:: Our first road trip to Melaka ::

Updated with images.

Back from a short getaway to Melaka. We decided to drive in on our own to this Heritage city of Malaysia. This is our first self-drive trip up north to Malaysia (well, we've heard enough stories but we managed to come back in one piece together with the car)

We were supposed to drive a Honda Stream, but somehow, we drove a Chrysler Grand Voyager in. Driving a Chrysler somehow add pressure to us cos this is too expensive a car and it just shout "Look at Me!!" and knowing the security in Malaysia isn't too fantastic we just have to be careful with where we park our car.

We set off at 4am on Saturday morning *yawnz* and cleared the custom slightly after 5and here we are hitting the north-south highway. It rained along the way and luckily I wasn't the driver thus I get to sleep at the back of the car. We arrived in Machap for a toilet break (Machap is 10 minutes before Yong Peng) nothing fantastic over there but it's just a short break for all of us. It rained along the way therefore we can't realli drive too fast (I think we hit 110-120km/hr). It was onli 9.30am when we arrive in Ayer Keroh (just outside Meleka City). We went for our breakfast, Chicken Rice Ball at Chung Hwa Coffee Shop. There are few others shops that sells chicken rice ball like Hoe Kee, A-One etc. Chung Hwa is a small and old coffee shop and it was pretty crowded when we reached there but we managed to find a seat pretty fast too. There are 5 rice balls, each the size of a golf ball. The chicken is succulent and I have to say it's one of the most delicious hainanese chicken I've had so far. (FYI, I'm not a lover of broiled chicken cos there's always a smell in it and I only like roasted chicken).

Being a fan of the Mediacorp drama series "The Little Nyonya", we decided to visit The Baba & Nyonya Heritage Museum. This is also the place where most of the scenes were shot. The tour took around half an hour with a tour guide walking you through the various rooms in the Peranakan house. Entrance fee is RM8. We have made reservation at Mahkota Hotel Melaka (one of the oldest hotel in Malacca. The hotel seriously need some overhaul as the interior is quite worn out. We initially made reservation for a 2 bedroom apartment but when we checked in, we were given a 1 bedroom apartment. The 1 bedroom apartment looks like our HDB flat and I don't think I would like to stay in it. We went to the frontdesk to request for an upgrade of room. So in the end, with a top up of RM50, we upgraded to their junior suite which is not that fantastic either but it definitely felt like we were upgraded from a HDB unit to a condo unit. After checking in and some rest, we played tourist for the rest of the day visiting A'Famosa, St Paul's Chapel, Christ Church, The Stadhuys and Menara Taming Sari.

When night falls, there was a slight drizzle and we hurried in to a restaurant that serves authentic Peranakan food - Nancy's Kitchen. We ordered Nanas Lemak Udang, Babi Ponteh, Nyonya Chap Chai, Chinchalok Omelette, Otah and Curry Chicken. I especially like the Babi Ponteh as it was abit sour due to the assam and the pork was just crispy on the outside and tender inside. It continues to rain even after our dinner so the guys decided to go for a drink at Geographer Pub just opposite Nancy's Kitchen while Pearl and I went to buy poncho and shop around Jonker Street. On a non rainy days, Jonker Street at night will be bustling with activities. There were stalls selling noodles, kueh kueh, handicraft etc etc. Becuase it was raining, the hawkers there have to wait for the rain to stop before they start business. Pearl and I went to hunt for the famous Chendol in Malacca. It has to be the most yummy chendol I've ever had. The gula melaka was so tasty and fragrant even the coconut cream was so fresh. Definitely not something you get in Singapore. And it cost us only RM1.70. There were other yummilicious food like Nyonya Assam Laksa, Baba Laksa, Goreng Goreng (like gado gado) but because we were too full from our dinner, we decided to come again for lunch the next day.

We checked out around noon and head sraight to Tan Kim Hock for some local products. Then it's lunch at the forever crowded shop that sells yummilicious chendol. This time round I managed to have their Nyonya Assam Laksa. TASTY! the thick beehoon tasted like udon and mee tai mak cos it was very Q, and again I had the chendol.

It won't be long before I hit another road trip. Tada!


Yummilicious Chicken Rice Ball


This is where they serves the yummilicious chicken rice ball


Waterwheel


San Shu Gong - Local products