranquille que ca puisqu'il y a toujours quelque chose qui s'y passe. Les maisons et magasins sont ouverts sur la rue, ce qui cree une certaine proximite avec les gens. Le jour, il y a la ville a decouvrir avec ses eglises, ses temples, sa tour panoramique, sa replique de galion et bien d'autres monuments, tous tres anciens. Au detour d'une rue nous sommes tombes sur le plus vieux temple chinois de Malaisie. Le soir, nous avons profite du marche de nuit, de la ballade en bateau sur la riviere et des celebrations du nouvel an chinois (qui se termine, ca y est!). Malacca est une ville agreable et interessante qui s'impose lors d'un voyage en Malaisie!

Another thing to mention is our guesthouse 'SAMA SAMA' because in terms of what we needed it is superb! Its not the Hilton but its full of powerful reminders of the historic location and essentially its just a place i for one would love to help inspire my future home. An added bonus to our guesthouse is that we were openly welcomed to the live music night in the place where we originally checked-in. It just happens to be the coolest bar that we have been to on the trip - see pictures! So how was the music? Superb, an innocent Chinese/Malay girl who had a magnificently moving voice and a guitar that has obviously been by her side wherever she goes. We bought her CD and are itching to try it out! So, if you ever visit Malaysia make Melaka a certainty, it has been a marvelous little surprise to us.

Au detour d'une rue, c'est aussi comme cela qu'on a trouve notre guest house "Sama-sama" (qui veut dire "de rien" en malais), un endroit ou l'on se sent bien. Le soir il y a de la musique live, nous avons ecoute Ika, une jeune chinoise/malaise jouant acoustique avec sa guitare. L'air innoncent, elle envoute son public avec une voix tres douce. Et envoutes, nous avons achete son CD! Un moment de detente, c'etait ce qu'il nous fallait avant d'affronter nos derniers jours dans la capitale, dont le rythme est un peu plus soutenu!

Melaka we like you!

Melaka, Malaysia